Motorcyclists at the head of a group of riders will face stiffer penalties for speeding under a crown court ruling.

Being the lead rider in a group is an aggravating factor making you partly responsible for speeding offences of those behind you according to the decision.

The ruling can be applied in any future cases where two or more motorcyclists riding together are accused of speeding. The head rider might be only a few mph over the limit, but could be given the same penalty as the worst offender behind.

Road traffic solicitor Robert Dobson said: "Any crown court decision can be stated in future cases. This is potentially a very dangerous judgement for motorcyclists. Riders in a group change position frequently. If you are riding at the front any group at excess speed, then the very fact you're at the front is an aggravating factor."

Ken Clark, 49, reached 85mph on his Yamaha R1 while leading a group of three riders on the 60mph A272 near Rogate, Sussex, last June. The speed is within the usual threshold for a fixed penalty of three points and a £60 fine. But Chichester Crown Court ruled he should receive the same penalty as a following rider accused of going 103mph.

Barrister notes on the ruling given to Clark after the hearing state: `Although his was the lesser speed, [the bench] found it an aggravating feature that he was the lead motorcyclist, was setting the pace and he knew that the other two motorcyclists would want to catch him up and would be speeding to do so.'

The Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone is once again proving to be a giant hit with visitors to the UK’s premier two-wheeled event - The 2009 Carole Nash International Motorcycle and Scooter Show, which is running at the Birmingham NEC until Sunday 6^th December.

The expanded Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone has been positioned alongside the major manufacturers in Hall 1, which reflects the continual growth of touring and adventure holidays amongst the biking fraternity. The entire Zone is geared to accommodate numerous exhibitors offering motorcycle tours to varying corners of the globe.

For those new to holidaying with their bike, the Show offers handy tips, useful advice and trips of a lifetime for the most novice rider. For the touring enthusiast, there are trips on offer to far and away destinations, which even the most intrepid explorer would not have thought about visiting by bike, from Transylvania and the Himalayas to Mount Everest!

Visitors to the Show over the past weekend have been able to meet and get advice on two-wheeled long distance travel from the face of biking adventure, Show ambassador Charley Boorman. Having recently returned from his latest ‘By Any Means’ journey, Boorman has proved to be a real crowd-puller with fans queuing for his autograph at the Touratech stand over the course of the opening weekend.

Exhibitors at the Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone include Alpine TT, whose signature trip includes guiding groups through Northern Spain and Portugal, taking in the splendour of the Douro Valley, the hot springs at Chaves and an awesome ride through the Picos de Europas. Tour operator  Compass Expeditions has also received impressive levels of interest for their bespoke bike expeditions to South America, which includes Chile and Argentina, whilst MCi Tours offers sensational biking holidays across Europe, America and New Zealand.

Touratech UK Managing Director, Nick Plumb , commented: “The popularity of touring on motorcycles has steadily grown. All the touring stands at the Show are vibrant with people who see the biking tour as a fantastic way to travel. Touratech has been inundated with attention and our new Streetline range, which is designed for adventures on road-biased bikes, has received an incredible reception from the public. There’s also been a lot of general interest geared towards motorbikes for longer trips to exotic destinations, proving that riders are wanting to explore further afield.”

Managing Director of MCi Tours Alistair McFarlane , added: “The Show is proving to be a big success for us. Our FlyRide holidays have attracted an incredible range of interest and we’ve distributed more package brochures than ever before and have even drafted in extra staff to cope with the demand. However, it’s the quality of interest, along with the vast cross-section of people that the adventure market is appealing to that has been so impressive.”

Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of MCI Exhibitions , said: “The Touratech Touring and Adventure Zone continues to be one of the most popular areas of the Show. We are delighted to have so many companies from this growth area of the industry exhibiting at the NEC.”

For more information visit www.motorcycleshow.co.uk

www.thebikerguide.co.uk

The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG), the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) and the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) have joined forces to launch a campaign to encourage motorcyclists to vote in the forthcoming General Election.

