The IAM warns motorcyclists and cyclists to take extra care when Transport for London’s (TfL) decision to allow motorcyclists to use bus lanes on a permanent basis comes into force on Monday 23rd January 2012. This decision will see London joining cities such as Birmingham and Bristol who already allow it. 

While motorcyclists’ use of bus lanes will help to ease congestion and reduce CO2 emissions in the city, studies by Ealing Council* and TfL*1 have shown a significant increase in motorcycle collision rates and severity. TfL’s review also found that there was an increase in pedal cycle accidents of 173 per cent*, even when the increase in the number of people cycling was taken into account.
 
The TfL trial of 418 sections of road in London that contain a bus lane, showed direct collisions between motorcycles and pedal cycles. Although there were no direct collisions between motorcycles and pedal cycles in Ealing, the council was concerned that pedal cycles are reacting to the presence of motorcycles in bus lanes by travelling nearer to the kerb than before, making them less visible to vehicles turning across their path*.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “This change will improve congestion and journey times for motorcyclists, and responsible bikers should find it safer being in a bus lane. Safer motorcycling in busy cities will encourage more moped and motorcycle use which can only be a good thing for traffic flow. But the evidence does show two of the most vulnerable road user groups – motorcyclists and cyclists – will be at more risk.

“This decision doesn’t just affect Londoners. With thousands more people visiting London for the Olympics this summer, everybody needs to be aware of the risks. Bus drivers and cyclists need to be vigilant and get used to sharing the space with motorcyclists, but there is a lot motorcyclists and cyclists can do to protect themselves.”
 
Motorcyclists:
 • Always assume that other road users may not have seen you
• When travelling in a straight line position yourself where you can be easily seen – don’t sit out next to the traffic beside you, or hug the kerb. You get lost to sight
• Be seen. Big blocks of bright colour are better than broken up or patterned clothing, which effectively camouflages you, and always have your headlight on
• Give other lane users time to realise you are there. Give cyclists space and time to avoid startling them
• Don’t use the extra space in the bus lane to unnecessarily increase your speed
• Be careful of traffic crossing the bus lane at junctions, both from side roads, and out of the queue on your right. They aren’t looking for you – they’re looking for a big bus
• Look well ahead to avoid needing to make sudden changes in direction for potholes etc – bus lanes tend to have uneven surfaces
 
Cyclists:
 • Always assume that other road users may not have seen you
• Claim the lane. Ride in the middle of the lane, moving to allow others past as needed, but never ‘hug’ the kerb
• Make eye contact with drivers emerging from junctions, particularly if they are turning right
• Be seen. Check your lights, and wear high visibility clothes.  Put your front light on.
• Be aware of the other people who can use the bus lane.  Don’t let them force you into things that are unsafe – but do try to make their lives easier by letting them past where its sensible
• Don’t position yourself on the left of lorries and buses at junctions or undertake them on the left. The bus or lorry driver can’t see you, and if they turn left will cut across your path. They also have a different turning circle to a car – you risk getting trapped between the vehicle and roadside barriers

Ducati UK start the New Year on the back of a record breaking 2011 which not only saw significant increases in sales but also ‘best ever’ figures across the board.

Ducati UK closed 2011 with its best sales result since 2003 with 2345 units sold and in a challenging economic environment recorded best ever market share figures in the UK. On the back of these results it also became the fastest growing Motorcycle brand in the UK with motorcycle sales up 15.3%.

Sales were spread evenly across the product range with Monster, Superbike, Multistrada and Diavel sharing equal slices of the cake. Traditionally Superbikes accounted for 50% of Ducati UK’s overall sales, however, with the shrinking of the Superbike market, Ducati has reacted to market changes and evolved the range with award winning product such as the Multistrada and Diavel (MCN bike of the year 2011).

It is not only Motorcycle sales that have contributed to the success, Ducati UK also recorded best ever revenues for Apparel and Accessories which contributed to the company’s highest ever turnover. Ducati has not only led the way through sales and product innovation, but also by offering customers a unique experience through events and test ride experiences.

2011 was a busy year for the company with a number of significant events taking place, most notably the move to new purpose built headquarters at Silverstone, the introduction of the 848 Challenge to the British Superbike Championship and the hugely successful ‘Ducati Days’ track event at Silverstone which saw the first public use of the new Silverstone Wing.

For 2012 Ducati UK looks set to continue in this vein with strong New Year sales and the highly anticipated 1199 Paniagle which has already been voted as ‘the most awaited bike of 2012.’ UK dealers are reporting strong interest in the 1199 Panigale with many dealers already asking for an increase in allocation of product to cope with this unprecedented demand.

