In the summer of 2011 Anthony Jackson decided to take a trip of a lifetime for Leukaemia Research, riding a small 125cc motorcycle from Brighton to Mongolia. Following personal setbacks, accidents and illnesses Anthony set his compass east and left everything he knew behind. A journey that resulted in biking apparel brand, 78 Motor Co.

Anthony found himself by the roadside in Ukraine nursing a sore head after his bike helmet had rubbed the skin off. Frustrated, in pain, and unable to find a replacement, he struggled on, riding up to 12 hours a day before reaching Ulanbaatar Mongolia. His visor would no longer close, the liner was badly worn and his expensive, branded gloves had stretched making simple tasks a chore.

Anthony had said how: “Very few motorcycle gloves fit like they should - the leather is too loose, thumbs can be too long and fingers too short, making them uncomfortable to wear on the bars."

With an eye for design and a strong will for perfection, Anthony decided there and then he would return home to carefully design his own luxury helmet and gloves infused with his passion for the new wave scene and new found experience out in the Gobi desert.

Anthony spent 3 years developing an ultra stylish luxury carbon fibre helmet, a beautifully engineered glove range and an apparel line for the modern day café racer. They are above and beyond the usual mass produced offerings and their products receive consistent five star reviews.

Their newest release is the hand-crafted Speed Glove, a timeless vintage design with a unique close fit, discreet protection, satin lining and 1960’s inspired cooling fins. Last week the glove was described as elegant and fashionable by The London Evening Standard and continues to receive outstanding reviews by the press.

One 10,000 mile trip to Mongolia and many months of development later, 78 Motor Co is becoming the final word on luxury-fitting biking apparel.

APRILIA HEADS TO LE MANS WITH ALVARO BAUTISTA AND STEFAN BRADL DETERMINED TO RIDE THEIR RS-GP MACHINES INTO THE POINTS

The second European round of the 2016 MotoGP World Championship will be held this weekend on the French "Bugatti" track at Le Mans. This is an historic international motoring theatre, part of the famous Circuit de la Sarthe that hosts the renowned "24 Hour" endurance competition.
Relatively short with a lot of heavy braking sections and direction changes, the French track with these characteristics could prove to be "friendly" for the Aprilia RS-GP bikes, a new project with developments that continued even this week with a series of private tests at Mugello and that has already demonstrated promising values in terms of reliability and performance.

The unknown at Le Mans that must always be taken into consideration is the weather, which can change suddenly and heavily influence the practice sessions and races. This is another important element that will demand maximum concentration from the entire Aprilia Racing Team Gresini.

ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
“Our development programme continues. On Monday at Mugello we completed a few important electronics tests with Bautista and Bradl in terms of power output, whereas on Tuesday and Wednesday the tests continued with Mike di Meglio and the Aprilia test team. At Le Mans there will once again be aerodynamic changes, engine performance improvements and some further fine-tuning on the electronics package that we will be trying out on the French track. We are coming from a race at Jerez where the RS-GP showed some important signs of competitiveness and we aim to continue the positive trend”.

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
“In the private tests and Mugello we tried out the technical updates on the track that had already been introduced in the post-race tests at Jerez, but unfortunately the weather conditions weren't the best. So at Le Mans we'll continue testing the chassis upgrades that already gave us positive indications in Spain with improvements in terms of stability and the way the bike performs coming out of corners. We will definitely be able to take another important step forward, continuing development leading up to the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, which is a very important found for us”.

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“Le Mans is a relatively small track with a lot of direction changes and really unpredictable weather. We'll have one eye on the sky in every session! After the good weekend at Jerez, despite my crash in the race, we hope to continue improving my feeling in the saddle and the bike's performance. In the tests after the race we put in a lot of kilometres, continuing our development programme with upgrades that we will continue to focus on in France as well. I would like to battle like I did last round, going through to Q2 in the qualifiers and battling in the top 10 zone during the race”.

