TRACK CONDITIONS HALT THE IRTA TESTS IN QATAR EARLY

THE NEW APRILIA RS-GP CONFIRMED THE GOOD LEVEL ALREADY HIGHLIGHTED IN JEREZ

ALEIX IS CONSISTENTLY AMONG THE LEADERS, LORENZO IMPROVES BUT IS LIMITED BY A SHOULDER PROBLEM


The strong winds and a dirty track forced the MotoGP riders to wrap up early for the IRTA tests in Qatar, the second session on the Losail track. In any case, the work done so far gives Aprilia good reason to be optimistic for the first two rounds of the 2021 season which will be held just days away right here on the same asphalt.

These were just the first steps toward a new season and further confirmation is needed, but the new RS-GP, which already had positive feedback during the private tests in Jerez, showed good competitiveness both on the flying lap and in terms of pace. Especially with Aleix Espargaró, consistently among the fastest, whereas garage mate Lorenzo Savadori, although showing improvement, had to reckon with soreness from a shoulder injury that is proving to be more troublesome than expected.

Such a young bike obviously has room for improvement, so the team will be working on that in about ten days during the first official weekend. With the realistic goal of battling in the leading group.

ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"It’s a shame we weren't able to lap today and about the crash yesterday during the race simulation. Besides that, I am satisfied. These tests confirmed the good job that was done over the winter. The 2021 RS-GP has improved. We were consistently fast in spite of the extremely high level demonstrated by the Championship. This does not mean that there is no work to be done. We were unable to try everything we wanted to and, above all, only in the race will we truly be able to understand where our level is. Goals? Keep our feet on the ground, well aware that we can finally battle in the leading group."

LORENZO SAVADORI
"These tests were severely conditioned for me by problems with my shoulder. It is an injury that would need some down time to heal. From now to the race there will be a bit of time to recuperate, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to be at 100%. In any case, we were able to see the improvements on the new RS-GP which is more stable, has more grip and provides better ergonomics. There are areas where I still am not entirely confident, for example coming out of corners, but we're working on it. Both with the team and changing my riding style, also listening to Aleix’s valuable advice."

The British Motor Museum is delighted to announce a new partnership with King & McGaw to make its extensive photographic archive available around the world. King & McGaw are print on demand artwork specialists based in East Sussex, they make beautiful and affordable artworks and already supply many of the world's greatest museums and galleries including the V&A and The National Gallery.

This new print partnership will enable the nation to bring heritage images of the British motor industry into their home. The Museum’s photographic collection includes images of classic marques, such as Austin Healey, Triumph, MG, Mini, Rover, Land Rover, Austin, Morris, Riley and Wolseley; as well as advertising and fashion from the roaring twenties to the swinging sixties; giants of the motor industry such as William Morris (Lord Nuffield) and Alec Issigonis; the rich and famous including Winston Churchill and many more.

A selection of 77 images are now available to purchase in a range of sizes and as either a print, framed print or canvas, with more coming online in the future. Each sale will support the work of the Museum to care for and preserve its collections and archive for future generations. Each print is hand produced in the King and McGaw workshop and can be delivered to the UK or around the world.

Toby Batchelor, Head of Commerce at the British Motor Museum said “It is part of the Museums ethos to make our collection as accessible to as many people as possible - this new initiative will allow motoring fans to own their very own bit of British motoring heritage. King & McGaw came highly recommended by other museums so we know that we are offering our customers the very best of British in supplying our unique prints”.

Ian Barham, King & McGaw's Head of Business Development said, "As we approach forty years of proudly manufacturing in the UK, King & McGaw are delighted to partner with the British Motor Museum to make stunning images from their renowned archive available as high quality prints with hand-finished frames."

Prices range from £25 for a small art print to £200 for a large solid wood framed print. For more information about the prints please visit https://shop.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/collections/archive-prints

For more information about King & McGaw please visit https://www.kingandmcgaw.com/

Scrambler Ducati presents the limited and numbered edition Desert Sled Fasthouse model: a motorcycle created to celebrate the collaboration between Ducati Scrambler and the American clothing brand Fasthouse, which in 2020 took the rider Jordan Graham to victory in the Hooligan class of the Mint 400, the oldest and most prestigious off-road race in America.

The National Motorcycle Museum team wants to thank everyone who has given to both of our Covid-19 appeal raffles over the last year. As promised, following the recent announcement of HM Government’s “roadmap” out of restrictions, the funds raised are being used directly for the purpose of reopening the museum to visitors.

