Most motorcyclists know of the town and roads in and around Carmarthenshire and the small Drover’s Town of Llandovery. Many of us have stopped for a cup of coffee or a meal in one of the many biker-friendly cafes and restaurants in the town. However, a small group of residents recognised that there is more to offer than a swift brew and bacon butty and looked at ways to encourage people to stay for a bit longer.

So, what started as a small event to help the sustainability of the small Drover’s Town of Llandovery in Carmarthenshire has grown into an event attracting up to 5000 people over one weekend each year. The Llandovery Motorbike Weekend promotes road safety for all and provides a fun day for people of all ages. It is also partnered with the West Wales Motorcycle Club which was established with the support of a regional charity, West Wales Action for Mental Health. This active and inclusive club offers individuals the chance to learn about maintaining and restoring motorcycles in a fun and safe environment. The Llandovery Motorbike Weekend provides a platform for them to showcase what they do.

The Llandovery Motorbike Weekend takes place over the first weekend in July each year but has, due to the Covid Pandemic, not taken place since 2019. Launched by the Prince of Wales in 2016 the weekend has grown enormously and is one of very few “free to enter” events in the country. This is achieved partly due to the awards from the National Lottery, but primarily thanks to the various local and regional sponsors who support this event every year.

Established within the Mart (Market) in Llandovery, there are food and beverage vendors, bike clubs and other commercial organisations who encircle the central arena within which various activities take place. These have included motorcycle mobility circuits run by RoSPA and Blood Bikes Wales, demonstrations by the Emergency Services on incident management even a “Biker’s Town Crier” competition! Alongside the diverse catering outlets are many arts and crafts stalls which have proved a remarkable success for those bikers looking for that ideal gift to bring home to partners and friends!! Additionally, there are bike related equipment suppliers, information stands as well as live music interspersed with events in the central arena. For those people wishing to spend the weekend in this beautiful town there are a wealth of wonderful campsites, B&Bs, Hotels and Holiday Cottages in the area. These provide a base from which to explore the fantastic sights in this part of Wales along some of the most scenic and well-maintained roads in the country.

Many visitors display or show their motorbikes (with prizes on offer for winners) and others set up their Club stands to engage with members of the public and promote their various activities. Also on offer are a myriad of motorcycle training opportunities, much of which is offered free of charge!

Parking for vehicles in the town car park is free on the Saturday (bikes park for free anyway) and many bikes can park alongside the arena in the Mart allowing owners and visitors to wander along with a cup of coffee and engage with other owners and bike clubs. For those lingering in the town there are the well-known “biker cafes” of the West End Café and the Award-Winning Owl’s Nest Café and The Bear Inn where a warm welcome is assured.

If you haven’t visited Llandovery before, or if you are looking to go along, then consider booking a stay in the area over the 2nd and 3rd of July this year and become part of a growing event which has something for everyone. Rest assured, you will be supporting some worthwhile charities which this year include, Blood Bikes Wales and the Wales Air Ambulance.

www.llandoverymotorbikeweekend.co.uk

• Ben launches new Social Anxiety support program for Mental Health Awareness Week
• Launch forms part of a wider campaign to combat loneliness in automotive community
• Loneliness on the rise, with 1 in 3 automotive people admitting to feeling lonely

Today, May 9th, marks the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week in the UK and this year Ben, the automotive industry charity, is shining a light on one of the leading causes of mental health issues – loneliness.

Following two years of disruption and periods of social isolation caused by the pandemic, loneliness became, in itself, an epidemic. We were all separated for long periods of time from our wider circles of friends, family and work colleagues. And, even though we are now emerging from the depths of the pandemic, it is clear that many of us have found the social restrictions hugely challenging.

Social anxiety is playing a major role in the rise of loneliness. Naturally, now that COVID restrictions have eased, social interactions are returning to ‘normal’ – but for many, a sudden return to socialising is also a daunting prospect. Social anxiety makes it difficult for people to meet socially with others, to reach out for help and to maintain relationships – which, in turn, contributes to loneliness.

Ben’s recent Health and Wellbeing survey placed this issue in sharp focus – of those in the automotive industry who were surveyed, 31% confessed to having suffered from loneliness – a huge increase of 23% from the previous year. Loneliness saw a staggering increase in the over 45s, factory workers, and among those who have retired from the industry, while 1 in 2 automotive workers confirmed that they have issues managing their mental health – indicating that mental health struggles in the automotive industry are more prevalent than in the general population.

