Category: Events and Shows

1. SUNDERLAND SIGNS TO RACE FOR RED BULL KTM FACTORY RALLY TEAM

   Posted on 11:36am Friday 21st Feb 2014

   KTM is excited to announce that Dakar’s hottest future prospect Sam Sunderland has signed to race for the Red Bull KTM Factory Rally Team for the next three and a half years.  

    

   Sunderland, a 24-year-old former motocrosser turned rally racer, is pleased to be joining the factory squad in a bid to unlock his Dakar potential with the ultra-competitive crew that has won the last 13 editions of the notorious rally.    

   British-ace Sunderland has enjoyed both success and disaster following his Dakar debut in 2012 at just 22 years of age, with competitive results on the days he’s completed during the rally. Sunderland has also achieved success in the British youth championships, UAE MX2 & MX1 Championship titles, UAE National Baja Championship titles in 2010/2011, an Abu Dhabi Desert challenge podium in 2012, a Merzouga Rally win in 2013 plus a stage win in this year’s Dakar event before retiring from the race.    

   With KTM’s Dakar know-how and Sunderland’s motivation it is hoped that he will develop into one of the future greats of the sport as he gains experience with the factory squad amongst more established riders. His main goal for year one will be to complete the rally in the top five with consistent results throughout the stages, and he’s particularly excited about working with Marc Coma, who enjoyed his fourth Dakar victory last month.

    Dubai-based Sunderland, who is the first British rider for 15-years to win a Dakar stage, will race the all-new 450 Factory rally machine that made its debut in 2014. The youngster will contest some rounds of the Cross-Country Rallies World Championship throughout this year as he builds his confidence and speed ahead of the 2015 Dakar race.  

   Sam Sunderland: “I’m really excited for this new chapter in my career and very grateful for the opportunity from KTM. It’s going to be great to work with the huge experience of the team and I hope I can prove myself with good results to return the confidence they’ve put into me. The team has won for 13 years in a row and it’s a huge opportunity for me to race with a team with that much experience. When I met the team I had a great feeling, like friends straight away, which is a huge part of the whole deal, because in the Dakar it’s stressful and tiring, so the relationships are important to be able to work together in the toughest times. The bike is proven; I’ve not ridden it yet, but I’m really excited and looking forward to that. It looks great and with first and second this year it’s obviously great for the job. I am working really hard with my training right now and I can’t wait to get started.”  

   Pit Beirer: KTM’s Head of Motorsports “It’s definitely a big pleasure that we are able to bring Sam over to KTM, thanks to the friendly relationship we have had with him through Kini and myself. We’ve been following his riding over the last few years and he’s a young, talented rider with great skills. I’m sure if we combine this with the strength of our team and the training opportunities with Marc, he will make our package stronger for the future. As Sam is still very young it’s now our job to keep him calm; it’s not that we expect results straight away, but we will give him time to learn the secrets of the desert. He’s a proven stage winner, he has the skill and speed, but I don’t want to put him under pressure. The key is to put him with our experienced riders and he will learn and help them. In my opinion he is already maybe podium contender, but for us it’s not about the results today or tomorrow, it’s about building a good, competitive long-term Dakar future.”   Sunderland will begin racing a KTM motocross machine today at a local event and is expected to make his rally race debut with KTM at round one of the Cross Country Rallies World Championship at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in April.

    

   www.ktm.com

2. SCOTLAND’S BIGGEST AND BEST MOTORCYCLE SHOW IS BACK

   Posted on 8:53am Friday 21st Feb 2014

   Scotland’s biggest and best motorcycle show returns to Edinburgh’s Royal Highland Centre this March with all the latest models, major manufacturers, and breathe taking live action. The Carole Nash MCN Scottish Motorcycle Show, held on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th March, is a haven for anyone with a passion for motorcycles.

   Major bike manufacturers will showcase their new models for 2014. Plus there will be exclusive offers from the dealers on new and 2013 motorbikes. Bag a bargain in the Bike Jumble and browse the Retail Village where a host of traders will be able to fit you out with new leathers, boots or helmet. If you want to improve your bike’s appearance there’s a wide array of suppliers to help make your bike stand out from the crowd.

   Take a ride down memory lane in the Classic Bike magazine hall where you can find Scotland’s biggest collection of classic motorcycles spanning over 80 years. The Classic Bike team will be on hand throughout the weekend – pop along to their stand for a chat.

