The Honda TT Legends team has signed an agreement with Motul, Europe’s leading motorcycle lubricants company. Motul will support the team as it contests the World Endurance Championship, the Isle of Man TT and the Northwest 200 aboard the 20th anniversary Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade. 
 
The team will use the lubricant specialist’s Motul 300V Racing Kit Oil, which has been specifically developed for the Fireblade in conjunction with Honda Racing Corporation and uses new Ester technology for maximum power output and engine performance.  
 
Motul already has significant links with the endurance championship through its support of other leading teams and uses the demanding discipline for extensive research and product development. The company also acts as the official lubricant supplier for the Isle of Man TT and, having crowned over 50 world champion titles, is hoping to add a TT victory to its list of triumphs. 
  
The Honda TT Legends rider line-up of John McGuinness, Cameron Donald, Gary Johnson and Simon Andrews will compete in EWC, while McGuinness and Andrews will form a two-man squad for the TT and the NW200. 
  
Neil Tuxworth, Honda TT Legends team manager
 
We are really pleased to announce the agreement with Motul. The company has valuable expertise in EWC, so this is an ideal collaboration as the team enters its all-important second year of competition. As an official partner at the TT, Motul is also ideally placed to support the team on the Isle of Man. We are looking forward to seeing the results of the relationship.
 
Hervé Amelot, Motul managing director
 
We are delighted to reinforce our links with motorcycling through our support of Honda Motor Europe’s endurance and road racing programme. The Honda TT Legends team has assembled an excellent rider line-up for 2012 and, in light of our role as official lubricant supplier to the Isle of Man TT, what better line-up is there to be involved with than the fastest man around that course and the 2011 fastest newcomer? 

The re-introduction of the Lightweight TT into the 2012 Isle of Man TT Races, this time under the guise of Supertwin machines, has seen an excellent response with over 60 entries submitted as entries closed. As well as being high in quantity, the race is also set to be high in quality with six former TT race winners in the line-up.

KMR Kawasaki’s Ryan Farquhar is an early favourite for honours, given his track record and the fact he’s been a major flag bearer of the class. He will be bidding for TT win number three but can expect tough opposition from a number of riders, not least his new team-mate Michael Rutter. In another terrific coup for the race, the Midlands based Rutter, a double TT winner himself, will ride a Farquhar-prepared ER6 Kawasaki. This will be his only appearance in the Supertwin class in 2012, and he will certainly be a potential race winner.

Another early contender for the race win will be Northern Ireland favourite Michael Dunlop. Winner of the 2011 Royal London 360 Superstock Race, Michael Dunlop has announced he too will contest the new 3-lap race on an ER6 while brother William, who will be chasing his first TT podium, has also entered with an ER6.

Cameron Donald and Ian Lougher are two more TT winners who have confirmed their entry in the class on the Kawasaki machines, the Australian riding for the DP Coldplaning team and the veteran Welshman in the colours of Stewart Smith Racing.

Indeed, the Kawasaki is the most popular choice of machine with James Hillier riding another bike prepared by Farquhar although he will run it in his regular Bournemouth Pr1mo Kawasaki livery. Last year’s fastest newcomer, Simon Andrews, 3 times TT winner Adrian Archibald and Irish road race aces John Burrows and Davy Morgan can also be expected to feature on the leaderboard on their ER6 bikes.

Although Kawasaki’s dominate the entry, Suzuki will have a strong presence with their hopes resting with Dan Kneen and Ben Wylie. The young duo not only have a great chance of spoiling Kawasaki’s hopes, but also claiming their first TT podium in Friday’s 3-lap race.

Meanwhile, a number of leading privateers have, as hoped, embraced the new class with Ian Mackman, Ian Pattinson, Paul Shoesmith, Russ Mountford, Rob Barber, Stephen Thompson, Dean Harrison and the returning Olie Linsdell all entering. TT Rider Liaison Officer John Barton will also contest the race whilst newcomer Jamie Hamilton will be the third orange and black KMR Kawasaki lining up on Glencrutchery Road. Winner of the corresponding race at last year’s Manx Grand Prix, Dave Moffit, is also amongst the entry.