To support those who are struggling with social anxiety and loneliness, Ben has launched a new ‘Space from Social Anxiety’ program on the SilverCloud platform – designed specifically to help people find out about symptoms, understand its causes and develop coping strategies to manage their social anxiety.

The program, as with all of Ben’s SilverCloud programs, is completely free, easy to use and can be worked through at your own pace in your own time – using Cognitive Behavioural Therapy techniques to develop coping strategies to help deal with life’s challenges.

Rachel Clift, Health & Wellbeing Director at Ben, said: “If you suffer from loneliness, you are not alone. Our recent survey highlighted the huge impact that COVID has had on the mental health of our community and loneliness and social anxiety have risen sharply over the past twelve months.

“Our industry is one of the most affected by mental health issues, so we want everyone in the automotive community to know that while they may feel alone, they aren’t. We are here, ready to help and support them through whatever challenges life may be throwing at them right now and in the future.

“Social anxiety and loneliness can be managed and we have a number of ways we can support people who are struggling, including our new SilverCloud program ‘Space from Social Anxiety. During Mental Health Awareness week, we want to reach out to our automotive family and offer them a helping hand. You don’t have to face loneliness or social anxiety alone.”

To sign up to the SilverCloud Space from Social Anxiety programme, click here or for more hints and tips on how to tackle social anxiety, visit www.ben.org.uk

When any member of our automotive family is struggling or in crisis, we all rally to support them.

Le Mans preview. MotoGP make its return to French soil, for what has become through the years a classic in the series. Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio will be racing at the home track of current championship leader Quartararo with very different goals, albeit both with ambitious goals.

The rider #23 wants to return to the time of form shown in the extra-European races earlier this year, even though the main goal is to find back that feeling with his Ducati machine that he was never able to get at Jerez a fortnight ago. The post-race Spanish test gave him some fresh confidence, with the Italian star eager to fly again – hopefully with some favourable weather.
For Di Giannantonio it is time to raise the bar and score his first MotoGP points. The base set-up he found with the team at Jerez may be a good starting point to well-perform in France already.

Historical recurrences: Le Mans is among the most challenging tracks on the MotoGP calendar, but Gresini Racing was able to secure several podium finishes at this track throughout the years. Two wins and a second for Sete Gibernau (in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively) and a win and a second place for Marco Melandri in 2006 and 2007, but not only.

Both Enea Bastianini and Fabio Di Giannantonio have had their ‘podium taste’ with the Faenza-based team before: ‘Bestia’ managed to do so in 2015 as he finished second in the Moto3 class, while Diggia did the same two years later. This is their best career result in France, at least so far. 😏

ENEA BASTIANINI #23 (3º in the championship standings with 69 points)
“Le Mans is quite an unusual track, but a very good one nonetheless. Usually the track, and therefore track conditions, are a key variable, but let’s hope it will be different this time. I would like to find back that feeling with the bike that we kind of lost a bit at Jerez: let’s say being back to the one we had in Portimao, where only the result was unkind to us.”

FABIO DI GIANNANTONIO #49
“Le Mans is a tough track, temperature and weather wise. We always had very unique conditions, but we’re coming from a positive test in which we found a good direction to follow in terms of set-up, so I’m curious to see if it’ll work at this track.”

• Ducati UK announce new partnership with Silverstone bike track days
• Ducati supply a fleet of Panigale V4 motorcycles
• Partnership will include Ducati Riding Experience Racetrack Academy

Ducati UK are delighted to announce a new partnership with Silverstone bike track days. Ducati are joining forces with the home of British Motorsport to supply a fleet of Ducati Panigale V4 for the Silverstone Bike track days. For Ducati and Silverstone this is a natural partnership with Ducati UK based at Silverstone circuit and both brands sharing a similar goal of premium customer experiences.

There will be 20 Panigale V4’s made available to Silverstone and their experienced instructors.  The instructors will use the bikes for sighting laps, track guidance and 1-1 tuition. Track day customers will be able to see the Panigale V4 demonstrating its capabilities at first hand in its natural environment on Britain’s only MotoGP circuit.

