The impressive speed demonstrated in the first part of the race, as the second best race fast lap will testify, is the umpteenth positive sign for Aleix and Aprilia. During a race which was, on average, faster than the one last week, the RS-GP confirmed its potential and, in Aleix’s able hands, crossed the finish line with an even narrower gap behind the leader (5.382 seconds). Only some difficulties with top speed which prevented the possibility of overtaking forced Espargaró to what was, in any case, a brilliant top-10 finish. This is a result that lets him leave Qatar in eighth place for the riders championship, whereas Aprilia is fourth in the manufacturer championship.

Lorenzo Savadori, although still far from his teammate’s performance, demonstrated a decidedly more competitive pace than last week. The reference gap behind the winner drops to around 10 seconds, whereas the Italian rider’s experience increases with the demanding MotoGP bike.

ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"I cannot be happy with my position because I believe we deserved better. The new RS-GP works well. Acceleration is spectacular and I'm able to push in braking. The only place we suffered today was on the straight. When I was behind the Ducatis, I had more grip than they did, but I am unable to overtake them. It’s a pity, but from what I could see in these two races, when we get to the European circuits, I'm sure we’ll be able to have some fun."

LORENZO SAVADORI
"I am looking at the positive sides of this race. My shoulder, although not perfect, is improving constantly, and I should be able to forget about that problem when we arrive in Portimão. I was about 10 seconds faster than last Sunday, even with the fact that I had to do a little fuel saving on the last 5 laps. There is still a lot of work to do, but I can’t wait to race in Portimão, a track that I know well, and with the experience I’ve gained from this season start."

THE SECOND ROW SLIPS THROUGH HIS FINGERS BY 51 THOUSANDTHS BUT QUALIFIERS ARE GOOD FOR ALEIX IN QATAR

As always in MotoGP, the numbers are the only objective value on which to base any analysis. And in the case of Aleix and his Aprilia, the results are positive all around. Despite a slower track than last week, with slightly unfavourable grip conditions, Aleix maintained good consistency in terms of pace which, thanks to the times he did yesterday, meant he could afford to concentrate his work on tomorrow’s 22 laps. Things got off on the right track straight away in qualifying, with Aleix putting an outstanding time on the boards on his first try. With the second new tyre, a few small mistakes kept him from taking home a spot on the second row which seemed well within his potential, slipping through his fingers under the chequered flag by just 51 thousandths. The Spanish rider will start from the seventh spot on the grid tomorrow.

Lorenzo Savadori is still struggling, especially on his time attacks. Penalised by his unfamiliarity with the new bike and the category, Lorenzo still demonstrated progress. Especially in terms of pace, as shown by his best time in FP4 (1'56.421), more than three tenths faster than his times here a week ago.


ALEIX ESPARGARO'
"I am generally pleased with the way we worked this weekend. In spite of a rather different track from last week, with less grip, I feel, if it’s possible, even more comfortable astride the RS-GP. I don’t know what to expect from the race, but we’ll be in the mix. Our pace has been consistently in line with the leading group. The only slightly disappointing thing is not having done better in qualifying. I exploited the first tyre well, but with the second, I made a few mistakes and it wasn’t the lap I wanted."

LORENZO SAVADORI
"The thing that caused me the most problems, especially today, was the wind. The track was in very complicated conditions and in qualifying, for example, I was on a good time until the third sector but then I lost half a second in the last few fast corners. I still don't have full confidence with the bike and tyres and having a variable like the wind doesn't help. Tomorrow in the race I hope the shoulder will respond better than last week and allow me to maintain my pace".

We have included since the launch of the website in 2009, Biker Friendly Cafes, Places and meets, where the list is mainly put together from visitor recommendations, with the owners confirming the details are correct.

We want our visitors to know we have looked at every place included, to see if we would ride there, park up and go inside. This is based on experience of travelling a distance to visit a so-called Biker Friendly cafe as part of a group. The cafe did not have parking at the venue and was actually in a paid for car park out of sight of the cafe. Half of group would not leave their beloved Motorcycles - even for a much needed cuppa!

