Race and rally legend Paddy Hopkirk and his son Patrick achieved the highest civilian driving standard in the UK recently, when they both passed IAM RoadSmart’s Masters with Distinction qualification.

Paddy, 86, and Patrick, 47, were assessed on 8 May by Richard Gladman and Stuart Haythorn, who ensure that all driving standards are of the highest level for IAM RoadSmart.

Paddy needs no introduction in the world of motorsport. Although he is famous for winning the 1964 Monte Carlo and 1967 Acropolis Rallies, he also raced at the fearsome Le Mans 24 Hours as well as many other circuits around the world.

Paddy was also greatly admired for giving up a sure win in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon to rescue with his co-driver Alec Poole a fellow competitor from his burning car.

For the past three years Paddy has worked as a volunteer for IAM RoadSmart as its Mature Driver Ambassador – travelling the UK talking about road safety and how older people can drive safely and with confidence on today’s roads.

Paddy and Patrick now join a select team of just 500 advanced drivers who have reached Masters standard with Distinction. There are around 1,000 Masters holders in total in the UK.

IAM RoadSmart Masters programme helps drivers take their talent to the next level. Building on the individual’s skills as an existing advanced road user, the Masters programme will help them enhance and develop their ability even further in the following areas:

• Cornering principles
• Assessing, planning and executing safe overtaking manoeuvres
• Recognising opportunities to make safe progress, within the speed limits
• Improving observation, anticipation and awareness consistent with vehicle speed
• Applying sound judgement of speed and distance

Paddy has already taken IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driving Course twice (27 years apart) and the Mature Driver Review.

He said: “It doesn’t matter if you are a rally winner or a daily commuter, everyone can be a better driver. I really want to keep developing my driving skills because the roads are always changing – it is very important to be aware of what is around you, and to make sure that all road users are protected from the risk of injury as much as is possible.

“I enjoyed taking the Masters as did Patrick, and am delighted to have reached Distinction. It is proof that there is no age barrier to being better and safer behind the wheel.

“I especially learnt that the habitual use of mirrors is very important; it’s the best way of getting the information you need to be a better driver.”

Mike Quinton, Chief Executive Officer of IAM RoadSmart, said: “We are proud of Paddy who has worked tirelessly on our behalf. Taking the advanced test and the Masters is not for the elite; it is something everyone can try – and everyone will benefit from. It could even save a life one day.”

Batteries are almost fully charged for Team Trentino Gresini MotoE, who in around a month’s time will be back on track for the first official testing after last March’s Jerez fire - which changed the plans of the new electric class of MotoGP.

Proceedings are about to resume with more energy than ever, with Falper joining Lorenzo Savadori and Matteo Ferrari in the new quest by becoming official sponsor of the “green” team led by Fausto Gresini

Falper specialises in furniture, sinks, bathtubs and complementary accessories that has in environmental sustainability and recycling two key points of their philosophy. The Italian company join Gresini MotoE’s project for 2019 and will have visibility on the front mudguard of the two Ego Corsa machines and on the pit-box graphics.

This weekend, hardcore punk band Cancer Bats frontman, Liam Cormier, set off for an adventure of a lifetime which will see him cover over 2000 miles as he rides from Birmingham to Marrakesh, Morrocco, for Scram Africa 2019 – wearing TCX Drifter boots.

He will then take part in the 930 mile on-road and off-road route of the Scram Africa event. Starting and finishing in Marrakesh, the route includes sections of the Paris-Dakar tracks and full sand dunes as well as crossing the Atlas mountains and the famous Dades Valley.

The day after finishing the seven-day ride on his custom-made Mutt Motorcycle, Canadian Cormier will then meet with his bandmates and start his tour through Europe, ending at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival in the UK on 25-26 May.

Excited about his adventure, Liam said: “I can’t wait to get started and it seems like everyone I’ve spoken to about the trip is into it. I love the idea of riding a bike that’s not known as a ‘typical’ adventure bike and I’ve also picked the riding kit I’m wearing carefully so that I’m protected but also don’t look like I’m about to ride thousands of miles. I hope that my trip encourages people to ride what they have for whatever they want to do on it.

“The Drifters are the perfect boots to tackle a huge adventure like this. They offer versatility for both on and off road adventure and not to mention they’re waterproof. For me, when leaving on a trip where I don’t know what I’ll be coming across its great to know that one boot will have me covered for the whole thing. More hardcore than the average boot, but still comfortable. I can’t wait to rip some desert!”

