The Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy will be taking centre stage at Motorcycle Live held at the Birmingham NEC from the 19th to the 27th November, with the final day being billed as a special TT Day.

Visitors to the Isle of Man stand 3H30 in Hall 3 will have the chance to hear the intimate thoughts of some of the leading TT stars as they personally talk through stunning on board laps of the course from this year’s races on the stand’s HD big screen in real time.

The highlight will undoubtedly be Michael Dunlop who will be voicing his incredible outright lap record from this year, which saw the Northern Irishman become the first rider to post a sub seventeen-minute lap of the TT Mountain Course.

Others who will be sharing their tricks of the trade include 23 time race winner John McGuinness, Ian Hutchinson, who will talk through his remarkable Superstock lap record lap from this year’s meeting, as well as TT race winners Ivan Lintin and James Hillier. 

And if you ever wondered what it feels like to race a sidecar around the 37¾ mile course, you’ll get the chance to get up close and personal with the Birchall brothers Ben and Tom, as well as veteran campaigner, and current overall sidecar Champion John Holden, as they give their unique perspective on race winning laps from 2016.

Signing sessions are planned every day of the show on the Isle of Man TT stand and you will be first to hear the latest news and announcements about the 2017 TT Races and Classic TT Races with many of the riders who made the Mountain Course headlines in 2016 appearing in chat shows with ITV4 commentators James Whitham and Steve Parrish. 

You’ll also get the chance to discuss tickets, travel and accommodation packages with Regency Travel, the TT’s Official Travel Partner and you can also book your grandstand, hospitality and special event tickets on the newly designed iomtt.com website which will launch on Friday 18th November, ahead of the first day of the show.

The stand will also have many of the TT and Classic TT winning bikes including Michael Dunlop’s double TT race winning Hawk Racing BMW Superbike, and the Team Traction Control R6 Yamaha machine on which Ian Hutchinson won both of this year’s Monster Energy Supersport Races. The lap record-breaking sidecar machine that the Birchall brothers raced in winning this year’s Sure Sidecar Race 2, will also be on the stand.

Belgian team Sarolea’s 2017 spec TT Zero machine will be representing the latest technology while nostalgia fans will undoubtedly enjoy the chance to see Team Classic Suzuki’s Classic Superbike TT winning Suzuki XR69 GSXR100 and Valvoline Racing by Padgett’s Motorcycles 250 Honda ridden to race wins by Michael Dunlop and Bruce Anstey respectively at this year’s Classic TT meeting.

The centrepiece of the stand will be the iconic Senior TT Trophy that has been awarded at every TT since 1907. The trophy’s base is engraved with the names some of the most legendary riders in motorcycle racing history including Stanley Woods, John Surtees, Geoff Duke, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini, Joey Dunlop, John Surtees, David Jefferies and John McGuinness and you’ll have the chance to have your picture taken with this stunning piece of history.

The full list of confirmed TT riders to appear during the show is:

SATURDAY 19th NOVEMBER / OPENING DAY
Michael Dunlop - James Hillier - Dean Harrison - Josh Brookes - Maria Costello MBE

SUNDAY 20th NOVEMBER - CLASSIC TT DAY
Michael Dunlop - James Hillier - Dean Harrison - Josh Brookes

MONDAY 21st NOVEMBER
William Dunlop - Lee Johnston

TUESDAY 22nd NOVEMBER
Lee Johnston - Carl Fogarty    

WEDNESDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 
Carl Fogarty - Michael Rutter - Ian Hutchinson - Maria Costello MBE

THURSDAY 24th NOVEMBER
Bruce Anstey - Dan Hegarty

FRIDAY 25th NOVEMBER
Steve Mercer - Jamie Coward

SATURDAY 26th NOVEMBER
John McGuinness - Ian Hutchinson - Dean Harrison - Conor Cummins - Ivan Lintin - Dave Molyneux - Tim Reeves - Ben and Tom Birchall - John Holden - Steve Mercer - Maria Costello MBE

SUNDAY 27th NOVEMBER- TT DAY
John McGuinness - Ian Hutchinson - Dean Harrison - Conor Cummins - Ivan Lintin - Dave Molyneux - Tim Reeves - Ben and Tom Birchall - John Holden - Maria Costello MBE

www.iomtt.com

SIXTH ROW FOR THE APRILIA RS-GP MACHINES IN THE SPECIAL (RED) LIVERY

The Aprilia RS-GP bikes, once again in their red livery today to celebrate (RED), will start from the sixth row tomorrow for the Valencia GP that closes the curtain on the 2016 MotoGP season.

