Team Gresini Racing MotoGP’s Marc and Alex Marquez will need to turn the page on what was an unfortunate performance for both riders in this year’s #AustrianGP sprint race. Alex was the first one to crash as he lost control of his Ducati machine at the first chicane, with a nearly identical tumble by his older brother a few laps later while he was running in second place. 
 
The rider #93 made it back to the pits shortly after, while Alex still managed to make it to the finish line in twentieth place. Both riders are eager to bounce back as a new opportunity awaits them in the full-distance, Sunday encounter in Spielberg. Marc will line up on the front row, while Alex will start the race from row four. 

20^th - ALEX MARQUEZ #73
“Not much to say to be honest. After crashing with a couple of corners in, it was all about making it to the finish line. The only good thing is that there’s a new opportunity tomorrow and that I’m not hurt. Unfortunately qualifying didn’t go as planned but we still have a chance for a solid performance.”
 
DNF - MARC MARQUEZ #93
“I don’t want to dwell into what happened because we’re in the middle of what has been a solid weekend, up to the turn three crash at least. It’s a shame because I was feeling good on the bike and I wasn’t at the limit. All in all, we’re still confident in our chances for tomorrow’s race, where we’ll try to avoid mistake while being as quick as we can.”

The DR1VR show returns to the British Motor Museum on Sunday 15 September for its second year. Visitors can once again enjoy a relaxed day out with live music whilst admiring hundreds of modified cars including modern and classic stance, track builds, and timeless classics. Last year’s show featured over 500 vehicles on display, and many more are expected this year due to demand.

Since 2017, DR1VR has been producing automotive lifestyle accessories and media focusing on the modified, drift and racing car communities. They have built an ethos of 'respect every build', regardless of how much customisation there is to make someone’s car their own, whether it’s bagged or on coilovers, wrapped or painted. As with last year, all show vehicles must be pre-selected and approved.

Tom Caren, Shows Manager at the British Motor Museum, said, “We’re very pleased that the DR1VR show is returning to the Museum by popular demand. Visitors do not need to turn up in a custom vehicle; they can simply visit the show displays and Museum buildings and take in hundreds of these fantastic modified cars!”

Visitors and exhibitors can also enjoy exploring the Museum and Collections Centre, as entry is included with the Show ticket. Exhibitor tickets are £11. Visitor show tickets cost £16 per adult, £9 per child, £14 per concession and £43 for a family.

To find out more about the British Motor Museum & the DR1VR Show, please call 01926 895 300 or visit https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/dr1vr-show.

Nearly half of all Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are believed to be caused by road traffic accidents (RTAs).

With RTAs being the most common cause of TBI in the young. But many of those injured are unaware they may have a case for support and compensation.
What can be done to ensure injured parties get the support they need?

According to the best estimates available, some 1.4 million people attend A&E at hospitals every year with a Head Injury, and 160,000 of those then go on to be admitted to hospital. However, a significant proportion of people who sustain a TBI or Head Injury in a road traffic accident are thought to be missing out on compensation to which they are entitled, simply because they do not think they have a case.

The casualties slipping through the net include those who are partly at fault for the accident in which they were involved, or who are related to the person at fault. Others who mistakenly think they cannot make a claim, are those injured by a driver not subsequently prosecuted by the police, or who were in a crash with an uninsured driver or unknown driver. The injured party in all these scenarios could still be entitled to compensation to help them rebuild their lives.

According to the RAC Foundation, by September last year there were 40.8 million licensed vehicles on the UK’s roads, including 33.2 million cars, 4.1 million vans, 1.5 million motorcyles, 500,000 HGVs, and 150,000 buses and coaches. On top of this there are also an unknown number of bicycles and, of course, pedestrians. With all these different users sharing our crowded roads, it is therefore unsurprising that accidents happen.

In fact, someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads every 16 minutes, and there are thought to be several reasons why road traffic accident (RTA) rates remain consistently high:

· The driver or rider failing to look properly (37%)

· The driver or rider failing to judge the other person’s path or speed (19%)

· The driver or rider acting recklessly, hurried driving or speeding (16%)

· A poor turn or manoeuvre (12%)

· Loss of control (11%)

And whilst there have been considerable advances in vehicle technology, the likelihood of head injuries at speeds in excess of 10 mph remains high.

A TBI is usually caused by an impact to the head. This external force can cause a focal injury to the brain. An impact to the head, or if the head is violently shaken without any impact, can also cause what is known as an acceleration/deceleration injury. This is where there is a sudden violent movement of the head causing the brain to move and rotate inside the skull. These can cause bruising (contusion) to the brain and trauma to the blood vessels causing bleeding (hematoma or haemorrhage). Contusions and Bleeds will usually be seen on head scans; however, an acceleration/deceleration injury can cause the shearing or stretching of the nerve fibres (axons) inside the brain which are microscopic and unlikely to be visible on a brain scan.

Concussions and those labelled a ‘mild head injury’ are also unlikely to be seen on any scan but can cause ongoing symptoms for some which can have significant consequences– see our blog on concussion.