This partnership will culminate in the Ducati Riding Experience Racetrack Academy, training courses that give expert Ducati tuition for those that want to enjoy the thrill of the track. Details and date will be announced in due course.

The new Panigale V4 is the latest evolution of the Ducati sports bike, continuously improved from the experience gained on the racetrack in MotoGP and WorldSBK. The heart of the bike is the 1,103 cm3 MotoGP-derived engine delivering 215.5hp. Improvements to aerodynamics, ergonomics, engine chassis and electronics has produced a more intuitive, faster bike, less demanding, offering a rewarding experience for all levels of rider.

Fabrizio Cazzoli, Managing Director, Ducati UK
“Since 2003, more than 20,000 motorcyclists from all over the world have chosen the Ducati experience to improve their riding. Now this experience is elevating to another level thanks to the partnership between Ducati and Silverstone. We together are synonyms of motorsport, performance, excellence, passion and a long history of success.

We will develop riding experiences specifically tailored for the skills of the participants and we will culminate with the Ducati Riding Experience Racetrack Academy, a program for those who want to feel the thrill of the track under the guidance of the best instructors in the world”.

Stuart Pringle, Managing Director, Silverstone
“Our Bike Track Days are renowned for offering riders the ultimate track experience and with Ducati powering these days, riders will have the chance to have a close look at the Panigale V4 and see how it can perform on track in the hands of our expert instructors. 
 
“We’re dedicated to delivering outstanding, thrilling, experiences and want to deliver the very best track days. We have a world class circuit for riders to enjoy on their own bikes and as the home of the MotoGP British Grand Prix we also have a unique positioning in the UK.  Now, with our Bike Track days powered by Ducati, we’re taking our track days to another level and adding even more value for riders.”

For more information on Silverstone Bike Track Days powered by Ducati visit: www.silverstone.co.uk/track-days/bike-track-days

With the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations taking place during May half term (28 May – 5 June), the British Motor Museum is inviting visitors to celebrate the royal cars in their collection. A number of vehicles from the Royal household are on display including the first bespoke royal Land Rover state review car, one of the fleet of vehicles used for HM Queen Elizabeth II’s first Commonwealth Tour and a 1971 Rover P5B, the personal property of HM the Queen but on long term loan to the Museum.

Throughout the week, families can enjoy a range of right royal activities. There is a free Family Tour each day at 1.30pm where the children can help Jim & Claire, the ‘royal reporters’ find the next news scoop on their tour around the royal cars!

The ever-popular craft activities are back in the Learning Space between 10am – 2.30pm where children will be able to make a ‘royal’ car to take home. They can also enter their creation into a competition to win a family afternoon tea. Entries will be judged at the end of the holidays with the winner announced on social media.

There’s a ‘Road Map’ Family Trail enabling children to explore the rest of the cars in the collection that are linked by name to different destinations around the world.

Emma Rawlinson, Life Long Learning Officer at the British Motor Museum said “Families are in for a ‘right royal day out’ when they come along to join in our Jubilee jubilations this half-term! The Royal cars are the jewel in our crown, and the family tours and craft activities help bring them to life for the children!”

The half-term week is topped and tailed by the UK Slot Car Festival on 28/29 May and the National Metro & Mini Show on 5 June. The UK Slot Car Festival is a perfect family day out with plenty of hands-on activities on offer. Visitors can try out a variety of tracks from all the leading manufacturers such as Scalextric, Carrera, SCX and more and take part in the exciting range of slot racing competitions being held each day. There is a stunt show, incorporating the slot car wall of death, as well as club tracks and competitions, the opportunity to paint your own figures and even build and race a caravan! More details can be found at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/uk-slot-car-festival. The National Metro & Mini Show is another family friendly event with hundreds of these popular little cars on display outside the Museum, along with a crowd pleasing stunt show!

Museum entry is just £40 for a family in advance or £44 on the day, £14.50 for adults in advance or £16 on the day, £12.50 for concessions in advance or £14 on the day, £9 for children (5-16 years) in advance or £10 on the day and under 5s are FREE. There is also the option to Gift Aid or donate your entry fee and get an Annual Pass in return, at no extra cost. All family activities are included in Museum admission and run on a drop in basis, just visit the Family Activity station on arrival to find out what is going on when. All activities are suitable for 3+ years with adult supervision, unless otherwise specified. 

To find out more information about May half activities please visit the website at https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/may-half-term