Category: Organisations

1. BMF Looking for TTXGP Glory in Isle of Man TT

   Posted on 12:00am Thursday 4th Jun 2009

   The British Motorcyclists Federation will be showing its support for the world's first zero carbon, clean emission grand prix, the TTXGP -The eGrandPrix, next week, by awarding a BMF trophy to the highest place British Rider.

   The TTXGP eGrandPrix will be held on Friday 12^th June as part of the Isle of Man TT fortnight and will be run over the world famous 39.73 mile Mountain Course.

   Since the TTXGP’s inception some twelve month’s ago, the BMF have supported the race concept and the development of the road legal Marvizen TTX01 electric motorcycle and now see the awarding of a BMF trophy for this historic race as a natural progression.

   The BMF’s Chris Hodder said: “We all know that racing improves the breed and the TTxGP eGrandPrix will stimulate and provide an exciting test-bed for clean-technologies that could soon enter the mainstream market. We want motorcycling to continue without the associated environmental concerns and without dependency on limited fuel supplies, the TTXGP eGrandPrix gives clean technologies the chance to prove that they are more than pipe dreams.”

   TTXGP eGrandPrix founder and organiser, London businessman, entrepreneur and keen motorcyclist Azhar Hussain said: “This is a race designed to stretch the cutting edge of technology, married to the excitement and speed of open competition, with the ultimate goal of providing alternative, greener transport.”

   Eighteen teams from six different countries; the USA, India, Germany, Austria, UK and the Isle of Man, have entered the race to produce a unique and international grid line up.

   There are two classes within the TTXGP eGrandPrix race, the Open Class and the Pro Class 3A with the Open Class only eligible to machines that can be sold following the race for £20,000.

   The winner of the Open Class will receive the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Open Trophy 2009’  the Pro Class category champion will be awarded the ‘TTXGP Snaefell Pro Trophy 2009’ while the highest placed British rider will receive the BMF Trophy and a cheque for £250.

   Teams:

   Team name                                                    Class              Rider

   Mission Motors                                                PRO 3A           Thomas Montano

   Kingston University     (UK)                            OPEN              George Spence

   EVOdesign      (UK)                                         PRO 3A           Paul Owen

   MotoCzysz                                                      PRO 3A           Mark Miller

   KillaCycle Racing /Lightning Motorcycles       PRO 3A           Alan Connor

   eROCKIT                                                        PRO 3A           David Madsen-Mygdal

   Barefoot Motors Racing                                  PRO 3A           Chris Petty

   Imperial TTxGP           (UK)                             OPEN              Chris Palmer

   Brammo/BIKE                                                 PRO 3A           Roy Richardson

   Team Agni                                                       PRO 3A           Robert Barber

   HTBLAUVA - TGM                                           PRO 3A           Paul Dobbs

   ManTTx Racing                                               OPEN              Dan Kneen

   TORK                                                              OPEN              John Crellin

   XXL                                                                  PRO 3A           Thomas Schoenfelder

   EVOdesign                  (UK)                             PRO 3A           Olie Linsdell

   Electric Motorsport                                          OPEN              Chris Heath

   Electric Motorsport                                          PRO 3A           Roger Maher

   Peace e-rider                                                  OPEN              Antonio Maseo

   Brunel X-team             (UK)                             PRO 3A           Steve Harper

   Brammo/BIKE                                                 PRO 3A           Mark Buckley

   TTXGP website: www.ttxgp.com

   TTXGP blog: www.egrandprix.com

   TTXGP Twitter: www.twitter.com/ttxgp

   TTXGP flights

   To see the world’s first zero carbon eGrandPrix, the TTXGP is offering an exclusive one-day return flight to watch the race for an all inclusive flight package costs £399. See www.ttxgp.com/flightsfor full details.

2. BMF Calls for Bus Lane Clarity not Penalty

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 27th May 2009

    

   This year’s opening up some of London’s bus lanes to motorcycles has been a welcome development says the British Motorcyclists Federation, but experience over the first four months has shown many riders have incurred penalty notices through inadvertently using ‘closed’ bus lanes.

    

   The BMF, instrumental in persuading Mayor Boris Johnson that opening up London’s bus lanes to motorcyclists would improve safety, say that because the only bus lanes opened up are on those ‘red routes’ governed by Transport for London (TfL), this has caused confusion amongst motorcycle users, especially newcomers to the system.

    

   With the other bus lane routes under the control of London’s 33 local councils not being open to motorcyclists, bus lanes can change designation, sometimes on the same stretch of road, without riders always being aware, say the BMF.

    

   The Old Street roundabout for example, has the bus lane on one side open to motorcycles, while on the other side it is not. Also the A5 changes several times along its length, as does the Euston Road.

    

   The BMF have unsuccessfully tried to determine from the councils involved the level of infringement recorded, but from reports received from members, it is a significant problem.

    

   The BMF is now proposing that:

    

   TfL should take control of all of London’s bus lanes
   Recognise a bus lane’s strategic importance and make them all red routes
   The BMF say that this is a logical extension of TfL’s management of, and responsibility for, London’s bus service as a whole and it is therefore nonsense to split bus lane designations in this way.

    

   Note 1:In March 2007 the Government issued a new Traffic Advisory Leaflet (TAL02/07) to Local Authorities that specifically encouraged a more objective assessment to be made of bus lane use by motorcycles.

    

   Note 2: Existing Bus lane access sites: Bristol has operated a permanent bus lane access since 1996 and Reading since 1999. Other sites are in: Northern Ireland, Birmingham, Colchester, Derby, Bath, Hull, Swindon, Richmond on Thames, Newcastle on Tyne, Sunderland, Plymouth and the M4 bus lane. Still being trialled in London are the Finchley Road (A41) at St John's Wood to Hampstead, the A23 to the South and A13 to the East.