Padgetts MMCG Racing, the Yorkshire based racing team that operates out of its Batley based showroom, has confirmed an exciting line up for the 2012 TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, that contains three race winners from last year's races.

Eight-time TT race winner Bruce Anstey, who won last year's Monster Energy Supersport Race 1, has again signed up for this year's meeting and will race for the team in the Monster Energy Supersport 1 and 2, Royal London 360 Superstock, Dainese Superbike and PokerStars Senior Races.

Bruce will be joined for the Supersport and Superstock races by last year's teammate John McGuinness, who, with seventeen race wins under his belt, added the Superbike and Senior races last year to his list of victories.

John also won the overall title last year, helped by runner up finishes in both the Superstock and second Supersport Races on Padgetts machinery.

The experienced pair have a new teammate this year in Gary Johnson, who achieved his maiden TT victory in last year's second Supersport Race. Gary will race the Superbike and Senior races for the Padgetts outfit.

The Padgetts MMCG Racing team has become a byword in consistency at the TT with 9 wins, including Ian Hutchinson's record breaking five in a week in 2010, in the last four years.

Since 2007, the team has taken a total of fourteen podiums with four fastest laps including two lap records in the Superstock class in 2009 and 2010. In total, the team has twenty-four top five finishes from the last thirty one races they've started in the same five year period. Between the 2008 and 2010 Senior Races they won eight out of the eleven races held.

Clive Padgett, team boss at Padgett's MMCG Racing, is clearly looking forward to the new season and said: "We've got a great team again this year and I know that all the lads enjoy racing for our team. Everyone gets on really well and feels part of the family when they climb onto our bikes. I'm delighted to welcome Gary on board and I'm sure we can help him, and John and Bruce, to add to their wins on the mountain course. Roll on June."

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government, commented:
"Padgetts has established themselves as the team to beat on the Isle of Man. There's a saying on the Isle of Man that to win the race you've got to finish it and Padgetts consistent performance has meant that they have had an unbeatable record over the last few years."

The nidirect Government Services website has published a reminder and information:  As of yesterday, 21st February 2012, “all learner moped and motorcycle riders must complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before they can ride unaccompanied on public roads.”
 
CBT was introduced last year on 21st February 2011 and riders with a motorcycle provisional licence entitlement were allowed a year to take a motorcycle practical test without having to take CBT.
 
As this deadline has now passed, you will have to take CBT before you can do your practical test, which consists of two parts, a manoeuvres test which will last approximately 30 minute, (at present this is only available from certain test centres) and an on-road motorcycle riding test which lasts about 40 minutes.
 
There are five elements in the syllabus that covers CBT training. Elements A to D are not time bound – the duration will depend on your ability. However, element E will be a minimum of four hours. The overall length of the course will vary depending on your ability, knowledge, understanding and skills.
 
The nidirect Government Services website comments, “Biking can be a great experience but ridden inappropriately, a motorcycle becomes a lethal weapon. CBT will improve learners’ riding skills because they will receive training in a safe environment before being allowed to ride on public roads.”
 
Adding that, “Drivers should look out for motorcyclists -  Half of all motorcyclist casualties are caused by other drivers. Motorists should give extra consideration to motorcyclists and look out for bikes:
 •when overtaking
•at junctions
•when turning right
•when emerging onto main roads
 
Only registered Approved Motorcycle Instructors (AMI) will be allowed to conduct these training courses. It is intended that this new training scheme will improve safety for all road users.”
 
Module 1
 
Element A Introduction – theoretical training
Element B Practical training (touch, balance etc)
 
Module 2
 
Element C Practical riding skills
Element D Pre road-ride briefing
 
Module 3
 
Element E Practical on-road riding (compulsory 4 hours duration)
 
More Changes
 
If you are not already aware, in January 2013, the motorcycle test and licence categories will change through the implementation of the EU Third Licence Directive.
 
Yesterday (21st February) Right To Ride along with other stakeholders attended the second meeting to discuss this implementation.
 
To read this article and for further information and links on CBT in Northern Ireland go to Right To Ride

Ducati UK are pleased to announce the launch of 0% and low rate finance offers for both the Monster 696 and 796.

The Monster 696 and 796 are both now available with ABS and are the perfect choice for not only novices but also experienced riders looking for a stylish, iconic and yet practical bike for urban use.

The Monster 696 spearheads the Ducati UK’s learn to ride scheme due to its novice friendly 80hp engine, light clutch and low seat height and confidence inspiring handling. The 696 can be purchased on 0% finance over 3 years with a 50% deposit from as little as £95.05 per month.

