The recruitment of new talent has been one of the undoubted success stories in the Isle of Man TT's recent history with numerous recent newcomers going on to take wins and rostrums and this year will be no exception.

It doesn't end there with James Hillier, William Dunlop, Mark Buckley and Ian Mackman all having recorded top ten finishes with Les Shand, Mark Miller and Jimmy Moore also impressing. Last year saw Steve Mercer and Ben Wylie both impress and sure to improve further in 2010 whilst the same can also be said of impressive European stars Luis Carreira, Michal Dokoupil and Rico Penzkofer.

South African rider Hudson Kennaugh is, arguably, the leading name on this year's list having finished runner-up in the 2008 British Supersport Championship and fifth in that year's World Championship round at Brands Hatch whilst Stephen Thompson has long been a leading contender at both the Macau Grand Prix and North West 200.

The Northern Ireland rider has also been a long time fixture in the British Superstock Championship and that's where Daniel Hegarty, Kenny Gilbertson and James Hurrell have all starred in recent years. The trio, all under the age of 25, have regularly featured in the top ten with Gilbertson having a podium finish beside his name and all three are exciting youngsters whose progress at the TT will be eagerly watched. Meanwhile, David Jones will be one of the youngest riders on the grid, the 21-year having finished in solid fifth place in last year's British Supersport Cup.

An interesting entry was received from Gary May, one of Britain's leading 250cc riders at the end of the 90's and MRO Champion as recently as 2006, the Berkshire rider having also excelled on four-stroke machinery in the last decade, whilst Irish Superbike Champion Brian McCormack finally gets to make his debut after being forced to miss out twelve months ago.

There's further overseas representation with Australian ace David Johnson, the Adelaide rider having commenced his UK career back in 2002 against Cal Crutchlow, Tom Sykes, Craig Jones and a certain Guy Martin in the Juniorstock Championship whilst recent years have seen him frequently picking up points in the formidable British Superbike Championship.

Swiss rider Herve Ganther, a former star of the European Superstock Championship, will be bringing his Honda Switzerland machines with him whilst Clinton Pienaar is one of South Africa's most highly respected, and successful, riders so it's clear to see the lure of the TT is continuing to reach all corners of the globe.

There are also a number of newcomers in the Formula 2 Sidecar class led by highly experienced British driver Gary Knight who finished 4 ^th in last year's World Championship with son Dan in the chair. Austrian driver Michael Grambuller brings further World Championship experience to the grid with young Yorkshire driver Carl Fenwick also expected to shine. Meanwhile, Dean Lindley, Nigel Mayers, Matthew Dix, Nicholas Dukes and Richard Lumley all have experience at British Championship level and/or at the Southern 100 and Scarborough.

Dear Bikers

We were absolutely amazed with the response from the Biking community and us mums have never been kissed by so many bikers we and Afghan Heroes are very proud to be associated with you Bikers, we do hope we can together put on more events, we are already looking at a Rally in June of this year.

Our boys and girls would be rocking up there with the biggest smiles on their faces. You were absolutely fantastic and did them proud and we thank you for that.

We are having Afghan Heroes flags made and what would be nice is if everybody could fly one from their homes and their bikes. We showed our troops that we were behind them now let's fly are flags as a nation and show the government solidarity.

The current total for money raised on the day is £90,177.80, however with your help and gift aid this will pass the £100,000.

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Some of you heard the song Fields of Green which was written and sung by Classical Tenor Tim Pitman on Sunday at the ride. We are hoping to get this to number one to raise more funds for our Troops please help us achieve this by texting "Track heroes" to 83262 (Texts cost £1, which includes operator revenue share. plus standard network rate. UK only).

We are also having a DVD of the event which should be available in the next week or so, please keep your eyes on the web site.

People are also asking about the T Shirts and the official patch to commemorate the day.

The T Shirts are being done by [email protected]
Contact: Dave Norton

The official patch is being done by - [email protected]
Contact: Paul Ferguson

Once again we thank you all for all your help and support and we will see you all again soon.

Denise Harris

Afghan Heroes

Dear Bikers

We were absolutely amazed with the response from the Biking community and us mums have never been kissed by so many bikers we and Afghan Heroes are very proud to be associated with you Bikers, we do hope we can together put on more events, we are already looking at a Rally in June of this year.

