This year’s MCN London Motorcycle Show certainly had a Ducati theme with three former Ducati World Superbike Champions, four World Championship winning Ducati’s and one current Moto GP Factory rider attending.

Four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty kicked off proceedings on Friday morning with ‘Foggy Friday’ a tribute to the most successful World Superbike rider in history. An emotional Fogarty was reunited with his quartet of title winning Ducati’s in front of a packed audience. The Four Championship winning bikes from '94', '95', '98 'and '99' had been shipped over from the Ducati museum in Bologna for this historic reunion with ‘King’ Carl.

Another historic bike that had made its way from the Ducati Museum was Mike Hailwood’s 1978 TT winning bike that was part of a display of Hailwood memorabilia.

BT Sport used the London Motorcycle show to publicly announce their commentary line-up for the 2014 Moto GP season which included former Ducati Word Superbike Champions Neil Hodgson and James Toseland as well as former Olympic Athlete and Ducati rider Iwan Thomas. They were joined by the new Ducati factory rider and MotoGP ambassador Cal Crutchlow who took time to visit the Ducati UK stand, sign autographs and chat with fans.

One of many Ducati fans to visit the stand was the acclaimed celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood. Paul who owns an 1199 Panigale tried a number of bikes for size including the Streetfighter 848 and the 1199 R Panigale. Paul also took time to see the Ducati display of World Superbike Championship winning bikes.

The Ducati UK stand would not have been complete without some race bikes on display. The centre piece of the stand included a race prepared 899 Panigale which will compete in the Ducati TriOptions Cup and an 1199 Panigale which is the Ducati Coventry entry into the British Superbike Championship.

Although racing is the lifeblood of Ducati, it was the company’s stunning range of bikes that the visitors came to see. The highlights of the 2014 range are without doubt the 899 Panigale which has received rave reviews since its launch towards the end of 2013 and the Monster 1200 which has yet to hit the market place. The Monster 1200 had been tested by the international press the previous weekend to the show and is also receiving extremely favourable reviews.

Elsewhere at the show, the California Superbike School displayed for the first time with Ducati as a partner. The highly regarded cornering school has entered into a new agreement with the brand and will be using a selection of 899 Panigale, 1199 Panigale and Monster 1200’s. For further information on the school and the upcoming dates visit www.superbikeschool.co.uk

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HE Classic Bike Shows team is returning to Scotland once again in 2014, and is delighted to announce that the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show is expanding and making a move to the Royal Highland Centre near Edinburgh.

Taking place on the weekend of August 9-10, two spectacular days of action will see visitors treated to row-upon-row of display bikes from clubs and private entries, manufacturers, trade stands, autojumbles and star guests covering both modern and classic machines and eras.

Exhibition manager Nick Mowbray said: “To see our portfolio of events expanding is something the whole team is proud of and we can’t wait to hold the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show at Scotland’s premier events venue.

“The Royal Highland Centre is a superb facility and the move there, combined with an aim to bring together all that is best in both modern and classic motorcycling, will see the Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show become the most complete bike weekend in Scotland.

“The diversity on offer at the Royal Highland Centre means that we can have halls jam-packed with manufacturers, trade stands and autojumbles, as well as areas where we can have heart-stopping, adrenaline-pumping live action.

“And what’s more, with both modern and classic motorcycling being celebrated, both modern and classic clubs will come together in one superb weekend – it’s one of the few shows where you will see this happen.”

Advance ticket prices for the event have been announced, with a one day adult ticket costing a bargain £6 – a 25% saving on the gate price.

Further show information – including show news and opening times – can be found on the brand new Classic Bike Shows website, www.classicbikeshows.com, or give the team a call on 01507 529430.

Paid Motorcycle Market Research! £100 for two hours

Forensic Fieldwork Ltd is specifically looking for owners of:

Suzuki GSX-650F
Yamaha XJ6 Diversion
Yamaha XJ6 Diversion F

To attend a focus group, lasting two hours, that will take place at 7pm on Thursday 6th March in Central London. To this end all respondents will be asked to bring their vehicle docs (V5)

Respondents will receive £100 for their time and input.

The purpose of the research is to talk to current owners of these motorbikes, get their feedback on usage and thus be instrumental in design ideas for the next generation of vehicle.

