MotoGP star Dani Pedrosa will head up a star-studded roll call of racers attending this year’s Motorcycle Live at The NEC Birmingham from 19-27 November. The Repsol Honda rider will appear on Monday 21 November as a guest of Arai, joining a long list of riders already confirmed for the nine-day show.
 
The World Superbike stars will be out in force with Castrol Honda’s Jonathan Rea, BMW Motorrad’s Leon Haslam, Kawasaki's Tom Sykes, newly-signed Crescent Suzuki rider Leon Camier and Effenbert Liberty Racing’s Sylvain Guintoli all making an appearance. Rea will attend on Sunday 20 November, Haslam will make a two-day visit on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November, Sykes and Camier will appear on Saturday 19 November and Guintoli will be present on Monday 21 November.
 
The Brits in the opening day line-up will take part in a celebration of the best of British racing talent to open the show, alongside 2011 World Supersport Champion Chaz Davies, 2011 British Superbike Champion Tommy Hill, Moto2 star Bradley Smith and MotoGP star Cal Crutchlow, who will be firing up his Yamaha M1 live on the Blackhorse Stage at 10.30am on Saturday 19 November.
 
Other stars to appear throughout the nine-day show include 125GP title contender Johann Zarco (Monday 21 November), young Brits Sam and Alex Lowes (Monday 21 November), road racing favourites John McGuinness (Sunday 27 November) and Guy Martin (Sunday 20 November) and MX stars Zach Osbourne and Arnaud Tonus (Saturday 26 November).

A full listing of riders attending the show can be found at www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/visitor-information/celebrities
  
The ticket price for Motorcycle Live 2011 is completely all-inclusive, meaning visitors can enjoy everything the show has to offer at no extra cost. Tickets are £16 in advance* for adults, £10 for seniors, £6 for children aged 6-16 and  kids 5 and under accompanied by a paying adult go free. Visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk or call 0844 5812345. Visit www.facebook.com/motorcyclelive or follow @motorcyclelive on Twitter.

We are currently making a 4-part primetime series for Channel 5, a UK terrestrial channel.  The series will be broadcast in January 2012 and it's going to feature amazing content from around the world. If you feel that you have caught adrenalin pumped activities on camera or if you have had a seriously close call we would love to see your videos.

Please don't hesitate to get in touch - [email protected]

The popularity of, and interest in, the Isle of Man TT Races continues to grow, attracting more visitors and spectators every year but the Official TT VIP Hospitality package remains the best way for people to experience the action – whether entertaining clients, rewarding staff or giving someone a truly memorable gift.

The Isle of Man TT Races is widely recognised as one of the ‘must do’ events on the annual sporting calendar, taking its place alongside events such as Wimbledon, Test Match Cricket, the FA Cup Final, the Grand National, Six Nations Rugby and the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

The event also has something else in common with all of those prestigious events – world class VIP and Corporate Hospitality – with the TT Races offering the Isle of Man’s only prestige sporting hospitality experience. This year capacity has been capped at 300 places on each race day to ensure that guests experience a truly premium experience.

As well as exclusive TT VIP Club access, which offers a complimentary bar, breakfast and a gourmet buffet lunch - all prepared by first class chefs - the package also offers reserved grandstand seating; easy access to the TT paddock and exclusive appearances by top riders and special guests. All ticket holders will also be entered into the daily free prize draw to win a scintillating closed roads lap of the TT Mountain Course in one of the official course cars.

The TT VIP Club is located trackside and adjacent to the TT Grandstand and offers not only magnificent views of the famous TT course, but ensures that guests are at the very heart of all the action at the most thrilling spectator sport in the World. This year, guests will also be able to access a complimentary WiFi network and receive exclusive parking right by the action.

The current stars of the TT will be making daily appearances in the suite for exclusive post-race interviews and chat with Radio TT and will often be joined in the suite by many other famous faces including mega-stars from TT, MotoGP, BSB, World Rally and even Formula 1 as well as celebrity bike fans.

