APRILIA IN THE POINTS WITH STEFAN BRADL - BAUTISTA CRASHES OUT WHILE BATTLING FOR A TOP TEN SPOT

ALBESIANO: “WE IMPROVED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND, WE HAD THE POTENTIAL FOR A BETTER RESULT”

Alvaro Bautista crashed out in the sixth lap of the Spanish GP race while battling for a top ten spot astride his Aprilia RS-GP in the group made up of Laverty, Barbera and Crutchlow. For Alvaro, who suffered no physical consequences from the crash, this ended a weekend where his performance had been steadily improving. After just missing out on qualifying for QP2 twice and taking the best spot on the fifth row anyway, Bautista confirmed the progress his Aprilia had made in the race as well.

The crash was partially compensated for by the result earned by his Aprilia Racing Team Gresini teammate, Stefan Bradl who, despite lagging behind the entire weekend, rode a shrewd race, staying in the points zone and in the finale overtaking Hernandez to take fourteenth place and two championship points.
The team from Veneto still has the satisfaction of a weekend that highlighted the Aprilia RS-GP machine's progress. Now there will be tests at Jerez tomorrow and the next few races will be new rounds to improve a promising project.


ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
“The race certainly did not go as we had hoped and up to our potential. Both Alvaro and Stefan got off the line well, immediately moving up a few positions. Bautista was in the group that was jockeying for a spot in the top ten. He crashed but these are things that happen when you're trying to push to the limit. Bradl, on the other hand, set up a more cautious race, bringing home a few points, thanks in part to a nice move just in the final phases. We were expecting a better result and it was within our potential, especially after what we saw in the practice sessions, but in any case we worked hard once again this weekend, improving and identifying other areas that need work to move the RS-GP project along”.

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
“Alvaro was riding a great race and he was really close to the top ten. In general we had a good weekend where we definitely took some steps forward. The bike is growing. We can see the improvements and it would have been interesting to cross the wire with the rider who had been having the better weekend. That's the way racing goes, but from tomorrow, with the day of testing, we'll be focused once again on development”.

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“After a good start that earned me a few positions, I was battling with the group between eighth and eleventh place when I lost the front end in a fast corner. It's a shame and I'm sorry for the entire team that worked so hard, but that's racing and it's only right to make a go of it. In any case this was still a very positive weekend. We did well during practice, I felt at ease in the race and I didn't have any problems battling in that group. Anyway, now we need to look forward and keep improving the bike the way we have been doing so far”.

STEFAN BRADL
“The final result is positive. We worked hard on the settings to find the right feeling with the rear tyre. It was a rather demanding weekend in terms of grip. We also tried to take another step forward during the warm up session but it didn't pan out, so in spite of going back to the previous solution I had a few misgivings at the beginning of the race. I got off the line better than I had in the last few races and in the first laps I felt good. Then I felt a drop in performance from the front tyre that forced me to slow down. Lap by lap I found my pace and I was also able to catch up our rivals, overtaking Hernandez at the end and earning a few points”.

The Rob North framed 750cc BSA Triple machine on which Guy Martin set a new world speed record on a Wall of Death, live on Channel 4 over the Easter break, will be at the 36th Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show this weekend.

The road racing, mountain biking, lorry mechanic blasted around the specially-built 37m diameter wall at a speed of 78.150mph on the BSA that he built in his own workshop, with the help of his dad and mechanic Cammy Whitworth.

The show will also welcome the man who taught Guy the ropes of riding the wall – Ken Fox – as his Wall of Death, complete with vintage Indian Scouts and troupe of riders, will once again entertain the crowds throughout the weekend.

And that’s not all. An incredible selection of classic motorcycles will be brought to the venue over the weekend as part of static exhibitions, club displays, a Grand Prix race paddock, trials demonstration area and parade laps of the main ring, while hundreds of trade stands a vast autojumble will pack into the halls and outside areas.

Auction house Bonhams hosts its annual spring sale – which this year is a two-day event – where some of the finest classic motorcycles in the world will go under the hammer, and former racer and TV presenter Steve Parrish will be in attendance as special guest star, regaling the crowds with tales from his rich and storied career.

THE UK’s biggest classic motorcycle event takes place at Staffordshire County Showground this weekend, April 23-24, with sporting stars, stunning machines and spectacular live action among the highlights for showgoers.

A one day adult pass costs just £14 – For more information on the show, including ticket details and opening times, visit classicbikeshows.com

– Due to ongoing success, the Honda TT Revolution returns for its third year   
– Gives aspiring DJs the chance to open for Carl Cox at TT closing party
– Pan-European competition in partnership with Mixcloud

Aspiring DJs will once again have the opportunity to open for legendary DJ Carl Cox, one of the world’s most successful DJs, as the Honda TT Revolution returns to the Isle of Man for an unforgettable week of motorcycle racing and music.

Last year’s event saw TT Revolution ambassador Carl Cox headline a sold-out closing party, concluding an epic week of racing that culminated in Honda’s John McGuinness claiming the outright lap record, his seventh Senior TT victory, and 23rd career TT win.

Honda Motor Europe continues its partnership with Mixcloud – an online music streaming service that allows listening and distribution of radio shows, DJ mixes and podcasts – and fans will able to upload a short mix of their own making for a chance to share the stage with Carl at the closing party, after the Senior TT on Friday 10 June.

