Maria Costello MBE, one of the most recognisable faces in British Motorcyling, will ride in this week’s first round of the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge at Brands Hatch.

Maria has never before raced a Ducati during her career but now the 848 Challenge has presented her with an opportunity to realise an ambition of racing a Ducati Superbike. She will be the first female to compete in the 848 Challenge when she rides the Ducati UK VIP bike over two races during the Easter weekend.

Maria commented on her Ducati debut, "I am so excited about this opportunity, I have always loved Ducati’s and I have ridden many of the Superbikes on track days, but never before in a race. I tested the 848 at Brands last week and it is fantastic bike and I am really looking forward to racing it in front of a big crowd."

The first round of the 848 Challenge will take place over the Easter Weekend, 22 to 24 April, and is an official support race for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.

Maria will also be supporting the breast cancer charity CoppaFeel this season. For further information about Maria Costello visit www.costelloracing.com

The Heritage Motor Centre is to host the popular annual Heritage Land Rover Show on Sunday 1 May.

Thousands of enthusiasts and club members are expected to converge at the show to enjoy a great family day out. Featuring many different models on display, visitors can also enjoy a number of rides on the new improved Land Rover Experience off-road course including passenger experiences, test tracks and heritage rides. There will also be a special appearance from Shaun the Sheep’s Land Rover, plus Ian Cook, the radical artist, will be painting the new Range Rover Evoque. Ian uses a unique style of painting using remote control cars on canvas. Attending the show is the perfect opportunity to see how his creations are produced and to create your very own masterpiece!

Another fantastic exhibition to be showcased during the show is the Land Rover Legacy Travelling Exhibition. The exhibition tells the story of the Lode Lane factory, its people and products, from 1940 to the present day and features photographs from the Archives of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

To celebrate Land Rover’s 63rd Birthday, the annual Heritage Run from Lode Lane in Solihull to the HMC will take place. Starting from the home of the legend at the Land Rover factory in Solihull at 10:00am, the procession is due to arrive at the HMC at 11:00am. Featuring around 150 cars, the Heritage Run is an amazing spectacle to see.

Emma Rawlinson, Events Executive at the Heritage Motor Centre stated “We’re delighted to be hosting this special event which is an absolute must for Land Rover and Range Rover enthusiasts. For many the show is the highlight on the events calendar and a definite date in the diary for anyone who loves these famous iconic models”.

The show will be open from 10am – 5pm. General admission prices are £11 in advance or £14 on the day for adults, £9 in advance or £12 on the day for concessions, £5 in advance or £8 on the day for children aged 5 – 16. Under 5’s are admitted free of charge. An advance family ticket costs £30 in advance or £40 on the day and admits 2 adults and 3 children. This year visitors can camp for 3 nights on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday for just £30 in advance and take advantage of a special Museum and Show entrance offer of just £18 for all three days. Advance tickets and camping can be purchased by phoning the ticket hotline on 01926 645029 Monday – Friday from 9:30am – 5pm. Alternatively, tickets can be purchased on-line at www.hlrw.co.uk

The HMC is also having a large screen brought in so visitors can watch the Royal Wedding on the Friday. The Centre provides the perfect place to spend the entire Bank Holiday Weekend plus visitors can take advantage of the special Royal Wedding ticket. As well as watching the wedding, visitors can gain access to the museum all weekend, see the new ‘Sci-Fi at the Movies’ exhibition, and attend the Heritage Land Rover show on the Sunday! To find out more information please visit the website at www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

Ducati Days, The Art of Corse on 21/22 May

Ducati UK recently announced a spectacular two day event to be held at Silverstone Circuit during the weekend of the 21/22 May and now is to bring even more activities, attractions and value to this ultimate Ducati event.

This unique event will host a wide range of activities on and off track at this premier World Championship Circuit. Ducati Days has been designed to be more than just a track day. It is an interactive weekend that encompasses the best elements of Ducati and motorcycling.

Event partners, Silverstone Circuit, has announced a fantastic offer for all participants purchasing a full Rider Ticket. Full ticket holders will now be eligible for two free Silverstone BSB tickets and a 20% discount on up to four MotoGP Ducati Grandstand tickets – a total value £188. This is the chance to see some great racing on a circuit that ‘Ducati days’ riders will have experienced for real!

Although the main focus of the weekend for many will be enjoying the three different track configurations that are on offer, others will be seeking out the many activities taking place in the paddock. For some it may be having their suspension fettled by the suspension gurus from Ducati Coventry or for others it will be listening to seminars from industry experts enlightening them on the intricacies of motorcycle technology, the stresses of running a race team or how to become a modern day athlete to compete at the highest level of racing.

