The 50^th Anniversary bmf Show saw sun, smiles and bikers in their thousands turn out over the weekend for one of the best bmf shows of the century!

As Europe’s largest outdoors motorcycle show, the bmf show is the traditional season-opener for thousands of motorcyclists and this year certainly did not disappoint.

The bmf’s new event organisers the Mulberry group were determined to pull out all the stops to make this a show to remember and they succeeded big time. With an improved layout, more manufacturers and top-line traders plus fantastic sunny weather, it’s no wonder that over 60,000 people were smiling over the show weekend!

Advance ticket sales had been down on last year, but with the forecast good weather people turned up on the day and formed massive queues, so much so that for the first time ever, tickets ran out and the bmf show found itself with ticket touts! However, the organisers soon resolved that and showgoers gained admission without paying a premium!

With the official presence of BMW, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Triumph, Norton, Victory, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi, plus Ducati, there were plenty of new bikes to look at and test rides to be had on BMW, Suzuki and Kawasaki.

Norton were there for the first time and Norton Sales Manager and top BSB racer Chris Walker, having sold four of the stunning new Nortons over the weekend, was well pleased commenting that “the bmf show has everything going for it with good organisation, a good crowd and good security. It’s a great place to be and to be seen,” he said.

On the other hand a regular exhibitor for the past seven years, Richard Spies of Victory Motorcycles, was also well pleased with the weekend. With a prime corner position in the newly defined manufacturer’s area Richard said it had been a “great show with a great crowd.”

BMW, currently riding high in the sales charts was similarly pleased with the weekend. “The bmf show is good for us with plenty of serious enquiries from serious enthusiasts” said BMW Marketing Manager Tony Jakeman.

On a completely different level, thousands come to the bmf show on a shopping expedition to buy their kit for the new season so smaller traders too reported brisk business. Chris Hawley of Baglux, a regular for the past 25 years and just one of the 300 traders on site, said that business had been good and that “there was a buzz about the place again that had been missing in recent years”  while Paul Burdass from Fat Skeleton said: “We’ve had our busiest Peterborough bmf ever in terms of revenue, reversing the general trend we've seen at both indoor & outdoor events over the past year.”

Someone really happy was Norman Ford, the winner of the bmf’s Win-A-Bike/Choose-A-Bike prize draw. Stunned that he had won, Norman is yet to choose which bike he wants to take home from either a Yamaha XVS1300 ‘Midnight Star’, a Suzuki GSXR600 or a Honda CB1000R.

Another winner on the day was David Light who having joined the bmf over the weekend, found that he was also the lucky winner of a Giacomo Agostini replica helmet in the bmf’s special membership promotion.

The stunning weather also made the perfect back-drop to two action-packed days of arena activities featuring Jason Smyth – The Adrenalin Tour, The Stanage International stunt display team and of course, old favourites the madness that is Moped Enduro and the thrills of Short Track racing.

On Saturday 19th June, the "No To Bike Parking Tax Campaign" has organised the first bike rally to make a complete circuit of the M25 - the Great Lap of London, departing at Noon from Ace Cafe and returning at 5pm, to pick up smaller bikes, L-plated bikes and scooters, for a further rally into the heart of London.

Irrespective of the new politics that brings the motorcycle industry is optimistic that motorcycles and scooters will continue to play an important role on the transport agenda of the new Government

Government will seek to continue to reduce transport's impact on the environment and the motorcycle industry is well -placed to contribute to this and will continue to be a solution provider with its congestion beating and Co2 reducing vehicles.

The MCI's role will be to ensure that the incoming Government are fully aware of the benefits and importance of the motorcycle industry and its products. Powered Two-Wheelers offer a practical and cost-effective transport solution that supports 62,000 jobs in UK plc and accounts for over £7bn of sales and added value.

The Industry's 'Get On' campaign designed to introduce new people to two wheels has been proving a success. In the last 10 months in excess of 100,000 people have expressed an interest in motorcycling, as witnessed by the number of unique visitors to the "Get On" website. www.geton.co.uk

The industry confidently expects that that this interest will translate to sales as people encouraged by Get On progress from; trying out a bike, to learning to ride, and then purchasing one.

Steve Kenward, MCI's CEO commented, "The public are expressing their opinions and as more people opt for an alternative form of transport in the form of bikes and scooters the industry's sales figures are set to rise in the months ahead. Government and its agencies must work with the MCI to ensure access to motorcycling if the personal mobility and environment benefits of motorcycles and scooters are to harnessed."