STEFAN BRADL
“I'm very anxious to get to the second European round at Le Mans. We'll have some upgrades and this is a track that I think can really cater well to the characteristics of our bike. In terms of layout it isn't a very fast track, but there are a lot of heavy braking sections where the RS-GP has proven to perform rather well. We'll arrive at the French round ready for action. We are working well and I'm sure that we'll bring home important championship points here as well for me and for Aprilia”.

Lots of events on this weekend across the UK, starting with Bike Night @ Jacks Hill Cafe on Friday 6th, Touratech Travel Event @ their hq in Ystradgynlais, South Wales, the global International Female Ride Day on Saturday 7th, Vauxhall International North West 200, Yamaha Bike Day on Sunday @ Ace Cafe, Motorcycle sprint up the drive of Hoghton Tower in Preston, Dover Classic Bike Show and the much looked forward to You've Been Nabbed which celebrates its 25th year!

Where will you be going?

6th May 2016 Bike Night  - Jacks Hill Cafe

venue: Jacks Hill Cafe, A5 Watling Street, Towcester, Northants, NN12 8ET
price: free
tel: 01327 351350
website: www.jackshill.co.uk
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e-mail: [email protected]

6th - 8th May 2016 You've Been Nabbed 25

The YBN25 rally will feature; 20+ live bands in three marquees, Bike/Trike Show by 100% Biker magazine, a huge stand-up comedy show, cheap Beer (3 x Bars - including ‘Real Ale’ bar featuring a range of 30 beers and ciders) and wines and spirits, at very reasonable prices. Trade stalls, 3 discos, big raffle, children’s entertainment, various food trucks, hot showers and the very best company you could wish for... You don't have to be an NABD member or a disabled biker to attend this superb event!    
NABD – a Registered Charity since 1991.

venue: Astle Park, Chelford, Cheshire, SK11 9AD. (On the A535 between Chelford and the Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory).
price: OTG: £35. Day tickets (Saturday only) £35 with £20 refund if you leave by 7pm. Accompanied children 14 years or under, free.
Car parking £20 (free with disabled badge). Caravan Pass plus a car with a Blue Badge is £20. Caravan Pass plus a Car Pass is £40. Campers, Mobile Homes is £20. Campers, Mobile Homes plus a Blue Badge is £10.  
No alcohol will be permitted through the gate - there are three bars selling a wide range of beers, wines, and spirits, at very reasonable prices.
tel: 0844 415 4849
website: www.nabd.org.uk/rally/ybn.htm
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6th – 8th May 2016 Touratech Travel Event 2016

The Travel event offers an insight into the world of adventure motorcycling with a weekend full of ride-outs, insightful workshops, food and beer, plus much more. A new and exciting addition to this year’s travel event will be the Touratech Rally, a roadbook rally around some of the best roads Wales has to offer with timed stages on the iconic Walters arena.
The weekend will commence on the afternoon of Friday 6th May with a welcoming reception from 5pm, giving you all a chance to meet likeminded riders or catch up with old friends and make new ones along the way. Camping, food and drink available.

venue: Touratech UK Ltd, Unit 14 Woodlands Business Park, Ystradgynlais, South Wales, SA9 1JW
price: free to attend
tel: 01639 841765
website: www.touratech.co.uk
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e-mail: [email protected]

7th May 2016
Jeff Mountjoys Big Ride Out

All day Charity event and ride out. Music, food, games, stalls etc. All day bar. Live bands in the evening. Ride out approx. 70 miles, 3 hours including a stop at Stourhead Gardens for refreshment and toilet break. Event starts at 11am with the ride out commencing at 1pm. Family friendly event and all welcome. Money being raised for The Freewheelers Blood Bikes and Dorothy House Hospice Care.

venue: Paulton Rovers Football Club. Winterfield Rd, Bristol, Avon, Somerset, BS39 7RF
price: Bikes £10. For the ride out. All proceeds go to the charities. Free entry to the event at the club.
tel: 01761 417 487
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e-mail: [email protected]

