We are always looking for more marshals to work the gates, sort traffic, check campsites and showfields plus other duties. If you do 12 hours over the weekend (this may include some evening hours) you will get your ticket money refunded, a limited edition t-shirt, and fed for every 4 hour shift and an invite to the marshal party on the Sunday night. Application forms are available at

www.storminthecastle.co.uk

BMF Show organisers The Mulberry Group have said that as a result of a very successful Kelso Bikefest,(5-7 July)  the BMF Tailend Show (13-15 September) is looking very good.

“The Kelso weekend gave us a large increase on last year’s attendance” said Mulberry’s MD Martin Chick, “and the weather helped enormously, as a result, bookings for Tailend are now coming in thick and fast”.

Tailend will again feature a stunt competition throughout the weekend with over 30 riders from all over the world including the USA, Europe and hopefully Australia and organisers are hoping to install temporary grandstand seating to give visitors an even greater view of the action. 

The show weekend will also be the last chance for people to get their raffle tickets to win the trip of a lifetime with Riders for Health on one of their Experience Africa rides – the winning ticket will be drawn at the show on Sunday 15th September. The BMF Shows may not be back to the numbers of the mid/late 70’s, but things are definitely moving in the right direction and the Tailend Show will be a great party.

Keep up to date with full developments via www.thebmfshow.co.uk

Next Show date: Tailend 13-15 September, Peterborough Arena 

About the BMF Shows

The BMF shows have been running for over 38 years. The shows offer members and non-members the opportunity to meet other bikers and to learn more about the work of the BMF.

The May Show (17-19 May 2013) is the season ‘opener’ and held at the Peterborough Arena (formerly the East of England Showground).

It is one of Europe’s largest (if not the largest) motorcycle shows. The BMF Kelso Bikefest, (5-7 July 2013) held at the Union Borders Showground, is positioned to be accessible bikers in Scotland and the North of England and is the second show of the season. 

The final offering of the season is wrapped up with the Tailend Show, again in Peterborough, (13 - 15 September 2013) where, amongst other things a World Stunt Competition will be held.

About the BMF

The British Motorcyclists Federation was established in 1960 and was formed to represent all motorcyclists. The bmf's successful lobbying defeated such ill-conceived ideas as leg-protectors and the 100bhp limit restriction and continues to Promote, Pursue and Protect the rights of all motorcyclists.

www.bmf.co.uk

The Pata Honda pairing of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam are preparing for this weekend’s (19-21 July) eighth-round World Superbike championship races at Moscow Raceway in Russia.

Following last season’s inaugural World Superbike event in Russia, this weekend marks the championship’s second visit to the tight 3.931km circuit which lies 80km to the west of Moscow, with Sunday’s opening 25-lap race marking the halfway point of the 2013 SBK season.

Rea is in good form, having enjoyed podium finishes at each of the last two rounds in Portugal and Italy, but the 26-year-old did not enjoy good fortune during his last visit to Moscow Raceway. Rea crashed out of race one last season and came home seventh in the second outing after being taken out by another rider.

Haslam, too, had his second race terminated by another rider last season and had only one sixth place finish to show for his efforts. However, the 30-year-old is feeling stronger in the left leg that is still recovering from an early-season fracture and he tested last week alongside his Pata Honda team-mate for the forthcoming Suzuka 8-hour race which takes place just one week after this weekend’s Moscow SBK event.

Leon Haslam

I was pretty sore after Imola and went straight into testing there on the Monday after the race, followed by the Suzuka test. But it all went well and Suzuka was actually a little easier and less physical with the lower power from the endurance bike. It was nice to get home though, and to enjoy some good weather. I’m really looking forward to Moscow despite disappointing results there last season with a couple of crashes. But we were at the sharp end and competitive and the circuit should be good for the Honda. Hopefully, I’ll be able to ride it a little more normally this weekend as I’m able to put some more weight through the pegs, even though it’s through my heel rather than the front of the foot. But it’ll definitely be better than at Imola.

Jonathan Rea

It’s been nice to have a few days relaxing in this good weather because it’s been pretty flat-out since Imola, with the test there and then a couple of days at Suzuka. Moscow’s a unique circuit – tight and twisty and not necessarily the favourite of many riders. But I think it could play to the strengths of the CBR, especially the first two sectors. We struggled a bit at the end of the lap last year, but I think we’ve got some ideas on how to deal with that. I’d be happy to continue the podium form we’ve had in the last couple of rounds but it’s important for us to string two good results together. At the last two races we’ve been strong in the first two days but then something’s gone wrong in one of the races. I’m confident that we’ve addressed problems that we faced earlier in the season, so I hope that will allow us two good results on Sunday.

2013 World Superbike championship, round eight

Moscow Raceway, Russia – weekend schedule (local times – GMT+4)

Bad roads, a full load, changing riding conditions: long-distance touring exposes an enduro’s suspension to the most extreme conditions.

