ON TRACK...BMW M 1000 RR

When I first clapped eyes on this carbon-covered kryptonite, I can't say I was particularly dazzled by the new styling and upgraded aero package. Now I've seen one in the flesh, I've turned a full 180 and can completely appreciate the bodywork overhaul and the detail within.

- TIM NEAVE

The sheer size of the bike is the first thing that jumped out at me, and when you line it up next to the Honda, it's night and day in terms of stature and styling. The cockpit is simply huge, with a massive amount of wind protection; BMW claims that the revised aero package gives a 5mph bonus at top speed. I'm no physician, but to look at it, the M 1000 RR doesn't look particularly slippery, simply because it's so big, and with such a tall and wide fairing, but there's clearly a lot of research behind it, and getting out of the wind down the straightaways has never been so easy.

As good as the smoked-out windscreen looks, it's really not very practical for seeing where you're going on the track, but it does look fast, so I'll let them off. I love the carbon details, and the TFT dash - which is fully built into the carbon surround - is a particular favourite; you could be sitting on a MotoGP bike or in a fighter jet, it looks that cool.

BMWs have always been roomy, but this one feels even bigger. From a riding position point of view, it is just as spacious as it looks, and as awesome as that is for road riding or commuting, it did take some adjusting to on the track. My first run out on the Beemer felt awfully disconnected to the tarmac... I felt so jacked up that I didn't have a great understanding of the front end of the bike, and to get my knee on the deck felt a million miles, but after a few sessions I soon got a feel for things. The change of direction was noticeably lighter than the Ducati and Honda, especially down Craner Curves, and that could be thanks to the tall set-up, wide maximum leverage handlebars and, of course, the carbon fibre wheels and bodywork.