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Development Manager, Isle of Man Government commented:

“We’re really pleased with the quality of the line-up, which is exactly what we’d hoped for when we announced the race. We’ve had great response from teams and riders and this race already looks like being one of the highlights of this year’s event.”

Ken Sharpe, of York has started an e-petition to help stop VAT on Air Ambulance Fuel bills

When attending a fund raiser in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity last summer, it was brought to his attention that all 18 air ambulances in the UK have to pay VAT on their fuel bills unlike the RNLI who get an exemption. Here is a charity that is giving an essential free service and they have to pay vat on their fuel bills - the biggest cost to them after buying the helicopter!

Amazed that this was the case, he started to research the issue and found that it would require a change in the VAT rules as these are governed by the EU. His local MEP, suggested that as finance budgets were being debated in Brussels he should try and get the government to request the exemption for Air Ambulance charities. His letter to the treasury fell on deaf ears.
 
However Ken persevered and once again contacted his MP and asked him to table an Early Day Motion EDM 2709, which happened on the 9th February, 2012. By the 10th February this had been signed by 14 MP's from across all parties.

An e-petition went live on the 10th of February, 2012 and in that time has had over 13,000 signatures, however for the government to make time for a full debate on the issue, it needs 100,000 signatures... As Ken says "Then hopefully common sense will prevail and something will be done to change this ridiculous situation".
 
See and sign the e-petition here: http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29349

For more details on the campaign or to talk to Ken Sharpe please contact him - [email protected]

Both Honda World Superbike Team riders, Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama, took two top ten finishes in today's opening round of the 2012 World Superbike championship at Phillip Island in Australia. 
 
With the race victories going to Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa, Rea took seventh and fourth places in the two 22-lap outings, while his team-mate Aoyama finished eighth and ninth.
 
Starting from the outside of the second row, 25-year-old Rea enjoyed good starts to both outings. In race one, however, a lack of rear grip had dropped him back to seventh at the flag, while in race two, he held second place for much of the race after a set-up change improved grip levels. However, with just two laps to go, he slipped behind Biaggi and then lost out to fellow Brit Tom Sykes on the final straight.
 
After problems in qualifying, World Superbike rookie Aoyama, started from 16th on the grid. Opting for the softer rear tyre in both races, the Japanese rider fought through to the top ten in race one, while a small set-up change allowed him to make it a double in his debut SBK outing.
 
Jonathan Rea – 7th and 4th
 
We’ve still got a bagful of points to go on to Imola with but we wanted to be on the podium in both races. I honestly feel like we got a bad tyre in race one and in race two we didn’t want to run in the same situation, so we were thinking about changing the tyre, but all our logic and race runs throughout the weekend told us to keep this [harder] tyre in the heat. Directly, I had more grip – OK, the temperature was even hotter, which would go against our logic – but the tyre felt like it should feel and I was able to ride strong and consistent until probably five laps to go when durability fell off and I was going backwards. I felt fresh and strong in both races and the guys have worked well all weekend. We had a little crash on Saturday and the boys worked so good with the one-bike rule to get us back out there. You have to think that this circuit is a bit unique with the tyre character, how long you’re on the side and the heat generated in the tyre. Now we move on to some tracks that are good for us and there’s a lot of work to do back at base. The guys need to find some speed, so that’s on the agenda; I’ve just done a de-brief and everything feels OK. I want to say thanks to everyone for all their help this weekend – it feels good to get to the start of the season fit and healthy and I’m looking forward to round two now.
 