The Drifter WP boots features a soft brown leather upper with added gear change protection,double stitching and intermediate footbed to make it robust, plus microfibre front and rear folds. It has a waterproof lining and internal protection against heat in chamois leather. The boot fastens using three wear-resistant, interchangeable aluminum buckles with an ergonomic design. The soles have a deep tread and there are inserts in the ankle area and polyurethane shinbone protection. The Drifter WP is available in sizes 36-48 and has an RRP of £259.99.

www.nevis.uk.com

Liam will be documenting the trip across his social media channels, find him on Instagram @Treadwellclothing.

PAIN STOPPED ANDREA WHO ATTEMPTED A STOIC RETURN TO THE SADDLE

It was an important day of testing today on the Spanish Jerez de la Frontera circuit, with all the MotoGP riders on the track. Two Aprilias were kept busy, Aleix Espargaró’s factory bike and the test team’s bike with Bradley Smith, whereas Andrea Iannone attempted to get back in the saddle but had to throw in the towel because of the pain.

Aleix was the first rider on the track from the first seconds of the tests and he carried out a plethora of tests during the 80 laps total that he turned. The tests involved engine torque management, weight distribution, various traction control configurations and a brand new rear suspension setup. The Spanish rider finished the session with a best lap of 1'37,758.

It was a highly intense schedule for Bradley Smith as well, turning 82 laps, the fastest of which in 1'38.077. The Aprilia test team’s operations focused on new components, different setups and the assessment of a few Michelin tyre solutions.

Still dealing with the after-effects of his crash in FP4 Saturday which prevented him from taking part in the race, Andrea Iannone was loath to give in and tried to get back in the saddle today after receiving the all-clear from the doctor. Unfortunately, the lack of strength caused by pain in his left foot kept him from shifting gears properly, so the rider and team decided to stop testing straight away to give the foot as much time as possible to heal. Comforted by the good sensations he had in FP4 and the great job done by teammate Aleix, Andrea stated that he is confident in anticipation of Le Mans.

ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This day of testing was very important for us. In fact, I was the first one out on the track. We worked non-stop, both in anticipation of Le Mans and to continue development on the RS-GP. As always when testing, some solutions return better results than others. It will be essential to carefully analyse the data collected today to decide which line to follow in the upcoming rounds."

BRADLEY SMITH
"It was a rather busy day. We worked on three fronts: the hard front tyre, which we confirmed as the right choice for our bike on this track, weight distribution and some components we needed to evaluate in terms of performance and reliability. Since I got close to Andrea’s and Aleix’s performance, the feeling is that I can contribute to overcoming the limits that the factory riders are highlighting. It is not an easy process. It takes time, but we have a structure capable of doing it. I think that in the coming months we’ll be able to make some targeted changes in our weaker areas."

ANDREA IANNONE
"I tried, but I was lacking strength in my foot to shift gears. It’s a pity because I would have liked to use the day of testing to confirm the positive note on which we had begun to work in FP4 where, before the crash, I was doing rather well. We received some confirmation from Aleix in the race and that is definitely positive. From tomorrow I’ll begin my recovery, but I am sure that I’ll be able to be at 100% for the Le Mans weekend."

ANDREA IANNONE VICTIM OF A BAD CRASH

BRADLEY SMITH ON THE SEVENTH ROW

A tenth of a second kept Aleix Espargaró from gaining direct access in FP3 to the second qualifying session today, a tiny gap that bears witness once again to how competitive the MotoGP starting grid is on the Jerez de la Frontera circuit. The Spanish rider then went through Q1 boldly, finishing with a time of 1'37.625 that earns him the first spot on the sixth row.

His garage mate, Andrea Iannone, had a bad crash on turn 11 in the early stages of FP4. Although X-rays showed that there were no fractures, the rider was declared unfit to race due to severe pain to his left foot. The situation will be assessed and updated with a check-up tomorrow morning.

Bradley Smith will start from the seventh row tomorrow, doing his best time ever on the Jerez track while continuing his usual development work on the Aprilia RS-GP again today.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"This morning, we worked hard with the goal of going through to Q2, missing it by just one tenth of a second, after which I gave it my all in Q1 as well, but finishing in the top 12 just wasn’t in the cards. We cannot be satisfied with our starting position, but in compensation, during FP4 we found some good solutions for the race, both in terms of setup and in terms of tyres. Tomorrow I will try to start well and maintain a good pace all the way to the finish with the goal of getting into the top ten. We expect higher temperatures tomorrow, so I will probably put on the harder compound tyres which I feel better with."

BRADLEY SMITH
"Yesterday evening we did everything we could to relieve the pain and it was good to get back on the back feeling almost none. Having said that, we did not want to take too many risks today. In any case, my time in qualifying is the best I've ever done here at Jerez, so I am pleased even if I would have liked to have gotten below 1’38”, and we had the potential to do it. In the warm up session tomorrow we’ll try to use a mix of two different configurations we tested today in order to keep improving for the race, where we’ll be able to battle for points."