We are aware that while a place MAY be Biker Friendly, they may not want to promote themselves as being this way, so we ask owners to clarify before they are included. IF we feel a place does not have sufficient parking on-site and/or nearby, we may choose to not include a place.

Attention Owners - Due to the large amount of places we include on THE BIKER GUIDE and as inclusion is predominately free, we need the owners of places to confirm the information we have is correct, by simply sending their information (name, address and bike related) via the form for inclusion, where you can confirm you are the owner. 

During the Covid-19 pandemic we will continue to publish the website and all information previously included for Biker Friendly Cafes and Meets. Due to the large amount of cafes closed and/or with limted opening hours and constrictions, we ask you to check with the cafe before travel.

The Highway Code contains a section dedicated to a class of road users described as 'vulnerable.' Vulnerable road users are 'Road users requiring extra care.'

Rule 204 defines the most vulnerable road users as 'pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.'

The aim of the rules relating to this group of road users is to warn motorists of the need to take extra special care in situations in which they encounter or may encounter any of the specified group members. Motorists should exercise caution to be alive to the possibility of motorcycles:

· Coming out of junctions

· At roundabouts

· Overtaking (the motorist)

· Filtering through traffic

· Before the motorist emerges from a junction

· When the motorist is turning off the road

· When changing direction or lanes

The rules also advise motorists to:

· Check mirrors and blind spots

· Give plenty of room to motorcyclists when passing them and on uneven, oily or wet roads or those full of potholes or where there are other obstacles such as drain covers.

We can't fault the aims of the Highway Code. However, something isn't working. Otherwise, motorcyclists would not continue to have the highest casualty rates per mile travelled of all road users in the UK.

Why are more motorcyclists killed or injured (per mile travelled) in road traffic accidents than any other road user type?

1. Bikers don't benefit from the protection afforded to those who travel in motor vehicles.

2. Whilst bikers themselves are vulnerable road users, their mode of transport is more powerful than any other. Most bikes are more powerful than the majority of cars. Nevertheless, the bike rider's personal vulnerability is the same as that of cyclists and pedestrians. Accordingly, road traffic accidents involving motorcyclists carry a high likelihood of serious injury to the rider.

3. In 2017, RoSPA, the road safety charity, produced a research paper that drew on other, in-depth studies into motorcycle accidents. The research paper concluded motorcycle accidents have different 'characteristics' to those involving other road users. Motorcycle accidents are likely to include, amongst their causes:

a) failure to give way at road junctions (by motorists)

b) loss of control (by motorcyclists) on bends

c) overtaking manoeuvres (by a motorcyclist)

What are the most common types of motorcycle accident?

1. The biker is usually at fault

· Losing control on bends (particularly on country roads). Excess speed is often a significant factor in this type of accident
· Riding too fast, losing control and colliding with traffic bollards and other road fixures
· Switching lanes when unsafe to do so.
· Rider error
· Overtaking other vehicles
· Drink or drug influence

2. The motorist is most commonly at fault

· Failing to give way at a road junction
· Moving out from a line of stationary traffic into the path of an overtaking motorcycle
· Changing lanes
· Filtering
· Misjudging riders speed
· Motorist running into the back of a stationary motorcycle
· Dooring – driver or passenger of a motor vehicle opening their door into the path of a passing motorcycle
· Motorist failing to leave sufficient space to overtake motorcyclist safely.

Other causes of motorcycle accidents are:

· Weather conditions – which party is to blame for an accident between a motorist and a biker in lousy weather-will depend on the accident's particular circumstances. Going too fast for the conditions is often a factor.
· Potholes or oil leaks – again, much will depend on the individual circumstances of the incident.

Who's to blame for the majority of motorcycle accidents?   

In-depth studies of motorcycle accidents suggest that motorists are to blame for over 70% of road traffic accidents involving motor vehicles and motorcyclists. Most motorcycle accidents occur at road junctions.

Should you get injured in a motorcycle accident, whatever the circumstances, it's a sensible idea to contact an experienced No Win, No Fee, personal injury solicitor who has expertise in motorcycle accident claims. They will be able to advise you on whether you have reasonable prospects of winning a claim if you decide to bring one against the other motorist involved (or the local council or highway authority in the case of a pothole claim).

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