With all that has gone wrong in the world this week, I thought I'd dedicate this week's column to covering something a little more cheery. So here are some genuine news items from the world of motorcycling, showing the weird, wonderful and funny side of life:
1) A fetishist, who "gets a sexual thrill from riding other people's motorcycles" was spared a prison sentence by Singapore magistrates.
Ding Poh Too was placed on two years' probation after stealing an Sin$8,700 bike at
Marina Bay Sands. Mr Too was diagnosed with the fetish over 20 years ago, which has landed him in prison at least three times.
2) An artist in Bangkok, Thailand, has created a stunning motorbike from scrap metal, designed to look like the Alien from the classic science-fiction series of films! The bike is the creation of 54-year-old Roongrojna Sangwongprisarn.
3) When Harley-Davidson set the date for their annual shareholders meeting, the ideal place to hold the event seemed to be their own museum in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, they were turned away at the door, as another group had already booked the site!
4) OK, this isn't strictly motorcycle-related, but it is such a daft idea and two very deserving charities will benefit that it deserves a mention.
Tony Dwight & Daz Whitehead will undertake a trip from John O'Groats to Lands' End... on LAWNMOWERS to raise money for two charities - Help for Heroes & Cancer Research UK.
For more details and to contribute to this worthy cause, click here.
Also, perhaps it is time to change my name to "Mystic Bob". In last week's column, I discussed the British Superbike Championship and how they take a visionary stance to keep their series competitive but budget conscious. Just a few days later, the BSB organisers announce new regulations that will keep costs down and encourage competitiveness, especially ensuring that privateer teams can compete against the factory-supported outfits.
A key change is the rev limit restriction to just 750rpm above standard, which will be set by use of a series-specified ECU. Other changes include retaining the standard piston and valves to control tuning excesses - which is where a lot of the expense comes from, and also has the benefit of keeping the bikes at least closer to the ones you could ride on the road and modify along the same lines.
These changes will keep the grid full, ensure close racing and hopefully big crowds will continue to pour into BSB races. Plaudits where plaudits are deserved, the organisers of BSB deserve a huge pat on the back.