7th May 2016 Crowning Around

Bands, Beer and Bikes

venue: The Crown, 34 Main St, Littleport, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB6 1PJ
price: £3. Children go free, all donations go to charity
tel: 07796 133460
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e-mail: [email protected]

7th May 2016
International Female Ride Day

Worldwide Women's Motorcycle Ride Day with the theme 'JUST RIDE'. A synchronized ride happening all parts of the planet, yearly on the 1st Saturday in May.

venue: Across the world
website
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e-mail: [email protected]

7th – 15th May 2016
Vauxhall International North West 200 

Ireland’s largest outdoor sporting event, attracting crowds in excess of 100,000 as well as the biggest names in the sport including Michael Rutter, Guy Martin, Alastair Seeley and Michael and William Dunlop. Taking place annually in May.

venue: It runs between the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine. Local accommodation. 
tel: 028 7035 5800 
website: www.northwest200.org 
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e-mail: [email protected]

8th May 2016
Yamaha Bike Day @ Ace Cafe - XS750 40th!

venue: Ace Cafe, Ace Corner, North Circular Road, Stonebridge, London, NW10 7UD
price: free
tel: 020 8961 1000
website: www.ace-cafe-london.com - www.acecafeevents.com
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e-mail: [email protected]

8th May 2016
Motorcycle Sprint

Motorcycle sprint up the drive of Hoghton Tower of all classes vintage, classic and modern solos and three wheelers. Practice starts 9.30am and racing from 1pm. All gate proceeds to the Hoghton Tower Preservation Trust which is charity. If you would like to enter to race then contact Marshals North West www.marshalsnorthwest.co.uk

venue: Hoghton Tower, Hoghton, Preston, Lancashire, PR5 0SH
price: Entrance for spectators £10.
tel: 01254 852986
website: www.marshalsnorthwest.co.uk
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e-mail: [email protected] - [email protected]

8th May 2016
Dover Classic Bike Show

Classic bike show open to all types of bikes. 

venue: Dover Transport Museum, Whitfield, Dover, Kent, CT16 2JX
tel: 01304 822 409
website: www.dovertransportmuseum.org.uk
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e-mail: [email protected]

Have a great weekend wherever you are going!

The winner with over 50 votes is... Lynn's Raven Cafe (Lynn Mills will be happy!)   

* By taking into account the votes made on different titles for Good Fillers.



The winner - Lynn's Raven Cafe

The National Association for Bikers with a Disability (NABD) invite you to their premier annual fundraising event. The best value-for-money bikers event in the UK! 

The YBN25 rally will feature; 20+ live bands in three marquees, Bike/Trike Show by 100% Biker magazine, a huge stand-up comedy show, cheap Beer (3 x Bars - including ‘Real Ale’ bar featuring a range of 30 beers and ciders) and wines and spirits, at very reasonable prices. Trade stalls, 3 discos, big raffle, children’s entertainment, various food trucks, hot showers and the very best company you could wish for... You don't have to be an NABD member or a disabled biker to attend this superb event!  

venue: Astle Park, Chelford, Cheshire, SK11 9AD. (On the A535 between Chelford and the Jodrell Bank Radio Observatory). 
price: OTG: £35. Day tickets (Saturday only) £35 with £20 refund if you leave by 7pm. Accompanied children 14 years or under, free. Car parking £20 (free with disabled badge). Caravan Pass plus a car with a Blue Badge is £20. Caravan Pass plus a Car Pass is £40. Campers, Mobile Homes is £20. Campers, Mobile Homes plus a Blue Badge is £10. 
The Rally Pin this year will be available to buy with pre-booked tickets only at £2.50 (These will be £3 at the event).
Strictly no dogs (except registered and insured disability assistance dogs). No alcohol will be permitted through the gate - there are three bars selling a wide range of beers, wines, and spirits, at very reasonable prices. Payable by cheque, credit card or via the on-line shop.
tel: 0844 415 4849 
website: www.nabd.org.uk/rally/ybn.htm 
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e-mail: [email protected]