The risk of TBI also depends on road user type (i.e. car, motorbike, bicycle or pedestrian), the speed of impact and the direction of impact. The higher the speed, the greater the impact on the skull and the brain. Research has shown that the risk of brain injury triples when the impact velocity is doubled.

Brain injury is also more likely in cars involved in side impacts, or where the change of speed is greater, like during a head-on collision. It is also more likely in vulnerable road users, especially where no head protection is worn, with pedestrians and cyclists six times more likely than car occupants to suffer moderate to severe brain injury on the roads.

The Office for National Statistics also gives us the following information relating to non-car road traffic accidents:

· Pedestrians – there are more than 700 pedestrian deaths, and 7,000 injuries annually

· Motorbikes – there are more than 600 motorbike deaths and almost 7,000 injuries annually

· Cycling – there are approximately 120 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries annually

Sadly, suffering from a TBI can be life changing, even if initially considered to be on the ‘mild’ end of the scale. It is therefore crucial to seek out specialist legal advice as soon as possible, even if you fear you may not have a case for compensation.

At Coulthursts, we are unique as a law firm in that we provide a joint legal and rehabilitation approach. We can will pay for and coordinate treatment and rehabilitation at the earliest opportunity, to give our clients the best chance of making the best and quickest recovery from their brain injury. At the same time, we deal with the legal claim and fight to obtain the best possible compensation. We also pride ourselves in providing support to the whole family and not just the injured individual.

Please do not hesitate to contact Coulthursts to discuss your accident at no cost or obligation.

For Coulthursts terms of use and disclaimer see this link: 

https://coulthursts.co.uk/legal-terms-of-use/

coulthursts.co.uk 

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Indian Motorcycle closes out its six-part Forged video series with a custom Indian Scout chopped by Ronna Norén of Unique Custom Cycles for legendary Motörhead and Scorpions drummer, Mikkey Dee.  

Featuring three unique interpretations of the all-new 2025 Indian Scout inspired by the stories and personalities that have made the Scout such an icon for more than a century, the Forged series highlights how customizers were always in the minds of Indian Motorcycle’s design and engineering teams when developing the all-new Indian Scout.

In the sixth and final episode, series host Roland Sands joins Ronna Norén and Director of Design for Indian Motorcycle, Ola Stenegärd, as they meet up with Mikkey Dee in Prague to hand over the custom Indian Scout during Dee’s busy touring schedule.

A key design choice for the new Scout platform was a return to a steel tube frame, a much more approachable prospect for customizers than cast or alloy frames. Norén, a highly respected builder from Sweden, took full advantage of the new frame by cutting and modifying it to achieve a look inspired by the bikes of Stan Dishong.

“Dishong was one of the pioneers of the chopper scene in the sixties and one of his Scouts had many of the cues that Ronna has picked up on,” commented Stenegärd. “When you look at the bike, there’s no jarring elements, it’s totally consistent. The stance sits right, totally clean.”

“The plan from the beginning was to strip down the stock bike and make it as clean as possible,” said Norén. “I started by stretching the frame, making a smaller tank and using bigger spoked wheels to give the bike a lighter look. It has a little bit of a longer fork like Stan’s bike, this is a twist on that.”

From a family of drummers, Mikkey Dee had an early start in music setting him up for a career playing with some of the biggest names in rock. As a drummer, Dee feels that motorcycles go hand in hand with drums.

 “I am the engine,” said Dee. “We’ve got to ride these guys and push [the band]. The thing with a bike, just the torque, the vibration, the power! And that’s what I’ve got behind [the drums].”

On seeing his Forged Scout for the first time, Dee exclaimed, “How stylish is that? Wow, that’s clean,” and on hearing it run, “it’s very loud. Louder than my drums!”

“I wanted it to look light, and this bike has got that. Riding it the whole day was another experience. It’s got really light handling. It has a great balance, and I enjoyed that.”]#

Mikkey Dee’s Indian Scout marks the final build in the Forged series that saw three very different builds. From Roland Sands’ West Coast performance style to Brittney Olsen’s old school look with a girder front end to Ronna Norén’s New York chopper twist, Forged showcases how the all-new Indian Scout is the perfect canvas for self-expression.

Roland Sands reflected on all three builds of the Forged Scout series saying, “Some bikes legitimately have soul. You can see evidence of that when you give it to someone to work on, to customise, to put their own love, energy and design into a machine. With this iteration of Scout, I think you’ve seen how different you can make the bike, and how much you can bring your own soul, your own style, your own spirit into the machine. Yeah, Scout’s got soul. That’s what’s up.”

