Category: Motorcycles

1. Go off-road with Yamaha at Motorcycle Live

   Posted on 12:01am Wednesday 26th Sep 2012

   Motorcycle Live 2012 is so much more than a display of the hottest new bikes and the latest accessories, it’s a chance to get fully immersed in every aspect of the world of two wheels – and to discover and experience parts of that world you never thought you would!      

   Take the FREE Yamaha Off-Road Experience for example. A specially-designed indoor motocross circuit run under the watchful eye of trained instructors, it gives road riders the chance to try off-roading for the first time. 

   If you’re already a fledging dirt rider, you can pick up some new skills and improve your technique. It’s a must-try for any adventurous rider looking to broaden their two-wheeled horizon, but don’t take our word for it, here’s what our 2011 visitors had to say…      

   “Awesome and exhilarating!!!” – Nicola Ford, 55, Beccles      

   "I loved it! Although the experience was free on the day it proved very costly a few weeks later when I went out and bought myself an MX bike!" – Tim Teale, 33, Wilmslow      

   “With seeing so many new bikes on display, it was awesome to get a chance to ride one too. The Yamaha guys know exactly what they are talking about and it doesn’t matter how good or bad a rider you are, you leave the course feeling that you had learnt something from the experience.” – Mick Fenwick, 42 , Tiverton      

   “It was superb. They look after you, give you all the kit, make you feel welcome and you don’t get treated like an idiot. It’s a great experience, well worth doing and I’d do it again.” – Dave Vaughan, 35, Solihull      

   “It was a brilliant experience. I ride on the road all the time but this was my first time on dirt and I really enjoyed it.” – Peter Roberts, 23, Lincoln      

   The Yamaha Off-Road Experience is overseen by Chief instructor Barry Johnson (a former Motocross Grand Prix Rider and current Auto Cycle Union Instructor) and caters for all levels of experience - from those who have just the basics of clutch control, through to experienced road riders. All safety equipment is provided.      

   It is just one of the exciting live features at this year’s show. The all-inclusive Motorcycle Live ticket gives access to five exhibition halls crammed with all the latest bikes, clothing and accessories and six opportunities to ride a bike**, plus non-stop entertainment from some of the biggest names in biking and the BSH/Streetfighters Custom Xtreme Zone, the Yamaha Escape Zone and the Classic Zone in association with Coventry Transport Museum and entry into the Ramp’d Up Freestyle Motocross Arena**.      

   Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2012 cost just £16 per adult, £10 for seniors and £6 per child*. To book your tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk and click ‘Tickets’

2. Honda to participate in the 2013 Dakar Rally

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 3rd Jul 2012

   Honda has announced its intention to participate as a works team in the motorcycle class of the Dakar Rally to be held in January 2013 in South America, travelling north to south through Peru, Chile and Argentina.

   Honda competed nine times in the motorcycle class in the forerunner of the present Dakar Rally, the Paris-Dakar Rally, from 1981 through to 1989, and was a winner five times during that period. It has been 23 years since it last participated in the Rally.
    
   The Honda team, to be called Team HRC, will include Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues, who took third place in the 2012 Dakar Rally, Brazilian Felipe Zanol, who brings a wealth of experience in motocross and enduro race events, as well as Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom) and Javier Pizzolito (Argentina).
    
   They will ride a prototype machine developed and produced by the Motorcycle R&D Center at Honda R&D. The prototype machine is based on the CRF450X, the popular worldwide enduro racing model that combines ease of handling with superior competitive strength. Kit parts designed for use on the standard CRF450X model have also been developed and will be supplied to a limited number of teams.
    
   Tetsuo Suzuki, Senior Managing Officer and Director, Chief Operating Officer, Motorcycle R&D Centre, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. commented: “The Dakar requires competitors to cover several hundred kilometers per day for more than two weeks. It needs a totally different type of vehicle from events such as motocross, trials and road races. Honda has put a great deal of effort into designing and building a powerful and winning machine. We are aiming for the championship from this first year.”

3. Travelling Doctor uses KTM RC8 R power for rapid response

   Posted on 12:01am Wednesday 2nd May 2012

   Racers and spectators at Irish Road Race meetings will have rapid response medical support in the form of a 175hp KTM RC8 R as part of its “Travelling Doctor’” system in 2012.

   Doctor John Hinds, 32, as a member of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland (MCUI) medical team, has chosen a RC8 R  - currently available for £12,995 with finance offers that include 0% interest with a £99 deposit - as his way of getting life saving care and triage to a rider quickly and safely.

   The “Traveling Doctor" system has evolved over the years as a way of providing fast and lifesaving medical care to riders at Irish Road racing meetings. The environment which with the medical staff work in is unique and the circuits can vary from 3 to 9 miles in length; so are too long to staff with ground crews like at British Superbikes, but too short to use a helicopter effectively like at the Isle of Man TT. The nature of these courses also make it difficult to have a fast "first response" with a car or regular ambulance.

   The motorcycle-mounted doctors – Dr. John Hinds and Dr. Fred MacSorley - chase the warm-up and opening lap of each race or practice session at each event as this is historically when most serious incidents tend to occur. During racing they are parked up strategically with radio contact, helmets on and ready to be scrambled immediately and can assess, triage and begin treatment, and are backed up by response vehicles staffed by experienced doctors and paramedics.

   The bikes the traveling doctors use are their own and the road racing circuits are exceptionally hard on a motorcycle. The wear and tear of jumps, bumps and high speed runs each and every weekend mean maintenance is an ongoing battle of attrition - tyres, oil and filters every weekend; screens full of stone chips, suspension being put through it's full crashing strokes every lap on the jumps that make the Irish road circuits unique in what they are. On average, Dr. John will cover around 4000 race miles a year.

