Fronted by DANNY-JOHN JULES

Wednesday 19th March, 10.30pm – on Sky 539, Virgin 233, Freeview 63, Freesat 651, BT Vision, BBC iPlayer and online: www.communitychannel.org

Join Danny John-Jules (Red Dwarf, Death in Paradise), TV sports presenter Matt Roberts and motorcycle entrepreneur Steve Keys as they embark on an epic 1,250-mile adventure from the UK to Valencia. The unscripted ‘travelogue for a difference’ sees the big-hearted bikers hit the open road, dressed in custom-made pink leathers on pink Yamaha R1 motorbikes, all in support of the bikers’ charity Riders for Health.

The Easy Riders is a charming, spontaneous and hair-raising half-hour series. Narrated by Chris Barry (Red Dwarf, The Brittas Empire, Tomb Raider) ‘The Easy Riders’ take viewers on the ultimate bike ride through the Champagne region, Beaujolais, and Montpellier. Their physical endurance is put to the test as they journey through chills, strong winds and rain, but their wit, laughter and camaraderie never falters (at least not for long!).

Although the trip definitely tests their mettle, it’s ultimately great fun. Viewers are given a behind the scenes look at their prep, witness their trials and triumphs and share in the laugher of an incredible journey for a brilliant cause.

The trio’s mission is to raise awareness of Riders for Health, a charity that uses motorbikes to ensure vital healthcare reaches rural communities in Africa. The trip is made all the more poignant for the biking community with news that legendary MotoGP racer Marco Simoncelli is killed in an accident the week before they depart. The large community rallies

behind the journey; in order to celebrate their friend and showcase a unique way they can use the sport they love to change the world.

The new series comes to Community Channel as part of the channel’s Do Something Brilliant campaign, funded by Big Lottery Fund, to celebrate the brilliant, diverse and talented people across the British Isles doing brilliant things to make a big difference.

The Easy Riders premieres on Wednesday 19th March, 10.30pm (with new episodes the same time each week, for four weeks).

THE EASY RIDERS – MEET THE TEAM

Danny John-Jules - one of Britain's most well loved TV actors, best known for playing Cat in the sci-fi comedy series Red Dwarf and policeman Dwayne Myers in BBC’s Death In Paradise.

Danny got into motorcycles fifteen years ago when he was invited to watch MotoGP. Thinking it looked cool Danny bought himself a bike, booked his training and has been hooked ever since.

Danny said: “The trip was tough and really tested our mettle but ultimately it was FUN – it was a bunch of mates on the same level having a laugh!

Tune in if you want to watch three old ‘Inbetweeners’ on bikes!”

Steve Keys - born into a family of motorcycle racers, he began riding at just nine and racing by the time he was 17. Something of an entrepreneur, he now has several businesses including an award winning motorcycle dealership. As well as undertaking adventure rides, Steve writes for Racer Magazine and has recently appeared in a film starring Scarlett Johansson!

Steve said: “We wanted to create the ultimate motorcycle trip, and that’s what we did!

But it’s not just about the journey – viewers get a look behind the scenes, showing the prep, the laughs, the setbacks and our shared love of MotoGP!”

Matt Roberts - is a renowned TV sports presenter. He started his career reporting on MotoGP for the BBC in 2008 before joining British Eurosport bikes team earlier this year. When Matt heard about the trip said he would do anything to be part of it and was welcomed with open arms!

Matt said: “It was fantastic to go on a cool ride and promote how motorcycles save lives through the inspiring work of Riders for Health.

The charity’s ability to connect with MotoGP fans provides a way in which the motorcycle community can enable the sport they love to change the world”.

The Ace makes an appearance!

www.ace-cafe-london.com

What about coming to see a large collection of engines, running... exactly as they used to, many years ago!

Old engines, ranging from a massive 500hp Allen, to the humble Lister that was used on farms many years ago. Bring your children to see the engines being started, and the grand parents who will remember using, or seeing them, in their youth. A visit to the museum provides an opportunity to see, and remember, British machinery as it used to be. Large engines of vertical or horizontal construction will be running, some ticking over quietly and unobtrusively, providing an opportunity to experience the evocative sounds and smells of a working engine museum.

Whether you come on normal open-day, or during one of the special weekends, it will be a memorable occasion, an enjoyable day out, providing a chance to see something different.

From the small Lister (made at Dursley) remembered for its use on concrete mixers, generating sets, and use on farms, to Petter (made at Yeovil)—watch the You-tube clip of the 1912 (5-ton) 50hp Petter being started with a blow-lamp (for the first time since the 1950s) and slowly being brought up to speed. See if it doesn’t massage your enthusiasm. If it doesn’t then the start of the 4250hp Proteus (Bristol Siddeley) industrial gas turbine engine certainly will! The resonating roar echoing across the nearby valley will be memorable.