2010 will be a year where there will be big changes in parliament and the three organisations feel that this could be the best chance in decades to really influence political opinion about motorcycle issues among Parliamentary Candidates.

The main 'Riders Are Voters' campaign will kick off in the new year and as part of this, motorcycle riders and businesses in the motorcycle industry will be encouraged to contact local Parliamentary Candidates to ask for support for a motorcycling manifesto; 'Britain Needs Biking'.

However, MAG, BMF and MCI want to know what riders and business leaders think are the key issues that the campaign should focus upon. Does biking Britain need better roads? More parking? Better Government policy? More incentives for people to ride? Better policing? Or something else? Riders Are Voters wants to know what people really feel should be the key biking issues that should feature in the General Election.

MAG and the BMF will be featuring Riders Are Voters on their stands, CX10 Hall 2 (MAG) and 1D72 Hall 1 (BMF) People are urged to visit these stands and let the campaign know their views via the Riders Are Voters 'ballot box'.

MAG's Nich Brown said: " More than a million motorcycle and scooter riders are voters, so are their friends and families. By working together 'Riders Are Voters' will show the biking constituency is big enough to make a difference at elections. Government still has a long way to go to deliver on its promise to put biking at the heart of transport thinking; we've made progress but the message still has to get through to some parts of local and national government.

BMF's Chris Hodder said "The one thing we have learnt about riders is that motorcycling is right at the top of their personal agendas. The big changes expected at the next election mean that now could be the best time in decades to let those who want our votes know where we really stand."

MCI's Sheila Rainger added "The industry is delighted to support this campaign. It's clear that despite the limited actions taken in the last ten
years and the occasional warm words from Ministers, the motorcycle community expects much, much more. Motorcycles don't create traffic congestion and are the lowest polluting form of private powered transport for a given journey. Therefore it makes absolutely no sense that the Government does not support motorcycling in its overall transport strategy."

Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

You off to war did go,

A brave and much loved person,

Of whom I did not know,

You fought a foe you could not see,

Although beside you he may be, but to you he wouldn't show.

--------------------------

Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

You fought, with your head held high,

In heat and cold you fought so hard, your valour ever bold,

Fighting on with a will, that you knew would never die,

But for what cause is this you risked your life,

What are the reasons never told.

--------------------------

Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

We may never know my friend, the reason for you not growing old,

The reason for your Mother, Father, sister, brother,

No longer, having you to hold,

The reason for your children, to lie awake at night,

Crying after losing Dad, because of someone else's fight.

--------------------------

Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

Sadly now the time has come, you no longer have to fight, for you it is all over,

The enemy sought you out, albeit by bullet or by bomb,

Yet another damned statistic on the press front cover,

And back to this country you will come,

Just like so many, who before you may have done!

--------------------------

Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

You have given your all, to protect others like me,

You have now returned at last, your fighting there is done,

Your final journey is now ahead of you, although it may be a lonely one,

Your work there will carry us forward, and from you, we will learn,

That with strength of character such as yours, we can travel on.

--------------------------

Soldier, Soldier, Soldier

'Lest We Forget' what you have done,

We will remember you, each and everyone,

Past and present you have all fought for us, to make our life ahead a better one,

God Bless you in your after life, may you be free of all pain and anguish,

For us our memories of you will never die, and we all will surely cherish.

Spider!

Spider!

(In the Phrase 'Lest We Forget' ¨C the word 'Lest' means 'For Fear That' ¨C We Forget) ¡¡

I have written this to mark the 100th repatriation of our fallen service personnel through Wootton Bassett on the 20th November 2009.

But also to remind us of the millions of people who have died or been injured in conflicts around the world.

Hopefully one day it is the world itself that will Rest in Peace

*** 

I have written this to mark the 100th repatriation of our fallen service personnel through Wootton Bassett on the 20th November 2009.

But also to remind us of the millions of people who have died or been injured in conflicts around the world.

Hopefully one day it is the world itself that will Rest in Peace