Ronna Norén, Unique Custom Cycles Indian Scout

Custom upper frame:

– Built around a Trask Powerflow air filter
– 4-inch stretch
– 33 degrees on the neck
– 37 degrees on the fork

Swingarm:

– Shock mounts moved back

Fork:

– 8-inch over Tolle Engineering fork legs and hydraulics
– One-off billet triple trees with 4-degree rake

Shocks:

– Black anodized Indian Motorcycle/Fox

Wheels:

– Front: 80/90-21″. Cerakoted hub and rim. Stainless spokes
– Rear: 180/55-18″. Cerakoted hub and 5.5″ rim. Stainless spokes

Brakes:

– Front: Radial mount, monoblock ISR 6-piston. ISR prototype billet adapter kit for Scout. 320 mm full floating disc. ISR master cylinder
– Rear: Radial mount, monoblock ISR 4-piston. ISR prototype billet adapter kit for scout. Indian Motorcycle master cylinder

Bodywork:

– Stock Scout tank shortened, narrowed and sectioned. Custom tunnel with repositioned fuel pump. Tolle Engineering Pop- Up fuel cap.
– Modified front and rear fenders

Exhaust

– Full custom one-off headers and mufflers in stainless steel

Ergonomic:

– One-off steel seat base. Silver Machine upholstery
– Heavily modified stock handlebars bars with integrated risers and one-off speedo housing
– Modified Scout footpegs and foot controls

Paintwork:

– Custom paint and gloss black frame/swingarm by Hakan Lindberg

All six episodes of Forged are available to watch now on the Indian Motorcycle YouTube channel: YouTube.com/@IndianMotorcycleEMEA

For more information on Indian Motorcycle visit IndianMotorcycle.eu

 

 

 

 

 

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In the world of automotive mechanics and vehicle engineering, the wheel end is a critical yet often underappreciated component. As the primary connection point between the vehicle’s wheels and its suspension system, wheel ends play an essential role in ensuring that a vehicle runs smoothly, handles well, and remains safe on the road. This article delves into the function, importance, and maintenance of wheel ends, highlighting why they are indispensable for vehicle operation.

Understanding Wheel Ends

A wheel end, also known as a wheel hub assembly, is the assembly that connects a vehicle's wheel to its axle. It consists of several key components:

• Hub: The hub is the central component that provides a mounting point for the wheel. It is also the structure that houses the bearings and, in some cases, sensors for vehicle safety systems.

• Bearings: Bearings are essential for allowing the wheel to rotate smoothly with minimal friction. They support the vehicle’s weight and the forces generated during driving, such as acceleration, braking, and cornering.

• Seals: Seals protect the bearings by preventing contaminants like dirt, water, and debris from entering the assembly. This is crucial for maintaining the longevity and performance of the wheel end.

• Sensors: Many modern vehicles have sensors integrated into the wheel ends, which are used in systems like Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS) and Traction Control Systems (TCS). These sensors monitor the speed and rotation of the wheels, providing real-time data to the vehicle’s electronic control units to optimize braking and traction.

Together, these components ensure that the wheel is securely attached to the vehicle and rotates smoothly, which is vital for maintaining control and stability while driving.

The Importance of Wheel Ends   

The wheel end is a critical component of any vehicle, as it directly affects safety, performance, and efficiency.

Safety:
One of the most important functions of the wheel end is to keep the wheels securely attached to the vehicle. A malfunctioning or damaged wheel end can lead to serious safety issues, including the potential for a wheel to detach while the vehicle is in motion. This could result in a loss of control, posing significant risks to the driver, passengers, and other road users.

Performance:
The condition of the wheel ends also plays a significant role in how well a vehicle handles. Worn or damaged wheel ends can cause issues such as uneven tire wear, vibrations, and poor handling, all of which detract from the driving experience and can even compromise safety. Ensuring that the wheel ends are in good condition helps maintain the vehicle’s responsiveness and stability, particularly during high-speed driving or in challenging conditions.

Efficiency:
Wheel ends also contribute to a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Properly functioning bearings reduce rolling resistance, allowing the vehicle to move more efficiently and use less fuel. Conversely, worn or damaged bearings can increase friction, leading to higher fuel consumption and more wear and tear on the tires.

Maintenance and Signs of Wear

Given the critical role that wheel ends play, regular maintenance and inspections are essential to ensure that they remain in good working condition.

Signs of Wear:

• Noise: One of the most common signs of a failing wheel end is unusual noise, such as grinding, humming, or squealing coming from the wheels.

• Vibration: Excessive vibrations felt through the steering wheel or vehicle body can indicate issues with the wheel end, often related to worn bearings or loose components.

• Tire Wear: Uneven tire wear can also be a sign of wheel end problems, as issues with the bearings or seals can affect the wheel’s alignment and rotation.

Maintenance Tips:

• Regular Inspections: Routine checks of the wheel ends are essential, especially for vehicles that are frequently driven in harsh conditions or carry heavy loads. Inspections should focus on the condition of the bearings, seals, and sensors.

• Proper Lubrication: Bearings should be kept well-lubricated to reduce friction and prevent overheating, which can lead to premature failure.

• Seal Integrity: It is important to check the condition of the seals regularly. Damaged or worn seals should be replaced promptly to prevent contaminants from entering the assembly.

Conclusion

Wheel ends are a fundamental component of vehicle safety, performance, and efficiency. Although they may not receive as much attention as other parts of a vehicle, their role is crucial. Regular maintenance and timely repairs are essential to keeping these components in optimal condition. By understanding the importance of wheel ends and paying attention to their maintenance, vehicle owners can ensure a smoother, safer, and more efficient driving experience.

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