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Category: Other
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Major motorcycle insurers to offer free commuter cover during Ride to Work Week 
Motorcycle insurers Ageas, Bennetts, Bikesure*, Harley-Davidson Insurance Services and Carole Nash are all offering free commuter cover to leisure riders, so that they can ride to work during national Ride to Work Week from Monday 19th June to Friday 23rd June 2017.
Ride to Work Week campaign manager Stevie Muir says: “We are delighted these companies are encouraging leisure riders to try commuting on their bikes during Ride to Work Week, by extending their cover. Around two-thirds of motorcyclists only opt for social and domestic cover and so are missing out on the huge benefits of commuting on their bikes. These include saving time, money and enjoying easier parking. Regular commuters are also likely to become more skilled road users and the best reason of all is that it’s just more fun!”
The campaign slogan #commutehappy is backed up by fact. Motorcyclists are among the happiest commuters according to a one off survey by the Office for National Statistics. It revealed that riding a motorcycle, moped or scooter had no negative impact on well-being on commutes up to 30 minutes and after that it was negligible. This was in contrast to those who walked, cycled, took the bus or drove, who all experienced a dip in well-being after just 15 minutes.
Campaign hi-viz vests are available for free for those organising their own workplace events (subject to availability), which can be ordered by contacting the team [email protected]
*if a Bikesure policyholder with Ageas, Markerstudy or Highway
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British Motorcycle manufacturer Norton has won the prestigious Motul team award for technical excellence at the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.
The award, which was created by TT Races Official Lubricant Partner Motul, is decided by the TT Race Management Team, which includes Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson, Rider Liaison Officers Richard Quayle and John Barton and TT Business Development Manager Paul Phillips from the Isle of Man Government Department of Economic Development Motorsport team.
The award was given in recognition of Norton Motorcycles being the only team to have achieved two top ten finishers in both the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races.
David Johnson finished seventh, fourteen seconds and one place ahead of teammate Josh Brookes in the opening RST Superbike with the team order reversed in the PokerStars Senior with Brookes finishing 6th, a place and less than three seconds ahead of Johnson.
Brookes also lifted the fastest Mountain Course lap by a Norton to 130.883 with Johnson also adding another 130mph lap to his record during the PokerStars Senior TT.
Leslie Raiwoit, Motorsport Co-ordinator, Motul, commented.
“At Motul performance is everything and we understand that there are a number of factors to delivering great results which Norton has undoubtedly achieved this year. The team is very deserving winners of this year’s award which recognises not only where they are today but the journey they have taken to get here.”
Stuart Garner, MD, Norton Motorcycles:
“I’m really pleased to win this award but it reflects exactly what we’ve strived to create at Norton – a team. And that team is built not only from the two great riders that we have on our bikes and an excellent group of mechanics supporting them on event but is also for every one of the people who work for us including all of the hard working people back at the factory who have helped us to get where we are today.”
Photocaption Pictured left to right are Josh Taylor (Norton), Dom Murfin (Norton), Sunni Wilson (Norton), Fabrizio D’Ottavi, Motul Associate Motorsport Manager, Johnny Cusack (Norton), Mick Grant (Norton), Ian Mackman (Norton).
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Two-time world champion Barry Sheene was inducted into the Motor Sport Hall of Fame during a star-studded awards ceremony at the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park Clubhouse on 7 June. Sheene topped a 12-strong shortlist following a public vote, beating such names as Joey Dunlop, Mike Hailwood, Soichiro Honda, Wayne Rainey and Geoff Duke. 
The legendary Englishman joins fellow inductees Giacomo Agostini, John McGuinness, Valentino Rossi and the late, great John Surtees. ‘Fast Freddie’ Spencer demonstrated Sheene’s 1976 500cc title-winning Suzuki on the Captain’s Drive, and later presented the award to Sheene’s sister Margaret Smart and his former engineer Martyn Ogborne.
“It’s amazing to be awarded this,” said Smart. “I’m thrilled to bits.”
“World champions are different from normal people,” added Ogborne. “They will pull off the move that makes you think, ‘Ooh’ – because there is no second place in a champion’s mind.”