The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders dedicated the final free practice sessions to solving the grip problems highlighted in the Friday sessions. In the qualifying session, the one that decides the starting grid order tomorrow, Bautista had the right confidence, but then he slid out on turn five, just as he was putting in his best performance, interrupting his efforts for a spot farther forward on the grid. This means that he is forced to settle for the time he made in his first Q1 run (18th at 1’31.847) that places him on the sixth row. Stefan Bradl did better with 1’31.813, overtaking his teammate by one spot on the grid, where he will start alongside him on the sixth row.

The Aprilia RS-GP stand out during the Valencia weekend with an entirely red livery, without any other sponsors or even the Aprilia logo, in order to celebrate (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver that, with $360 million in assistance, has contributed to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in African countries since 2006.

#iRideRED is the hashtag that all of the fans can share on social media in order to show their support for this cause.

ALVARO BAUTISTA
"In FP3 and FP4, we tried some different settings and in the end I felt good with them, lapping well in the low 32s and feeling confident with the bike. That is how I went into qualifying, but with the first tyre I felt a slight vibration that kept me from pushing too hard. With the second tyre I felt good straight away. I did a lap without pushing, just to warm up the tyres, and I was already on the same level as my best time. But when I started to push, I fell on turn five. A pity, because I could have even shaved off half a second. But I am still optimistic. I have a good pace and in the past we have already shown that we can make up a lot of positions in the race".

STEFAN BRADL
"Today did not go extremely well. Despite trying a lot of changes in terms of balance, we were unable to entirely solve the difficulty in getting the bike to turn. This penalized us more than we had expected it to in qualifying, where we struggled and were unable to improve as much as the others did. On the other hand, our pace is not bad. We are able to be consistent even with used tyres, but today the flying lap just wasn't there. I'm sure that we will be able to make up a few positions in the race".

It will be the tenth KICKBACK Motorcycle Show which will also be hosting the National Championships for “Shed Built” Motorcycles.

Meanwhile…

KICKBACK London took place on 29th - 30th October 2016 at Olympia and attracted over 2,500 enthusiasts, 140 unique motorcycles and more than 40 traders.

Motorcycle customisers, engineers, fabricators and designers from all over UK came to show off their masterpieces plus builders and dealers from Costa Rica, Italy, Poland, Isle of Man and France.

Although the event was an “Invitational” rather than a competition, three awards were given to young builders to honour their engineering excellence; Loris from Stile Italiano, Rahul from Sinroja Motorcycles and “shed” builder Richard Eastop were the brilliant young recipients.

A special award was also given to Chris Wedgwood for his sensationally engineered, mind-blowing, steam powered drag bike.

Inside the main hall visitors could mooch around all the exhibitor stalls such as Dickies Motorcycle Outfitters, And Sons, Oily Rag Clothing, Seven Vision, Monkey Outlet, Cabaret Club Clothing, Rag & Bone Customs, Krazy Horse, Café Racer Kits, Jack Lilley Triumph, Royal Enfield, TTT Motorcycles, Forsa Italiana, Infinity Motorcycles, The Bike Bus, Shippio, Losers Tea Stall, Takakuda, Luk3 Clothing, Helite, Allstyles Insurance, Sinnis Motorcycles, Gold Top, Righteous Motorcycles, Mobile Centre, BMG Scooters, Harley Davidson Exhausts, Pacto Helmets, Caledonian Customs, Lion’s Den plus many more…

There were also some really neat features within the show including a display of rare classics from Brooklands, The Art Space gallery in association with UAL, Rocket Bobs showing off the award winning masterpiece that is Speed Weevil (below), Monkey bikes and motorised bicycles (below), Live music and vintage biker movies, the Valespeed Workshop and of course the showcase itself with a fine collection of rare classics and customised gems.
KICKBACK would like to take this opportunity to thank all visitors, exhibitors, sponsors and show bike owners for supporting the exhibition and look forward to seeing you all again at Stoneleigh Park in April.

