Honda has announced its intention to participate as a works team in the motorcycle class of the Dakar Rally to be held in January 2013 in South America, travelling north to south through Peru, Chile and Argentina.

Honda competed nine times in the motorcycle class in the forerunner of the present Dakar Rally, the Paris-Dakar Rally, from 1981 through to 1989, and was a winner five times during that period. It has been 23 years since it last participated in the Rally.
 
The Honda team, to be called Team HRC, will include Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues, who took third place in the 2012 Dakar Rally, Brazilian Felipe Zanol, who brings a wealth of experience in motocross and enduro race events, as well as Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom) and Javier Pizzolito (Argentina).
 
They will ride a prototype machine developed and produced by the Motorcycle R&D Center at Honda R&D. The prototype machine is based on the CRF450X, the popular worldwide enduro racing model that combines ease of handling with superior competitive strength. Kit parts designed for use on the standard CRF450X model have also been developed and will be supplied to a limited number of teams.
 
Tetsuo Suzuki, Senior Managing Officer and Director, Chief Operating Officer, Motorcycle R&D Centre, Honda R&D Co., Ltd. commented: “The Dakar requires competitors to cover several hundred kilometers per day for more than two weeks. It needs a totally different type of vehicle from events such as motocross, trials and road races. Honda has put a great deal of effort into designing and building a powerful and winning machine. We are aiming for the championship from this first year.”

Some of Ducati’s greatest Past Masters will attend next week’s festival of 1000 bikes at Mallory Park.
 
The Vintage Motorcycle Club will again host this classic track weekend at Mallory Park 0n 6/7/8 July with the popular Past Masters track sessions featuring prominently on the Sunday.
 
The highlight of these sessions will be the Ducati World Superbike showcase featuring a collection of some of the biggest names from Ducati’s racing heritage. Ducati World Champions Carl Fogarty and Neil Hodgson headline an all star line-up that includes ex factory riders Marco Luchinelli, Dario Marchetti and Frankie Chilli.
 
Chilli and Fogarty will share a track for the first time since the days of their fierce rivalry of the late 90’s and one of Ducati’s most revered champions, Paul Smart, will join them on a 750SS celebrating 40 years since his famous win at the Imola 200.
 
It is not only the riders that will be the stars of the show as the Ducati session includes some of the brand’s historical race bikes. Neil Hodgson and Davide Tardozzi will be riding ex-factory 999R’s, Frankie Chili and Dario Marchetti will be riding ex factory 996’s, whilst Malcolm Wheeler will be riding his fully restored 750TT. Other notable entries are an ex-factory 888 belonging to John Hackett, a Ducati Supermono ridden by Alan Cathcart, a 750 F1 belonging to John Raybould and special edition 1199 S Panigale ridden by Carl Fogarty.
 
Randy Mamola will be also be starring at the event, taking Riders for Health auction winners on laps of the circuit on the Ducati UK ‘Dual Seat’ 1198 SP.

The full Ducati World Superbike Showcase list includes:
 
ALAN CATHCART              DUCATI SUPERMONO
 
PF "FRANKIE" CHILI         WORKS DUCATI 996
 
CARL FOGARTY                DUCATI PANIGALE
 
JOHN HACKETT                DUCATI 888
 
NEIL HODGSON                DUCATI 999R
 
MARCO LUCCHINELLI    DUCATI HYPERMOTARD
 
DARIO MARCHETTI          DUCATI 996
 
JOHN RAYBOULD            DUCATI 750F1
 
PAUL SMART                     DUCATI 750SS
 
DAVIDE TARDOZZI           DUCATI 999
 
MALC WHEELER              DUCATI 750TT2

The Ducati World Superbike showcase session takes place at 2.15pm on Sunday 8th July and there will be chances to meet the stars throughout the weekend including official signing &and appearance times on both Saturday and Sunday.

For full listings and descriptions of the bikes visit:  www.vmcc.net/1000bikes

Over a hundred bikes are set to take to the streets on July 14th to raise money for our troops.

The event, organised by Mandy Jenkins, who’s eldest son (19) is currently serving in The Princes of Wales Royal Regiment and has just returned from a 7 month tour of duty in Afghanistan, has dedicated vast efforts to make sure our lads and lasses, past and present, get the support they deserve on overseas operations and support is extended to the families they leave behind.

