The National Motorcycle Museum celebrated its 30th anniversary this Saturday 1st November, with its “Museum Live” open day. The milestone event saw thousands of visitors join the museum in marking its heritage and successes since first opening its doors in October 1984.

Attendees were treated to a range of free attractions and family-friendly activities; featuring free Museum entry, indoor trade displays, autojumble, wheelie machine and even the chance to “try a bike” in a controlled off road area.

Highlights of the day included ex-GP rider and television commentator Steve Parrish who conducted chat show-style interviews and live race machine ‘start ups’ in a special “stars on stage” feature. Held in the Museum’s Imperial Suite the four features re-united the riders, the machines and the factory “back room” staff on stage throughout the day. Including machines such as the ex-works Norton Rotaries, “Slippery Sam” & names like Nation, Grant, Read & McGuinness visitors were treated to some fascinating viewing.   

The day culminated with TT superstar John McGuinness drawing the winning ticket to win a Vincent Rapide motorcycle worth £40,000 in the Museum’s anniversary raffle prize draw. Friday (31 October) also saw Parrish host a date from his M.A.D Tour at the Museum.

James Hewing, Museum director of the National Motorcycle Museum says: “We are very proud to be celebrating our 30th anniversary. Museum Live was a fantastic way for us to say thank you to the public for their support over the years and we are pleased to have been able to celebrate our achievements with everyone. We’re looking forward to the next 30 years!”

The weekend was the pinnacle of a year’s celebrations for the National Motorcycle Museum. 2014 has also seen the venue host an installation of a pop-up art gallery & photographic competition* within the Museum which has seen footfall rise by 40%.

Museum 30th anniversary photographic competition winners*-

1st Prize: Luxury Break at a UK Best Western hotel- Mr Robert Bracher- “The Black Shadow”.
2nd Prize: VIP Museum entry/tour & lunch for five-Mr Anthony Jinks- “Goldstar”.

Investcorp, a leading global provider and manager of alternative investment products, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Mr Lino Dainese, to acquire the specialist Italian retailer Dainese at an enterprise value of €130 million. Mr Dainese, will retain a minority stake in the business alongside Investcorp.  

Founded in 1972, Dainese is the most recognised and respected brand for safety and quality in the motorcycle and other dynamic sports market. Originally famed for its competitive motorcycling racing wear, Dainese has subsequently diversified its product range and today provides protective gear for road and racing use alike, as well as for use in winter sports, biking and horse riding. In addition, through the AGV brand name, Dainese is also one of the leading protective helmet manufacturers for the motorcycle market.  

Through its Dainese Technology Centre (D-Tec®), an R&D technical centre for the study of protective technology and the development of innovative products, the Company ensures it remains at the forefront of innovation. The Company’s founder, Mr Lino Dainese, is credited with inventing products such as back protectors, knee sliders and Dainese air bag (D-Air®), an intelligent protection system which recognises a dangerous fall and deploys special airbags around motorcyclists’ bodies.  

Lino Dainese will remain on board devoting his life long experience in safety to develop innovative protective system for dynamic sports and everyday life.  

Lino Dainese, founder and President of Dainese, said; “It was hugely important to us to find the right partner in this period of strong development for the company. I believe that Investcorp’s proven track record, global presence and network will support the Company’s continued international expansion and product innovation. I also believe that their support will enable me to refocus on my passion, driving forward technological advances in our product line and, in particular, the D-Air® system.”  

Hazem Ben-Gacem, Head of Investcorp’s European corporate investment team, said; “We are honoured to have the trust and confidence of Mr Dainese and to be the custodian of this exceptional business that Mr Dainese has built over 40 years ago.  Dainese is an iconic brand with a track record of leadership in a multibillion dollar market. It is exactly the type of company we look to invest in: a founder managed successful business looking for a partner for the next phase of growth. We look forward to working in partnership with the current management team, and Mr Dainese, to consolidate Dainese’s deserved reputation as an innovator and to strive to increase its penetration into new markets.”

www.dainese.com

Last Sunday's thrilling end to the 2014 World Superbike championship season in Qatar also marked the conclusion of one of the longest and most successful racing partnerships that the series has ever seen.

After six seasons with the official Honda World Superbike team, run from the Ten Kate Racing workshops in the Netherlands – plus a year in the World Supersport championship with the same outfit – Jonathan Rea will begin the 2015 season with a new challenge.

Year one of the partnership between Rea and the Ten Kate Honda team yielded six World Supersport podiums and three race wins. When he stepped up to World Superbikes and the Honda Fireblade in 2009, Rea began a remarkable record that has seen him take at least one race victory every year.

With the culmination of the 2014 season, that win tally stands at 15, with a total of 41 podium finishes. Rea currently sits 12th in the all-time World Superbike championship win list, with all those victories having been achieved with one team on Honda’s CBR1000RR Fireblade.

Indeed, Rea’s entire road racing career to date has been on Honda machinery, beginning with the Red Bull Rookies programme and, in 2003 at the age of 16, competing in the British 125cc championship.

After an injury-blighted season in British Supersport in 2004, Rea progressed to the British Superbike championship in which he finished as runner-up to Honda team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari in 2007, before stepping up to the World Supersport championship with the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team.

Rea's Honda career has also taken him to the Suzuka 8Hours race in Japan, which, in 2012, he became the first British rider to win. Later that year, Rea also stood in for the injured Casey Stoner on the Repsol Honda RC213V at the Misano and Aragon MotoGP rounds.

At a recent World Superbike championship round, representatives from title partner Pata, Honda Motor Europe and the Ten Kate Racing organisation took an opportunity to acknowledge Rea’s contribution with a specially-designed montage representing his Honda career. It seemed a fitting way to thank the 27-year-old for his services to Honda and to the team, and to wish him and his family the best for the future.    

We have been contacted by a newspaper which circulates in Scotland and the North of England, who are looking to interview bikers over 70. They want to do an upbeat story on a biker of a certain age!

If you are interested please contact Janet Boyle on 01415 672776 or [email protected]

Sylvain Guintoli: "The feelings right now are truly incredible. Today was a great day, two fantastic races where I felt stronger than I have ever felt in my life. I was able to be fast without any trouble and lap times were just coming easily to me. Coming to Aprilia last year was a great opportunity for me and before my shoulder injury I was in the battle for the championship so it was a shame to lose so much ground because of my physical conditions.

This year my fitness was perfect so I was able to be consistent and demonstrate our potential. I really began to believe after Magny-Cours, in fact I was certain: we were fast, I felt good and my team gave me great support. Today I showed that I am the fastest on the track. Winning the Title by 6 points is symbolic but it is extremely important for me after all the recent controversy.

I want to thank a lot of people, starting with my family who gave me stability and had faith in me, as well as supporting me in these months of high pressure. I am grateful to Aprilia. They provided me with the best bike I have ever ridden and a team that has become like a second family to me".