The Monster 796 combines the user-friendliness of the 696 with the sports character of the 1100. Delivering 87hp, a dry weight of just 167kg (368lb) a single-sided swingarm perfectly balances lifestyle performance with everyday functionality to enhance the original Monster spirit. The 796 is also available on 0% finance over 3 years with a 50% deposit from as little as £105.88 per month.

0%, PCP and low rate finance packages are now available on the M696 / M796 (all variants) for the period up to 31st May 2012.

Last summer when I was at the Vosa Rejects Rally (Put on by the Yorkshire Trikers club) in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity, I was talking with one of the YAA fund raisers and he told me that all 18 air ambulances have to pay VAT on their fuel bills unlike the RNLI who get an exemption.

I was amazed that this was the case - one essential charity was charged 17.5% (now 20%) on their fuel bill and another is not. 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!

What does this mean to the general public?

If you fund raise for the Air Ambulance charities a 5th of what you get will be given to the government, however if you fund raise for the RNLI they can use all your contributions for helping to save lives. The exemption was given to the RNLI in 1977 when we entered the Common Market as it was then and very few, if any, Air Ambulance charities were around at that time.

I started to research the issue on the internet and I contacted several Air Ambulance Charities, but it did not get picked up. I think because it had been tried before and would require a change in the VAT rules as these are governed by the EU. That means loads and loads of bureaucracy and it would also require all member states to agree an exemption. A lot of the EU countries fund their Air Ambulance services through governments and so would not be interested.

I had a few e-mails from my MEP and she suggested that as finance budgets at the time were being debated in Brussels I should try and get the government to request the exemption for Air Ambulance charities. At this time the Euro was falling through the floor and my letter to the treasury fell on deaf ears.

I had asked my MP for help, as whilst researching this issue I had seen a question to the Prime Minister (video on youtube, May 2011) that said basically there was nothing we could do as it was up to the EU. I thought if we have to take vat from these charities because the EU says we have to, what is stopping us giving these charities a grant to the same amount? It is our governments money (well ours actually) and if we want to give them a grant for the fantastic job they are doing why don’t we?

I contacted my MP and suggested this to him and asked him to table an Early Day Motion EDM 2709 and after another few weeks he said he would (Christmas intervened). The EDM was tabled on the 9th and on the 10th February 2012. It had been signed by 14 MP’s from across all parties. I had suggested that I would open a government E-Petition.  This went live on Friday 10/02/2012 http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29349 and at just after midnight there was over 1,000 signatures. At the time of this article 5,311.

We need to get 100,000 signatures and then the government will make time for a full debate on the issue and hopefully common sense will prevail and something will be done to change this ridiculous situation.

Ken Sharpe

Apparently everyone’s views, especially those of older people, are being sought in a survey aimed at improving road safety.

In 2010, 106 people aged 65 and above were killed or seriously injured on our roads, including 26 pedestrians.
 
Department for the Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: ‘These are chilling statistics. We know that older people are one of the most at risk groups on our roads and that they are particularly vulnerable when out walking. Improving their safety is a priority for my Department and a key part of Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy to 2020, which recognises that older people will form an increasing proportion of the population here in the years ahead."

Inviting all road users to fill in a survey which is available online or that can be posted out, the Minister added: "I value the views of the whole community and would encourage everyone, not only older people, to take part in this important research. This is part of an ongoing project which will help us to better understand the issues involved and develop new ways to tackle them."
 
The survey can be completed by people of all ages and the questions will be automatically tailored to suit your age range. However, although the questions are designed to help find out about the behaviours and attitudes of road users as drivers, passengers, pedestrians or cyclists, you will note there is no mention of motorcyclists or any derivation of two wheels – scooterists or three wheels – Trike Riders.
 
At Right To Ride we are sure there is no conspiracy to exclude riders, because the content of the survey and its aims to investigate the main causes of, and factors contributing to, road collisions involving older people are more important.

Right To Rides, Trevor Baird, said, “The questions in the survey ask your views on, assessment to drive at 70+ years, a section for Older Drivers (60 years +) which goes in-depth into ability and issues for those over 60+ as a car diver, a pedestrian, a cyclists, Public Transport but not motorcyclists.”
 
However the survey does ask your views on your experience of older drivers and the data may also be used in a wider European study (the 'SaMERU' – Safer Mobility for Elderly Road Users - Project) into improving road safety of older people.
 
Like most “good” surveys at the end you can leave, “any additional comments including any suggestions on how the road safety of older people could be improved”.
 
At Right To Ride however, we are sure that riders will comment how disappointing it is that motorcycles - scooters or mopeds as motorised transport are not included in the survey and take the opportunity to comment as a 60+ rider or as a younger rider, on the issues.
 
The survey will run until the end of February and can be filled in at the following link and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete or you can request for it can be posted out to you:

Road safety survey – SurveyMonkey website http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DOE_Older_Road_Users
 
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