The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has a new, important partner for the 2019 MotoGP campaign: Zoccarato Industrial Painting is in fact the new technical sponsor of the Italian team – who have recently completed the 2019 season opener in Qatar (March 10^th). 
 
With over 60 years of presence on the Italian territory and now leader in the industrial painting sector, Zoccarato Industrial Painting joins the Gresini family and their logo will be visible on the mudguards of the two Aprilia RS-GP machines of Aleix Espargaro and Andrea Iannone, as well as in the pit-box and on the MotoGP team trucks.

ZOCCARATO ALESSIO, Zoccarato Industrial Painting AD. “It’s an honour for us to become Technical Partners of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. Romeo Zoccarato – the company founder – began this activity in 1962, after a working experience as employee in the painting department of Aprilia. After 50 years of experience, passion and care for details have led us here. We wanted to be present within this team, a team that shows the same passion for their mission as we have for ours. I wish all the best to the Gresini Racing Team! The journey into 2019 has just started!”

FAUSTO GRESINI – Team Manager “Romeo’s story is really wonderful: going from being an employee of the painting department in Aprilia to become sponsor of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini. It’s with real pleasure that we welcome the Zoccarato family, owners of a great Italian company with an incredible tradition like ours. There is clear synergy between our two institutions and I hope this new partnership will bring immediate and positive results.”

A well-established, unmissable day in Erskine’s calendar is the Erskine Motorbike Meet, to be held on Sunday 26th May 2019. Once again the Veterans charity will open its Estate in Bishopton to welcome over 1,000 bikes from up and down the country for a fun filled family day.  

This popular event will kick off with a spectacular parade of bikes and trikes led by Erskine Veterans in vintage cars. The parade leaves from the Park Mains High School in Erskine at 12.40pm and arrives at The Erskine Home for the official opening at 1pm. From then on it is an afternoon filled with attractions which will appeal to old and young alike.

This year’s entertainment includes fairground rides; Port Town Rockers; Rock Us Choir; Ardblair Stones; Kennedy Cupcakes; UK Garrison, Market Village and lots of street food. There is also military support on the day including 7 Scots who will have a deactivated weapons display and the Royal Artillery with their light gun display.

One of the highlights of the afternoon is the Boccia Bowls match between the Bikers and Veterans. Needless to say this is highly competitive and the Erskine Veterans have won on more than one occasion, but will they triumph this year?

The Erskine Motorbike Meet runs from 1-5pm. Entry is £5 per bike and £2 per adult (free for children) with parking available at HP, Bishopton, PA7 5PP which is a short walk from The Erskine Home or you can hop on the shuttle bus kindly provided by McGills.

For further information on the event please contact the Erskine Events & Corporate Fundraising Manager Jennifer Campbell on 0141 814 4729 or email: [email protected] 

Janice Park, Derek Winter, Crasher Gus, Alison Winter on the coast road outside Rostrevor at the Ross Monument, Northern Ireland.
Featured on the cover of THE BIKER GUIDE 8th edition booklet.

In his new role as Chairman of IAM RoadSmart, the largest independent road safety organisation in the UK, Managing Director of Ford of Britain Andy Barratt has pledged to focus on driver and rider behaviour in the road safety debate.

In his new position, which starts on 1 April 2019, he will launch a revamped IAM RoadSmart Manifesto. The Manifesto highlights the seven areas where IAM RoadSmart believe they can make the most impact in reducing the number of people killed and injured on UK roads.

With an emphasis on the potential that improved driver and rider behaviour could have on the safety of our roads, the Manifesto acknowledges the importance of driving to the economy and business. It should be seen as a core skill for business and a health and safety responsibility for all organisations in the public and private sector.

The Manifesto will form the basis of a submission from IAM RoadSmart to the House of Commons Transport Committee Inquiry into Road Safety.

Andy has taken on the prestigious role of IAM RoadSmart Chairman from Ken Kier OBE, who steps down this month having been in the role for three years.

Andy has almost four decades of experience at the Ford Motor Company where he started as an apprentice. Since 2015 he has been Managing Director of Ford of Britain.

Speaking of his appointment, Andy said: “To be appointed chairman of IAM RoadSmart is an honour. I wholeheartedly support IAM RoadSmart’s Manifesto pledge that post-test training is vital for safer roads. I’m delighted to be taking a leading role for a charity whose principal purpose is to make better drivers and riders.

“In my roles at Ford, developing safe vehicles is the number one priority. In taking the Chair of IAM RoadSmart, my focus will be to ensure that human factors are high on the road safety agenda in order to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on roads in the UK.

“As a cyclist, driver and pedestrian I’ve been pleased to lead Ford’s ‘Share the Road’ initiatives, encouraging cooperation and understanding between road users. As a motor industry representative chairing IAM RoadSmart, I believe that we can continue to find common ground, cooperation and practical ways forward to make sure that real change happens - with vehicle makers, politicians, the media, and with all road users.”

IAM RoadSmart’s Manifesto focuses on the importance of boosting the confidence of drivers and making it an enjoyable activity, while keeping everyone safe at the same time.

Embracing all stages of a driving and riding career from immediate post-test into older age, the Manifesto underlines the importance of periodic refresher courses. It also includes extending driver rehabilitation after a conviction for a wider variety of motoring convictions.

It also highlights the changing world of new technology as the switch to autonomous and connected vehicles continues to gather pace.

Mike Quinton, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer, said: “I am delighted that we have attracted someone of the calibre, standing and seniority in the UK automotive industry as Andy to the role of Chairman.

“I am confident his knowledge and contacts will be invaluable in driving us forward and I look forward to drawing on his skills and leadership experience.”

Max Coates, multiple-race winner and championship favourite in the Renault UK Clio Cup, will be running the IAM RoadSmart logo on his 130mph Clio for the 2019 season.

Max, 25, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, was one of 15 up-and-coming young racing drivers who are part of the British Racing Drivers’ Club (BRDC) Rising Stars and SuperStars programmes who took the IAM RoadSmart advanced driver test during an intensive two-day event called #Formula DriveSmart at Silverstone last December.

#FormulaDriveSmart was championed by race and rally legend Paddy Hopkirk MBE.

Max scored a F1RST in his advanced test and to show his commitment to safe driving he has agreed to donate space on his Renault Clio to promote IAM RoadSmart and its activities for the 2019 season.

He is racing with Team HARD in the 2019 Renault UK Clio Cup. Team HARD is also taking part in the British Touring Car Championship with Bobby Thompson – who also achieved a F1RST at #FormulaDriveSmart.

IAM RoadSmart is delighted that Max has made the gesture, as it puts the charity’s name directly in front of the biggest at-risk age group when it comes to drivers - young men under 25 - with a large television, social media and race-day audience.

Max said: “I am more than happy to be supporting IAM RoadSmart on my car this year. Taking the advanced driving course made me think about observation and planning on road far more than before, and I saw that my driving could become smoother and I would derive more enjoyment from it as a result.

“Those principles of planning, reading the road ahead and anticipation should stand me in good stead on the race track this year – I hope you’ll all come out and cheer me on in 2019!”

Mike Quinton, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer, said: “Many thanks to Max for agreeing to run our name on his car this year. Getting the word out about our work will be invaluable in showing young drivers how relevant advanced driving can be to them – it is an enjoyable activity and could save a life one day.”

The Renault UK Clio Cup supports the British Touring Car Championship, so look out for Max and his Clio as part of ITV4's race coverage through the year.

If you want to take a look at what #FormulaDriveSmart was all about take a look at our video about the event here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vp_zr69tXQ