   The consultant anesthetist and intensivist based at Antrim Area hospital said: “There was a number of reasons I chose to run an RC8 R this year. Firstly, I have had Japanese inline fours for 10 years and wanted something different. Secondly, and more importantly, I needed a bike that was reliable and had good dealer back-up as I know how many serviceable items I get though in a year.

   “The job I use the bike for means that a machine that won't start on the button could mean the difference between life and death. Who better then to buy a bike off than Northern Ireland KTM dealer and road racing legend Phillip McCallen! If ever there was a man who knows if a bike will work on a road circuit, it's him; and the RC8 R came highly recommended from the man himself. The fact that Northern Ireland ex-MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams owns one himself meant the decision was made!”

   John will be on call at the 90th Cookstown 100 this weekend, April 27-28, 2012.

   www.Mcui-uc.org.uk
   www.facebook.com/mcuimedicalteam

4. HDCI announce the cancellation of next years European SuperRally®

   Posted on 12:01am Tuesday 14th Feb 2012

   Harley Davidson Club Ireland (HDCI) is sorry to announce that they have had to cancel next years European SuperRally® (40th anniversary) event, which was due to be held on 16th to 20th May 2013 at Waterford Institute of Technology Sports Campus, Carriganore, Waterford.

   Following consultations with An Garda Siochana, it was determined that a significant level of policing supports and resources to effectively police the event safely were necessary. The cost for providing the policing plan was estimated that it could rise to or beyond €300,000, making it cost prohibitive for the club to host the five day event in Ireland.

   HDCI would also like to thank all stakeholders including; Waterford City & County Councils, City Manager, WIT Campus Services, Waterford Spraoi, Michael Slattery Associates, Failte Ireland, Federation Harley Davidson Clubs of Europe, Stenna Ferries, An Garda Siochana, all local political representatives and members of Harley Davidson Club Ireland for their help and assistance.

   They wish every success to Harley Davidson Club Poland who will now be hosting the 2013 SuperRally® event.

   Harley Davidson Club Ireland

5. Dunlop celebrates final 125cc World Champion Nico Terol

   Posted on 12:01am Wednesday 9th Nov 2011

   Dunlop heralds newly crowned 125cc World Champion Nico Terol (Bankia Aspar Team 125cc) who took his title in fine fashion with a podium finish at the Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana yesterday.

   Terol wins the 63rd and final 125cc World Championship as the category now comes to a conclusion, to be replaced next year by Moto3. The final race was won by Spaniard Maverick Viñales (Blusens by Paris Hilton Racing). It was Dunlop’s 133rd consecutive race win in the open tyre competition championship.

   Spaniard Terol came into the event needing to finish in 11th position or higher to secure his title. He was handed a gift as his rival Johann Zarco (Avant-AirAsia-Ajo) fell on lap 3. Zarco needed to win the race with Terol finishing lower than eleventh for Terol to be denied his crown. The final standings saw Terol on 302 points from Zarco’s 262 with Viñales third with 248.

   For Dunlop as well as motorcycle racing it is an end of an era. Dunlop tyres contested the very first 125 cc World Championship round in 1949 and as well as this final event. In between, there have been countless wins for Dunlop tyres. Despite open tyre regulations, the last time a tyre manufacturer other than Dunlop was represented on the top step of the podium was in 2003.

   Next season, Moto3 makes its debut to replace the 125cc World Championship and Dunlop tyres will adorn every competitor thanks to Dunlop having been awarded the exclusive tyre supply contract for this exciting new series.

   The first Moto3 test takes place today (Monday November 7) at the Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana.

   Quotes

   Nico Terol - Bankia Aspar Team 125cc – 2011 125cc World Champion:
   “Winning the championship for me is incredible and this moment is the best in my life; to be champion is amazing. Dunlop’s tyres were even better than they were last year in both rain and dry conditions. In the wet the tyres were more forgiving and in dry conditions the slick tyres are so good – perfect in tight corners and in fast corners incredible! For me, Dunlop’s tyres are perfect, so congratulations to Dunlop for all their hard work!”

   Sharon Antonaros, Director Motorcycle PBU EMEA Motorcycle Business Unit:
   “Firstly, I would like to thank all the Dunlop personnel who constantly strive for improved performance from our products and give their time and dedication both at the track and in our development and production departments. Our participation in the 125cc World Championship has been a vital part of Dunlop’s DNA to further our technological development. This has ultimately benefitted all riders who use Dunlop products, whether they be on the track or on the road. We say a fond farewell to the 125cc World Championship and look to Moto3 with expectation. Congratulations to Nico Terol and the Bankia Aspar Team for their title.

   Stephen Male Dunlop Motorcycle Motorsports Manager:
   “We say goodbye to the 125cc World Championship with a new and worthy champion crowned in Nico Terol. For Dunlop, it is an end of an era as we supplied tyres to the very first 125cc World Championship event, and now we have done so to the final. The final race winner, Maverick Viñales, won the 133rd race in this category on Dunlop tyres, despite the regulations allowing other manufacturers to compete. Although this was the last year of 125, we still introduced two new specifications showing Dunlop’s commitment to continuous evolution. Now we start the next challenge of Moto3.”

   Alan Nicholls, Dunlop Motorsport, Senior Engineer:
   "Congratulations to Nico and the whole of the Bankia Aspar Team. Nico has been consistently hard to beat all season. He has been a genuine star throughout the year and is a worthy final addition to the long list of 125cc World Champions. It is sad to say goodbye to the last of the original World Championship categories, but with the success seen in Moto2 we can only look forward to similar success and excitement in Moto3.”