British Winter Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller takes to two wheels

•22-year old Aimee Fuller - Team GB medal hope for Olympics
•Completes CBT on 125 Duke before Games
•‘Slopestyle’ Snowboarder used to race motocross
•Planning on a 390 Duke and completing full test after Games
•Watch the video of Aimee’s CBT here

Winter Olympic snowboarder, Aimee Fuller, has taken the first steps in getting her motorcycle licence by completing the Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) on a KTM 125 Duke.

One of the country’s most promising freestyle snowboarders, Fuller, 22, will represent Team GB in the ‘Slopestyle’ event in Sochi, Russia, on February 6. Originally from Kent but based in Holywood, County Down, Aimee needed two top 12 finishes in the last two World Cup events to represent her country at the games and did so with 11th and fifth, sitting eight overall in the world standings.

No stranger to bikes or KTM, Aimee began riding on a 50SX and even competed in motocross for a number of seasons from the age of X. Earlier this winter she found time to head to Shires Motorcycle Training (Derby) and complete her CBT as the first stage to obtaining her full licence.

Aimee Fuller said: “I’ve always wanted to get a road bike, but I’ve been so busy travelling and competing all over the world to find the time to do it. Fortunately, I was able to do my CBT with Shires on a 125 Duke. I’ve sold my car now, so once the games in Sochi are finished I’m going to complete my full test and get a 390 Duke.

“Bikes will be a buzz for me when I’m away from the slopes and I’m planning a big tour through Norway in the summer taking in snowboarding, surfing and bikes – as long as I pass my test!”

In 2013, the 125 Duke became the first bike in its class to be equipped standard with a two-channel (front and rear) ABS system and for 2014 it continues to be offered with free insurance* and 0% finance options.**

Incredibly easy to handle, lightweight, torquey, comfortable and perfectly suited to everyday use alone or two-up, the Duke has also been tested and ergonomically designed for extreme manoeuvres and thrillingly fast cornering. The bike is supremely well equipped, robust, extremely economical, inexpensive to maintain and only £3,995 on the road in a choice of orange or white.

Visit www.ktm.com for more information.

Looking for a new motorcycling challenge this year? Well, we have plenty at the London Motorcycle Show at Excel, 14-16 February. Come and see Asian Adventures by H-C Travel on stand A68 (next to Touratech).

For all of our female customers, we have a special treat. Come and meet Tiffany Coates, global bike adventurer, who is leading the World's first even women only tour to the World's highest pass, Khardung-La in India this summer. I'm pretty sure that after speaking with her you'll be hooked on the challenge and want to join her!

And just so you guys don't feel you've missed out, why not come on one of our regular Himalayan tours. We pioneered Himalyan touring in the 1990s, running the first tour to the World's Highest Pass, as well pioneering Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, Rajasthan and Kerala in India, Thailand, Laos and the Philippines. That experience pays off for our customers in many way, in sometimes difficult conditions, and there's plenty of adventure for anyone!We still have places left on this summer's tours, and we're offering early booking discounts for Winter and Summer 2015 at the show.

www.hctravel.com

Welcoming in a wet, windy and cold new year the cafe's Friday "Bike Nights", through February (excepting Valentines night 14.2.14), and on the last Thursday of the month's Harley Night, includes opportunity to win an Ace goodie pack.
 
Spend £5 or more over the counter from 6pm and receive a raffle ticket. The draws will be held at 10pm:
 
 Friday 7th February
 Friday 21st February
 Thursday 27th February
 Friday 28th February
 
For more information about what's on in 2014, check out the scrolling calendar on the Homepage

www.ace-cafe-london.com
 

Ace Cafe London has a pair of tickets up for grabs as a raffle prize to spend an evening with Steve Parrish on his forthcoming "Mad Tour", a funny and informative evening, hosted by his daughter Frankie Parrish, and which opens on 12th February at the Beck Theatre, Hayes, Middlesex, and subsequently on the following dates:

13th February - Melton Theatre, Melton Mowbray
20th February - Playhouse Theatre, Harlow
23rd February - Courtyard, Hereford
28th February - Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham
2nd March - The Muni Theatre, Colne

Steve, currently the BBC commentator for Motor GP, raced at the highest level of motorcycle racing, becoming the British Champion in 1976 and 5th in the 1977 500cc World Championship, his team mate and that year's champion, Barry Sheene is quoted as saying "If he was to set up his bike as well as his victims and had put as much effort into the bike as he did the intricate pranks he pulled on people he would certainly have been a World Champion".

Spend £5 or more over the counter at the cafe from 6pm on Friday 7th February and receive a raffle ticket. Draw to be held at 10pm.

www.madtour.co.uk

For more information about what's on at the Ace, click on
www.ace-cafe-london.com
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Leading International road racing team and National Superstock 1000cc Championship front runners SMT Racing will return to the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy in 2014 with former TT Privateer's Champion Dan Stewart again the rider on board.

The Cumbrian has long been one of the most consistent performers around the Mountain Course and enjoyed a strong first year with Robin Croft’s team last June, posting two top ten finishes and recording a new personal best lap of 129.077mph in the Dainese Superbike Race. Indeed, only cruel luck when a stone pierced the radiator prevented him from at least matching his best ever result of sixth.

The Lancashire-based team has increased its presence on the roads in recent years, with Tim Reeves and Daniel Sayle providing them with their greatest moment with their first ever TT win when they took the opening Sure Sidecar Race last June. They also achieved their maiden International victory with Michael Rutter win at the 2012 Macau Grand Prix, a result he followed up with second at the corresponding race last November. SMT Racing also gave Karl Harris his road racing debut at the 2012 TT.

The team has also had a strong presence on the short circuits for many years, running regularly inside the top ten of the British Superbike Championship and more recently has been contesting the National Superstock 1000cc Championship with Adam Jenkinson only missing out on the 2013 title by three points. Swedish rider Filip Backlund will spearhead their short circuit challenge for the forthcoming season.

Stewart will have a full array of machinery for this year’s TT where he will be looking to increase his impressive tally of 18 top ten finishes. The motorcycle dealer from Barrow-in-Furness will ride a Honda CBR1000RR in the Dainese Superbike and Pokerstars Senior TT Races and he will also be Honda mounted for the two Monster Energy Supersport Races. He will contest the Royal London 360° Superstock race on either a new Honda or his regular National Superstock Championship Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Wilcock Consulting, long time backers of Stewart, will again continue with their support and the 38-year old will no doubt be a thorn in the side of all the factory-backed riders as he looks to better the sixth place finish he’s achieved on three occasions to date.

Team owner Robin Croft commented: “We are delighted to be returning to the TT in 2014 with Dan Stewart. I’m a massive fan of the TT and it is the highlight of our year. Dan did a superb job for us last year and we plan to build upon that experience in 2014 and hopefully cause a few shocks. Dan’s not far away from a 130mph lap now and we are sure he will achieve that this year and will be a regular feature at the top of the leader boards.”

Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2014 TT Races. Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets are sold out but there are still TT Fan Zone Grandstand tickets available at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park during practice and race days. Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets. All tickets are available from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.