Classic Car Night, Tuesday 12th May, 6pm – 11pm

The cafe’s regular monthly Classic Car Night, will feature the “KinoVan”, a mobile cinema that is taking London’s fifteen outer boroughs by storm, bringing the best local film history to the streets, from the London Screen Archives.

In keeping with Ace Cafe London’s efforts to cultivate our motoring passions and heritage, the KinoVan film will be showcasing an ode to vintage vehicles and classic home video footage collected from archives throughout the city!

www.londonsscreenarchives.org.uk
www.filmlondon.org.uk

For more information about what's on at the Ace, check out: www.ace-cafe-london.com

UK’s premier one-make series one of the highlights of the bank holiday weekend

• James Egan scores more points in National Superstock 1000
• Tough time for Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati

The hugely impressive grid of 34 Ducati 899 Panigales was one of the stars of the bank holiday British Superbike Championship this weekend (2-4 May) at Oulton Park in Cheshire. Sunday’s TriOptions Cup showdown produced a thrilling finale, with 2011 champion Leon Morris securing his first victory of 2015.

Behind the fast-starting Carl Cox Motorsport/P&H rider there was an incredible story developing with a number of series front-runners racing through from the back of the field. Having crashed on his out lap in qualifying, reigning TriOptions Cup champion Dennis Hobbs charged off the line on his Carl Cox Motorsport/P&H 899 from 34th slot to be 11th after just one lap of the picturesque circuit. By lap three Hobbs was up to eighth and behind Rob Guiver on the Hyside Motorcycles machine who was soon to become the talking point of the ten-lap showdown.

At mid-distance Guiver began a series of circulations that repeatedly smashed the Ducati TriOptions lap record and hauled the #13 bike into contention for overall victory. By the eighth tour, he had passed Robbie Brown (Boast Plumbing) to take third position into Lodge and was soon on the back wheel of Marty Nutt (Penso/Ducati Coventry). With fantastic drive out of Druids, Guiver made another move at Lodge to take second place, and set about closing the 1.7s to Morris.

There was more late drama to come, however, as Guiver's Panigale was running low on fuel and cut out causing him to run wide and over the grass at Hislops. Nutt needed no second invitation to sweep past the Essex-based rider, and holding the defensive inside line into the final corner he just managed to keep second place at the flag.

Hobbs' superb race through the field means he maintains top spot in the standings by five points from Nutt. Morris is a further five in arrears in third with Guiver and Sean Neary (Paraplus) rounding out the top five championship positions.

Leon Morris said: “After the disappointment of Brands that was really needed for us, we’re really happy. Marty came past me and I did a pretty hard move to get him back but I was committed – after that I didn’t see anyone. I think tomorrow will be a bit different but that is definitely a bit of a monkey off my back as we had a difficult opening round.”

Rob Guiver said: “I am a bit gutted to be honest – starting from where I was it was a big ask to get the win but I was definitely after a rostrum anyway. I didn’t have a great start, I was aiming for something a bit better but got boxed in and pushed out wide. When I got Marty at the end, the bike started cutting out going down the gears, it wasn’t bad at first but then I had a big moment at Cascades and then going into Hislops it fully cut out and I had to pick it up and go across the grass. It turns out I was running out of fuel so I’m glad I managed to finish the race! It was a bit of a shame not to get second but it’s still good points and after what happened at Brands that’s what I needed!”

The second race has been re-scheduled for the World Superbike Championship weekend at Donington Park (22-24 May), so fans can look forward to a triple-header of Ducati TriOptions Cup action. Click here to view the full championship standings.

With the sun shining on today’s bank holiday Monday action (4 May), MWR Motorsports Ducati rider James Egan enjoyed a successful charge through the middle order of the hugely competitive National Superstock 1000 class, crossing the line in 14th to secure two championship points.

The South African rider missed out on some valuable track time on Saturday with a small off in the damp first qualifying session. In second qualifying on Sunday he managed to secure 21st slot on the grid and making a strong start jumped up to 16th in the early running. It was then a case of closing the gap to a pack of riders ahead, but unfortunately just as Egan was closing in the red flags came out a the result was declared.

James Egan said: "My expectations were probally higher than was realistically achievable this weekend because we haven’t riden the Ducati here before. The weather conditions set us back, in Superstock every session counts as you only get three chances before the race and we lost a whole session to the rain. This is the third round and we set aside three rounds for what would be in reality test sessions, and that’s what this was. We made changes and found a good setting but unfortunately I was too far back in qualifying and just played it safe as I didn’t want to have another crash. Although in the race I was faster round here than I have ever been before – it was probably a top 10 pace – and we had more to come, we have a good base setting and a good direction for the bike. Our testing session is over now so onwards and upwards."

