Ride to Work Day (RTWD) is an international event which sees thousands of riders around the world come together to show just how enjoyable their daily commute is. As part of RTWD and Ride to Work Week, the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) organised Commuter City Challenges in six cities around the UK, and the motorcycle proved to be 100 per cent successful. The challenge cities were Birmingham, Brighton, Bristol, Leeds/Bradford, Leicester and Manchester.

The 2014 TomTom Traffic Index reveals that traffic congestion in cities across the UK has significantly worsened in 2013, with average journeys taking 27 per cent longer than they would in free-flowing traffic. The time lost as a result of traffic congestion is estimated to cost the UK economy £2 billion a year, and that figure is set to rise as the Government has forecast four million more drivers on UK roads by 2030.

In light of the worsening situation and to mark Ride to Work Day, the MCI instigated commuting experiments to see how well powered two wheelers (PTW) hold up against other modes of transport. City commuter challenges comprising of a motorcyclist, a car driver, a public transport user, and also a cyclist in the cases of Leeds and Brighton, were carried out in six of the top congested cities in the UK as identified in the recent TomTom report. The routes were chosen to represent genuine commuter routes carried out during peak morning rush hour.

In three of the six challenges, the car took the longest time to reach the destination, frequently being held up in traffic or finding it difficult to park. Public transport was the other mode which arrived last. The cyclists, when included, came in second in both cases, but the riders were both sportsmen who each cover over 10,000 miles a year on their bikes. The real success was the motorcycle which came in first across all six challenges and has the benefit of giving you the freedom to stick to your own timetable. Who wouldn't want to be able to sleep in that little bit longer in the morning?

MCI CEO Steve Kenward said, "We held the City Challenges in order to give us proof of what motorcyclists already know, commuting by motorcycle is the quickest, easiest, and most enjoyable way to travel to work, particularly in highly congested cities. We hope that these statistics will encourage more people to contemplate their commute and give serious consideration to travelling by motorcycle or scooter.

Anyone considering travelling by powered two wheeler (PTW) can get more information from the MCI's Get On scheme. Join in with Ride to Work Day/Week.

 Videos of the six City Challenges can be found on the MCI's YouTube channel

The new Ducati Scrambler will be at World Ducati Week 2014, Misano 18–20 July

• “Scrambler Beach Party” planned for Friday evening, 18 July
• Ducati employees to star in the new model’s advertising campaign

Borgo Panigale (Bologna), 18 June, 2014 – Following the success of the Bologna factory event dedicated to its staff, Ducati intends offering also its "community" an exclusive premiere of the prototype Ducati Scrambler with private viewings reserved for Ducatisti at the World Ducati Week 2014.

Non-conformist, accessible and essential, the new Ducati Scrambler recalls the original values that made the motorcycle famous during the 60s and 70s, but in a totally new and contemporary style.

From 18-20 July, the Scrambler will be shown at the Misano World Circuit “Marco Simoncelli” with a laid back, beach party feeling with music, surfboards and the yellow container which houses the prototype of the new model, ready to be revealed to the Ducati community. In this way, Ducati has created another reason for its fans not to miss WDW2014, as thousands from all over the world get ready for the action-packed three-day event.

On the evening of Friday, 18 July, the Ducati Scrambler theme will take centre stage during the “Scrambler Beach Party”. Open to everybody, the party will recreate the beach scene recently enjoyed at the factory by the Ducati employees in Borgo Panigale, Bologna. The idea to celebrate the new motorcycle in true Scrambler style will be especially appreciated by all those passionate Ducatisti who have dreamed of the return of this model for many years.

The video campaign, which is already online on the Scrambler website, features Ducati employees chosen during the special factory preview day. The impressive gesture further demonstrating the iconic brand’s appreciation for its workforce’s commitment to making a success of the new and exciting project.

Videos related to the project can be viewed on the Scramblerducati.com website and content can be shared using the #scramblerducati hashtag.

Early WDW2014 ticket sale figures suggest a record-breaking attendance and organisers of the eighth edition are working non-stop to guarantee maximum entertainment and a full dose of “red passion”. All details, including the event programme as it is updated, ticket purchase and more are available at wdw.ducati.com

The event can also be followed via the dedicated Facebook page: www.facebook.com/worldducatiweek or by using the #worldducatiweek hashtag via @ducatimotor on Twitter or Instagram.

‘This book is a record of John’s extraordinary life in motorsport. It’s unlikely that anyone will ever again repeat his achievement’. VALENTINO ROSSI

‘Nobody else in the racing world has a personal story that so directly echoes the mechanics of motorsport – from building motorcycles in the 1940s to the running of a racing team in the 1970s’. SEBASTIAN VETTEL

Published to mark the 50th anniversary of John Surtees becoming Formula 1 World Champion, in 1964, this long-awaited book is a photographic memoir by the only man to have won World Championships on motorcycles and in cars. Containing nearly 300 photographs from Surtees’ own collection as well as from the world’s finest motorsport picture libraries, this major book presents a complete visual record of Surtees’ life accompanied by insightful commentary in his own words and is written in collaboration with co-author Mike Nicks.

In motorcycle racing through the second half of the 1950s John Surtees was in a class of his own, winning seven World Championships on Italian MV Agusta motorcycles. Aged only 22, he became 500cc World Champion in 1956 and followed that with an incredible run of six titles – three each in the 350cc and 500cc categories – in the three years from 1958 to 1960.

In his extraordinary 1960 season he accepted an impossible challenge – to anyone but John Surtees – of competing in both motorcycle grands prix and Formula 1 cars. With MV Agusta he won seven of 12 races entered and took his last two world titles. In Formula 1 he did six races and finished second with a Lotus 18 in the British Grand Prix, only his second World Championship start.

