former MP Lembit Öpik has become the organisation’s new Director of Communications and Public Affairs.

MAG UK has also announced that Lembit won’t be tackling the communications and public affairs challenge alone. He will be working with biking campaigns guru, Dr Leon Mannings.

Lembit’s knowledge and contacts in the world of politics can only benefit MAG UK and bring new life and maybe even a bit of fun back into biking.

At the very worst, MAG UK will get loads of publicity and if that means people sitting up and looking – surely that can only be a good thing.

The World's greatest road racers will again go head to head for honours at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development has confirmed an unchanged race schedule following the record breaking 2013 meeting.

The 2013 meeting saw all of the solo lap and race records broken, except the Senior TT lap record from 2009, including a new outright lap record of 131.671mph by John McGuinness while Michael Dunlop claimed four stunning race wins at record pace as well as two new lap records.

A number of other race winners are confirmed for 2014 including the returning Ian Hutchinson, Bruce Anstey, James Hillier, Gary Johnson and Michael Rutter while Conor Cummins, Guy Martin, William Dunlop and Dean Harrison will be looking to claim their maiden race wins. Josh Brookes, the event's fastest ever newcomer last year, also returns in 2014.

In the Sure Sidecar Races, six former winners are expected to line up in 2013 including defending champions Tim Reeves and Daniel Sayle and the Birchall Brothers, Ben and Tom. 2012 Race winners John Holden and Andy Winkle will be looking to get back on the top step in 2014 while sixteen-time champion Dave Molyneux and his passenger Patrick Farrance will be looking to improve on their two podium finishes in 2013. The returning Ian Bell and his son Carl add further intrigue. Ian last competed in the TT in 2004 and was a race winner in 2003.

The race schedule kicks off with the now traditional curtain raiser the Dainese Superbike Race and the first Sure Sidecar Race on Saturday 31st May and is followed by Monday's Monster Energy Supersport Race 1 and the RL360 Superstock Race. Wednesday's packed programme gets underway with the SES TT Zero, followed by the Monster Energy Supersport Race 2 and the Sure Sidecar Race 2.

Friday - the climax of the meeting - opens with the Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight Race and culminates with the PokerStars Senior TT Race - a race with guaranteed drama and thrills if previous years are anything to go by.

Grandstand seating is available in four spectacular locations around the world-famous TT Mountain Course, each offering unrivalled views, dedicated parking, public conveniences, WiFi and live commentary. The TT Grandstand and Nobles Park Grandstand at the heart of the race paddock offer the unrivalled sight of the start/finish line and pit lane action while the course grandstands at Ballacrye and Creg Ny Baa have been chosen for their spectacular views. With food and drink also available to purchase, the Official TT Grandstands are the top vantage spots for 2014.

Fans can get to the heart of the TT Races race with the exclusive TT VIP Club, which offers complimentary bar, plus breakfast and a gourmet buffet lunch. The package also offers reserved grandstand seating; easy access to the TT paddock, plus exclusive appearances by leading riders and special guests. The ultimate experience is also available with the Platinum VIP Package which offers full hospitality hosted by a TT Legend, plus access to the start line, winner’s enclosure and post race press conferences as well as a much coveted closed road lap of the course in the official course car.

This year the TT VIP Club will feature the 'TT Preview Night' on Friday 30 May. Hosted by World Superbike legend Neil Hodgson, the ticket entitles you to a night of VIP Hospitality and a behind-the-scenes preview of the week’s racing. Tickets are priced at £60 and include a seat for that evening’s final qualifying session in the TT Grandstand, plus special access to the post-qualifying press conference as well as a buffet and autograph session.

Neil Hodgson will also be hosting the 'Moto GP Mad Sunday Lunch' on 1 June with some very special guests for the day’s coverage of the Italian MotoGP. Tickets are priced at just £60 and include Sunday lunch, pre-race chat and a post race Q&A session.

To book tickets visit shop.iomtt.com from 10am on Saturday 23rd.

The races form part of the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling, which also includes the Classic TT, the Classic and Two Day Trials and the VMCC's Festival of Jurby.

The 2014 Manx Grand Prix starts with a week of qualifying from Saturday 16th August. The race schedule kicks off with the MGP Newcomers races on Monday 25th August followed by the Junior MGP and SuperTwin/Lightweight MGP races on Wednesday 27th August and culminates with the Senior MGP race on Friday 29th August.

2013 saw some thrilling racing culminating in Michael Sweeney's thrilling last lap Junior MGP Race win when James Cowton retired with less than a mile to go from the chequered flag. There were also race wins for Michael Russell (SuperTwins) and Alistair Howarth (Lightweight) while Chris Dixon, Callum Collister and Ben Rea took the honours in the Newcomers A, B and C races respectively.