The next KICKBACK Motorcycle Show is at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire from 1-2 April 2017.

More info can be found at TheCustomShow.com

GROWTH OF THE RS-GP MACHINES - TODAY IN RED TO CELEBRATE (RED) - CONFIRMED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON

ALBESIANO: “THE BIKE HAS GROWN. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY IN THE TOP TEN AND STILL IMPROVING"

Alvaro Bautista (tenth) rode his Aprilia RS-GP to a top ten finish at the Valencia GP that close out the 2016 Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing season.
Stefan Bradl (thirteenth) also finished in the points, bringing home a good team result worthy of the positive conclusion to a season that, especially in the second half, saw the RS-GP machines and the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders consistently battling for a spot in the top ten, the stated goal for Venetian V4's rookie season, sometimes doing even better with placements like the seventh place finishes achieved in Argentina (Bradl) and Japan (Bautista).

Alvaro, in his last race with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini and penalized by his start from the eighteenth spot on the grid, came back little by little, confident with his pace and the overall good balance of the bike. After overtaking Miller, Redding and Petrucci, he fended off Barbera's final attempts and, with the six points earned, overtook Laverty in the overall championship standings, finishing the season with a nice twelfth place.
Bradl (also in his last race with Aprilia), after a start that had relegated him to the back of the pack, skilfully came back, even overtaking Redding in the finale to finish thirteenth.

The Aprilia RS-GP machines showed off an entirely red livery in the race, without any other sponsors or even the Aprilia logo, in order to celebrate (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver that, with $360 million in assistance, has contributed to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in African countries since 2006.


ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
"We finished a very important season for Aprilia. We brought our MotoGP bike to its début, taking it to the races straight away and developing it throughout the season. For the past few rounds our level has allowed us to stay consistently in the top ten, which was our goal. The bike has grown and the racing department with it. We are a strong and motivated team that still has potential for growth. In addition to everyone on the team, I particularly wish to thank our riders, who believed in our project and who have earned our respect. I wish Stefan and Alvaro all the best and now we will already begin thinking about next season, which will start in a few hours".

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
"Analysing the season, the first goal was to get through all the races without any technical issues keeping us from finishing, which is not a given for such a fledgling project. We demonstrated our potential to our rivals, growing consistently. We have a long road ahead, but we are moving in the right direction. We are proud of the results achieved and my thanks go to everyone: to Aprilia who has always given 100%, as well as to the team at the track and the riders. After such strong emotions, it is already time to reset and restart, with an even stronger desire to show what we are capable of achieving".

ALVARO BAUTISTA
"In the second half of the season, we began to reap the fruits of a lot of hard work, much of which done last year as well. We went in the right direction for development. Aprilia did a great job and the materials worked the way we expected them to. We improved a lot and now I wish all the best to Aprilia and the team with whom I experienced two years of hard work, but great satisfaction in the progress the bike has made. I always gave it my all, but I must thank my engineers and my mechanics, because they did an exceptional job, always seeking to provide me with the best solution. The race today was good, if you consider that, starting from behind, we went from almost six seconds from the race leader in the first lap to finishing with a dignified gap, especially considering that this is one of the most difficult tracks for the RS-GP".

STEFAN BRADL
"It was a very exciting race, especially in the second half when I was able to push and overtake Redding, besides the fact that it is my last MotoGP race. Speaking of the race, unfortunately, after the warm up we had to replace the clutch and I was unable to make a good start, which did not make things simple. We decided to start with the soft front tyre, which we had not used in the afternoon sessions, and that meant that I had to adapt a bit, especially in the first laps. From the mid-race point on things improved, but the gap was already too big to strive for a better position. In any case, we finished in the points and, on a track that is difficult for us, that result was not a given. I wish to thank all the guys and Aprilia. This experience has helped me to grow as a rider, taking on a new challenge made up of testing and developing a new project. We can be satisfied with the work we have done and I wish them the best of luck for the future".

