Back protectors have been at the heart of Knox since we started the company back in 1981. Our founder Geoff Travell was a motorcycle racer himself and to cut a long story short, after a string of serious injuries, Geoff decided to make the world’s first back protector, a real invention that kick-started the company and created this market sector. The Back Protector remains to this day a key part of the KNOX product range.

In addition to his RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Race duties for Norton Racing at the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, Australian Josh Brookes will contest the Bennetts Lightweight TT riding for Ryan Farquhar’s IEG/KMR Kawasaki team.

Brookes, who will be making his first appearance in the class, will campaign the bike originally earmarked for Hudson Kennaugh which Michael Rutter took to first and second place finishes at the recent North West 200 road races. Riding for three-time TT winner Farquhar, Rutter also became the first rider to lap the Triangle circuit at more than 110mph.

With Kennaugh withdrawing from the event and Brookes keen to extend his 2017 race schedule around the Mountain Course, the 2015 British Superbike Champion, currently lying fourth in this year’s table, struck a deal with Farquhar and will be among the favourites for victory in the four lap race.

The 33-year old, who will be making his third appearance at the TT, will be the fourth rider in an already formidable looking line-up at KMR Kawasaki that also features Lee Johnston, Peter Hickman and Danny Webb. It’s a team packed with talent and pedigree and one that Farquhar is extremely proud of and whilst results are never guaranteed, he certainly has a great chance of success.

Ryan Farquhar: “When Hudson withdrew from the North West 200 and TT, my immediate focus was on the North West and Michael did an absolutely brilliant job to take a race win after stepping in at the last minute. He’d already agreed to ride the Paton at the TT though so wasn’t available but having had tentative talks with Josh over the winter, I’m now delighted to welcome him on board. Having a ride of that pedigree riding for KMR is a terrific coup and I’m really looking forward to working with him.”

“We were a little bit down on top speed at the North West but Michael showed what the bike was capable of, particularly in the handling department, and with four incredibly talented riders on the KMR Kawasaki’s, we’re confident of having a good TT. It’s going to be hard work, without doubt, but all four riders are more than capable of standing on the podium so we’ll be giving it our best shot.”

Qualifying for this year’s TT is due to get underway on Saturday 27th May with the four-lap Bennetts Lightweight TT scheduled to take place on Wednesday June 7th.

The filming period will be from 12th June – 9th July 2017 and they are looking to speak to people about being interested over the next couple of days.

This is an amazing opportunity for the right person and it will be a once-in-a life time trip.

They would like the main mode of transport to be the classic motorbike (but there will be other vehicles involved) so it’s important the person they take has a motorbike driving licence and a passion for bikes. They will be making adaptions to the bikes in Vietnam so they are suitable for disabled riders.

They are particularly looking for female riders at this stage so if you are interested get in touch.

Paul - [email protected]
07921 648 237

Honda Racing has been speaking with John McGuinness in hospital following his crash last week and overwhelmed with the love and support received, John wanted to pass on his thanks:

“I really am truly overwhelmed with the amount of support and well wishes that have been flooding in since my accident at the North West 200 last Thursday. Both myself and the wife (Becky) have received so much support and I cannot thank the race fans, industry people, the medical teams and fellow racers enough; all your messages do help pull me through the dark hours.

I’m still at the Royal Victoria Hospital undergoing various treatments for my leg injury; the fixator is still yet to be fitted as they don’t want to run the risk of infection, so at the moment it is day-by-day.

I’m not going to lie, missing the TT this year is going to hurt, but I will be watching and keeping an eye on everything! Good luck to all the lads heading out there; if I am able to head over then of course I will be there, but at the moment everything is day-by-day and I just have to do what I can to recover and get better. It’s going to be a long road ahead, but I have a great support network around me, so I have to be patient and take each day as it comes.

Thank you again!”

Further updates will be made available in due course. 

It’s not long now before a bevy of bikers descend on the Erskine Estate in Bishopton for the annual Erskine Motorbike Meet.