Commenting on the change to the 2013 schedule Harvey Garton, Chairman, Manx Motor Cycle Club said: "It makes sense to switch the Newcomers Race to Monday which gives newcomers the opportunity to compete in Wednesday's Junior Race. It will also take some pressure out of a crowded race schedule."

He continued: "We were very unfortunate with the weather for this year's meeting which resulted in us cancelling the Senior MGP and I'm keen that we remind everyone that we have the option to race on Saturday if racing is unable to take place on Friday. Hopefully competitors, fans and marshals will bear this in mind when making their travel arrangements as the Club is determined to do everything we can to run our blue riband race next year including taking up the option of racing on Saturday if we have to."

Tickets for all race days are available via Duke Marketing from 10am on Saturday 23rd. Call 01624 640000 or on-line at www.shop.iomtt.com

It has been over 30 years since Hesketh Motorcycles produced their last new model back in the early eighties. However, it is in 2013 that the re-launch of this famous brand will reach fruition as Hesketh owner Paul Sleeman, will unveil details of the first all new Hesketh model before the end of the year. Known as ‘The Hesketh 24’ (the number of the Hesketh Racing F1 Grand Prix winning car of James Hunt) the new model will bring the great British brand into the 21st Century with high quality engineering and a uniquely British design.

Hesketh has also undergone a careful rebranding since Sleeman took over, celebrating the British roots and high quality of these gentleman’s motorcycles, the marque now has a new logo and new modern website at www.heskethmotorcycles.co.uk

New Hesketh Luxury Clothing Collection The first official Hesketh Motorcycles merchandise in more than thirty years is also now available to buy directly on the website. Featuring the new vintage Union Jack design on t-shirts and 100% soft lambswool embroidered jumpers, these items are made to reflect the quality of this high class brand. Prices start at just £6.95 for a genuine leather embossed Hesketh keyring, while the red, white and blue embroidered cap, celebrating the team colours of the famous Hesketh Racing F1 team and the success enjoyed by the notorious James Hunt in his F1 car, comes in at £14.95.

The black, round neck t-shirt with vintage union jack and Hesketh logo design is available in sizes small to XXL and retails at £31.95. While the lambswool jumpers in black with embroidered Hesketh logo detail on the breast, also small to XXL are available now for £59.95.

The pièce de résistance of the new collection is undoubtedly the luxuriously soft Hesketh leather jacket. Handmade, from the finest leather, this casual jacket again continues the Hesketh red, white and blue theme with the different coloured leathers bordering the collar and central zip. Fully lined and with the Hesketh logo applique on the arm, chest and back, this is truly a unique jacket of quintessentially British design. Each jacket is hand sewn from the butter soft leather and will remain one of only a small number to be made; this coupled with the timeless design, means this jacket remains a piece to be enjoyed for life. The classic Hesketh leather jacket will be available in the Hesketh online shop from mid-December at £595.

For more information about Hesketh Motorcycles or to purchase any items from the new collection visit www.heskethmotorcycles.co.uk

for the New BMW R 1200 GS Adventure:

Dream Ship for Real Adventurers Among large capacity adventure bikes, the BMW R 1200 GS Adventure is regarded as an icon and is the dream ship of many adventure riders.

Following the explosive launch of the liquid cooled R 1200 GS at the start of the season, BMW presented the eagerly awaited Adventure model with its new engine and drive concept at the EICMA in Milan. Based on a rich wealth of experience gained from hundreds of thousands of kilometres of travel experience, Touratech presents the new R 1200 GS Adventure in a full long-distance trim.

There is unlikely to be another company that is so deeply involved in the topic of long-distance travels and adventure riding as Touratech.

This know-how is used for developing new accessories and enables Touratech to optimize even ultimate long-distance bikes such as the new Adventure model. As development partner of BMW Motorrad, Touratech founder Herbert Schwarz took the new dream ship for adventurers on its maiden voyage through South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. And, of course, the specifically developed Touratech products were part of this intensive test.

Touratech offers a comprehensive range of accessories for the new R 1200 GS Adventure. These of course include ZEGA Pro and ZEGA Pro2 panniers and pannier racks, comfort and sports seats in various designs and heights, the highly robust engine guard "Expedition" (also in XL!), a radiator guard which protects the sensitive ribs against damage, manifold -, cardan -, frame - and ABS sensor protection, folding brake levers and rearview mirrors, headlight protectors and hand guards as well as spoilers for the original hand protectors, etc.

Handlebar risers by 15 mm and a higher windscreen provide greater comfort, and relocating the cardan ventilation is an absolute must on long tours. There will also be a custom-made crash bar extension for the Adventure as well as a luggage rack extension. Be it soft pack solutions, GPS bracket adapters or "Works" foot rests - the accessory range for the new BMW R 1200 GS Adventure is available at shop.touratech.com and will be listed in the new Touratech catalogue available as from 10. January 2014.

www.touratech.com