The museum is a popular venue for enthusiasts with many travelling from all parts of the UK, and even from overseas. 2014 marks the 10th Anniversary year of the opening of the museum, an important milestone in any calendar, as it provides a unique opportunity to look back and thank those who have supported the museum since day one, as well as taking in what has been achieved. This year is very special; you are guaranteed to receive a very warm welcome.

A visit presents a wonderful opportunity to see engines made by once famous British manufactures. Evocative names like Tangye, Petter, Crossley, Ruston & Hornsby, Lister, Allen, Blackstone, National, Bristol Siddeley, Pelapone, and many others, will be on view for your entertainment. Internal Fire Museum of Power provides, for the younger visitor, an educational glimpse of our industrial past, while older visitors can enjoy a trip down memory lane.

Museum Opens 12th April.
First Event: Petter VJ Day, April 12th (see website).
Second Event: A full Easter venue.
Club Visits Wednesday to Sunday inclusive.

Further details with opening times: www.internalfire.com

The museum is on the A487 Cardigan to Aberystwyth road, 8 miles north of Cardigan just beyond the village of Tanygroes.

· Culture, Communications and Creative Industries Minister, Ed Vaizey MP, to open new Museum

· £5 million modernisation project hosts new exhibits, including over 400 cars and motorcycles

· Three new exhibition halls; two modernised halls; interactive displays and virtual reality interpretation; Haynes Motorland Children’s adventure play zone, suite of function rooms, Café 750 and Museum shop, all to be opened

On 16 April 2014 Guest of Honour, the Hon Ed Vaizey MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, will officially open the new Haynes International Motor Museum, in Sparkford, Somerset showcasing some of the greatest cars from around the world.

After over ten years of planning, two and a half years of building work and a privately funded £5 million investment, the new Museum, which is an educational charitable trust, will be one of the UK’s top visitor attractions.

Three new exhibition halls

With three new exhibition halls – Minis and Micros, Century of Supercars, Motorcycle Mezzanine – the Museum offers a tour through time and geographies, with each room themed, from the American Room, Dawn of Motoring, Veteran, Vintage & Pre-War Classics, the famous Red Room, to some of our own classic British family cars in ‘Memory Lane’, the British Motorcycle Collection and the world’s largest collection of Speedway Motorbikes and memorabilia.

As well as having capacity to further grow the collection, the new Museum is increasingly interactive and modern with more functionality and displays than ever before, including a leading edge reality experience where visitors can ‘virtually’ re-spray a real Mini motorcar. The new façade gives an impressive glass s-shaped entrance foyer leading into the Museum where, beyond the exhibition halls, there is the new Haynes Motorland Children’s adventure play zone, and the well established workshops where the cars are kept in full working order. Off the new entrance foyer lies Café 750 with private dinning space and the ‘Engine Rooms’ suite of function rooms.

Speaking about the new development John H. Haynes OBE, Chairman of Haynes International Motor Museum, commented: “I could never have dreamed when I started out that, nearly thirty years on, we would be in a position to unveil what I believe is one of the greatest motoring collections. Now space is no longer an issue, I am looking forward to continuing to build the collection with more iconic cars and motorcycles from across the globe, shared with all age groups and backgrounds, whether enthusiasts, families or tourists. I hope the increased facilities will encourage guests to spend a day here and really enjoy the range’s breadth and the story behind each exhibit.”

Marc Haynes, Managing Director of Haynes International Motor Museum, added: “It is very exciting to be launching our new Museum. The whole Museum team is delighted with what has been achieved in this major project and looks forward to continuing to grow the interpretation and collections. This is also good news for the economy. We have used local contractors during the course of construction, already been recruiting new staff and expect the new Museum will bring additional tourism, not only to the local area but to the South West as a whole and even to the UK, not to mention making a great venue for a function, wedding or memorable event.”

www.haynesmotormuseum.co.uk

A life time dream

First established in 1985 by John H. Haynes OBE with just 33 cars, the new Museum will now house over 400 cars and motorcycles from around the world. These date from a remarkable exact working replica of the first production car ever made - an 1885 Benz - to the present day, from the mighty AC Cobra, elegant Rolls Royce Phantom Two Sedanca Deville, 1930 Morris Oxford Six Saloon to King Edward VII’s 1905 impressive Daimler Detachable Top Limousine.

As a charitable trust, John Haynes’ original goal – to share his private collection of historic cars for the enjoyment of anyone from anywhere in the world be they fellow enthusiasts, families, tourists, or schools alike, whilst also continuing to have an educational value giving insight into the historical development and evolution of motorcars and engineering – has remained at the forefront of this project.

Riders in the 2014 Michelin Power Cup have the chance to win a brand new bike – thanks to the backing of Suzuki. The keys of the GSXR 600 will go to someone who buys a Michelin tyre at a Hottrax Motorsport series.