To be in with a chance of stepping behind the decks, entrants must submit an original mix encouraging their friends and fans on social media to share, listen and like. The more likes and listens a mix receives, the higher the chance of the mix being selected by our panel of judges, before Carl himself, selects his favourite.

To enter and submit your competition mix go to Mixcloud here

The lucky winner and one guest will be flown out to the Isle of Man on the penultimate day of the TT races as a Honda VIP where they will be able to witness the world’s greatest road race in all its glory, before opening the closing party and sharing the stage with Carl Cox.

Last year’s competition was a huge success, reaching more than 15,000 music enthusiasts from across Europe, with the bulk of entries coming from the UK, Portugal and Italy.

“I’m excited to once again be part of the Honda TT Revolution, which is now in its third year,” explains Carl Cox – who himself is a bike and racing fan. “The TT race is an experience like nothing else, and is something everyone, including non-bike fans should get along to one year. The Honda TT Revolution combines two of my biggest loves, music and bikes, and is a great opportunity for aspiring DJs to experience something completely different, whilst doing something they love.”

The Isle of Man TT is a motorcycle race steeped in history with over 100 years of drama filled, exhilarating racing, held over 37.73-miles of the Island’s picturesque streets and mountain roads.

The Honda TT Revolution closing party will take place at Tahiko, Douglas on Friday 10 June. Tickets will be on-sale from May through Resident Advisor.

Carlcox.com

Where is your favourite Biker Friendly Cafe in the UK, that you head to for coffee & cake, mugs of tea, posh coffee and bacon butties, along with bike nights, where you are sure to meet like-minded folk, for lots of lovely motorbikes and where Biker banter is ensured...

To cast your vote for your favourite cafe, simply go to (join) our facebook group, then tick or add your favpurite place to the poll below -  Go vote

We have lots of places popular with Bikers included on THE BIKER GUIDE website, from the south... to the north of Great Britain, into Wales and even on Shetland.

Please note, the extensive list is mainly put together from visitor recommendations as we encourage visitor feedback and recommendations, so if there is somewhere you have been and would like to tell others about it, then please do. (see link to form below)

See THE BIKER GUIDE website for extensive listings.

www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerfriendlymeetingplaces.html

The Poll will run until 3rd May. Pubs with meets can also be added.

We have lots of places popular with Bikers included on THE BIKER GUIDE website - If your favourite place is not included then send us a recommendation!



Update 3rd May

The votes are in for the favourite cafe/meet voted by members of THE BIKER GUIDE group!

SPECIAL INCENTIVE FOR ALVARO BAUTISTA, STEFAN BRADL READY TO CAPITALISE ON HIS RS-GP'S AGILITY

ROMANO ALBESIANO: "CHASSIS, ELECTRONIC AND AERODYNAMIC UPGRADES"

After the overseas start to the season, MotoGP makes its début in Europe with the Spanish round at Jerez. This is a track that marks an important turning point for Aprilia, and not only in geographical terms. In fact, it has a layout with decidedly different characteristics than the tracks from the first three races. This is a layout that, on paper, could favour the peculiarities of the new Aprilia RS-GP.

A scheduled development programme will also begin in Spain, the first fruits of which will be seen this weekend. There are chassis upgrades, developments with the electronics and aerodynamics born out of the experience gained during the first outings of the 2016 prototype. Therefore, after the encouraging results achieved in the first races, for the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini this promises to be a race with multiple incentives, where the primary goal is still to continue racking up kilometres and experience.


ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
"In the first three races of the season we were able to collect a lot of data that also highlight the areas where we need to improve the most right now. Building from there, we have laid out our development schedule for the European races, a programme that will begin already this weekend with the first, important steps in terms of the chassis, electronics and aerodynamics. Jerez is Alvaro's home race and he did very well here last year, whereas Stefan is enjoying a good trend, as his recent results demonstrate. I expect that both of them, also considering the characteristics of the track, will be able to take another step forward in terms of performance".

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
"The results are positive, thanks to the efforts of the Aprilia technicians and the entire team. We are preparing for a long series of races in Europe, with the Jerez round representing an important test bench. When a bike works well on this track it is generally effective almost everywhere. So we are anxiously awaiting this GP, knowing we can count on upgrades that can help us make progress".

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“We're beginning the European races after a decidedly positive start to the season, given the fact that we were able to earn points in every race with a completely new bike. And we could have done even better if it hadn't been for a few things that were beyond our control. Jerez is a much shorter track and rather different from the ones where we've raced so far. It will be interesting to see how the RS-GP performs. I think that it will be a fundamental weekend for finding a good base. Until now we have taken on particular circuits with very specific setup needs. I also like it because a lot of fans and my friends will be there, so that will make for a special atmosphere. The goal is to keep going down the path we have already started, finishing the race and staying as close as possible to the top 10”.

STEFAN BRADL
“The first European race of the season is always long-awaited. Jerez is an interesting track because it has a completely different layout that the one on the tracks we've tackled so far. Overall it is a slow track, with short straight stretches where power doesn't count for too much, so the excellent agility of our bike could allow us to take a further step forward. I'm pumped up for the weekend since we will have the support of our European fans, who always make their presence and warmth felt, as well as some electronics upgrades that the guys at Aprilia have been working on nonstop”.