Spencer raced against Sheene in the early 1980s and added his own memories: “In 1980, I was 18 and had never raced outside the US. I came over for a match race and won, beating Barry – but he was the first person to come up afterwards and say, ‘Good job’. Then, in 1982, I was signing autographs with him and we’d been there about an hour. I began to stir and he said, ‘Where are you going? We stay here until the last person has their signature’. That was the Barry I knew.”
Stuart Graham and Charley Boorman were among the famous names present to see the incomparable Murray Walker – whose father Graham raced Norton, Rudge and Sunbeam motorcycles through the 1920 and 30s – be presented with the Inspiration Award by 1992 Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell. Walker remembered that his first visit to the Isle of Man TT was in 1925, and credited his father with providing his own inspiration and enthusiasm.
The Henry Surtees Foundation was the event’s official charity partner, with baker-turned-racer Paul Hollywood enjoying an emotional outing on an ex-John Surtees 1960 MV Agusta. “John was so excited when I started racing, and became a mentor for me after I did the Racing Legends TV show with him. When I tested the ‘bike at Brands Hatch, my natural reaction was to pick up the phone and talk it through with him – and then it hit me again that I couldn’t.
“The gears are on the right-hand side, which is opposite to all the other ‘bikes I’ve ridden, but it handles beautifully and sounds amazing. At Brands, I just didn’t want to come in. John basically redesigned it from the ground up to make it more balanced – he knew it inside-out, and was a proper mechanic. I can remember him warming it up with one hand on the throttle and the other on the engine, feeling when it got to the right temperature. What a man.”
“Our top three of Dunlop, Hailwood and Sheene was very strong,” said Mat Oxley of Motor Sport magazine, “and each was hugely popular in their own way. Sheene was very brave and very hard-working, got the right people around him, and had the ability to make things happen. He was also one of those people who lit up a room – he was a performer.”
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Honda Racing will not participate in today’s six-lap Senior TT with Guy Martin, bringing an end to a fortnight on the Isle of Man in which poor weather severely limited on-track action.
Honda Racing will now continue its preparation for the Southern 100 and Ulster Grand Prix with the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP2.
Jonny Twelvetrees, Honda Racing team manager:
We’re disappointed not to be taking part in today’s Senior TT, a decision that is ultimately due to a lack of track time for Guy on the Fireblade. We came here to race and everyone in the team – who have worked extremely hard over the last few months – was looking forward to seeing what the new bike could do. Guy informed me that he wouldn’t race in the Senior, which is a tough decision to make but one I can understand given the lack of practice we’ve had.
The good news is that Guy has told me that even though the TT hasn’t worked out, he’s keen to take part in the Southern 100 next month and try to get the most from the Fireblade there.
We wish a safe race to all the competitors and teams involved.
Guy Martin:
I came back to the TT this year to race and try to win with Honda Racing. I’ve done loads of testing and the team have been flat out, before we got here and at the event. But we’re not doing the times needed to be competitive here, we need more time to set up the bike and doing six laps will not achieve what we set out to do and I’ve always reckoned this is not the place to be out riding just to make up the numbers, so as a team we agreed it wasn’t right competing in the Senior TT. With the weather and my crash I’ve done plenty of tea drinking and dog walking.
I’m looking forward to racing the Mugen, it’s a real honour to race the most interesting bike in the paddock. I’ll see how I can do and I’m looking forward to then getting back to work Monday.
www.hondaracingcbr.com
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What happens when a biker, (Sii Hargreaves) has a bit too much time to drink? Sorry, I meant think?
Well he gets a Ted (dressed in smart blazer, complete with beret and medal) to see how far he can get him round the country with a bunch of over 50’s biker’s, lads and ladies! 
Whilst showing Ted (Edward Grunt for his full title), the sights round this great country of ours, (including bars, cafes and bikers meeting places), they will be raising money for The Poppy appeal. Relaying Ted from Aberdeen in sunny Scotland down the length of Britain, across down into Cornwall and back up to Stoke-On-Trent, in time for Remembrance Day.
Money is being raised by the Lads and Ladies on route, but the easiest way for people to donate is through gofundme.com/poppy-appeal-teds-adventures
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