Last year’s event was the biggest Motorbike Meet yet, with nearly 800 bikers taking part in the parade and over £12,500 being raised for the veterans of Erskine. This year’s event takes place on Sunday 28th May.

Recently a number of bikers, cadets, military personnel, officers from Scottish Police, representatives of Paisley 2021 and Milly the biking dog, visited the Erskine Estate in preparation for the big day.

Erskine supporter Heather Clissett, who organises the event, got the group together to promote this year’s event. She said: “The Erskine Motorbike Meet has grown larger than we could ever have hoped, in its 11 years.”

“We hope all who visit the bike meet, know how much their loyalty to, and respect for, Erskine's veterans means. We are so grateful and appreciative to them for never failing to turn out and we hope they realise how much it means to all at Erskine and the respect we have for all our two and three wheeled visitors."

Anyone who has attended the popular event will know the parade of bikes and trikes, which begins at Park Mains High School in Erskine at 12.40pm, is quite a spectacle. The bikers take around 20 minutes to make their way along the seven mile route to The Erskine Home where there are lots of attractions on offer for an entertaining afternoon for bikers and visitors.

This year’s entertainment includes fairground rides, Port Town Rockers, Kennedy Cupcakes, UK Garrison, Irvine Marine Cadets & Sea Cadets display, Glasgow Science Centre buskers, Pin Ups Vintage, Paisley 2021, a photo booth and lots of street food. There is also military support on the day including 7 Scots who will have a deactivated weapons display, the Royal Artillery with their light gun display and 225 Medical Regiment with their ambulance.

There are a number of first’s this year at Erskine Motorbike Meet including a Boccia Bowls match with Bikers v Veterans. Playing a game against our veterans is Rigbys Guardians MCC Scotland – who promote and preserve the memory of murdered Fusilier Lee Rigby. The group also raise money for veterans’ charities including The Lee Rigby Foundation that was set up in Lee’s memory.

There will be music from Balaklava Pipes and Drums and The Band of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Regimental Association. There will also be two luxury cars – provided by Met Wedding Cars – so this year Erskine veterans will be able to take part in the bike parade in the comfort of a luxurious wedding car!

The Erskine Motorbike Meet takes place on the Erskine estate from 1-5pm. Entry is £5 per bike and £2 per adult (free for children) with parking available at HP, Bishopton, PA7 5PP which is a short walk from The Erskine Home or you can hop on the shuttle bus kindly provided by McGills.

28th May 2017
Erskine Motorbike Meet

Annual event to support the veterans cared for by Erskine with 100's of bikes taking part. Starting with a parade from Park Mains High School to Erskine's grounds for 1pm official opening. Live music, food, demonstrations, stalls and much more. All welcome.

venue: Starting with a parade from Park Mains High School, PA8 6EY at 1240 to Erskine (Hospital) Bishopton, Renfrewshire, PA7 5PU 
price: £5 per bike donation to Erskine on the day. £2 per adult (free for children) with parking available at HP
tel: 07814 984082 
website: www.erskinemotorbikemeet.co.uk 
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e-mail: [email protected]

Erskine is a family. Our strength lies in the very special blend of dedicated care, compassion and understanding we offer to our residents and their families. When Erskine was founded in 1916, our aim was to care for Service men and women who had been injured in active service. Today, care remains the cornerstone of our philosophy. We not only care for our veterans – we care about them.

As Scotland’s foremost provider of care for veterans and their spouses, we provide unrivalled nursing, residential, respite and dementia care within our four homes across Scotland. Our person-centred care is tailored to the needs of each individual veteran.
Erskine's proud history also extends beyond its provision of medical and nursing care by employing and promoting all employment opportunities for veterans and offering housing to veterans and their families in 44 cottages within Erskine estate.

As a charity, we rely on the generosity of our supporters to maintain our commitment to care for Scotland’s veterans – without donations we simply cannot continue this work.