The reason the filter tears there is it's the weakest part of the screening. It's also the closest to the oil intake. when the oil is cold at first start up the cold stiff oil pulls at the area of the screen closest to the intake the hardest. This just happens to be where the screening is the weakest.
The purpose of the guard is to divert the oil flow to a stronger part of the filter during this period. What you have there is plenty strong.
If you start the bike and let it warm up a bit before you ride off and keep the rpms low for the first few miles the filter may not tear.
Leo
