Simon Hancocks
Editor
Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
Prior to Visordown, Toad worked in the motorcycle insurance industry, before creating a role at a small motorcycle website and starting his journey as a journalist and road tester.
Since then Toad has launched bikes on all of the world's continents that aren't permanently frozen, covered hundreds of thousands of road test miles and always maintains that a bad day on a bike is better than a good day in a car!
Toad is happiest when touring through Europe, hammering a big adventure motorcycle up a trail, or riding around a race track, his favourite is Jerez, accompanied by a Panigale V4! He had a go at trials once, but it'd didn't go terribly well - his ambition definitely outweighed talent!
Now Toad is working through the restoration of a classic Ducati sports bike, and yes, it's taking much longer than he planned.
President Putin has gifted an Alaskan man a Ural Sidecar
President Putin’s meeting with President Trump has been big news, but we didn’t have the Russian leader giving out a Ural motorcycle on our Bingo card!
Daniel Ricciardo reportedly hospitalised following a crash on a dirt bike
Reports state he has collarbone injuries, although he is claimed to be in good spirits as he undergoes treatment.
What is next for Triumph’s growing TR-Series 400cc range
With the launch of the Thruxton 400 now behind us, could a more traditional modern classic Bonneville 400 be on the cards?
Here's how to watch all the action from the Manx GP for free
The ManxGP is, just as it was in the years between 2017 and 2019, being livestreamed on Facebook, YouTube, and the ManxGP website, completely free.
JD Stunts sets his sights on two more audacious records
JD Stunts is aiming to break two world records in one weekend, one for a wheelie sat on the bars, and another for the top speed riding backwards.
The world’s fastest drone has been racing a MotoGP bike at the Red Bull Ring
The world’s fastest FPV drone has been racing a KTM RC16 at the stunning Red Bull Ring
A new Bagger World Cup will arrive on the MotoGP calendar from 2026
The Bagger World Cup has been officially launched, as Harley-Davidson and Dorna announce the news at the Austrian Grand Prix.
Wild wallaby numbers top 1,000 on the doorstep of the TT course
A recent survey of the Isle of Man’s wallaby population found an estimated 1,000 of them with a density of up to 140 per kilometre.
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Billy Joel is selling his bikes and closing his shop following a rare diagnosis
Billy Joel is set to close his beloved Long Island motorcycle shop and auction off his bike collection because of illness.
An ex-Nicky Hayden Ducati GP8 MotoGP bike heading to auction
The bike was sourced in a dismantled state directly from the Ducati factory, but has since been built and just needs to be recommissioned.
Ariel Ace dubbed 'The Last One' is back on the market
The Ariel Ace, dubbed 'The Last One', rolled off the production line in 2024 and is now looking for a new owner.
Timothée Chalamet is set to play the part of a former MotoGP racer
Timothée Chalamet is reported to be teaming up with the Le Mans ‘66 director, James Mangold, for a movie about an ex-MotoGP racer called ‘High Side’.
Petrol and diesel prices creep up again
Petrol prices rise again, with tensions in the Middle East reportedly fueling the surge.
Italjet to begin sales of its Dragster 700 super scooter in China
QJ Motor is working alongside Italjet to begin building Dragster 700 models for the Chinese market
The 10 coolest bikes under £10k
Looking and feeling good on a motorcycle doesn’t have to come at a high cost, all of these bikes tick the 'cool' box and cost less than £10k
The standout feature on India’s ‘most futuristic’ 125 motorcycle
The Hero Glamour 125 is reported to be landing in the Indian market with cruise control, which is apparently a very big deal.
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Formula One star Charles Leclerc is selling his custom bike
The Ferrari Formula One star, Charles Leclerc, is selling his custom Husqvarna Vitpilen 701, and it could turn out to be a bargain!
Grab a slice of summer FUN with Suzuki’s low-rate finance and dealer contributions
Suzuki has launched a raft of deals across almost its entire range, with zero per cent finance and up to £1,300 dealer contributions on selected models.
What is Honda E-Clutch, why is it here, and who is it for?
The past 12 months have seen big changes as alternative transmissions have become the norm, and Honda is leading the charge.
Sweeping new speed limit for Birmingham set to arrive
Birmingham City Council is set to slash the speed limit to 30mph on almost all its roads following a successful pilot scheme.
Reports suggest Italy’s Fantic Motor is in trouble
Reports from mainland Europe claim that Italy’s Fantic Motor is feeling the pinch as several outside factors negatively impact the brand.
Remember Honda’s V3 engine? This is apparently what it sounds like
Honda has released a new teaser video which gives us an insight into what its V3 Compressor project is going to sound like.
Zontes is preparing to bring the 703 T adventure bike to market
Type approval documents have revealed the new Zontes 703 T, a new road-biased adventure bike option.
Bajaj is struggling to build enough bikes due to a critical supply shortage
A shortage of materials critical to EV production is holding back Bajaj, with it claiming that it will only hit 50 to 60 per cent of its target.
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