Carl Cox Motorsport continue their support of seven time World Sidecar Champion Tim Reeves and his passenger Mark Wilkes in his quest for glory at the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

World renowned DJ Cox, who is a big fan of the TT, attended the event last year, supporting both Reeves and the unique solo talent of Michael Dunlop. For this season he is stepping up his support of the Reeves/Wilkes duo with the purchase of a new LCR sidecar outfit.

Tim took his last Isle of Man TT win back in 2013, so the determined Kentish racer is fired up to add to his collection of silver statues. Last season Tim and brother Tristan dominated the British F1 Sidecar Championship, with a 100% win record but things didn’t go their way around the Mountain Course. Sidecar Race 1 saw an intermittent fuel pump fault leaving them in fifth and in Race 2 an electrical sensor failed, resulting in a retirement, just as they were gaining on the leader.

Wilkes did, however, receive the Dave Wells Trophy, awarded to the best newcomer passenger, for his fifth place in Race 1 while a lap of 114.793mph was the fastest ever recorded by a passenger making his debut on the Mountain Course.

Carl invited Tim to race at the prestigious Philip Island Classic event just before Christmas and cemented a deal for the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races. Entered as ‘Carl Cox Motorsport Powered by H&S Contractors’, the pairing from Kent are due to receive their outfit on Thursday this week and will immediately be going testing in France.

Tim Reeves explained:

“We’ve got to hand it to Carl, every year he steps up with a serious level of support and he’s such a great guy to have involved with the sport, for everyone within the Sidecar community. With so much short circuit success I feel it’s our time to notch up some TT victories; we’ve done the ‘knowledge’ there, so there’s no reason why we can’t with such a strong package and support. It would be great if we can do it for Mark as well. He really deserves some success on three wheels. We’re also thankful to have the continued support of Neil Pallet of H&S Contractors who is staying on board as well…. So let’s get this season started!”

Carl Cox commented:

“I love sidecars and have great respect for the Isle of Man so it’s awesome to combine the two, with support for Tim and Mark for this season at the TT. Tim decimated the field in the British Championship last year but I know he wants to stand on the top step at the Isle of Man TT again too. With any luck I can get out there again to cheer these guys on as they give it their best shot.”

• A programme of events and initiatives to celebrate the anniversary of the iconic Ducati Naked bike
• A special celebratory parade on 24 March in France at the “Sunday Ride Classic 2018”
• 25 years on from the start of production, Ducati displays a 1993 Monster 900 at the Bologna museum        

IAM RoadSmart’s renowned Skills Days, which allow drivers and riders to learn handling skills from real experts while driving their own cars or motorbikes on race tracks across the country, are back for 2018.

Taking place at Thruxton in Hampshire and Knockhill in Scotland during the summer and autumn, the sessions are open to the public – and allow a rare chance to learn about handling and precision driving on a world class racing circuit, and how to use those skills to drive and ride with safety and enjoyment on public roads.

Drivers and riders will either work one-to-one with an instructor, or as part of a small group, and will be given the opportunity to fully understand what their car or motorbike is capable of.

Skills you will have the chance to develop include:

ï‚·Entry, apex and exit points, how they vary from road to circuit, how we use them and where we should position for view, stability and progress

ï‚·Where to brake, when and how much to brake, how it feels in an emergency. Most people have never used their brakes to their full potential – you will on a Skills Day!

ï‚·Controlled, progressive, smooth cornering

ï‚·Gear selection and how to decide which is the most appropriate gear for the circumstances

ï‚·How to use the accelerator or throttle to add stability to the car or motorcycle when cornering

The 2018 schedule for Skills Days is as follows:

Thruxton

May :

1st – Cars; 2nd – Bikes

June :

11th – Bikes

July :

11th – Bikes Ladies Day (this session led by IAM RoadSmart Rider Ambassador and professional bike, car and sidecar racer Maria Costello, who will be giving personal tuition to all attending on the day); 25th – Bikes

August :

16th – Bikes

September :

10th – Cars; 11th – Bikes

Knockhill

July :

30th – Bikes

Motorcycle Skills Days are £149 each (full day), car Skills Days £135 each (half day).

Sarah Sillars, IAM RoadSmart Chief Executive Officer, said: “Drivers and riders rarely get to understand and explore what their car or bike is capable of – and what they are not capable of. Our Skills Days are the perfect chance to enjoy the art and the fun of driving and riding well – and translating those skills into something that will make driving and riding a pleasure rather than a chore.”

For more information or to book visit https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-campaigns/skillsday or call 0300 303 1134.

GOOD SENSATIONS FOR ESPARGARÓ AND REDDING ON THE SECOND DAY OF TESTS

In the Aprilia garage, the work programme is divided, but the sensations at the end of the second day of tests in Qatar are similar. In fact, both Espargaró and Redding are satisfied with the way the tests are going, the last ones before the season opener.

Espargaró went out on the track with different chassis settings looking for more confidence on the Losail asphalt and his feeling at the end of the day satisfied the Spanish rider. Tomorrow Aleix will work toward improving, especially in braking and acceleration, before doing a race simulation long run.

This is a simulation that Scott Redding did toward the end of the session today, completing about 15 laps with excellent times and consistency. The new entry in the Aprilia camp confirmed the quality of the Italian V4 in terms of proper tyre wear management, able to use a soft tyre on several laps without evident signs of deterioration.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"We have to be happy. We are making progress and working hard. I still don’t feel like I’m at my best braking, but overall I am satisfied with the way the tests are going. We are struggling to take full advantage of the new tyre for a fast lap, but we are competitive in terms of pace. I am very curious to see my race simulation tomorrow and what the others will do in order to have a more concrete idea of what our potential could be over race distance. As for what we’ve seen up to now, and counting on improving more, I think that we will be able to demonstrate a good pace."

SCOTT REDDING
"Today we weren’t focusing on lap times, but we worked to prepare for the final long run. I had done one in Thailand that did not satisfy me, whereas here, despite starting later than race time, things went rather well. The times and the easy ride satisfied me, although there is still work to be done in order to increase the edge grip. I used a soft tyre on the rear, which is new for me, and I was surprised at how good condition it was in at the end and how my feeling improved lap after lap."

Including British Motorcylists Federation, Cheshire Grass Track Club, Chunky Tread Motorcycle Adventure Club, Ducati Owners Club GB, Gawsworth Jesters, Honda Owners Club, NABD, Rainy City HDC, RBLR and Triumph Owners Club. 

See the full list on the website, along with the current exhibitors and Manufacturers list...

Manchester Bike Show | 24th - 25th March 2018