At the present time, and if the “roadmap” goes to plan, we intend to reopen the museum to visitors on Monday 17th May 2021.

INITIAL OPENING FROM MAY 2021.

Restrictions permitting, the museum collection, shop and restaurant will reopen on Monday 17th May 2021. Please visit www.thenmm.co.uk for further updates including opening hours.

HELP US TO RETURN TO NORMAL 7 DAY OPENING.

Whilst the funds raised so far will allow us to reopen in a limited way on 17/05/21, at the time of writing we have still only raised just over half of our original £500k reopening target.

As from Monday 21st June 2021, we would like to return to our normal 7 day a week opening hours.

Therefore we want to remind everyone about our ‘Museum Triumph over Adversity Recovery Appeal Raffle” which will help us achieve that aim.

Details of this important appeal can be seen below, and special thanks must go to our friends at Triumph Motorcycles for donating the brand new 2021 Triumph Trident 660 as a first prize.

1st Prize: Brand new 2021 Triumph Trident 660cc motorcycle.

Stunning new model donated by our friends at Triumph Motorcycles.

2nd Prize: 1978 Triumph Trident T160 750cc motorcycle.

Low mileage and only one previous owner.

3rd Prize: 1956 Triumph Tiger T100 500cc motorcycle.

Fresh from restoration in the museum’s workshop.

Images of all three prizes are attached for media use.

The prize draw for the “Triumph Over Adversity” appeal raffle will take place on Friday 25th June 2021 at The National Motorcycle Museum. Tickets cost £6.00 each and can be purchased online by visiting www.thenmm.co.uk

COVID-19 ROADMAP.

Like the rest of the UK, we are hoping that HM Government’s “roadmap” out of the current pandemic goes to plan, according to the dates set out. 

However, given the ongoing uncertainty, we will regularly update reopening details on our website www.thenmm.co.uk and our social media channels.

The Defensa is a new type of protector for handlebar fittings and hands. Made of high-strength aluminium, it offers superior protection. Its modular concept also allows adaptation to numerous motorcycle models and different conditions of use.

Handlebar fittings are among the most vulnerable assemblies on a travel enduro. Even a harmless "topple over" can lead to breakage of the levers or - even worse - the fastening elements. Under these circumstance, further travel is not possible.

For this reason, hand protectors have become established equipment for off-road use. The widely used, open plastic trays, however, are not particularly helpful. Although these keep out the elements, they offer no appreciable protection against injury or damage of either hands or levers.
Only closed protectors can withstand serious stresses. These have a bracket that is supported both near the mounting clamps and at the end of the handlebars, completely framing the fittings. This principle has proven itself in rally motorcycles under the toughest conditions.

High-strength forged aluminium construction

Touratech now goes one step further and has developed the Defensa protector, a hand and lever protector in a class of its own. This system consists of two screwed main components as well as a fitting set. By opting for a multi-part construction, the developers gained additional variation options to adapt the Defensa to the geometry of a wide range of handlebars and fittings. This means that the necessary space behind the protector can always be provided, enabling the levers to move freely. With the Defensa, the annoying tendency of the clutch lever in particular to hit the protector – as is often the case with universal products – is a thing of the past.

The strength of the construction is beyond reproach. The components of the Defensa are made of a high-strength, forged aluminium alloy, a proven material used in aircraft construction. With a frame thickness of up to 12.5 millimetres, the choice of dimensions is generous, whereby the issue of weight has not been forgotten. Precision manufacturing ensures excellent dimensional accuracy and therefore a precise fit. Due to the model-specific adaptation, tension-free installation is guaranteed as well as full steering lock.

Simple adaptation for on-road and off-road use

For pure off-road use, we recommend using the Defensa "Pure" version, where only the bracket is mounted. For mixed use, there is the Defensa "Expedition", which is equipped with a plastic wind deflector.

The plastic shell is slid over the main frame and clamped to the screw connection of the two aluminium components. If you need even more weather protection, you can also fit the "Extension" spoiler, which is available separately.

Whether off-road riding or touring, the Touratech Defensa offers reliable protection for handlebar fittings and hands.

The Touratech Defensa is available for BMW R 1200 GS (from 2013), R 1200 GS Adventure (from 2014), R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure, KTM 790 Adventure, Honda CRF 1100 L Africa Twin and Yamaha Ténéré 700. Further models are in preparation.
Wind deflectors and spoilers are both available in white and black.

Further information can be found at shop.touratech.de