As with bikes, by 1963 he was racing for an elite Italian team, Ferrari, in both sports cars and Formula 1. He won his very first race with Ferrari, the 1963 Sebring 12 Hours for sports cars, and in 1964 he became Formula 1 World Champion with a fine run of results as the season reached its climax – including forever winning the hearts of Italian fans with victory at Monza.

Ever versatile as a racer, in 1966 he bounced back after injury in a huge sports car crash to win the inaugural Can-Am series in North America, driving a Lola T70. Then Honda recruited him to its new Formula 1 team for two seasons that saw him win the Italian Grand Prix again.

His talents were not confined to being a rider and a driver. From 1969 his Team Surtees became a constructor, building 100 cars in a nine-year period and winning titles in Formula 2 and Formula 5000.

Book Highlights Include:

•The early years (up to 1952): a childhood around motorcycle racing, apprenticeship with Vincent, then racing a Vincent Grey Flash.
•Getting established (1953–55): Moving on to ride mainly Manx Nortons, he did 86 races in one year, and in 1955 achieved his first grand prix win, in the 250cc Ulster GP on an NSU.
•The glory years (1956–60): dominating top-level motorcycle racing for five years with Italian team MV Agusta, taking seven World Championship titles on 500cc and 350cc bikes.
•The remarkable year of bikes and cars (1960): overlapping his last year of motorcycle racing with 17 car races, including four F1 World Championship events, the second of them – the British GP – bringing a second place with Lotus.
•Ferrari driver (1963–66): established in cars, he joined Ferrari, winning his first race – the Sebring 12 Hours for sports cars – and the following year becoming F1 World Champion.
•CanAm champion (1966): after recovery from a huge crash in a Lola T70 sports car and acrimonious departure from Ferrari, he bounced back in North America to win the spectacular CanAm series.
•Turning Japanese (1967–68): Honda invited Surtees to develop and drive its F1 cars, with a two-year programme in which victory in the Italian GP at Monza – Ferrari territory – was the highlight.
•Becoming a constructor (1970–78): going into single-seater racing, including F1, with Team Surtees and cars of his own manufacture; good results in F1 were sparse but Mike Hailwood won the European F2 Championship in 1972.
•The latter years (1978 onwards): fully active on the historic scene as a restorer and driver of motorcycles and cars, then nurturing son Henry’s career until the tragic accident.

Royalties from sales of John Surtees: My Incredible Life on Two and Four Wheels go to the Henry Surtees Foundation, which was set up to honour the memory of John’s son Henry, who was killed in a freak accident at Brands Hatch in 2009.

John Surtees will be signing copies of his book daily at Goodwood Festival of Speed 26-20 June 2014 at The Signature Company stand.

John Surtees: My Incredible Life on Two and Four Wheels is available from The Signature Company, Amazon and all good booksellers. Alternatively you can purchase directly from www.evropublishing.com

SATURDAY 12 JULY

Immerse yourself in a full-on Triumph experience this July with a whole host of bike displays, shows and simulators. We’ve packed more than ever before into this year’s Triumph Live to keep you entertained – read on to find out what exactly we have planned!

THREE ZONES
Urban Zone – Escape the country and hit the urban scene with a display of our 2015 Street Triples, Speed Triples and Daytona 675s. Chill out with street performers, contemporary street food/drink and live music throughout the day.

Icon Zone – If it’s our Classics and Cruisers that gets your pulse racing then a trip to the Icon Zone will give a taste of the range in a chilled out café style atmosphere. International food and drink will be on offer with a background of live music.

Adventure Zone – Come and be inspired to hit the road in our Adventure Zone. A full display of our Adventure and Touring offering will be surrounded by more live music, BBQ food and real ale to get you in the mood.

STUNT SHOWS
Not one, not two but six brilliant shows that will amaze and daze including Kevin Carmichael, Julian Welsh, and Steve Colley impressing the crowds on their tricked up bikes. The Ford display team will be doing their thing in the new Ford Focus ST with Demon Drome’s Wall of Death taking your breath away with their gravity defying exploits. On top of all this the digger dancing team will be with us too. You can't afford to miss these shows!

BIKE DISPLAYS
Away from the insanity of the main arena make sure you take time at Triumph Live to get up close and personal with literally hundreds of bikes - from our custom zone, where you can vote for your favourite customer built bike, to our Triumph Museum where you’ll learn about our complete process from design to build.

If racing is your thing then come and introduce yourself to the British Supersport and Isle of Man TT winning Smiths Triumph team (including TT winner Gary Johnson) plus you’ll also get to meet the guys behind the TriStar R&G Triple Challenge!

Don’t think that’s all – we’ve also got a load of really special bikes to see, too, including one of the Bonnevilles David Beckham took through the amazon rainforest!

SIMULATORS
Challenge your mates on the Racing Aces live racing experience or take a ride on the fantastic Microlight Flying Simulator.

To find out more about these and everything else that’s happening at Triumph Live 2014 visit www.triumph-live.com You’ll have to get there early to fit it all in!

GET YOUR TRIUMPH LIVE TICKET AND FREE FACTORY TOUR TODAY! 

Join Us
July 11th - Factory Tour, Hinckley Leicestershire
July 12th - Triumph Live, Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon

www.triumph-live.com

The 28th Farmyard will be as big as ever with some fantastic bands and comedians arranged - we know they are all looking forward to playing for you. Site update and changes to The Smacked Arse Comedy Show below.

Tickets for the Farmyard are NOT on sale through the web site BUT you can still purchase them on the gate.

Tickets for the final event of the year, Yorkshire Pudding, are still available on-line.

As always, our events are held on behalf of Riders' Rights throughout UK and Europe.

No Cars, No Vans, No Pedestrians, No Excuses

www.farmyardparty.com