MARCO MELANDRI CONTINUES HIS RUN-IN PERIOD ASTRIDE THE RSV4 WITH WHICH HE WILL TAKE ON THE 2014 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP.

Aragon, 15 November 2013 - Preparations continue for the Aprilia Racing Team, reigning Manufacturer Champions, in view of the 2014 Superbike season. The setting for two days of testing was the Spanish Aragon circuit where Marco Melandri, new arrival on the Aprilia Racing Team, and the Italian manufacturer's test rider Alex Hofmann were hard at work.

The rider from Ravenna, former World Champion with Aprilia in the 250 class World Championship, continued his apprenticeship on the V4 from Veneto with which he will take on the World Superbike championship next season. This was the second test session for Marco Melandri after his first contact with the new bike at Jerez immediately following the last World Superbike race of the season. That was a test session which was nullified by less than mild weather conditions but where Melandri was left with a good feeling on the RSV4 anyway.

This time at Aragon Melandri was able to ride more consistently, putting in a total of 102 laps over the two days and increasing the feeling. Despite the low temperatures which counselled caution Marco finished with a best time of 1'58.0.

Melandri and the Aprilia Racing Team will also be busy on 25, 26 and 27 November at Jerez for the final testing session prior to the compulsory stoppage period.

Marco Melandri: “It has been two very interesting days even if they were complicated by the low temperatures. We worked on riding position and I was able to test an RSV4 with the same configuration Guintoli uses, gathering a lot of useful information. Now we'll wait for a day when the weather is better so that we can compare material and decide which way to go. It has been a good test and I can't wait to get back on the track to try and improve my times on the fast lap”.

Sylvain Guintoli was absent from Aragon after undergoing surgery last week to correct the right shoulder injury he suffered before the Moscow round that compromised his level of competitiveness during the last part of the 2013 season. The course and rehabilitation are proceeding according to schedule and he should be back on the track by the first months of next year.

The 2014 BMF May show sees the return of the new and exciting Adventure and Overland Touring area which was introduced in 2013.

Improved, enlarged and with more...

The BMF Show organisers have expanded the Adventure and Overland Touring area at next year’s BMF May Show and it will host some fantastic features. These will include a large number of trade stands, relevant to this sector of the motorcycling world including travel and tour companies, trade exhibitors offering luggage, GPS Systems, Clothing and all the practical information to start your own adventure!

If that's not enough, Organisers, The Mulberry Group say there’s more...

The Presentation Zone will give everyone the opportunity to meet a number of writers, experienced travellers and adventurers plus practical demonstrations ranging from how to pack your bike (and how NOT to) and what to do in cases of mechanical failure or emergency. A full list of confirmed speakers will be populating the shows website shortly www.thebmfshow.co.uk (follow the links to the Adventure and Overland Speakers/Presenters).

This area is totally FREE to enter for everyone at the show and will run throughout the weekend!

The Adventure and Overland Touring area will be located in the cattle shed next to Indoor Trade and Best in Show.

THE BIKER GUIDE® are delighted that the 3rd edition of the booklet is now available.

We have worked on this publication for many months of 2013, to prepare and finalise the design and layout, include new content and information.

Our main aim is to produce a high quality printed publication, organised into an easy to use format, great to take and keep on a Motorcycle.

We have every faith that it will continue to be as popular as our website, as it has fast become a much wanted, used and kept item for any Biker, especially when out on the road.

Glossy, A5 in size and 52 gorgeous pages... Get one now!

Tyco Suzuki has confirmed the signing of talented Ballymoney road racer William Dunlop for the 2014 season. The 28-year-old will ride alongside Lincolnshire's Guy Martin in next season's Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well as the other international road races - The North West 200, and The Ulster Grand Prix.

Dunlop will also take in a selection of national road races during 2014, and will partner Guy Martin at the Southern 100 in July - aboard a full stable of GSX-R machinery decked out in Tyco Suzuki livery.

Dunlop's 2013 TT campaign included joining the Superbike '130mph Club' at this year's and victory in the second Supersport race at the Ulster Grand Prix. He made his TT debut in 2006 and has two Monster Energy Supersport TT Race podiums, with third place finishes in 2012 and 2013.

He is delighted at the prospect of joining his local Northern Ireland based team for 2014 and said "Now that I have it all signed off I'm pretty excited to be honest. I know how fast the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600 is having followed Guy Martin this year at the Southern 100 and his results on the Superbike at the Ulster Grand Prix speak for themselves. I never expected to be riding for Hector and Philip this year but it just shows you what can happen in racing, and now that I am I can't wait to get started."

Philip Neill - Team Manager: "We are very pleased to complete our road racing line-up for 2014. It was a fairly last minute agreement with William, but one that we are delighted to announce, and our goal is now to help him achieve his first Isle of Man TT victory in 2014. As well as the three internationals, we will also compete in a number of national events with him next season.

"He's a very talented rider and I believe he's now at the right stage of his career to challenge for victories at all three internationals, and not just in the 600 class I might add, as he's also a very good Superbike rider."

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government commented: "William was one of the riders that we highlighted in our 2007 young guns advertising campaign and he's clearly now come of age as a rider. This deal represents the next stage of his TT career and next year's TT could well be the year when he finally achieves his potential and is the next Dunlop to stand on the top step at the TT. I'm sure that this news will already add to the anticipation around TT2014."

Former Isle of Man TT Sidecar Race winner Ian Bell is set to make a sensational return to the Mountain Course with confirmation that he will contest the 2014 event, adding further quality to what’s already the world's leading Sidecar race.

The Bedlington motorcycle dealer, who will be competing on Yamaha machinery, last raced at the TT in 2004, a year after he won the opening 3-lap race with passenger Neil Carpenter, but a heavy practice spill at Hillberry resulted in arm and hand injuries and led to him retiring from all competition. However, he was soon back in the driving seat, this time with son Carl in the chair and they will now contest the two races to be held next June with Carl making his debut around the 37 and ¾ mile course.

A former Southern 100 solo champion, Bell made the switch to three wheels in the mid 1990s and was an instant success at the TT where, with Craig Hallam in the chair, stunning finishes of fifth and sixth in 1995 saw him a deserved winner of the Peter Chapman Newcomers Trophy.

Two years later, Bell and Carpenter took their first podium finish with third in the second race of 1997 and they went one place better in 1999 with second behind Rob Fisher. Over the next four years, Bell and Carpenter regularly challenged the likes of Dave Molyneux and Fisher for the race wins and they finally got to stand on the top step of the podium in the first race of 2003. Although its 11 years since he last contested the TT, Bell’s best lap of 110.81mph still makes him the 16th fastest driver of all time.

Since returning to the sport in 2007, Ian and Carl have been regular front runners in the British F2 Championship taking the title in 2012 as well as becoming the Southern 100 Champions in 2009, which was Ian’s third three-wheel title around the Billown course following his successes in 1999 and 2000. The pair have also been regular winners at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.

Speaking about his comeback to the TT, Ian said: “I’ve been giving a TT comeback some consideration for quite some time and now it feels right with my son Carl having gained enough experience in the passenger’s seat for us to go and do a decent job there. We’ll go with no expectations other than to have fun and to see how we get on.”