Ducati UK has also tried to make the weekend as accessible as possible for non-riders who wish to attend the Ducati Days. Children under 16 can come and enjoy the day free of charge along with Children’s entertainment. Day visitor tickets are now available at £15 for adults (this does not include food). Guest tickets for the weekend including food and refreshments are priced at £50 or without food at £25.

In the paddock there will be a number of Ducati partners with trade stands. These will include Moto Icons (Apparel), Bike Trac, R&G, Kiddi Motos and many others. For kids there will be a Children’s Entertainment area which will include a bouncy castle and more to be announced.

However, for those that have left the partners and kids behind to focus on a weekend of pure track action there will be plenty on offer. A unique opportunity beckons you to ride the full Silverstone MotoGP Circuit on a weekend with optional training from one the World’s best training schools – Californian Superbike School. Riders will also have the chance to ride two other circuit configurations which are the national and international circuit and be the very first to ride out of the new ’wing’ pits.

For some a full weekend on track may be too daunting, so Ducati UK has organized, at the suggestion of the Ducati clubs, marshalled parade laps to at least get a taste of the MotoGP circuit that our heroes Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden will ride later in the year.

A full list of activities includes:

•    Training from Californian Superbike School (CSS)
-  on track training
-  classroom sessions
•    A full days track time on the MotoGP circuit
•    Three track configurations (National, International and MotoGP) over two days at one of the World’s premier circuits.
•    Parade Laps
•    Suspension set up by Ducati Coventry
•    Attendance of Scott Smart and the Moto Rapido race team
•    Breakfast and lunch both days including refreshments
•    Garage Use
•    Trade Stands – including Moto Icons (Ducati Apparel), Ducati Art, Bike Trac, Kiddi Moto, R&G, Dealer stands and many more
•    Guest speakers
•    Ducati Model Range Display and event truck
•    Helicopter rides (additional cost)
•    Riders For Health Ducati Auction
•    Ducati UK Museum featuring a collection of iconic Ducati bikes through the ages
•    Ducati gift for track and parade lap riders
•    2  x free tickets to Silverstone BSB round and 20% of Ducati Grandstand tickets for those purchasing ‘rider tickets’
•    Free entry for Children under 16 and Children’s activities
•    Track side photography

Prices for the weekend (inclusive of VAT) will be:

•    Day entry ticket (Does not include food and refreshments)                    £15
•    Weekend Entry ticket only (Does not include food or refreshments)        £25
•    Guest ticket (Breakfast and Lunch included for both days)                     £50
•    Parade Lap ticket (inc entry and food, parade laps are at a controlled speed and with safety cars)                                                                                           £100
•    Rider ticket (inc entry and food plus 2 days on track - choose between Track or Training on Saturday, full Moto GP track for all riders on Sunday)                                £495

Tickets for the event can be purchased through any Ducati dealer and to find your nearest dealer visit:  www.ducatiuk.com/find_dealers/index.do.

For further information on this event call Ducati UK on 08456 718500 or email [email protected]

Notes:

All tickets give entry to the paddock, all talks, autograph sessions etc and access to all viewing areas.  In addition, Rider, Guest and Parade lap tickets entitle the participant to breakfast and lunch each day in the Paddock Diner. Security will not allow anyone on site without a relevant ticket.

A limited number of Guest Tickets will be available to purchase on the day at the main security gate.
All Riders wanting to take part in either

The Weekend schedule will be:

Day 1 – Saturday 21 May

This day has been split into 2 styles your customer can choose either:

TRAINING or TRACK DAY

TRAINING:
This will be offered under the tutelage of The California Superbike School. The day will begin on the National circuit and will then switch to the new International circuit after lunch to continue.
The Training day consists of 3 classroom sessions and 5 track sessions assisted on track by CSS Coaches.

The training will cover:
1. Turn Entry speed. What are the errors? Too fast in? Too slow in? How do we get it just right?
2. Throttle Control. That twist grip in your right hand as a huge affect on the suspension, the grip, the line, the lean angle and of course... your speed.
3. Adding lean and throttle (as a negative). Getting the timing of the throttle just right of one of the best skills a rider can have. Get the timing wrong however and you could end up in the gravel. CSS will take a look at the exact timing you need to get this crucial skill right.
There will be six CSS coaches on track to give direction where needed and to police the sessions to make sure riders are working on the drills. The coaches will use hand signals to give guidance on track although we will not be assigning coaches to specific riders.

Limited to 90 spaces (3 groups of 30)

TRACKDAY:
This will begin on the ‘International’ circuit running out of the all new Silverstone ‘Wing’ pits. Riders will be split into three groups dependent on ability and preference at time of booking: Novice, Intermediate and Expert (subject to availability)
The day will be limited to 150 riders, (3 groups of 50) during which two tracks will be running, the National and the new International track.