   Centre stage in the Classic Bike hall will be a dedicated display celebrating the racing heritage of Joe Potts and Bob McIntyre. The Joe Potts Garage Collection will not only include various bikes but also trophies, photographs and full back catalogue of memorabilia.

   For the first time ever Practical Sportsbikes magazine will also be exhibiting at the event and will be on hand for advice and tips on how to get the best out of your pride and joy.

   The Knockhill Stage will be jam packed with entertainment all weekend including competitions, celebrity rider interviews and much more. VIP Guests include Fast Freddie Spencer, John McGuinness, Stuart Easton & Niall Mackenzie

   There will be an impressive range of customised motorbikes from Clydebank-based House of Custom, specialists in customising Harley Davidson Sportsters. With their award-winning ‘hot rod’ styling, the bikes receive a great customised paint finish, slammed suspension, drag handlebars, upgraded lights, lots of stainless steel and custom seat which gives a lower riding position and improved handling.

   Thrill seekers can enjoy stunt shows from Broke FMX as well as Scotland’s very own Kevin Carmichael.

   Novices and experts alike can take advantage of Mick Extances’ Kawasaki Trials Experience whilst younger show visitors will be able to get their first taste of riding and experience just what it’s like to get on a Honda motorcycle with Honda’s unique ‘My First Licence’.

   Show is open 9am until 5pm each day. Adult ticket prices start from just £12 when booked in advance or £16 on the door. Senior citizen tickets are £9 in advance or £12 on the door. Kids under 15 go free when accompanied by a paying adult. All tickets are subject to a service charge. Parking is £5 per car, motorcycles are free and secure helmet storage is available. To book tickets visit www.scottishmotorcycleshow.com where you can find all the latest updates.

3. MICHELIN’S PELLEGRINI SECURES PODIUM FINISH IN ARENACROSS UK

   Posted on 1:30pm Thursday 20th Feb 2014

   The sixth and penultimate round of Arenacross UK at The Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield proved successful for Dave Thorpe Off-Road Centre rider Angelo Pellegrini, who took a well-deserved second place in the Main Event race aboard his Honda machine with Michelin’s Starcross MS3 tyres fitted front and rear.

   The Sheffield round saw a change of line-up in the Michelin team with two riders deciding to sit out – Elliott Banks-Browne due to injury and Brad Anderson to concentrate on preparation to the forthcoming outdoor season. Frenchman Thomas Ramette was drafted in as a replacement on the Michelin squad, while Angelo Pellegrini and Luke Arbon continued to represent the Dave Thorpe Off-Road Centre.

   All three riders performed well in the heats and made it through the Main Event, with Pellegrini also succeeding in picking up two bonus championship points in the head-to-head races. Come the main event, Pellegrini made a great start in second place behind series leader Fabien Izoird and set about matching the Frenchman's pace in the early laps. He maintained his position for the remainder of the race to take a comfortable second place.

   Ramette and Arbon both got off to bad starts with Arbon being pushed wide into the tuffblocks and crashing out of the race. Ramette managed to fight his way up to eighth place by mid-race, but dropped one place by the end to finish in ninth.

   Three of the four Michelin riders remain inside the top ten in the championship standings, with Pellegrini in eighth, Banks-Browne in ninth and Arbon in tenth. Anderson sits in 11th place. The final round of Arenacross UK will take place at Wembley Arena in London on Saturday 1 March.

   Dave Thorpe, team manager
   “Saturday was a good night for the team, all three riders made it straight into the main event. Angelo Pellegrini finally produced the form and speed, that as a team we all knew he had, to take second place in the main. We now have a week-long break before the final round of the tour and hopefully we can continue on from here.”

   Angelo Pellegrini
   “This was the best round of the whole tour so far. I really liked the track because it was more technical than the others. I produced good laps all day during qualifying and the heat races. Then in the main event I started second behind Izoird and tried to run at the front with him, but he didn't make any mistakes. Now we go to London for the final round of the tour and I hope to get on the podium once again.”

   Thomas Ramette
   “Tonight was the first time I've raced in the Arenacross Tour in the UK. I was really happy with the bike and the team, but I suffered with arm pump and I need to work on that before the last round at Wembley where I hope to repay the team’s hard work.”

   Luke Arbon
   “Sheffield ended really badly for me. I started to really enjoy the track during the day and the heats. I got some good starts, including a holeshot in one of the heats and transferred to the main event. Then I lined up a bit wide and hit the tuffblocks and went down and that was the race over. I'm really looking forward to the last round and hopefully finally getting onto the box in the final.”