Tim Maccabee, Ducati UK MD commented “These results reflect not only the hard work of the Ducati UK team, but also the fantastic product and support from our colleagues in Bologna. Delivering the result in the UK would be impossible without our first class dealer network and of course and a big thank is due to every Ducati fan and customer in the UK”

WINNER: Cyril Despres

As the 34th edition of the Dakar Rally came to a close yesterday, KTM’s Cyril Despres was celebrating his fourth title win ahead of close rival and teammate, Marc Coma.

The final stage of the Rally, which ran from Pisco to Lima was won by Pal Anders Ullevalseter, with Marc Coma finishing second, not only in this leg, but overall, and Yamaha’s Helder Rodrigues taking the final podium place.

Stage One - Mar del Plata to Santa Rosa de la Pampa

1: Chaleco Lopez

Stage Two - Santa Rosa de le Pompa to San Rafeal

1: Marc Coma

Stage Three - San Rafael to San Juan

1: Artur Ardavichus – first Kazakh to lead the rally

Stage Four - San Juan to Chilecito

1: Cyril Despres

Stage Five – Chilectio to Fiambala

1: Cyril Despres

Stage Six

Cancelled due to weather conditions

Stage Seven - Copiapo

1: Marc Coma

Stage Eight - Copiapo and Antofagasta

1: Marc Coma

Stage Nine - Antofagasta-Iquique

1: Helder Rodrigues

Stage Ten - Iquique to Arica

1: Joan Barreda

Stage Eleven - Arica to Arequipa

1: Cyril Despres

Stage Twelve - Arica to Arequipa

1: Marc Coma

Stage Thirteen - Nazca to Pisco

1: Helder Rodrigues

Stage Fourteen - Pisco to Lima

1: Pal Anders Ullevalseter

For a full account of the Dakar Rally 2012, bikers blogs, and exclusive videos just visit: www.RedBull.com/Dakar-rally-2012

Honda’s new World Superbike Championship pairing of Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama kick off their preparations for the 2012 season with a three-day test at Phillip Island in Australia this week (17-19 January).
 
The team will be running the SBK race specification 2012 CBR1000RR Fireblade for the first time since the 20th anniversary version of Honda’s iconic sports machine was launched last September.
 
The team will start its 2012 campaign boosted by news that, following a year as title sponsor, Castrol will remain as a key secondary partner until the end of the 2013 season.
 
The global lubricants manufacturer used Honda’s World Superbike effort as part of a worldwide marketing campaign to re-launch its Power 1 brand in 2011. Its continued support of the team extends a commercial and technical partnership between Honda and Castrol which dates back to 1959, when the Japanese manufacturer first started world championship racing.
 
Robert Watherston, motorcycle racing manager at Honda Motor Europe, said: “We’re delighted that Castrol has decided to continue its long-standing association with Honda and, in particular, our World Superbike campaign. We are especially please to have signed a two-year agreement, which takes us to the end of the 2013 season.”
 
Donald Smith, sponsorship manager in Castrol's Global Marketing Unit commented: “We are pleased to confirm the continuation of our long-standing relationship and support of Honda and motorcycle racing. World Superbikes is the ideal proving ground for the development of our advanced range of Castrol Power 1 lubricants and we look forward to the future of our continued relationship with Honda.”

The 34th edition of the Dakar and the fourth in South America, comes to its end. After 8400 kilometers, riders have finally crossed the finish line in Lima, and so has Alain Duclos. The Aprilia RXV was the only “factory” rider to complete the Dakar without changing the engine.

LIMA - The Plaza de Armas of Lima was decorated for the celebration of the Dakar´s finish after two weeks of race. Three countries were crossed, 8400 kilometers, and mostly one of the hardest Dakar ever. The marathon rally in South America confirmed once again to be the toughest race for bikes in the world, and only 100 from the 186 riders that started in Mar del Plata on January 1st made it to the end.

And finally Alain Duclos was able to cross the podium of the finish line. For him, things were not easy during the race, electrical problems pushed him far behind at stage seventh, but the French-Malian rider showed from the first days that he had the skills to take the Aprilia RXV to the best positions.

The expectations of Duclos changed in the rest day, and the main goal was reinvented to finish the Dakar with only one engine, with only the engine he started the race in Argentina. The reliability of the v-twin of Aprilia was proved and Duclos completed the Dakar as the only “factory” rider to use just one engine.

There are still regrets for the incident of Francisco López. “Chaleco” also showed his talent during the first half of the race, and it was the only rider that shined behind Coma and Despres. Even if his health condition after the recovery from his fall in Tunisia was not at 100%, he was able to sign a stage win, the sixth victory of his career.

Alain Duclos: “Another Dakar is over. I am glad I crossed the finish line and of course, I expected a better result. The Dakar is always a great life experience and a passionate adventure. And I am also glad to have discovered another country that gives us a warm welcome. Tomorrow I will start thinking about the Dakar 2013.”