Trip planning is fun, and I spend a great amount of time preparing for upcoming adventures. Tom and I are going to the Isle of Man TT races this year and I have already begun selecting the luggage, motorcycle gear, clothing, and details of the trip. We are going to ride Triumphs from Hinckley, near the Triumph factory to Liverpool then take the ferry to Douglas on the Isle of Man.
We will spend five days riding around the island, watching the races, enjoying the incredible ambiance and just having a blast. This place and event is a Mecca for motorcyclists and should be on every true motorcyclist’s bucket list! Check out some YouTube videos, it will blow your mind. The Isle of Man is in the UK and it doesn’t get that green there by accident so we have to be prepared for rain and cold too.
So deciding on the right things to take is a really big deal. Everything we bring will have to fit on the bikes so our choice of bags and such has to be carefully planned. I have a trip planning list that I have used for over 45 years, and I do a debrief after every trip I take. That helps me remember items I used and didn’t use, ones I should pick differently or those to add or delete.
For instance my plan is to not take a separate rain suit, gaiters and rain mittens but to wear waterproof boots, riding pants and all weather Triumph jacket. I am taking the Triumph waterproof roll bag that will strap onto the back seat. I am also taking a waterproof backpack that I will carry the entire time. This set up should be perfect for this trip.
Every trip you take will go better if you plan the details. The better you plan the trip makes the odds of it being a great time with little or no problems or irritations even better. It’s so much fun for me to figure out how many pairs of socks, underwear and shirts plus the motorcycle gear like light gloves, face muffs, tools, zip ties, tape, fuses, bungee net and GPS to take and that list goes on and on! Then there is the stuff I will buy when I am there, like Isle of Man hoodies, stickers, shirts, trinkets and hell, who knows what else!
We leave the last week of May and I am excited as a school boy already! It doesn’t matter if it is a trip overseas or just a local overnighter, riding your motorcycle to new and exciting places is kinda what our motorcycling life is all about. Winter is not the best time to take a trip but it sure is a great time to plan one! Until you have taken an overnighter on your motorcycle you won’t understand the pure sense of joy, excitement and memories you will experience and talk about for the rest of your life.
EVENTS
RESCUE OF THE WEEK
MOTORCYCLE NEWS
CONSECUTIVE SUPERCROSS PODIUMS FOR TRIUMPH FACTORY RACING
Triumph Factory Racing's Jordon Smith has continued his impressive start to the 2025 AMA Supercross series, securing his second consecutive 250SX West podium finish at round two, held in San Diego's scenic Snapdragon Stadium.
Smith, who qualified second in his heat race for the main event, surged into third at the start of the race, thrilling a packed crowd. The race was intense, with the leaders battling hard on a track that punished the most minor mistakes.
Smith used his experience to push his TF 250-X into second after the halfway point and held the position until the chequered flag. The finish helped him maintain his perfect podium run in 2025 and advances him to second in the 250SX West series standings. Five points separate him from the championship leader.
Stilez Robertson, the team's second competitor in 250SX West, withdrew from the event after straining his wrist in the first timed qualification session. Additional updates on his status for future events will be shared in due course.
Triumph Factory Racing turn their attention back to Anaheim's Angel Stadium now, as the historic venue is set to host round three of 2025 AMA Supercross on January 25.
Ducati and Troy Lee Designs join forces in the AMA Supercross paddock to prepare for the Desmo 450 MX’s arrival in North America
In a historic moment for both Ducati and American off-road racing, Ducati and Troy Lee Designs have announced a groundbreaking partnership, marking the Borgo Panigale company's intention to enter Supercross off-road racing in the USA with the Ducati Desmo450 MX, a first for the company. This also marks the Desmo 450 MX's first public appearance in the United States, setting the stage for an iconic chapter in Ducati’s off-road racing history.
The first step in this partnership is the presence of the Troy Lee Designs team in Ducati Red at eight rounds of the 2025 AMA Supercross Championship, starting from Anaheim on January 11. The team will also have a special display at COTA MotoGP on Ducati Island, an exclusive fan experience that serves as a hub for Ducatista during the US-based MotoGP race. The American team will exhibit a protoype of Desmo 450 MX in the Supercross paddock, with special graphics created by the well-known Californian designer.
“We are super stoked to be partnering with Ducati, one of the most prestigious brands in motorcycling,” stated Troy Lee, founder of Troy Lee Designs. “Racing is core to our brand and enables us to develop our products for safety at the highest performance levels. I look forward to making history together with this partnership.”
For this pivotal moment in supercross history, nine-time MX World Champion, Ducati rider, and brand ambassador Tony Cairoli will join Ducati Corse Off-Road General Manager Paolo Ciabatti and other members of the Ducati team for this groundbreaking announcement over the weekend.
Representatives of Ducati North America will also be present at each stop of this “tour,” where they will be able to provide the public with information on the first “made in Borgo Panigale” motocross bike, which will be available on the North American market starting in July 2025.
SALES & PROMOTIONS
*PLEASE NOTE - THE 20% OFF SERVICE VOUCHER IS GOOD FOR ONE USE ONLY AND IS PER CUSTOMER, NOT PER BIKE.