The Honda TT Legends team is keeping its focus firmly on the positive elements of last night’s Albacete 8-hour race despite being forced to retire from the event in the final 50 minutes.

The team had performed an almost faultless race, saving valuable time during pit stops due to an excellent fuelling strategy. By the six-hour stage, it was leading cumulative pit stop time challenge. Steve Plater and John McGuinness were both showing pace and the team was sitting strongly in its target position of fourth with under an hour to go.

McGuinness was in the last seconds of his final stint when the Fireblade lost the back end on the in lap. He was uninjured but unfortunately it was impossible to bring the bike back to the pits to attempt a recovery and therefore the Honda TT Legends team was forced to retire.

While the team is obviously disappointed with the result of the race, the progress made during the second round of the 2011 Endurance World Championship cannot be underestimated. The Honda TT Legends will now move on to more familiar territory – the Isle of Man TT from 30 May-10 June – before taking part in the Suzuka eight-hour race in Japan in July.

Neil Tuxworth, race manager

We have made an awful lot of progress with both the bikes and the team. The fuelling, the brake pads and the tyres are all working well, the team has bonded and the riders are doing a great job. We were only an hour from the end and we were within our target position of top four so we have many positive things to take away with us. Most importantly, we are thankful that John is ok.

Steve Plater

We’re disappointed but that’s endurance racing. We were setting a good pace and holding fourth position with one hour to go when John had an unfortunate crash. This year is a big learning curve for the team and we’ve learned a huge amount again this meeting. We are more competitive than we were at the Bol d’Or which we’re happy about and we aim to move forward at Suzuka.

John McGuinness

I am massively disappointed. We’ve had a good weekend as a team and things were looking good in the race. I was holding the fourth spot and only had one or two laps to go before handing the bike back to Steve, but in the end it didn’t go our way. All we can do now is use what we have learned for Suzuka - and of course look forward to the TT.

Ducati today announced a new rider training scheme that will give people a chance to learn to ride on a Ducati.
 
The ‘Ducati Rider Training’ scheme will see 13 locations across the country with each of these locations consisting of a dealer and training facility partnership.

Each training facility has been carefully chosen for their ability to provide high training standards expected from a Ducati supported scheme. All training facilities will be linked to a franchised Ducati dealership to enable Ducati dealers the ability to offer a full service from training to purchase.

Initially the training will take place at one of authorised training facilities on 125cc motorcycles before moving onto the training school's bigger bikes and then relocating to the Ducati dealership where the training company will progress the rider on to the Ducati Monster 696. All training will be tailor made to an individual’s ability and previous experience and the pricing of each course will reflect this.

Riders over the age of 21 may take their full licence on a bike of 46.6bhp or above (The Ducati Monster 696 is an ideal bike for this). Once they have reached the required standard, all full licence training will be conducted on the 696 and will cover all aspects of riding in both town and country. They will be under the guidance of a fully qualified instructor with a radio link using a bike-to-bike radio. Upon successful completion of the practical motorcycle test they will be able to ride any size Ducati without waiting for the end of a two-year restriction.

To sign up for Ducati rider training, potential riders can call either the participating Ducati dealer or the training centre quoting ‘Ducati Rider Training’.

The ‘Ducati Rider Training’ scheme gives potential motorcyclists a more accessible route not only to rider training but also to the Ducati brand and the chance to learn to ride one of the most iconic bikes of modern times.

Debbie Wiggins, Marketing Manager for Ducati UK commented on the new scheme, 'Ducati UK is committed to introducing new people to not only motorcycling but also the Ducati brand. For many people their ambition is to learn to ride and ride a Ducati. This scheme encompasses both these aspects and makes the dream come true with a simple call to one of the 13 dealer/training facility locations. We hope to expand the number of locations next year once the scheme has been established.’

For further details of Ducati Rider Training and contact details of participating training facilities and dealerships visit www.ducatiuk.com

Date: Monday 30th May 2011
Depart Cafe: 10.30am
Route: A406 - A13 - M25 - A2 - M2 - A299 to Margate Seafront
 
The 4th annual Margate Meltdown is the most recently established of Ace Cafe London's free to attend major ride-outs.
 
The ride-out from the cafe to this popular seaside resort in Kent is held each year on occasion of the annual Spring Bank Holiday. Margate's seafront and harbour is given over to motorcycles, diverse club and trade stands, a stage and live entertainment from Noon with rockin' band "The Sunsetters" and DJ Bill Guntrip.
 
Margate's famous amusement park, Dreamland will be open and back by popular demand, is the return of Carter's Steam Fair with their paramount Chair-O-Planes having received a complete restoration in recent months.  These are the second large ride the Carter family took on the road back in the early days of being showmen and believed to have originated from Europe during the early 1920's!
 
Dreamland is open from 11am and is free to enter.
 
