The air of Italy brings benefits to Team Gresini MotoGP as both riders managed to earn the direct seed to Q2 today at Mugello. This is the third time in the season after the inaugural Grand Prix in Qatar and the Spanish event at Jerez de la Frontera. Marc Marquez was fifth quickest in practice with Alex in eight place, with the two separated by slightly more than half a tenth. 
 
In what has been – at least in the previous two GPs – a nightmare of a day, the smile is back on everyone’s face. Both riders will be able to work with a clear head in FP2 aboard their light-blue liveried Ducatis number 73 and 93 without any Q1 pressure and will be able to play their cards for pole position in what was the first of two home events for the Faenza-based squad. 

5^th MARC MARQUEZ #93 (1’45.345s)
“I had fun here today. I always struggled a bit here but today things went as hoped. We’re in a good place with regards to race pace, even though Pecco has something more, and we made a step forward with the time attack. Now there’s a difficult GP ahead: Q2 will be a challenga and we aim at a spot on the first two rows. We’re happy with the direct seed to Q2 and now we need to make sure it becomes a tradition.”
 
8^th ALEX MARQUEZ #73 (1’45.412s)
“I’m happy to be back in Q2 as so far our Fridays were not too kind. The feeling was good from the get-go, and we’ll work hard tomorrow in order to qualify on the first two rows. I lost a flying lap due to a slow rider in the racing line, but it went well and now we have a good opportunity for this weekend.”

The British Motor Museum is inviting visitors to step back in time when it hosts the ‘Classic and Vintage Commercial Show’ on 8 and 9 June. The show offers visitors a rare opportunity to reminisce about days gone by and relive the vintage era by seeing hundreds of pre-2003 commercial vehicles, including lorries, vans, and pick-ups.

The ‘Classic and Vintage Commercial Show’ is one of the largest shows of its kind in Europe and features a huge display of vehicles from vans such as Ford Transits, Morris Minors and J Types to lighter lorries from Austin, Bedford, Dodge and Ford Thames, through to heavier lorries such as AECs, Atkinsons, ERFs, Fodens and Leylands. There are models fitted with timber cabs, post-war steel cabs and even post-1960s fibreglass cabs.

2024 marks 100 years of the Morris Commercial Lorries. Visitors can stop by the Morris Commercial Club stands during the event to see a range of these historic knights of the road.

Over the weekend, a large commercial vehicle-related autojumble will be selling vehicle spares, photos, brochures, models, and other items. Inside there will be two sizable Indoor Model Shows featuring over 160 tables showcasing kit and scratch-built models of commercial vehicles and landscapes.

Tom Caren, Show Manager at the British Motor Museum, stated, “This is an unmissable chance to look back at a huge selection of iconic historic heavy vehicles. Whether you’re a fan of commercial vehicles, interested in vintage history or want to see the commercial vehicles that were on the roads in your youth, then this show is for you.”

Camping is available for those that want to make a weekend of it. This includes entry to the show for the driver and one passenger for the weekend. Additional tickets are available to purchase if extra passengers are required. Advance ticket prices are £16 per adult, £9 per child (5-16 years), Under 5 free, £14 per concession and £43 for a family.

To find out more information about the show please call 01926 895300 or visit the website at www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/classic-and-vintage-commercial-show

With its 19-inch front wheel, the new Honda Africa Twin Adventure Sports is now much more on-road orientated. So it is high time to make it fit for the big tour with an ergonomics and luggage package from Touratech.

Honda has further differentiated the Adventure bike range for the model year 2024. While the standard version of the CRF1100L Africa Twin is still predestined for real off-road adventures, the Adventure Sports sister model is now much more road-orientated with a 19-inch front wheel and shorter suspension travel. Touratech picks up the ball and offers customised accessories that make touring on the Adventure Sports a pure pleasure.

Perfect ergonomics for long distances

With a tank capacity of just under 25 litres, the Adventure Sports is made for marathon stages. Of course, the seating comfort has to be just right, which is why Touratech has developed versions of the tried-and-tested comfort seat that are precisely tailored to this model. The interaction of perfectly harmonised foam hardness, breech-relieving groove, carefully shaped contour and Fresh Touch cover make even hours of riding pure pleasure. The Touratech comfort seat for the Adventures Sports is available in three heights.