Day 2 – Sunday 22 May

All 240 riders (3 groups of 80) will ride on the full Moto GP circuit again split into 3 groups: Novice, Intermediate and Expert (subject to availability) with on-track instructors available from California Superbike School
Parade Laps 1-2pm (time subject to change) laps of full circuit with controlled speed and safety cars. 

Noise limit for both days is 105dba.

www.ducatiuk.com

Following the first successful Thunder Rally the time is upon us again for Thunder Rally 2011.

The first event was planned as a thank you to everyone who supports us throughout the year, to say a huge thank you to the biking community who raised so much money for the charity last year at the Mothers Day Ride, also to say a huge thank you to the people of Wotton Bassett, who regardless of the weather, time of day or year stand out on the streets of that beautiful town and pay their respects to the fallen. Those of you who attended last year will recall the speech made by the Deputy Mayor of Wotton Bassett, in which he thanked all of you for your support of their town. It is also about showing the troops and their families that we haven't forgotten them, and no matter how far away they are from us we still think about them constantly, and wait for the day when they are home safe again.

Well we are at it again, we have taken your comments on board and this years event is planned to be better in lots of ways, including more shows in the main arena, more attractions for you, bigger shopping village, better ticket pricing with cheaper early bird tickets, a full line up of music for all three days Friday, Saturday and Sunday as well! The camp site is level and is equipped with showers! We will have pre recorded messages from the guys in Afghanistan, as they receive their "comfort boxes" sent by the Charity and funded by your donations.

So why not come along and spend the weekend with us or even a day you can meet the Charity founders, buy Afghan Heroes merchandise, and have some fun while the kids watch the Equestrian stunt display or the Wall of Death show. Perhaps you want to get your trusty steed on our Dyno machine? Or perhaps buy some new leathers, then stay and listen to the music in the evening. Make a day or weekend of it there is plenty of room with easy parking, and lots of space for camping.

The rest of the team look forward to seeing you June 17th-19th at Wincanton Race Course, Somerset.

www.thunderrally.co.uk

www.afghanheroes.org.uk

As British Summer Time starts, with the clock change at the weekend, so does the unofficial beginning of the riding season, as we all benefit from the longer, lighter days and warmer weather.

There are about 1.3 million licensed motorcycles in Great Britain, which according to the latest Government statistics were ridden over 5 billion kilometres at the last count.

As riders prepare for the warmer weather it is important that bikes and scooters that have been locked up over the Winter are also fully prepared for the roads.

Preparing for a season of riding requires riders to undertake a thorough inspection of their bike, and we would recommend that inspection be carried out by one of the country's network of dealers.

Kit should be checked as the spring opens up many more opportunities whether riding for purely pleasure or practical purposes.

Bike Preparation - This will depend on what you did prior to putting your bike in storage. However, over the winter months bad weather can cause some problems so it is important that you give your bike a number of checks, such as looking for corrosion, checking the oil and brake fluid and brake pads.

Get in touch with your nearest dealer as mentioned, get them to check out your bike as the season begins. Be ready to enjoy safe riding, always remembering that regular maintenance is essential and will also help to prolong the life of your motorcycle

Washing and applying a fresh coat of wax to your bike not only keeps it looking good, it can also prevent rust and corrosion.

Kit - In addition to your bike, you should give your motorbike gear and any specialist clothing some careful attention. If you've just pulled out a helmet you wore years ago or have been wearing the same one for a few years check that it's still safe enough and have a chat with your local supplier. If it has been stored in sunlight, the lining is compressed, the strap is stretched or frayed or the visor is scratched it's probably time to buy yourself a new one.

There are plenty of alternatives to leathers too. You can now get jeans reinforced with Kevlar and similar materials. Whether you go for leathers or textiles, look out for armour at vulnerable points like knees, hips, elbows and shoulders. It should be CE approved. Again try the Get On website at www.geton.co.uk/kit.

Get On - Anyone who is interested in enjoying all of the cost-saving benefits of a bike or scooter can dip their toe into the world of bikes with a free one-hour taster session with a local trainer

Steve Kenward CEO of the MCI said "Getting on a bike as the warmer weather approaches brings many benefits to the individual and other road users.  It is a fun leisure activity that brings together people from all walks of life as well as providing a cost-effective commuting alternative.

Anyone who hasn't got a licence, but is interested in life on two wheels can now have the chance to have a FREE one-hour experience as part of the industry's Get On campaign"

For more information about life on two wheels and choosing your motorcycle kit go to the website www.geton.co.uk