Working closely with our chosen charity for this event, the Royal British Legion Riders Branch (RBLRB), the town and Thanet District Council, Margate not only has everything that a great ride-out requires, it has a great beach and plenty of heritage to include a legacy from the 1960's that is of world renown relating to motorbikes, scooters and the Mods & Rockers that rode them!
 
www.acecafeevents.com

Police are urging motorcyclists travelling to and from the North West 200 next week to use all their road craft to stay safe and stay alive on roads across Northern Ireland.

Motorists can expect increased number of traffic patrols on our roads across the North Coast area during race week, with the aim of ensuring the safety of all road users.

Inspector John Millar, Road Policing officer, explains: “In recent years a number of people lost their lives while either travelling to or from this sporting spectacular, or to one of the many events that take place throughout race week. This is something that all bikers need to take note of, and is why road safety has got to be everyone’s number one priority.

“It is very easy to get caught up in all the excitement that the races bring, and it is this excitement, and the anticipation of seeing professional racers do their thing on closed roads that supporters and enthusiasts need to suppress if they want to stay alive when travelling on open roads.

Do not try to emulate any of the riders taking part in the North West 200 as it is simply not feasible or safe to do so.

Don’t think that you can get away with just driving safely on roads around the race circuit.

You must drive safely at all times whether you are en-route to the North coast from Armagh, Ballymena, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Derry, Enniskillen, Limavady, Portaferry, Newry, or indeed anywhere else in Ireland.

“I would also remind motorists that there will be more motorcycles out and about during race week, and that they need to be more alert to the presence of bikes on the roads, and particularly at junctions…THINK BIKE.

“Motorcyclists have a major role to play when it comes to road safety.

Use dipped headlights day and night, and consider sounding your horn to alert others to your presence as necessary.

Ride responsibly and don’t take foolish chances.

You only get one life; make sure it doesn’t come to an untimely end…BIKESAFE and STAY ALIVE,” concluded Inspector Millar.

Ride It Right Comments

Ride It Right the motorcycle safety initiative says all good sound advice for riders and drivers.

However regarding using dipped headlights: All bikes produced by the major manufacturers have since 2002 had their dipped headlight hardwired so that they come on automatically, there is no switch to switch on or to switch off the headlight. So although you may think your headlight is on, remember to physically check that it is.

Also do not rely on other vehicle drivers seeing you because you have your headlight on or you are wearing reflective or bright clothing.

Also don’t think that having your full beam on will make you more visible, you may make it harder for other vehicle drivers to calculate your distance and speed as you approach.

You may even “mask” the rider behind you, especially if you have fitted more powerful bulbs or High Intensity Discharge Xenon headlights (HID-Xenon) that can cause glare and dazzle other road users.

Meanwhile if you get the time book into one of the Bikesafe assessments that are on offer during race week.

www.rideitright.org.

Bikesafe

Police are encouraging motorcyclists of all ages and abilities to take part in their ‘Bikesafe’ assessed ride-outs during the NW200 race week.

The ride-outs will be held at the start/finish area of the North West 200 motorcycle races situated on the coast road between Portrush and Portstewart from Tuesday 17 until Friday 19 May. Assessment slots can be booked on-line at www.bikesafe.co.uk.

Bikesafe paddock opening times will be:

Tuesday 17 May 10.00am to 5.00pm

Wednesday 18 May 9.30am to 6.00pm

Thursday 19 May 3.00pm to 9.00pm

Friday 20 May 9.30am to 9.00pm

There is £10 administration fee, payable on-line, for the Bikesafe ride-outs and they are operated on a first come first served basis. Motorcyclists are provided with a unique opportunity to have their riding and road craft assessed by an advanced police motorcyclist. During the ride-out, the advanced police motorcyclist assesses machine knowledge, hazard awareness, junctions, cornering, overtaking and security. The assessment is not a test, nor is it training, it provides advice and an assessment of a rider’s capabilities, and it is open to all, from the complete novice to the experienced motorcyclist. STAY ALIVE – ‘BIKESAFE’.

Tattershall castle in Lincolnshire throws its' doors open to Biker for a special free opening - Friday 20th May!

Standing proud in the Lincolnshire landscape, Tattershall Castle is a rock of a building.  Its story is one of splendour, decay and rebirth. Built in the 15th Century as a statement of power, laid to ruin for over 200 years and finally rescued in 1911, today this mammoth, brick medieval castle acts as an iconic landmark for many.

Bike enthusiasts may be familiar with Tattershall as a ride-through, now is your chance to visit. Climb the 150 steps from the basement to Battleparts, check out the 17th century graffiti, enjoy the incredible views from the roof including neighbouring RAF Coningsby or just relax in the grounds and enjoy some hog roast. Special provision has been made for storage of helmets.  

Also on the day, there will be a chance to find out about other events Tattershall has planned for the year ahead, including a brand new arts project called 'DARK MATERIALS' in which the darker side of life will be explored through a major new art exhibition and an alternative gothic country fair.

We are keen to offer an interesting experience for the biker community and somewhere you wish to visit so any ideas for events and attractions will be gratefully recieved.

Open to those arriving on a Motorcycle and not the general public. 11am - 4pm.

Find the castle on the A153 at Tattershall Village.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-tattershallcastle