• Automotive charity asks the industry to get behind new virtual challenges - Formula Ben
• The first virtual challenge, Formula Ben Silverstone VGP, will raise vital funds for the charity
• Ben needs the industry’s support to help automotive people get back on track

Automotive industry charity, Ben, is launching its first ever series of virtual challenges, as part of Bring It On 4 Ben. The first of the charity’s virtual challenges to run this year, Formula Ben Silverstone VGP, starts on 2nd August and is inspired by the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

After the last few months of uncertainty, the Formula Ben Silverstone VGP will help automotive people get back on track, funding vital support which is needed now more than ever.

To take part, each participant needs to complete the length of the Grand Prix, a total of 190 miles, by exercising in their own way to raise vital funds for Ben. Participants choose how they complete the challenge, for example, by walking, cycling, running, swimming, or even by playing basketball, wrestling, trampolining – or a mixture of whatever they like! There is a whole list of activities to choose from so click here to find out more.

Participants have 8 weeks to complete the challenge which ends on 30th September. Those taking part will also be able to see their location on the Silverstone circuit and track their progress as they complete the 52 laps of the British Grand Prix.

Sign up for Formula Ben Silverstone VGP
To find out more and sign up, click here

Registration costs £15 per person and each participant will receive a Ben T-shirt. On registration, participants can download an app, link to their fitness tracking device and join the leaderboard for some healthy competition!

As well as raising vital funds to support automotive people, the Formula Ben Silverstone VGP also aims to help people improve their physical and mental health & wellbeing during this challenging time. In addition, taking part in the challenge offers people the opportunity to connect with others and be involved in something fun, while supporting Ben to help automotive people get back on track for good.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of Ben’s fundraising initiatives have been cancelled, including Ben Ball, leaving the charity with an anticipated £1m income shortfall this year. Therefore, this new approach to fundraising is Ben’s way of adapting to the situation, with more virtual fundraising events set to take place throughout 2020.

Matt Wigginton, Fundraising Director at Ben, said: “The whole team at Ben are incredibly excited to announce our new series of virtual fundraising events! In the current landscape, we had to adapt quickly and come up with new ways of fundraising because mass participation events can’t physically take place right now.

“So, Formula Ben Silverstone VGP is a fantastic way to have fun and raise money so we can continue providing life-changing support for automotive people - which is needed now more than ever! We’re supporting more and more people with their health and wellbeing during this challenging time, so we need to make sure we can help them get back on track, which we can only do by continuing to fundraise. 

“We hope you’ll be part of something amazing and Bring It On 4 Ben by getting involved! Thank you for your support and I can’t wait to see how you choose to complete Formula Ben Silverstone VGP.”

Less than a week after the Spanish Grand Prix, which took place last Sunday at Jerez Circuit, the Ducati Team is back once again at the Spanish race track for the second round of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship, the Grand Prix of Andalusia.

Andrea Dovizioso's third place last Sunday (his best result in MotoGP at Jerez) brought to five the third places obtained by Ducati on the Spanish circuit, while the only victory and pole position of the Borgo Panigale manufacturer in Andalusia date back to 2006 and 2003 respectively, both with Loris Capirossi.

After the podium of the rider from Forlì and the ninth place of Danilo Petrucci, the Italian team is ready to face another challenging weekend, with very similar conditions on the track, and the temperature of the asphalt that could again exceed 50 degrees. Thanks to the data collected last Sunday in the race, Dovizioso is confident that he can improve his performance and is aiming for another important result in the second Grand Prix of the season.

Danilo Petrucci, who last weekend was the protagonist of a difficult race due to the after-effects of the bad accident suffered in the pre-race tests, returns to the track intending to redeem himself. The rider from Terni, who boasts a fourth place in Jerez in 2018 with the Pramac Racing Team, is confident that he can fight for the top five positions on Sunday.

Andrea Dovizioso (#04 Ducati Team) – 3rd (16 points)
"After such an intense race weekend, I took advantage of these days to continue my rehabilitation after the collarbone surgery. Last Sunday's result was good, and we managed to get positive feedback from the first Grand Prix of the year. We arrive ready at the second race and, above all, knowing better the aspects that we will have to improve to get more speed. It will be important to continue the work in this way, continuing to accumulate the maximum points without making mistakes. Temperatures will once again be very high, and the race will be physically tough. I want to wish Marc, Alex and Cal a speedy recovery. I hope to see them again on the track soon."

Danilo Petrucci (#9 Ducati Team) – 9th (7 points)
"I can't wait to race again in Jerez. After the last two days of rest, I feel much better: I managed to solve the stomach issues and also my neck muscle is fine. I know we have the potential to fight for the positions that count: Dovizioso, Miller and Bagnaia have shown that, so my goal for this race will be to stay in the top five. Although it is not an ideal track for our bike, I am sure that without physical problems I will be able to improve my performance. I also hope that Marc, Alex and Cal can recover well from their injuries and get back on track very soon."

The Ducati Team will take to the track on Friday, 24th July for the first free practice session at 9:55 a.m. local time (GMT +2.00)

BREAKING NEWS

27th Annual Ace Cafe Reunion 4th, 5th, and 6th of September 2020.