The 2012 TT VIP packages are available now. For an unforgettable TT 2012 experience call TT Ticketing Partner, Regency Travel on +44 1624 694456 or on line via the official Isle of Man TT web site, iomtt.com. Available on each race day, VIP packages can be purchased on an individual basis or complete tables of eight.

On Saturday the 29th October the United Bikers of Ireland organised protest ride saw over 3,000 bikers descend on Dublin’s Government buildings, the Dail against proposed new EU Laws from the European Commission’s – Approval and market surveillance of two – or three-wheel vehicles and quadricycles.
 
Riders rode in from various organised starting points across Ireland from: Clare – Limerick – Cork – Kildare – Donegal – Monaghan – Waterford – Wexford – Galway – Athlone and Dublin itself to voice their opposition.
 
The United Bikers of Ireland state that, “The EU proposal seeks to introduce a wide range of changes to existing regulations, and at the same time impose a confusing myriad of limitations and restrictions for all motorcyclists in Europe.”
 
Not only were the thousands of riders met at the Dail by Irish member of Parliament Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin TD but MEP Phil Prendergast was on the back of a trike all the way in on the Dublin leg of the protest ride, for the first time in her life.
 
Phil Prendgast sits on the EU IMCO Committee (Internal Market and Consumer Protection) which is at present considering amendments to the European Commission’s proposal to be voted on in November 2011 before being presented to the Europe Parliament.
 
The United Bikers of Ireland say that Phil Prendgast, “was very impressed with our presence and our points.”
 
The message from the United Bikers of Ireland is, “Well done to everyone who came out today. It was a great success and we estimate approx 3,000 bikes turned out in total and helped take over a number of streets around Leinster House.
 
It was so important to make our numbers known to the politicians and decision makers, and despite the bad weather at the start, we put on an amazing show.
 
Thank you once again to everyone, well done and ride safe.”
 
Where next for the United Bikers of Ireland committee?
 
Well they have received an invitation to meet the CEO of the RSA (Road Safety Authority).
 
United Bikers of Ireland say, “This is indeed a huge step in our efforts as it allows us to meet face-to-face with the RSA governing body and will allow us an opportunity for dialogue and debate.”
 
At Right To Ride we say, “United Bikers of Ireland are combining lobbying, meeting politicians and authorities with the megaphone diplomacy of protest rides. Congratulations to the committee and all riders in finding a refined balance.”
 
www.unitedbikersofireland.com

The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, based at the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon in Warwickshire has received initial support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the Multi-Story: Museum’s Collections Centre project. The £2.5 million project aims to create a new building to store and display the Trust's reserve collection of historic British cars.

Following the award of a first round pass* by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), development funding of £51,100 has been awarded to help the Trust progress their plans to apply for a full grant in 2012. If second round funding is awarded and match funding is also obtained, building work on the new project could begin in 2013.

The Trust has a collection of almost 300 cars, telling the story of the motor industry in Britain from the 1890's to the present and although more than 160 of these vehicles can be seen on display at the Heritage Motor Centre, the rest of the collection remains hidden in store. This project will enable people to see the whole collection for the first time in a purpose-built facility that will also include a vehicle restoration and conservation workshop. In addition the Trust will launch a new volunteer programme allowing people to get more involved with the collection by helping with its conservation and interpretation and will also run a series of events and other activities as part of the project.

Tim Bryan, Head of Collections & Interpretation at the Heritage Motor Centre said: "We are delighted that the Heritage Lottery Fund has pledged their support for our project which will help us make our collection far more accessible than before and enable people to learn more about the motor industry which has played such an important role in the West Midlands".

Anne Jenkins, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the West Midlands said: “We’re extremely pleased to give initial support to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust for their project to develop a new and improved display venue for this wonderful collection of historic cars. We look forward to receiving their application for a full grant in the future."