Our boys and girls would be rocking up there with the biggest smiles on their faces. You were absolutely fantastic and did them proud and we thank you for that.

We are having Afghan Heroes flags made and what would be nice is if everybody could fly one from their homes and their bikes. We showed our troops that we were behind them now let's fly are flags as a nation and show the government solidarity.

The current total for money raised on the day is £90,177.80, however with your help and gift aid this will pass the £100,000.

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Some of you heard the song Fields of Green which was written and sung by Classical Tenor Tim Pitman on Sunday at the ride. We are hoping to get this to number one to raise more funds for our Troops please help us achieve this by texting "Track heroes" to 83262 (Texts cost £1, which includes operator revenue share. plus standard network rate. UK only).

We are also having a DVD of the event which should be available in the next week or so, please keep your eyes on the web site.

People are also asking about the T Shirts and the official patch to commemorate the day.

The T Shirts are being done by [email protected]
Contact: Dave Norton

The official patch is being done by - [email protected]
Contact: Paul Ferguson

Once again we thank you all for all your help and support and we will see you all again soon.

Denise Harris

Afghan Heroes

 

Dear Bikers

We were absolutely amazed with the response from the Biking community and us mums have never been kissed by so many bikers we and Afghan Heroes are very proud to be associated with you Bikers, we do hope we can together put on more events, we are already looking at a Rally in June of this year.

Our boys and girls would be rocking up there with the biggest smiles on their faces. You were absolutely fantastic and did them proud and we thank you for that.

We are having Afghan Heroes flags made and what would be nice is if everybody could fly one from their homes and their bikes. We showed our troops that we were behind them now let's fly are flags as a nation and show the government solidarity.

The current total for money raised on the day is £90,177.80, however with your help and gift aid this will pass the £100,000.

http://www.afghanheroes.org.uk/bikersevent.asp

Some of you heard the song Fields of Green which was written and sung by Classical Tenor Tim Pitman on Sunday at the ride. We are hoping to get this to number one to raise more funds for our Troops please help us achieve this by texting "Track heroes" to 83262 (Texts cost £1, which includes operator revenue share. plus standard network rate. UK only).

We are also having a DVD of the event which should be available in the next week or so, please keep your eyes on the web site.

People are also asking about the T Shirts and the official patch to commemorate the day.

The T Shirts are being done by [email protected]
Contact: Dave Norton

The official patch is being done by - [email protected]
Contact: Paul Ferguson

Once again we thank you all for all your help and support and we will see you all again soon.

Denise Harris

Afghan Heroes

The popular Biker cafe and meeting place H cafe, originally known as Fox's Diner has closed.

Landlord Sean Harris who also ran the The Seven Stars in nearby Marsh Baldon has closed both and has gone into liquidation.

With a long history with the Morocycle community and home to Biker group, H Riders it is hopeful a new landlord can be found.

Friday 23rd April
5pm - 9pm

The book documents the legendary birthplace of British Rock n' Roll, the social history and the people - a must for all Rock n' Roll fans.

An estimated 15,000 bikers roared through the Wiltshire market town on Mothering Sunday (14th March, 2010) to honour troops killed in Afghanistan, raising more than £75,000 for the charity Afghan Heroes.

It was initially hoped that 1,000 would take part however as the event quickly gained a large interest from the Motorcycle community throughout the UK and beyond, the organisers had to close the registration at just over 10,000.

Motorbikes were arriving at the meeting place of Hullavington Airfield from 8am to take part in the mass ride-in, which started at 11:00 and ran until early evening, with bikers leaving the airfield at 30 minute intervals to make their way to Wootton Bassett.

The Bikers were greeted with streets lined with people waving and clapping the riders, holding flags and even signs to saying 'Thank you Bikers' and 'I heart Bikers!'

During each repatriation, hundreds of people turn out to stand in silence as the coffins pass through, as the bodies of soldiers are driven through, en route from RAF Lyneham to the coroner’s office in Oxford. This day brought noise, movement and happiness to the town and also showed  a mark of respect to the town of Wootton Bassett.

The police, Ministry of Defence and local authorities joined forces to make sure it passed smoothly.

The Afghan Heroes charity set up in September, 2009 by a group of mothers who lost their sons in Afghanistan.

All proceeds raised from the ride will go to the Afghan Heroes charity, which helps our service personnel in theatre, families of the fallen and our returning troops.

www.afghanheroes.org.uk