Over many miles of testing around the world – even in enduro racing – Extreme shock absorbers from Touratech Suspension have proven that they meet the most extreme requirements. Now riders of the new BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards) can also benefit from Touratech Suspension components as Touratech becomes the first manufacturer to offer custom aftermarket shock absorbers for the BMW flagship. Made for journeys away from main roads, the Extreme suspension system is designed to withstand the worst off-road conditions with full touring luggage.

Touratech Suspension Extreme shock absorbers rank in the premium class of suspension components. Specially developed for frequent dramatic changes in riding and loading conditions while motorcycle touring, they set standards for response characteristics, resistance to bottoming out, comfort and dynamic safety. A handwheel with definite clicks makes it easy to balance the BMW R 1200 GS each time for riding with or without luggage. The fine damping adjustment is located in a separate external reservoir to provide better cooling and give the shock absorbers greater resilience with a longer service life. The suspension damping has separate high speed and low speed settings, allowing optimum adjustment for extreme conditions.

What’s more, the rear and front Extreme shock absorbers for the new BMW R 1200 GS are both fitted with the PDS system providing hydraulic protection against bottoming out. A second damper piston absorbs the most severe impacts. Even with heavy luggage in the most terrible off-road conditions, the bike will not bottom out and mechanical overload of the shock absorber – the last thing you need on a long-distance tour – is prevented. The vehicle geometry of the BMW R 1200 GS is always fully maintained through all settings while riders benefit from an appreciable improvement in stability and steering precision.

Another Extreme feature is the ability to adjust the length of the rear shock absorber by a total of 8 mm (- 4 mm, +4 mm). This allows individual handling requirements to be integrated into the bike’s balance from the outset.

Fully laden to the ends of the earth: with Touratech Suspension Extreme shocks the new R 1200 GS can go anywhere - at least with regard to the suspension.

Both shock absorbers will be available in the Touratech web shop at http://www.touratech.co.uk/ from September 2013:

Touratech Suspension rear shock absorber for BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards), type *Extreme*

Item no. 045-5870

Touratech Suspension front shock absorber for BMW R 1200 GS (2013 onwards), type *Extreme*

Item no. 045-5876

Touratech UK came into the spot light when they kitted out Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman’s BMW GS bikes for both the Long Way Round and the Long Way Down. They also provided equipment for Charley Boorman’s Race to Dakar. They have also provided equipment for other adventure trips, working with celebrities including comedian Ross Noble and actor Danny John-Jules.

Nick Plumb, Touratech MD has competed in the Dakar Rally 4 times, completing the rally on his first and last attempt. He also features heavily in Race to Dakar.

Keep your tyres in check to help you stay safe on motorways – that is the message today from the Institute of Advanced Motorists after a total of 3,852 tyre-related incidents were reported on England’s motorways between April and the end of June 2013  – an average of 1,284 per month.

Many motorists will often put off tyre repairs to save on costs. But it is actually cheaper to replace worn or damaged tyres where necessary, rather than waiting to face a burst tyre and having to be towed off the motorway.

As part of their Motorway Month campaign, the IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) offers advice for motorists on how to keep your tyres in check: • P – Performance. You can monitor the state of your tyres through observation of the performance of your vehicle; grip, handling and fuel economy will all be improved with correct tyre care. • A – Air pressure. It is essential that you check your tyre pressures on a regular basis for maximum performance. Low tyre pressure can cause increased fuel consumption as well as making them more susceptible to damage. • C – Condition. Inspect tyres for any cuts, bulges, uneven wear or objects embedded in the tread. • T – Tread depth. Monitoring your tyres’ tread is essential for safety, particularly on wet roads. Check that your tread depth is not below the legal minimum of 1.6mm, although it is worth considering getting them replaced if they are below 3mm.

IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Regular tyre checks are the best way to keep on top of maintenance and avoid those nasty surprises both to your vehicle and to your wallet.”

But one day you could become one of the thousands unlucky enough to experience a tyre-related breakdown, so having a dry-run of changing your tyre at home can prove very useful and will mean you needn’t rely so heavily on breakdown services, getting you back on the road quicker.”

Incidents contribute to delays which cost the economy billions of pounds each year. According to the Highways Agency’s national satisfaction survey, carried out between April 2012 and the end of March 2013, only 53% of respondents say they regularly check their tyre pressure.

Stuart Lovatt from the Highways Agency said: “Nobody wants to start their holiday off by having a breakdown that leads to them having to extend their journey time.”

By checking that tyres are still in good condition, drivers are helping to avoid incidents and the risk of delays, not only to their own journey but to those of other drivers.”

If you are carrying heavy loads, you will need to increase the air pressure in your car tyres to compensate. You can find the correct tyre pressures for heavy loads in your car’s handbook.

Chairman of TyreSafe Stuart Jackson said: “Before setting off on their summer holidays, it’s essential that drivers give their tyres a thorough inspection. It’s particularly important to ensure tyres are correctly inflated in line with the vehicle manufacturer’s settings, which may be different if extra passengers or heavy luggage is being carried. But remember to readjust your tyre pressures when you start to using your car normally again.”

www.iam.org.uk