Hiroshi Aoyama – 8th and 9th

I think it’s not so bad for my first Superbike weekend. We had a not-so-easy start on Friday when I had one crash and we had a lot of problems. That didn’t help us to go much faster and we tried many things but couldn’t improve. In the races we managed to finish in the top ten with eighth and ninth and I want to say thanks to all the guys who worked for me. It was a tough weekend but ended up not too bad. I’m looking forward to the next race in Imola – of course I’ve never ridden there, so it’s going to be tough for Friday. We have month to improve the bike a little bit and, if I can find a better feeling, I can push a little bit more and this is what I am looking for. Anyway, considering the situation now, it’s not so bad!
 
Riders' comments are available to view on video at the following link: 
 
2012 World Superbike championship, round one
 
Phillip Island, Australia – 4.445km, 22 laps
 
Race 1 results:
 
1 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia 34m13.963s
 
2 Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW +7.104s
 
3 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati +7.378s
 
4 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki +12.189s
 
5 Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati +16.424s
 
6 Michel Fabrizio (ITA) BMW +20.200s
 
7 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda World Superbike Team +20.223s
 
8 Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda World Superbike Team +24.108s
 
Race 2 results:
 
1 Carlos Checa (ESP) Ducati 34m26.728s
 
2 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia +5.707s
 
3 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki +12.521s
 
4 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda World Superbike +12.665s
 
5 Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW +18.179s
 
6 Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW +18.831s
 
9 Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda World Superbike Team +19.554s
 
Championship points after one of 14 rounds:
 
1 Biaggi 45, 2 Melandri 30, 3 Sykes 29, 4 Checa 25, 5 Rea 22, 6 Guintoli 16, 9 Aoyama 15
 Next round: Imola, Italy – 30 March - 1 April

As part of Motorcycle Law Scotland’s commitment to supporting Scotland’s motorcyclists, the specialist legal service has provided a Scottish charity’s motorcycling fundraisers with bright pink, high-visibility vests.

“Every year, Breast Way Round raises tens of thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support by organising bike runs and other events,” said Brenda Mitchell of Motorcycle Law Scotland, Scotland’s only legal service specialising in providing advice and representation to motorcyclists and their families in the aftermath of a road traffic accident. “These eye-catching vests will help to ensure Breast Way Round’s motorcyclists are easily spotted by other road users, helping to keep them safe while also increasing awareness of this excellent charity, which, like Motorcycle Law Scotland, is run by motorcyclists."

Breast Way Round was founded in 2007 by Shirley-Ann McKnight to boost the profile of Scotland’s female motorcyclists and raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. ”When Shirley-Ann’s best friend and fellow motorcyclist, Alyson Porter, was diagnosed with cancer, Alyson received a lot of help from Macmillan Cancer Support,” said Jill Polanski of Breast Way Round. “Tragically, Alyson died soon after our first charity bike run but, so far, we have raised over £180,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.”

Breast Way Round’s main fundraiser is an annual four-day bike run for 80 female motorcyclists and 20 male motorcyclists exploring Scotland’s west coast.  “The Breast Way Round Bike Run is a fantastic experience – and a great way to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support,” said Jill. “In fact, many of the Breast Way Round girls have taken to two wheels just to be part of what we do.

“During the run, we stick bright pink mohicans onto our helmets and, now we have new – and equally bright - pink vests to wear over our leathers, we’ll certainly knock people’s socks off! There’ll be no mistaking the Breast Way Round bikers on this year’s run. We can’t thank Motorcycle Law Scotland’s enough for their support,” continued Jill, as she was presented with the vests at the Bikers’ Cove in South Queensferry, one of Scotland’s top motorcycling destinations.

As well as being one of Scotland’s leading motorcycle accident lawyers, Brenda Mitchell is also a motorcyclist and has taken part in one of Breast Way Round’s girls-only track evenings at Knockhill Race Circuit and will be riding in this year’s charity bike run. “Breast Way Round is a great way to meet fellow female motorcyclists while also raising funds for a very worthwhile cause,” said Brenda.

“Motorcycle Law Scotland aims to support Scotland’s motorcyclists in as many ways as possible – what better way than by helping a group of female motorcyclists who are promoting motorcycling in such a positive way?”

www.breastwayround.com

www.motorcyclelawscotland.co.uk