The 2007 Yamaha YZF-R1 launch at the Losail circuit, Qatar. A track now favoured by many of the manufacturers for press launches thanks to superb facilities.
The 2007 YZF-R1 launch again. The handling was a massive improvement even if the ground clearance wasn't. A few corners later a footrest dug in and had me out of the seat and not looking quite as graceful…
The re-launch of the Aprilia RSV1000R at Losail again. The superb chassis, super-grippy Pirelli Supercorsa tyres and billiard smooth track surface made lean angles like this only too easy.
BMW's K1200GT proved to me that on the right bike there's as much fun to be had tearing around unfamiliar roads as there is ripping up an exotic racetrack. The handling and performance of this bike truly belied its looks and left me very, very impressed.
The launch of Bridgestone's BT-002 Racing Street road and trackday tyre. We were taken around the fantastic Ascari circuit by GP star, Jeremy McWilliams at a frightening pace - I ran off the circuit as I foolishly tried to keep up with him when the Honda's bellypan decked out and refused to make the corner!
Possibly the worst bike I've ever been invited to test on a press launch. Underpowered and underwhelming, the Buell Ulysses or 'Useless' as it was quickly dubbed was neither a good road bike nor a capable off-roader. The Sardinian roads were good though…
My 2003 long term test bike, Honda's benchmark Supersports bike of the time, the first of the CBR600RRs. I loved that bike right up to the point I wrote it off…
2005 version of the CBR600RR, evening sunlight, French mountain road and Paul Barton on the end of a 500mm lens. Result? Stunt monkey!
Triumph's Daytona 600 wasn't quite good enough to compete with the Japanese. Still a great bike though, and a bargain secondhand.
The limited edition Yamaha YZF-R1 SP. Exotic components made this something of Superstock rider's dream. I was lucky enough to test one of the first in the UK at a cold Mallory Park. The bike was destined to be raced by Jason Griffiths at the TT - thankfully he got it in one piece.
I've never been much good at stoppies. Photographer Ray Archer goaded me into 'one more for luck' on the 2004 GSX-R600 K4 launch. Luckily I'm wearing a dark visor. My eyes were out on stalks like saucers, I can tell you.
Enjoying my 2004 long term test bike, the awesome Suzuki GSX-R750. For a few weeks were allowed to use Dunsfold Airfield, the facility now enjoyed by Top Gear. Never did meet The Stig, mind…
Enjoying my 2004 long term test bike, the awesome Suzuki GSX-R750. For a few weeks were allowed to use Dunsfold Airfield, the facility now enjoyed by Top Gear. Never did meet The Stig, mind…
Another long term test bike I've been lucky enough to use, the Triumph Daytona 650 handled superbly but was let down by weak brakes.
Ducati's Hypermotard: totally impractical but a whole load of fun. World Superbike rider, Ruben Xaus joined us for the day on track and made us all look a bit average. It was fun trying to keep him in sight, though…
My 2003 long term test bike, Honda's benchmark Supersports bike of the time, the first of the CBR600RRs. I loved that bike right up to the point I wrote it off…
The re-launch of the Aprilia RSV1000R at Losail. The superb chassis, super-grippy Pirelli Supercorsa tyres and billiard smooth track surface made lean angles like this only too easy.
The re-launch of the Aprilia RSV1000R at Losail. The superb chassis, super-grippy Pirelli Supercorsa tyres and billiard smooth track surface made lean angles like this only too easy.
Photoshoots aren't all glamour, you know. This shot was taken in the early hours of the morning… in a cul-de-sac in Putney! On a tight deadline, we had no time to lose searching for a location. Ducati provided the subject, I hoiked one up and Paul Barton made it count with his Canon…
Quite possibly my favourite city bike, Yamaha's MT-03 is a great little bike to learn to stunt on. We were treated to a ride around some Spanish mountains but just a few weeks later, I found it just as much fun tearing around a wet Piccadilly Circus.
Suzuki's GSX-R750 K6, a tight twisty circuit and plenty of sunshine. Doesn't get much better than this, really…
…though the Daytona 675 runs it very close… Triumph's most successful racer of the modern era has been well worth waiting for.
The Yamaha YZF-R1 SP again, this time at a soaking wet Oulton Park. This was my first go on proper wet weather race tyres - the Bridgestone tyres were incredible even if my pace wasn't.
Suzuki's SV650 is indubitably one of the world's most versatile bikes. It makes a great stunt bike, commuter or track bike. Hell, there's even a race series especially for the little twin.
Grinding the pegs on Kawasaki's ballistic ZZR1400. The German launch was everything we expected: autobahns, schnitzel and over zealous police officers…
Suzuki's GSX-R750 K7 and a sunny day at Cadwell Park. Even in standard trim the GSX-R is good enough to put in decent lap times.
The long-awaited replacement for the SV650, the new Gladius proved that you don’t need huge power and plastics to have fun on a bike. Or a huge bank balance…
One of the most exciting bikes of 2009, the Streetfighter featured some clever and complex engineering to make it look so simple. Great on the racetrack, right up to the point it jumped out of gear mid-corner and spat me off…
The bike that dominated both WSB and BSB championships, but failed to deliver as a Superstocker. Great road bike, though with a power delivery and character all of its own, the Yamaha YZF-R1 was eclipsed only by the sales of the awesome Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.
This bike totally took me by surprise this year. Styled like every other GSX-R, it was easy to forget that the Suzuki GSX-R1000K9 was a completely new bike for ’09. Until you rode it. I was lucky enough to have one for six months and absolutely fell in love with it.
