SYLVAIN GUINTOLI STRUGGLED TO FIND HIS PACE IN THE PACK AND FINISHED IN FIFTH PLACE, REPEATING THE RACE 1 RESULT

APRILIA'S DOMINATION IN THE MANUFACTURER CHAMPIONSHIP CONTINUES.

Laguna Seca, 29 September 2013 – The determination shown in the Race 1 finale at Laguna Seca yesterday was almost a foreshadowing of the way Eugene Laverty would perform today. Rocketing to the front as soon as the red lights went off, the Northern Irish rider then found himself riding in third place behind the exhaust of Sykes and Giugliano in the first phase of the race. Eugene bided his time throughout the middle portion of the race, staying in contact with the leaders without taking any pointless risks, also taking into consideration the less than excellent grip.

Laverty's strategy paid off when four laps from the end he launched his attack on Giugliano for second place and then overtook Sykes two lap later. The grand finale had him controlling his rivals and flying across the finish in the lead. His seventh victory of the season and the third place in Race 1 take him to second place in the rider standings, 23 points behind Sykes with two more rounds (four races) left to go.

Thanks in part to Davide Giugliano's podium finish, an excellent second place ride on the Althea Racing Team RSV4, Aprilia strengthens their dominating lead in the manufacturer standings. The advantage in front of Kawasaki is now 45 points, 70 ahead of BMW, 235 over Honda, 248 above Suzuki and 308 in front of Ducati.

Eugene Laverty: “This was anything but an easy race. Yesterday I struggled quite a bit to keep up with the front runners and I managed to finish on the podium by overtaking twice in the last lap. I want to thank my team because we worked a lot on the bike and took a big step forward that allowed me to ride better in spite of the grip issues. I pushed hard from the first to the last lap and Davide (Giugliano) and Tom (Sykes) didn't make this win an easy one! This is a result that I really didn't expect which now takes me to second place in the rider standings, but we have two very different rounds ahead of us. I struggled last year at Magny Cours, but my RSV4 has grown a lot so things could change, whereas Jerez is our test track so I could have an advantage there. In any case I'll need to give 100% in every session for the next two weekends. I'd like to dedicate my win to my engineer Marco Bertolatti who became a father just a few hours ago.”

It was another difficult race for Sylvain Guintoli, dominator in Race 1 before the second red flag. After an imperfect start from the first spot on the grid thanks to winning Superpole yesterday, the Frenchman had to surrender the pace to Melandri and Giugliano. Relegated to fifth place, Sylvain struggled in the first part of the race to keep pace with the lead pack, finally settling into a good pace. However, the gap behind the four leaders kept him from improving his position, which repeats the result from yesterday but certainly does no justice to the performance demonstrated during the practice sessions. Sylvain is now lying third in the championship, just one point behind his team mate Laverty, a position that keeps him well in the running for the final victory.

Sylvain Guintoli: “To be honest this was a disappointing Race 2. I expected much more and, all things considered, the start was good. I felt like I could pass Tom and Eugene, but instead I came under attack from Melandri and Giugliano and dropped back behind the lead group. The pace was really fast and when you lose a few metres it's hard to make up that gap. Like yesterday, when I'm in the middle of the pack I'm lacking something. I'm unable to maintain the same pace that I can set when I'm riding by myself like I was in the first two starts yesterday. It's something I need to work on because we didn't make any changes to the bike compared to yesterday. I need to get focused again, I'm not lacking in speed since yesterday when I was out front I was able to be very fast. Magny Cours is coming up in just a few days and that's my home race where I hope to make up some important points”.  

Motorcycle Live is back at The NEC, Birmingham from 23 November to 1 December 2013 and tickets are on sale now!

All the manufacturers!

The show boasts no less than 29 manufacturers, all showcasing the very latest machinery, some of which will have never been seen before in the UK. From sports bikes to scooters, tourers to trikes, cruisers to customs and adventure to motocross machines, there is something on display at Motorcycle Live to suit every rider. Aprilia, BMW, Ducati, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Piaggio, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Vespa, Victory and Yamaha, as well as UK-based firms CCM, Norton and Triumph – will all be present.

Specialist brands such as AJP, Metisse, Morgan, Moto Guzzi, Watsonian Squire, WK Bikes, Quadzilla and electric motorcycle marques Kuberg and Zero will all appear, while Herald Motor Company, Indian Motorcycles, Lifan and ShineRay will make their Motorcycle Live debut. Alongside the manufacturers there’ll be over 150 other exhibitors and retail stands offering the best in kit, accessories and motorcycle-related products and services. Click for more detail

17 live features!