It is with a heavy heart, we have decided that this year due to concerns and ongoing government advice regarding Covid-19, and always with your safety in mind, we are cancelling the Ride with the Rockers Brighton Burn Up on the 6th of September 2020.

Whilst devastated to cancel the event at Brighton for this year, all of us at Ace Cafe London intend to be open for all visitors on the weekend of 4th, 5th and 6th September. Hours to be confirmed.

It has to be said that this year we will not be in a position to deliver the Ace Cafe Reunion weekend in the same style, timetable, entertainment and spirit that we all have been accustomed to.

Please watch our social media for all updates regarding ACR 2020.

MADMAX Pizza official launch: Tuesday 21 July 2020, for prosecco and pizza at 12 noon
Mayor of Richmond Cllr Geoff Acton to officially open at 12.30pm
New adventure for record-breaking motorcyclist Zef Eisenberg
MADMAX record-breaking jet turbine motorbike will be on display

Zef Eisenberg has never been one to back down from a challenge. The founder of the MADMAX Race Team currently holds more than 50 British, World, ACU, FIM and Guinness speed records, and is the only person to break the 200mph barrier on sand with both a motorcycle and a car.

With lockdown having curtailed nearly all forms of racing and testing, he has diverted his energy to his next greatest passion food and in this case PIZZA, but no ordinary pizza, this will be MADMAX Pizza!

The first MADMAX Pizza restaurant will be hosting a launch event on Tuesday 21 July in Eisenberg’s hometown of Richmond in south-west London. The all-Italian team is supported by local celebrity Italian Chef Stefano Bergamin, creator of BACCO and head pizza chef Valentino (sorry not the Valentino Rossi) –who is a master of the Neapolitan thin-crust style, and who is passionate about delivering the best authentic Italian pizzas, using a traditional family recipe and fresh, home made dough and tomato sauces, made on the premises with the freshest ingredients.

As you’d expect from the man behind ‘Eisenberg Racing’ – a specialised engineering team that works with the best to develop some of the world’s most extreme and powerful motorbikes and cars – no stone is being left unturned in his quest for the perfect pizza. That ethos covers everything from super, fresh toppings, as well as the creation of an incredible gluten-free pizza base, a feat rarely achieved.

“We’ve proud of our experienced Italian pizza chef,” said Eisenberg, “and the same passion, quality and excellence will go into our food as goes into our racing and record-breaking. We’re using a real stone and real fire pizza oven, with a goal to make, ‘the best pizzas you’ve ever tasted, and once the model is perfected, we will look to roll out more stores”.

www.madmaxpizza.co.uk

OFFICIAL OPENING:

Tuesday 21 July 2020, 12 noon
Walk out of Richmond Station, turn right, 50 metres down is;
MADMAX Pizza - 7 Kew Rd, Richmond TW9 2ND

Are you considering buying a used motorbike? If so, you need to know the following five things.

The Bike Must Be Taxed Before You Can Ride it

Before you can ride your bike on the road, it must be taxed. To do that, you need the motorcycle’s reference number from the V5C registration certificate. The V5C must be in your name. You will also need to meet all other legal obligations before you are permitted to take your bike on the road. But once the bike is yours, you can spruce it up to suit your personal taste any way that you want. Perhaps you would like a respray, or maybe you would like to make it more personal by adding a private registration plate. 

The Bike Can Be Registered to You Online

When the seller of a used motorcycle has a V5C, he or she can register the vehicle to you online or by post. When the seller uses the online registration process, the DVLA will update the vehicle record immediately. The seller must then fill in the new keeper slip and give it to you. The original V5C must be destroyed. The DVLA will then send you a new V5C, in your name, within three to five days.   

The Bike Can Be Registered to You by Post

If the seller registers by post instead of online, the seller needs to complete section two of a new-style logbook, or section six if they have the older style. He or she, and you must sign the declaration in section eight of an older style logbook too. The seller must fill in the new keeper slip and give it to you, and send the V5C to the DVLA. You will receive a new V5C between two and four weeks thereafter. 

It Is Possible to Register a Bike without a Valid V5C

The DVLA advises you not to purchase a motorcycle when the seller does not have a V5C. However, if you do have a bike that does not have a V5C, you need to complete and submit form V62. You can also obtain it from any Post Office branch. Send the completed form to the DVLA with the new keeper slip that you have obtained from the motorcycle’s seller.

You Need to Check Whether the Bike Is Stolen

When you buy a used bike, it is not only important to ensure it has a valid V5C registration. It is also essential you check that the details of the bike and the seller match those on the document. Also make sure the engine and frame numbers match, and check the V5C includes a watermark to ensure it is a genuine document. Those checks will prevent you from buying a stolen bike. You can run an online check on the registration plate of a motorbike to discover whether it has been previously written off or stolen, or whether there is outstanding finance on it. 

For example, if you are considering a Kawasaki, you can use the Kawasaki VIN Decoder to access details about the bike’s history, such as theft records, accident damage, and ownership verification. Combining this with a registration check ensures you have all the information you need to make a secure and confident purchase.   

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