Commenting, Mandy said: “Unfortunately the returning lads and lasses from the latest tour will not be able to have a public show of celebration and thanks within the Regimental Area of Surrey, Sussex, Kent and Hampshire due to Jubilee and Olympic commitments. It has been a hard tour for them with the death of one of their number and several major injuries. But the regiment have achieved their aim and been highly praised, hence the fact we are planning this celebratory event. All money raised during the day will be split between three charities; these being The Poppy Appeal, Tigers Benevolent (Charity Registration No. 1024418)and Support our Soldiers (Registered Charity: 1120684), the three charities are close to my families hearts and have and will continue to support the Tigers in years to come. I’m delighted that Jon and Paula from The Fox Revived have agreed to help us with the event – I’m sure it’s going to be a really special day and one that will raise much needed funds.”

Riders from The Royal British Legion Riders Branch and Support our Soldiers will all join forces on the day, which starts at The Fox Revived, Norwood Hill, near Horley at 11:00 on Saturday July 15th. Riders and non riders can enjoy a warm welcome at The Fox, with bacon butties available before the ride (23 miles around the local area), before returning to the pub for a day of live music, great food, drink, craft stalls, fun and games.

The route passes the war memorial at Shaw’s Corner and at this point the riders will pay their respects to the fallen of past and present conflicts. The salute will be taken by parents of the Fallen from Afghanistan.

www.supportoursoldiers.co.uk

tel: 07597 737264

e-mail: [email protected]

IAM’s head of riding standards and advanced motorcyclist, Peter Rodger, is advising on sharing the road with horse riders.
 • Riders are reluctant to take their horse onto a grass verge because long grass can hide hazards. Give them plenty of room so they don’t need to.
• Horses are unpredictable; don’t risk startling them by rushing up or making sudden noises when passing.
• If the horse reacts to the vehicle ahead, let it settle down before you try to pass.
• If you catch a horse up but have to wait behind, make sure the horse can see you.
• Horse box drivers will avoid stopping to give their passengers a smoother ride, and will leave longer following distances. Be patient and avoid cutting them up.
• Many riders will try to communicate with you, so make eye contact and keep an eye on their body language throughout the manoeuvre.
 
Rodger said: “At this time of the year, there are higher numbers of vulnerable road users – especially on rural roads – including cyclists and horse riders.
 
“Bear in mind that around every bend you could come across one of them, and keep your speed down, and scan the road well ahead for signs of their presence.”

www.iam.org.uk

In December 2011 I had the painful duty of writing a press release announcing the suspension of the NABD Adaption Grant system.

In essence demand had outstripped resources and in the first seven months of the 2011-2012 financial-year we had already awarded more than £74,000 in grants, which was more than the previous record for any full financial-year.

I am now very pleased to announce that the NABD grants system is now up-and-running once again, thanks to an upsurge in support from clubs, individuals and companies, following the publication of that press release.

At the June meeting of the NABD trustees grants were awarded to help 14 disabled riders to adapt bikes and/or trikes totalling just over £10,000.

We have also now restructured the grants system so that it should never again have to be suspended.

There is still something of a backlog in applications but these will be dealt with in the order they were received and it is our hope that, with the continued support of bikers, we should have cleared that backlog by September.

I would like once again to assure all supporters that 100% of every donation is used solely to fund adaption grants.  Not one penny is taken for running costs or wages.  This is a fact that is easily checked because as a Registered Charity our accounts are made publicly available every year via the Charities Commission and they show that in the over the last decade we have awarded almost £35,500 more in grants than we have received in donations (the difference being funded by our own direct fund raising events etc.)

The NABD has helped more than 10,000 disabled bikers in its 21 years of existence and it is only with the continued support of bikers that we will be able to continue this work.

How can you help?

If your club is having a party, why not make it a fund-raiser for the NABD?  Why not ask your local bikers pub to run a raffle or a party to raise funds for the NABD?  Or you could simply become a member of the NABD for £20 (you don't have to be disabled to join and support our aims).  You can also buy “NABD supporter” patches and other NABD merchandise via the shop on www.nabd.org.uk

We also have Autumn Nabd’ness rally (Oxfordshire, September 7th – 9th) tickets for sale via www.nabd.org.uk or by calling 0844 415 4849.

The NABD is the biker’s charity and bikers are the only people who make it all work.

Donations can be sent to: NABD, Unit 20, The Bridgewater Centre, Robson Avenue, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7TE.  Or you can donate on line www.nabd.org.uk or by phone 0844 415 4849

The NABD is a biker's charity run by bikers for bikers.

Rick Hulse

NABD Chairman