Egan will next be in action as the National Superstock 1000 series supports the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park.

It was a tough weekend for the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati squad as it struggled to find the ideal set-up on the 1199 Panigale R superbike during free practice and qualifying.

Czech rider Jakub ‘Kuba’ Smrz was one of the fastest riders in wet free practice, however with dry conditions for qualifying he posted the 13th quickest time for the opening encounter. With the huge BSB grid pouring into turn one, the #96 rider found himself squeezed onto the outside of the track and over the grass. With some impressive bike control, Kuba managed to keep the Panigale upright, but the excursion left him languishing at the back of the field. Making up a couple of places by the chequered flag he crossed the line in 20th position.

Starting down in 23rd for race two based on lap times from the first battle, Smrz once again found himself in a battle for the top twenty, running in 25th for much of the contest. Swapping places with Cox, Parkes and Mackenzie, he eventually broke away from the pack and comfortably took the chequered flag in 19th.

Steve Moore, Lloyds British Moto Rapido team owner, said: “Oulton Park has never been the best track for the Panigale and we didn’t quite find the sweet spot this weekend. The team has worked really hard, and now we need to focus on testing over the upcoming break. We're looking forward to Snetterton - it's a circuit that has been good for both Kuba and the Panigale in the past.”

Jakub Smrz said:"I didn't really find my rhythm today and didn't have a great feeling on the bike. It was better in the second race, we were able to make some good overtakes, but now the focus is on Snetterton which is a track I like a lot. We were on the front row there last year so it should be a much better weekend for us."

There is now a seven-week break for the British Superbike Championship, with battle resuming at Snetterton in Norfolk on 19-21 June.

Jerez, (Spain), 4 May 2015 – The day after the Jerez de la Frontera race, where Aprilia Racing Team Gresini continues improving with Alvaro Bautista's performance and the progress Marco Melandri made in the race, development on the RS-GP does not stop.

In the tests scheduled for today on the Andalusian track the seamless gearbox (continuous engagement), active in upshifting as well, made its début and was immediately appreciated by Bautista who was the first official rider to ride it onto the track.

The Italian team's entire season has been and will be characterised by continuous experimentation with technical solutions which serve both to improve the performance of the RS-GP and to provide data and information for the design of the prototype that will race in the 2016 season. For this the technical step today takes on particular importance and paves the way for the new gearbox's race début which could take place in one of the next European MotoGP rounds. The team also worked on new chassis solutions, particularly on a new frame and swingarm. The test results will now be processed at the Noale headquarters in order to prepare for the upcoming races.


ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
“Today was a very positive day. For the first time we put our seamless gearbox technology, a particular Aprilia solution, on the track with an official rider. Alvaro liked it very much and found a clear advantage straight away compared to the conventional gearbox. So it was a complete success which now means that we'll have to work hard to get it into a race as quickly as possible. Considering how things went today I think we'll be able to do that soon, within the next two or three races. I'd like to have it for Mugello or at the latest for Barcelona. Marco did his job, bringing in new chassis ideas, some we liked and some not so much, so we still have some work to do in that area. In short I would say that, between the race and the tests, we are finishing up this trip to Jerez pretty well.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
“Days like this are fundamental, especially for us as we are taking on a season where we need to learn and grow. They help us understand what steps to take in order to improve. In the end Alvaro also put in a good time with 1’39.766, but in these tests it is just as important to figure out which solutions to reject. Any new information is important, but to understand where to direct the technical advancements and to avoid going down paths that lead nowhere. Everything works together to make progress in the development of such an important project.”

Bautista puts the fifteenth best time on the sheets to take a spot on the fifth row, his best performance thus far in the early stages of the season

Jerez (Spain), 2nd May 2015 - Alvaro Bautista rode his RS-GP to fifteenth place (in 1’39.612) and with his best performance qualifying in this early part of the season he secured a spot on the fifth row for tomorrow's race.

This is a sign of the progress that Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has achieved in the first rounds of the championship, moving the Spanish rider into that group that is the short-term goal at the moment. Now the challenge remains to confirm the progress shown today in a race tomorrow that promises to be difficult due to the hot conditions and poor grip. Melandri is a bit farther back, twenty-fifth (1’41.273) and also hindered by problems with his brakes on his best laps.

ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)

“My compliments to Alvaro who did very well both in qualifying and in the morning free practice. Now we need to work on making this performance consistent. We have the potential to ride a good race. I'm pleased because we are making progress and strengthening our presence in a group of bikes and riders who are much farther ahead of us in terms of MotoGP experience. This is a great result considering the fact that ours is truly a lab bike and that we are really learning a lot in preparation for next season. It was a shame that Marco also had problems with his brakes and that kept him from performing at his best.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)

“Today Bautista deserves a great round of applause. He put a really good time on the sheets and lapped fast despite the really difficult conditions due to the heat. He put in a respectable time that gives us confidence for a race that will be hard for everyone. I think we'll be able to do well tomorrow. Starting strong will be important and we have a good spot on the grid. Then it will be important to find the right race pace straight away because it will be challenging both physically for the rider and for the tyres.”

ALVARO BAUTISTA

“We worked well today to improve compared to yesterday. It was a positive day, partly because of all the data we were able to acquire. On my flying lap I simply tried to be as precise as possible, riding the bike that I felt most confident on, but we can even improve more on this, especially in the acceleration phase where I'm still lacking a lot of grip. The race will be hard. This track really eats up the tyres and making the right choice will be important. Today I tested the hard front tyre and I think that's what I'll go with for the race, whereas on the rear we'll mount the soft tyre. I think it is consistent enough for race length.”

MARCO MELANDRI

“We worked hard in all the sessions and then reaped less of a reward than we wanted in the qualifying session. Today I was also having some problems with the brakes but the truth is that I need some really radical changes and until I am entirely confident on the bike I just won't be able to push the way I'd like to.”

Rising star in Moto3 and son of racing legend Wayne Gardner backed by upcoming classic GP extravaganza.

World GP Bike Legends will be in the international spotlight this weekend at the MotoGP World Championship, Jerez, as it teams up with Remy Gardner and team CIP Moto. Remy, son of 1987 World Champion Wayne Gardner, is now carving his own path in grand prix motorcycle racing in the fiercely competitive proving ground of Moto3.

About Remy Gardner and CIP Moto

Remy has been riding bikes since he was four years old and was introduced to road racing aged eleven. After competing in the Spanish CEV championship, Remy is ambitious and dedicated to developing a successful GP career. For 2015 he signed with the CIP Moto team to become the only Australian riding full time in Moto3 – Remy's Mahindra MGP30 is one of nine Mahindra bikes competing in the current season. Remy is the eldest son of 1987 500cc motorcycle World Champion Wayne Gardner and has already shown plenty of that same courage and talent that took the Wollongong Whiz to the pinnacle of the sport.

In 1987 Wayne was the first Australian to win the premier motorcycle racing class aboard a brutal 500cc Honda – he also won the first ever GP at Jerez in the same year. Now he will be racing in the first ever World GP Bike Legends festival, also at Jerez on 19-21 June.

World GP Bike Legends is a full three-day motorcycle festival not only featuring an incredible line-up of former world champions and race winners competing against each other on classic machinery, but also a host of off-track entertainment too. Live music from Bonnie Tyler, Toseland and some of the best-known tribute acts will close the show on Friday and Saturday nights, whilst live action displays, classic and modern bike displays, a classic auction and a shopping village will keep fans entertained from dawn to dusk.

Nick Wigley, CEO of World GP Bike Legends organiser, Goose Live Events, is delighted to have Remy riding under the WGPBL banner, and said: “We've come to know Wayne really well recently and we believe that Remy has it in his blood to do well. It’s fantastic to be able to back a budding young talent at World Championship level, whilst at the same time looking back and appreciating the path riders like his father carved to bring racing to where it is today. We hope that the MotoGP fans making the pilgrimage to Jerez will feel the same way and book another trip to the famous circuit in June and see Wayne racing again.”

Wayne Gardner, rider ambassador for the event, and one of the many legends taking to the track to compete said: “It’s brilliant to be able to share my racing with my boys. It’s Remy’s first full season in Moto3 and he’s learning so much every event – hopefully he’ll be able to give me some tips after the Jerez Moto3 round before I line up on the grid in June! I’m so excited about getting out and racing with my rivals again, and to have World GP Bike Legends supporting Remy is fantastic.”

Remy Gardner, CIP Moto team rider in the 2015 Moto3 World Championship, said: “There are going to be two awesome weekends at Jerez this year – one now and one when my Dad races in June! Everyone knows how hardcore those 500cc 2-strokes were, so I think it’s a great chance for MotoGP fans to go along and check it out. Hopefully we can keep moving forward this weekend and get some strong results for CIP Moto – a big thanks to World GP Bike Legends for supporting me!"

For more information about World GP Bike Legends including ticket details, rider line-up, entertainment, live music and all the latest news about this three-day motorcycle festival, head to www.worldgpbikelegends.com