   Main Event Results
   1 Fabien Izoird
   2 Angelo Pellegrini
   3 Loic Rombaut
   4 Cyrille Coulon
   5 Daniel McCoy
   6 Nev Bradshaw
   7 Chris Bayliss
   8 Kristian Whatley
   9 Thomas Ramette
   10 Romain Biela
   DNF Luke Arbon

   Championship standings
   1) Fabien Izoird 121, 2) Daniel McCoy 97, 3) Cyrille Coulon 93, 4) Loic Rombaut 84, 5) Steven Clarke 76, 6) Nev Bradshaw 75, 7) Kristian Whatley 70, 8) Angelo Pellegrini 64 (HON), 9) Elliott Banks-Browne 53 (HON), 10) Luke Arbon 44 (HON), 11) Brad Anderson (HON)

4. LINCOLNSHIRE SHOW – CLASSIC MOTORCYCLES WANTED FOR DISPLAY

   Posted on 8:41am Tuesday 18th Feb 2014

   I am now the organiser of the Classic motorcycles display and working directly with the showground.

   The Lincolnshire Show takes place on Wednesday & Thursday June 18th & 19th 2014. Classic Motorcycles are welcomed for display in the classic vehicle section which is located near the main entrance.

   Bikes must be rideable, roadworthy, taxed, insured, mot’d and have to be on site by 8am latest and no exit till 6pm.

   Each Exhibitor gets 2 free entrance tickets per day - These are worth £22 per person. (entrance tickets include free parking in car park)

   I shall be erecting a 20ft x 10ft marquee on site for display, seating, rest area and a covered trailer will be adjacent for helmets/kit etc...

   A potted history of your machine will be required for the Show Brochure.

   Please contact me by 25th February, to enter your bike for the show

   Alan Caine [email protected] 
   
   01472 851674 - 07778 019611

5. Ducati star at MCN London Motorcycle Show

   Posted on 10:38am Monday 17th Feb 2014

   This year’s MCN London Motorcycle Show certainly had a Ducati theme with three former Ducati World Superbike Champions, four World Championship winning Ducati’s and one current Moto GP Factory rider attending.

   Four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty kicked off proceedings on Friday morning with ‘Foggy Friday’ a tribute to the most successful World Superbike rider in history. An emotional Fogarty was reunited with his quartet of title winning Ducati’s in front of a packed audience. The Four Championship winning bikes from '94', '95', '98 'and '99' had been shipped over from the Ducati museum in Bologna for this historic reunion with ‘King’ Carl.

   Another historic bike that had made its way from the Ducati Museum was Mike Hailwood’s 1978 TT winning bike that was part of a display of Hailwood memorabilia.

   BT Sport used the London Motorcycle show to publicly announce their commentary line-up for the 2014 Moto GP season which included former Ducati Word Superbike Champions Neil Hodgson and James Toseland as well as former Olympic Athlete and Ducati rider Iwan Thomas. They were joined by the new Ducati factory rider and MotoGP ambassador Cal Crutchlow who took time to visit the Ducati UK stand, sign autographs and chat with fans.

   One of many Ducati fans to visit the stand was the acclaimed celebrity baker, Paul Hollywood. Paul who owns an 1199 Panigale tried a number of bikes for size including the Streetfighter 848 and the 1199 R Panigale. Paul also took time to see the Ducati display of World Superbike Championship winning bikes.

   The Ducati UK stand would not have been complete without some race bikes on display. The centre piece of the stand included a race prepared 899 Panigale which will compete in the Ducati TriOptions Cup and an 1199 Panigale which is the Ducati Coventry entry into the British Superbike Championship.

   Although racing is the lifeblood of Ducati, it was the company’s stunning range of bikes that the visitors came to see. The highlights of the 2014 range are without doubt the 899 Panigale which has received rave reviews since its launch towards the end of 2013 and the Monster 1200 which has yet to hit the market place. The Monster 1200 had been tested by the international press the previous weekend to the show and is also receiving extremely favourable reviews.

   Elsewhere at the show, the California Superbike School displayed for the first time with Ducati as a partner. The highly regarded cornering school has entered into a new agreement with the brand and will be using a selection of 899 Panigale, 1199 Panigale and Monster 1200’s. For further information on the school and the upcoming dates visit www.superbikeschool.co.uk