PROTAGONISTS IN BOTH SESSIONS ON THE IMOLA TRACK, MARCO MELANDRI AND SYLVAIN GUINTOLI ENSURE A GOOD SPOT FOR THEMSELVES IN THE SUNDAY RACES.

Imola, 9 May 2014 - On a decidedly summer day the World Superbike engines roared to life at the Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit at Imola. For the Aprilia Racing Team, reigning Manufacturer World Champion, it was a very promising début: Marco Melandri and Sylvain Guintoli were protagonists straight away in the two sessions today, demonstrating great determination and an excellent pace. The only black spot on the day was a red flag 12 minutes from the end of the second session when the riders were getting ready to test the last solutions.

Marco Melandri, playing on his home pitch, ended the day with the third best time in the combined standings. The young man from Ravenna improved consistently until arriving less than two tenths of a second from the ranking leader. Efforts will be focused on two fronts tomorrow: continuing the search for the best settings in view of the race and finding speed on the flying lap in order to do well in Superpole. In fact, one of the characteristics of the Imola track is difficulty overtaking.

Marco Melandri: "I am really quite pleased. For us today was like a new, positive beginning. I feel good on my RSV4 and I am able to ride very smoothly. Today we did a lot of work in preparation for the race, trying to understand how the tyres behave and working on our electronics strategies. Tomorrow we'll continue in this direction, also looking for speed on the flying lap for Superpole. The interruption in the second session didn't even create any big problems for us. We already have a good base to build on".

It was also a decidedly positive day for Sylvain Guintoli, winner at Assen and fourth best time today. The Frenchman put in a lot of laps at Imola and showed that he is consistently fast. There are a few regrets about the time lost in the last session, which could have led to further improvements. For Sylvain and his team tomorrow promises to be a rather intense day.

Sylvain Guintoli: "We started off well. As usual we are working on race pace, but my initial feeling with my RSV4 is very good. With all the red flags that interrupted the practice sessions there are still a few things left to test. I hope we can get some consistent time to work tomorrow and finish what we have planned. In any case our times are promising and I'm confident that starting from the good work we did today we'll be able to improve even more".

The bike has been painted in a unique colour scheme and graphics to celebrate the anniversary of the formation of The Stranglers.

One of the side panels on the bike has actually been signed by The Stranglers then re-lacquered to preserve the autographs, adding to the collectability of the bike.

Full details of the competition are on the website

It's basically one of these competitions where you pay £1.50 (plus standard network rate) to text your answer through.

Manx Radio TT will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary of providing a dedicated radio service at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, having first broadcast on Senior Race Day in June 1964.

The station will take to the airwaves on Monday 26th May from 7.30am bringing a mixture of music, news and entertainment as well as its qualifying and race commentary service throughout the fortnight.

There are two new additions to the team this year. Former British Champion and TT race winner Chris Palmer, who rounded off his Mountain Course career with two wins in the inaugural Classic TT meeting last year, will join Chris Kinley for extensive coverage of all the evening practice sessions.

Chris Kinley will again host the morning Chat Shows from the studio in the Sure Shop at the back of the Grandstand but the programme will also venture out to locations such as Billown, Creg-ny-Baa and campsites around the island for live chat shows featuring leading TT stars.

There will be more chat at lunchtimes with Sheffield based journalist Rachael Clegg, whose father Noel is an ex-TT Racer, joining Marc Tyley as co-presenter and interviewer on the TT Diner.

The afternoon 'After Burner' show, features Manx Radio’s Breakfast host Chris Williams while Stu Peters and Simon Quine will take the evening slot, playing a wide and eclectic mix of tracks.

The race commentary team, keeping fans trackside and worldwide updated via the 1368AM and on-line stream, is back providing all the crucial developments, reaction and breaking news.

The Manx Radio TT team remains Tim Glover, who will be the anchor commentator at the Grandstand, Dave Christian at the first checkpoint at Glen Helen with Roy Moore updating from his traditional spot at Ramsey Hairpin. Chris Kinley will be patrolling the startline, pitlane and parc ferme providing live updates and getting the inside track from riders as they leave the line and return to the grandstand.

This year’s BMF May show (16-18 at Peterborough Arena) is packed with plenty to do as well as see.

Show organisers The Mulberry Group have introduced a series of new elements this year including: Moto Gymkhana, Motoball and the all new Zebra.com Slow Race (the winner will receive £100.00 cash) – all of which offer show-goers the opportunity to participate – not just watch. In addition KTM and Suzuki will be offer demo rides (both parts of your licence will be required) on the latest models they have to offer.

For those wanting to begin on 2 wheels – the Get On team will be there in force as will Cam Riders and for the younger element Oset Bikes are offering rides for those aged between 4 -12 years old.

This year will also see celebrities in attendance – 4 times BSB legend Carl Fogarty will be at the show on Saturday 17th, Henry Cole (ITV 4’s Motorbike Show and Discovery Channel’s World’s Greatest Motorcycle Rides) will be on site over the whole weekend including participating in the crazy Moped Mayhem, being a passenger in a 1000cc sidecar.

A full line up of presenters/traveller writers and adventurers will be in the Adventure & Overland Touring area including: Ed March, Dom Giles, Graham Hoskins, Sam Manicom, Jacqui Furneaux, Nathan Millward and Graham Field who’ll be launching his new book ‘Ureka’

With just a week to go until the show and with the weather looking settled now is the time to get your tickets.

Advance ticket sales are available until midnight on Wednesday 14th May through the ticket hotline: 0844 8845151 or through the show website: www.thebmfshow.co.uk

MARCO MELANDRI AND SYLVAIN GUINTOLI ARE READY TO INCITE THE ITALIAN FANS.

Noale, 7 May 2013 - The first Italian round of the 2014 World Superbike Championship season is coming up. The factory derivative bikes are getting ready to take on the Imola track, the historic circuit on the banks of the Santerno which has always stirred up the hearts of fans. Its nature as an "old school" track, despite the changes that have been made over recent years, always makes it a particularly demanding circuit for bikes and riders and, consequently, for any gearhead.

For Marco Melandri motivation abounds. After the demanding weekend at Assen the rider from Ravenna is keen to improve his synergy with to find the consistency and speed he'll need to aim for the title. Imola is definitely not an easy track. Experience and focus are required to turn up at the races Sunday in the best possible conditions and Marco has plenty of both.

Marco Melandri: "Imola is my true home round and I really want to do well, so I'll take to the track with a huge desire to battle and to do well. I certainly don't expect things to be easy. There will be a lot of fast riders here, but with the entire team we have put in a lot of hard work and the time is coming to reap the benefits of what we have done so far to improve."

A key player in Holland, where he took a win and just barely missed making it a double, Sylvain Guintoli will take on the Italian round with an eye to confirming his progress. He now lies in second place in the rider standings, just 12 points behind Sykes in the lead, a truly slim gap considering the fact that this is only the fourth round of the season. The podium he took here in 2013 during his rookie year on the Aprilia RSV4 is a nice calling card for the French rider who has recovered from the blow he suffered during Race 2 at Assen.

Sylvain Guintoli: "In Assen we made big progress with the RSV4 and we showed our fighting spirit, it paid off with the win in race1. I want to continue in this way in Imola. Although my back was really painful after the crash in race2, I am now back to full fitness and ready to fight for the win".