If that’s not enough to keep you busy, the ‘live’ in Motorcycle Live certainly will. With 17 features – including nine FREE opportunities to ride – motorcycle fans of all ages will be kept entertained. New features for 2013 include ‘Behind Bars - The Movie’ – which gives an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the lives of top racers – and the Crank’d live action show that threatens to rip the roof off The NEC!  Click for more detail

Your chance to own a 2014 Yamaha!

You also have the chance to enter a prize draw to win a brand new, yet-to-be-unveiled 2014 Yamaha MT motorcycle – a model which is set to change the sport motorcycle world. You can even enter online now… click for more detail

Get your tickets now!

Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2013 are on sale now, costing just £17 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 6-16* (kids under five accompanied by a paying adult go free). Bike parking is free of charge and subject to availability. Reduced car parking costs of £8 – subsidised by Motorcycle Live.

www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

www.facebook.com/motorcyclelive

The Heritage Motor Centre is to give visitors the chance to learn all about the history of RAF Gaydon at a special lecture on Saturday 2 November.  The lecture, to be given by John Bishop, local historian and HMC employee, will give visitors an insight into the history of the airfield plus there will be an opportunity to visit the old RAF Gaydon Control Tower now the Observation Tower - part of the Jaguar Land Rover site.

Gaydon was one of several RAF airfields in the Midlands which enjoyed two separate periods of existence, one as a wartime training base and the other when it was rebuilt and put back into service for very different aircraft. From 1942 - 1974, RAF Gaydon was home to Wellingtons during WW11 and V Bombers during the Cold War RAF at Home days and later, Varsities and Valettas part of the Navigation school.

John Bishop has worked at the Heritage Motor Centre for 17 years and is responsible for promoting and selling the Centre to Clubs and Groups.  John’s favourite motor-sport is Rallying and he has taken part in several car based charity events including the Convoy for Heroes World Record attempt in 2012 in his Freelander.

John stated “I’m delighted to be giving this lecture on the history of RAF Gaydon. I’ve always lived in the area and find the subject fascinating, so much so that I organised the 60th Anniversary event in 2002 and set up a small exhibition in the Museum at HMC. I look forward to sharing my knowledge with other liked minded enthusiasts.”

The lecture costs just £30 per person and includes a visit to the former Control Tower, lunch (one course including tea/coffee) and entry to the Museum.  The lecture takes place from 10:30am – 3pm and must be pre booked as places are limited. For more information about the HMC please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188.

Motorcycle Live 2013 is not just for seasoned bikers. Anyone thinking about getting on two wheels for the first time or coming back to motorcycling after time away can take advantage of a FREE taster session with the Get On experience – and there’s good news for younger riders too, as it is now open to anyone aged 15 and over. 

Participants in Get On* – which is an industry-backed nationwide campaign encouraging non-riders to enjoy the benefits of life on two wheels – will receive expert tuition on either a scooter or a 125cc motorcycle in a specially constructed private area. Advance bookings for the 20-minute taster sessions are being taken now and can be booked at http://www.geton.co.uk/free-ride by entering The NEC postcode – B40 1NT. 

For those visitors already immersed in life on two wheels, the Test Ride Zone will make a welcome return to Motorcycle Live thanks to Shoei, Sidi and Spada, and a great line up of bikes from leading manufacturers. Accompanied by out-riders, visitors get a real feel for their chosen bike and then have the chance to visit the manufacturer stand with any questions they may have.

Along with a FREE ride, all the safety equipment is provided, so visitors travelling to the show by train or car are still able ride. An experienced Shoei, Sidi and Spada product technician will be on hand to ensure all kit fits correctly. Bikes available to ride will be confirmed nearer the show.

Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2013 are just £17 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 6-16** (kids under five accompanied by a paying adult go free). Bike parking is free of charge and subject to availability. Reduced car parking costs of £8 – subsidised by Motorcycle Live. To book your tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk. 

The IAM is calling on the Labour Party to back targets for reducing injuries and deaths on the road at this year’s party conference.

An IAM survey of local Councillors earlier this year showed that Labour Councillors were the most committed to road safety. Seventy-four per cent said it was a priority for them.  Seventy-eight per cent of labour councillors disagreed with the removal of road safety targets.1

Internationally, road safety targets are seen as best practice and are used by most developed and developing countries.  A target-led approach to road safety would allow the highest risk groups such as cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers on rural roads to be the focus of well-coordinated enforcement, engineering and educational campaigns.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Road safety targets work very effectively. In the past they joined up organisations. Local councils, the police, the NHS and safety camera partnerships used common targets to bring their policies together.  And where there was a target, they always wanted to exceed it.”