Aerodynamics play a central role in a well thought-out comfort concept. The Touratech windscreens are sophisticated down to the last detail in this area. Regardless of whether the Adventure Sports rider opts for a particularly touring-oriented high version, a windscreen at the original height or a sporty short shield, they benefit from optimised airflow conditions and correspondingly increased riding pleasure. The Touratech windscreens are available in clear and tinted versions. The removable Evo windscreen spoiler is recommended as a practical add-on for the standard windscreen or Touratech products.

The perfect riding position is also a very individual matter. With the Touratech handlebar riser, the handlebars can be positioned 20 millimetres higher, which tall riders in particular will appreciate. Anyone travelling on their Adventure Sports with rugged footwear will love the brake lever extension, which makes it easier to operate the rear brake. Navigation systems can be mounted conveniently in the rider's view with the GPS mounting adapter for the handlebar clamp.

Customised luggage systems

The full range of Touratech aluminium pannier systems is available for the new Africa Twin Adventure Sports. The basis in each case is the customised stainless steel rack. With the aluminium cases, there is a choice between the sturdy ZEGA Mundo, the particularly high-quality ZEGA Pro or the high-end solution with quick release ZEGA Evo. For riders who prefer a symmetrical rear, there is the special ZEGA Evo X system, in which the pannier is cut out on the exhaust side. With the exception of the Mundo, all ZEGA series are available in both silver and black anodised finishes.

If you want to lash a rack pack to the Adventure Sports, you can use the Touratech luggage plate. Numerous other tried and tested soft luggage solutions such as tank bags, seat bench bags and rear bags can of course also be used on the Adventure Sports.

Protectors - important not only for off-roaders

The Touratech Defensa hand guards offer protection for the handlebar fittings with their solid aluminium bracket and effective weather protection. The extremely reduced Leverguard version is aimed purely at road riders.

The engine crash bar is robust and made entirely of stainless steel, giving the Adventure Sports a pithy adventure look. Available in black or silver, the bar can be fitted with a practical tool box on request, which allows even large tool kits to be transported with a favourable centre of gravity.

The complete range of accessories can be found in the Touratech webshop

The British Motor Museum has launched a young artists competition to celebrate the opening of the new exhibition, ‘The Gallery 2024’. This exclusive contest gives young artists with a passion for automotive art, the chance to showcase their work at the Museum over the summer. There are three age categories for entry: under 11s, 11-16 years, and 17-25 years.

The deadline for entries is Monday 8 July. Entries in all mediums of artwork, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, and digital art are welcomed. The entry form can be found on the Museum’s website.

The competition will be judged by an esteemed panel, including artists John Ketchell and Kate Alger, Rupert Whyte from Historic Car Art, and Stephen Laing, Head of Collections & Engagement at the British Motor Museum. The winning artworks will be displayed in the Museum from Friday 26 July. The winner of each age category will also receive £50 worth of art vouchers, thanks to a generous donation from LifeWithArt.

In addition, and thanks to the generosity of the Museum’s Founder Patron, Peter Mitchell, each winner will have the opportunity to spend half a day with one of the artists featured in the exhibition, getting tips on everything from how to set the scene for their next artwork to how to succeed with art as a career.

Those looking for inspiration for their entry should stop by “The Gallery 2024” during their next visit to the Museum! “The Gallery 2024” is a continuing collaboration with Historic Car Art, which will run until 30 June 2024. The exhibition showcases 19 of the UK’s most talented automotive artists including Simon Britnell, Kate Alger, John Ketchell, Emma Capener and Neil Collins. The artists work with a variety of media, including acrylics, oil, watercolour, pen, and pastels.

Stephen Laing, Head of Collections & Engagement at the British Motor Museum, said, "We're delighted to collaborate for a second year with Historic Car Art to showcase the work of some of Britain's most talented artists and to launch this competition alongside the exhibition. We’re looking forward to receiving some really inspiring artwork from the next generation of aspiring artists”.

Access to the exhibition is included with standard Museum admission tickets. Museum entry is just £43 for a family in advance or £49 on the day, £16 for adults in advance or £19 on the day, £14 for concessions in advance or £17 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and get an Annual Pass in return at no extra cost.  To find out more information about the exhibition, please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/explore/the-gallery