Over the past few weeks we have been checking and updating the extensive list of Cafes, Meets and Pubs that are included on THE BIKER GUIDE website, popular with Bikers as a place to head to for coffee & cake, mugs of tea and bacon butties, along with bike nights, where you are sure to meet like-minded folk and lots of lovely motorbikes and motorbikers...

As we checked (hours and hours of work) we found a lot of places have sadly shut, changed hands (so not Biker Friendly anymore), changed from cafes into houses, pubs into restaurants and some which have even been demolished.

However we have also discovered new cafes and pubs, who welcome Bikers, have bike nights and many offering quality food and drinks in lovely surroundings.

NEW places we have included for 2016

GMEC Motorcycles - Scarborough, North Yorkshire

With a friendly atmosphere and where the owners have a passion for motorcycles. Predominately selling used Motorcycles, with a Bike Café. Also clothing, helmets, parts and tyres, with a workshop for repairs, paintwork, servicing, rebuilds, MOT and much, much more… GMEC are proud to present the ex-Barry Sheene,1979 Dunstall Suzuki GS1000 F1 on display. A Bike Night every Wednesday from 5pm – everyone welcome!

www.gmecmotorcycles.co.uk

Roadkill Motorcycles & Grill - Norfolk

ROCK TUNES, BIKES AND BACON ROLLS! Biker cafe/shop, run by bikers for bikers, a great place to head to for a jolly good cuppa, baps and burgers, cakes, drinks and more. Indoor and outdoor seating where you can relax, listen to some rock tunes and watch the bikes come and go. A popular meeting place for before/after/during ride-outs and a must visit destination on the North Norfolk coast. Also at Roadkill HQ, a well-stocked shop for quality clothing, parts and accessories, and in the workshop, motorcycle customising, MOT, tyre fitting, servicing etc. Hosting various events/ride-outs.

www.roadkillcustoms.co.uk

The Haven - Wiltshire

An independent, family run roadside restaurant on the A30 London Road, where the friendly Haven team provide service with a smile and a warm welcome! Serving all day breakfasts, baps, sandwiches, burgers, pies, desserts, cake, cream teas and various home-cooked meals. Quality tea and coffee, along with soft and alcoholic drinks.
A popular Bike Night on the 1st Thursday of the month (summer). The large café is able to cater for 80+. Situated just three miles outside of Salisbury and easily accessible. Huge parking area.

www.thehaven-salisbury.com

The Empire Diner - Witham, Essex

A brand new American themed diner which is already gaining an excellent reputation with Bikers…

Serving a great choice for breakfast, including various pancakes, a hearty omelette, hotdogs, ribs, burgers, steaks (locally sourced), sandwiches, wraps and if there is room - home-made Blueberry pie, Reeces Pieces cheesecake and waffles topped with a variety of sweet stuff. Various coffees, soft drinks, lovely milk shakes and licensed.
A regular bike meet on a Wednesday evenings from 7 (ish) to late, with a discounted menu. Becoming popular as a ride to on Sundays for a great breakfast and biker banter!
The owner is a biker and is open to suggestions for other events and meets. Large parking area.

www.theempirediner.co.uk

Notable places include

Loomies Moto Café - A favourite place for many Bikers to head to for many years, where a warm welcome, great food and lots of biker banter awaits.  

The Doof Café - Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales - A favourite café, for the great roads to get there, good homemade food and friendly atmosphere.

Whiteways Café, Bury Hill, West Sussex - Popular meet for ride outs or place to stop for refreshment break. Sundays are most popular with 3,500+ Motorbikes in and out during the course of the day.

Woodleigh Coach House, Exeter, Devon - On the edge of Dartmoor National Park and close to Exeter, a lovely café within a Grade II listed building, located just off the main A30 dual carriageway.

See THE BIKER GUIDE website for extensive listings.

www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlymeetingplaces.html

If your favourite place is not included then send us a recommendation

www.thebikerguide.co.uk/iwanttorecommend.html

If you have a café, pub or meet you would like to include then send it to us for inclusion