To better the chances of getting their hands on the 600cc machine, racers can be entered into the draw more than once, as for each Michelin tyre purchased, riders will be given a voucher to enter. The more tyres that racers purchase, the more chances they will have to win!

For amateur racers (pro or novice) the Michelin Power Cup Championships provide the ultimate racing experience at extremely competitive prices. With all the drama and excitement of professional racing, riders will experience the same level of paddock camaraderie, expert advice, generous hospitality and prestigious podium trophy ceremonies.

Racing around some of Britain’s best tracks, the action kicks off at Brands Hatch on March 22 and moves on to renowned circuits including Cadwell Park, Donington and Snetterton.

At each of the nine rounds, riders are guaranteed a timed practice, four competitive races, plus long distance riding around the best of Britain’s professional circuits.

The 5th Michelin Power Cup is set to be bigger and better than ever before and now for the first time includes a separate ‘rookie’ championship designed specifically for novice racers.

Both pro and novice championships have two classes for 600 and 1000 superstock based machines, all racing with Michelin’s Power range of tyres.

Designed to set blistering times on the track, the range includes the championship’s namesake, Michelin Power Cup tyres. These are the ultimate in competition tyres – road legal and with superb track performance allowing for incredible grip in the corners and super-fast lap times.

James Dimmock, Marketing Manager for Michelin Motorcycle in the UK and Republic of Ireland, said: “We’re really pleased that Suzuki is getting behind the Michelin Power Cup and other Hottrax series in this way.

“The series already attracts support from across the industry, with sponsors including Alpinestars, Arai, Protyre and Fuchs Silkolene. Their support coupled with our passion here at Michelin for the Power Cup mean that the series is now in its fifth year of successful racing.

“The Michelin Power Cup is a unique series and being able to offer incentives like this just makes it all the more special.”

The prize draw for the GSXR 600 is in addition to a host of other incentives for competitors in the Michelin Power Cup, including cash prizes, sponsor prizes and hospitality.

The top three riders in the new Michelin Power Cup Rookie Championship will share a £3,000 prize fund, while pro championship racers can win £800 in Hottrax vouchers per round – making an impressive total pro championship prize fund of £7,200.

With some of the lowest prices in British amateur racing, entrants can get take their place on the grid for just £245 per round plus £35 yearly club membership.

Limited spaces are available. For anyone wanting to take part in the action, visit www.hottrax-motorsport.co.uk or call 08455 193 197 for more information.

To find out more about Michelin motorcycle tyres, visit moto.michelin.co.uk

Solo round the world rider Steph Jeavons embarks from Ace Cafe on her METZELER Enduro 3 Sahara equipped machine

Adventure tyre specialist METZELER announces support of both Ace Cafe London’s ‘Overland and Adventure Day’ (Sunday 23rd March) and round the World biker Steph Jeavons who will set off during the event on an epic two year trip.

Jeavons will attempt to become the first British woman to circumnavigate the globe via six continents (42 countries) by motorcycle. Her attempt is all the more impressive in that she will be avoiding main roads and riding a small trail bike Honda CRF250L (equipped with METZELER Enduro 3 Sahara tyres).

Where better for Steph to set off than from Ace Cafe London’s ‘Overland and Adventure Day’ supported by METZELER which will not only see the intrepid explorer on her way but will feature other seasoned travellers such as Sam Manicom, Lois Pryce, Austin Vince, Dom Giles and Graham Field, together with stands and displays by KTM, Jack Lilley Triumph, Brubeck UK, Adventure Peru, Tours on Two Wheels and James Cargo Services.

The event marks another chapter in the strong partnership between the tyre manufacturer and the iconic London cafe; including regular supported nights plus the launch of the METZELER Calendar and the company’s road racing activities last year.

METZELER is renowned for its strong presence in the all important Adventure sector with tyres such as the Enduro 3 Sahara, the KAROO™ 3 (for true on and off road grip) and TOURANCE™ Next (for long distance road adventures).

METZELER Product & Marketing Manager Jim Worland commented, “We are really pleased to be supporting the Ace Cafe’s Overland and Adventure Day. For METZELER, motorcycling is all about the journey and the theme of the day epitomises this. We will be on hand to talk to riders about anything tyre related and with our vast experience in extreme ‘Overland’ events such as the Dakar Rally with our KAROO™ Extreme tyre, supporting seasoned globetrotters such as Miguel Silvestre with the KAROO™ 3 and with the introduction of the new TOURANCE™ Next in 2013, we can really help when it comes to giving the right advice.”

METZELER are also running a Free MOT Promotion on many of their most popular tyres including the TOURANCE™ Next, rewarding customers with a refund on their annual MOT.

To view the entire range of Adventure tyres and the full product portfolio visit: www.metzeler.co.ukand to follow Steph’s progress visit www.onestephbeyond.com

For more info about what's on at the Ace:
www.ace-cafe-london.com