In this week's MCN paper: Shock as 2021 IOMTT cancelled

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Dear MCN reader,

Welcome to this week’s new issue of MCN – headlining the disappointing, but understandable, news that the 2021 Isle of Man TT has been cancelled. It’s hard not to feel utterly deflated by the shock news this week that the TT will be a casualty of Covid-19 again next year: We’ve already lost it once, we hoped not to lose it twice.

But as unwelcome as the news is, it’s also great that the TT organisers and the Isle of Man government have taken this decision now so that riders, teams, race fans, and the thousands of people who spend all year gearing up to the delivery of the great spectacle know that it won’t be part of their 2021 calendar. It’s got to be better to take this supremely tough decision now and start planning for 2022 than to get weeks away from the races only to be forced to take the decision then.

We’re disappointed, the racers are disappointed, and fans all over the world will be disappointed – but let’s not forget that the TT organisers, government, and island businesses who rely on the TT each year will all be devastated, too. The best news possible is that the TT have confirmed the dates for 2022 – which gives us all the confidence that the greatest show on Earth will be back.

But it’s not all bad news this week. Also headlining this week is a new biography of Valentino Rossi, and we’ve managed to secure a series of extracts from it to whet your appetite for the other 99,000 words contained in the book. It’s not often that you get to read new information about a person whose life has been so well documented – but Stuart Barker’s new biography really delivers.

We also got to ride Ducati’s new Multistrada V4 S in Italy last week – one of the most anticipated new bikes of 2021. I won’t beat around the bush – it was exceptional. Fears that the introduction of the new V4 engine and even more tech aids would actually be a step too far for this adventure-sports offering have proved unfounded, and if you’re in this segment of the market it’s become the bike you have to try before you sign on any other dotted line.

And there’s more. We’ve got an exclusive update from Harry Dunn’s family and legal representative about the ongoing fight for justice. Having lost their case in the High Court, they’re not on the road to appeal, and possibly the Supreme Court – with the appointment of Biden to the US Presidency giving additional hope for action.

Norton’s new boss has also confirmed to us this week that the new factory is gearing up to restart production – read the full interview on what’s coming, in what order, and when. We also profile the man doing great charity work in the name of Evel, pic five great sporty used buys you shouldn’t ignore, show you how to keep your rear suspension seizure-free this winter, speak to Rory Skinner as he announces his move to BSB with FS-3 Kawasaki, reveal Triumph is returning to BSS with a factory team – and so much more…

Have a great week!

Ride safe,

Richard

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