Mandy and Martin Fox in The Borders Forest Newcastleton, Scotland.
Spent a brilliant week rattling around Northumberland and thereabouts.

SECOND EUROPEAN ROUND OF THE 2019 MOTOGP SEASON

APRILIA ON THE HISTORIC ASPHALT OF THE LE MANS TRACK

The second European round of the 2019 MotoGP season is set to be held on the Le Mans Bugatti track. It is history-charged asphalt, shared in part with the much longer Circuit de la Sarthe, the setting of the famous 24-Hour car race.

It is a very particular track, with hard braking followed by low speed acceleration sections, always with the unknown of unpredictable weather than can have a heavy impact on the way the weekend goes. In the Aprilia camp, the search for the best setup in Le Mans began immediately after the last GP in Jerez on the day of tests that the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini conducted on the Andalusian track after the race.

Aleix Espargaró’s objective remains a top-ten spot, an achievement that slipped through his fingers in the finale of the Spanish race and which has clearly been within the number 41 rider’s reach in all the races held so far in this promising early part of the season. With three times as many points as last season at this point, Aleix is headed to Le Mans confident in the RS-GP’s excellent braking capabilities and hoping for some stable and fair weather.

Andrea Iannone will be back in the saddle after the injury he suffered on the Saturday of the Jerez weekend. The Italian rider’s fitness will be assessed on Thursday by circuit medical staff, but it seems like there will be nothing to worry about. Precisely on the run when he crashed, Andrea was testing a promising change to the setup on his Aprilia RS-GP with good results. From this base and the outstanding Friday he had in Spain, his growth path will resume.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"Le Mans is a track that I like and on which I think the Aprilia RS-GP can do well. Braking is one of our strong points. The bike stays stable in hard braking and that could help us. I am also hoping for a dry weekend. It rains almost every year in France and that makes everything more difficult. As always, our goal remains the top 10".

ANDREA IANNONE
"I have positive feelings as I head to Le Mans. In Jerez, we were able to figure out a few important things. It is a small step forward that will also help us in France. We still need to see how much my foot will bother me. In any case, I have been working hard to be as fit as I possibly can."

Race and rally legend Paddy Hopkirk and his son Patrick achieved the highest civilian driving standard in the UK recently, when they both passed IAM RoadSmart’s Masters with Distinction qualification.

Paddy, 86, and Patrick, 47, were assessed on 8 May by Richard Gladman and Stuart Haythorn, who ensure that all driving standards are of the highest level for IAM RoadSmart.

Paddy needs no introduction in the world of motorsport. Although he is famous for winning the 1964 Monte Carlo and 1967 Acropolis Rallies, he also raced at the fearsome Le Mans 24 Hours as well as many other circuits around the world.

Paddy was also greatly admired for giving up a sure win in the 1968 London-Sydney Marathon to rescue with his co-driver Alec Poole a fellow competitor from his burning car.

For the past three years Paddy has worked as a volunteer for IAM RoadSmart as its Mature Driver Ambassador – travelling the UK talking about road safety and how older people can drive safely and with confidence on today’s roads.

Paddy and Patrick now join a select team of just 500 advanced drivers who have reached Masters standard with Distinction. There are around 1,000 Masters holders in total in the UK.

IAM RoadSmart Masters programme helps drivers take their talent to the next level. Building on the individual’s skills as an existing advanced road user, the Masters programme will help them enhance and develop their ability even further in the following areas:

• Cornering principles
• Assessing, planning and executing safe overtaking manoeuvres
• Recognising opportunities to make safe progress, within the speed limits
• Improving observation, anticipation and awareness consistent with vehicle speed
• Applying sound judgement of speed and distance

Paddy has already taken IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driving Course twice (27 years apart) and the Mature Driver Review.

He said: “It doesn’t matter if you are a rally winner or a daily commuter, everyone can be a better driver. I really want to keep developing my driving skills because the roads are always changing – it is very important to be aware of what is around you, and to make sure that all road users are protected from the risk of injury as much as is possible.

“I enjoyed taking the Masters as did Patrick, and am delighted to have reached Distinction. It is proof that there is no age barrier to being better and safer behind the wheel.

“I especially learnt that the habitual use of mirrors is very important; it’s the best way of getting the information you need to be a better driver.”

Mike Quinton, Chief Executive Officer of IAM RoadSmart, said: “We are proud of Paddy who has worked tirelessly on our behalf. Taking the advanced test and the Masters is not for the elite; it is something everyone can try – and everyone will benefit from. It could even save a life one day.”

Batteries are almost fully charged for Team Trentino Gresini MotoE, who in around a month’s time will be back on track for the first official testing after last March’s Jerez fire - which changed the plans of the new electric class of MotoGP.

Proceedings are about to resume with more energy than ever, with Falper joining Lorenzo Savadori and Matteo Ferrari in the new quest by becoming official sponsor of the “green” team led by Fausto Gresini

Falper specialises in furniture, sinks, bathtubs and complementary accessories that has in environmental sustainability and recycling two key points of their philosophy. The Italian company join Gresini MotoE’s project for 2019 and will have visibility on the front mudguard of the two Ego Corsa machines and on the pit-box graphics.

This weekend, hardcore punk band Cancer Bats frontman, Liam Cormier, set off for an adventure of a lifetime which will see him cover over 2000 miles as he rides from Birmingham to Marrakesh, Morrocco, for Scram Africa 2019 – wearing TCX Drifter boots.

He will then take part in the 930 mile on-road and off-road route of the Scram Africa event. Starting and finishing in Marrakesh, the route includes sections of the Paris-Dakar tracks and full sand dunes as well as crossing the Atlas mountains and the famous Dades Valley.

The day after finishing the seven-day ride on his custom-made Mutt Motorcycle, Canadian Cormier will then meet with his bandmates and start his tour through Europe, ending at this year’s Slam Dunk Festival in the UK on 25-26 May.

Excited about his adventure, Liam said: “I can’t wait to get started and it seems like everyone I’ve spoken to about the trip is into it. I love the idea of riding a bike that’s not known as a ‘typical’ adventure bike and I’ve also picked the riding kit I’m wearing carefully so that I’m protected but also don’t look like I’m about to ride thousands of miles. I hope that my trip encourages people to ride what they have for whatever they want to do on it.

“The Drifters are the perfect boots to tackle a huge adventure like this. They offer versatility for both on and off road adventure and not to mention they’re waterproof. For me, when leaving on a trip where I don’t know what I’ll be coming across its great to know that one boot will have me covered for the whole thing. More hardcore than the average boot, but still comfortable. I can’t wait to rip some desert!”

The Drifter WP boots features a soft brown leather upper with added gear change protection,double stitching and intermediate footbed to make it robust, plus microfibre front and rear folds. It has a waterproof lining and internal protection against heat in chamois leather. The boot fastens using three wear-resistant, interchangeable aluminum buckles with an ergonomic design. The soles have a deep tread and there are inserts in the ankle area and polyurethane shinbone protection. The Drifter WP is available in sizes 36-48 and has an RRP of £259.99.

www.nevis.uk.com

Liam will be documenting the trip across his social media channels, find him on Instagram @Treadwellclothing.