As well as being a unique opportunity to influence the future of the bike, all registered attendees will be offered an honorarium to thank them for their time and input. Only your personal opinion is important. It is not a sales / promotion event. The event management is entirely independent and neutral.

This would be a great opportunity for riders to help design future models.

If you are interested, please contact:

Aaron Sion, Project Principal, Forensic Fieldwork Ltd.

+44 20 3435 5715

[email protected]

More motorsport rarities from the world of racing and rallying along with a list of legendary names have been to the line-up for this year’s Race Retro, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, from 21-23 February.

As part of the show’s tribute to McLaren, three cars from the RofGo Collection will join the M23 already on display; the 1996 McLaren F1 GTR ‘Short Tail’ chassis no. 15R, which was built for GTC Motorsport to contest the 1996 BPR Global GT Series and the Le Mans 24 Hour race, the 1972 M16B-2 Can-Am, one of the all time great Indy cars, and the 1970 M8D chassis no. M8D/4, understood to be an M8E prototype rebuilt to M8D specifications and raced to victory by series winner Denny Hulme.

Group B and C rally cars including Rauno Aaltonen’s Mini Cooper, the Rothmans Audi Quattro, the Brookes Sapphire and ex-Auriol Ford Sierra Cosworths, the ex-McRae Lotus Cortina and the ex-Alister McRae Hyundai F2 Coupe will roar into action on the purpose built Live Rally Stage on Saturday and Sunday.

Also expect to see a raft of Metro 6R4s as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations as well as famous faces at the wheel including long time Race Retro supporter Russell Brookes, in the Sunbeam Talbot and Opel Manta, and John Price in the Renault 5 Maxi Turbo. The cars will be in the Parc Ferme area in Hall 4 before heading to the rally apron and onto the start line.

This will also be the starting point for two live events - The Retro Challenge that will head from the exhibition to Southampton and the Winter Challenge with around 20 drivers heading off on a five-day rally to Monte Carlo. Scrutineering for both events will take place in the Parc Ferme area and as soon as the flag is waved, both events head into the first tests, which will take place on the Live Rally Stage for Race Retro visitors to enjoy.

Meanwhile back in the halls on the live Interview Stage, hosted by motorsport presenter Gemma Scott, there is a line-up of racing and rally legends throughout the three days. Saturday sees the appearance of racing icon Sir Stirling Moss who will not only be answering Gemma’s questions but also visitor questions in an open mic session.

Sir Stirling will be joined by motoring TV presenter and campaigner Quentin Willson, who will be talking about the revival of Lister Cars as well as his own classic collection, and triple British Rally Champion and Hollywood stunt driver Mark Higgins.

There will also be plenty of Race Retro favourites including ex-Top Gear presenters Tony Mason and Steve Berry, multi-championship winner Barry Lee, Touring Car’s Win Percy, Jaguar test driver Norman Dewis, and infamous racing legend Barrie ‘Whizzo’ Williams.

Rally driver Peter Clarke and co-driver Phil Boland will make their Race Retro debuts. Peter won 1978 British Group 1 rally championship in a RS2000 that will be on display at the show as well as driving the Escort Mk1 with Tony Mason that crashed out of the 1971 RAC Rally resulting in Mason sitting on the roof of the Escort in the lake.

As well as co-driving with Peter, Phil Boland was also the co driver for the late Henri Toivonen in 1979 when Henri drove for the PCA/Total Oil motorsport Team.

Driver Terry Hunter, one of the original drivers of Triumph Spitfire ADU7B in the 1960s will also appear alongside Tony Southgate, a famous British engineer, race car designer, and President of the International Guild of Specialist Engineers.

With hundreds of traders offering everything you need for the coming season – be it driver or armchair enthusiast – from racing suits to motorsport memorabilia, Race Retro is the perfect start to the motorsport season.

Adult tickets for Race Retro, sponsored by Peter James Insurance and Stewart Miller Insurance, start at £20 in advance with children’s tickets at £5 for Friday and Saturday and free on Sunday. Car parking is free. The show is open from 9.30am each day and closes at 5.30pm on Friday and Saturday and 4.30pm on Sunday.
To book tickets and for the latest updates, visit www.raceretro.com