Ducati UK are pleased to announce the launch of 0% and low rate finance offers for both the Monster 696 and 796.

The Monster 696 and 796 are both now available with ABS and are the perfect choice for not only novices but also experienced riders looking for a stylish, iconic and yet practical bike for urban use.

The Monster 696 spearheads the Ducati UK’s learn to ride scheme due to its novice friendly 80hp engine, light clutch and low seat height and confidence inspiring handling. The 696 can be purchased on 0% finance over 3 years with a 50% deposit from as little as £95.05 per month.

The Monster 796 combines the user-friendliness of the 696 with the sports character of the 1100. Delivering 87hp, a dry weight of just 167kg (368lb) a single-sided swingarm perfectly balances lifestyle performance with everyday functionality to enhance the original Monster spirit. The 796 is also available on 0% finance over 3 years with a 50% deposit from as little as £105.88 per month.

0%, PCP and low rate finance packages are now available on the M696 / M796 (all variants) for the period up to 31st May 2012.

Last summer when I was at the Vosa Rejects Rally (Put on by the Yorkshire Trikers club) in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity, I was talking with one of the YAA fund raisers and he told me that all 18 air ambulances have to pay VAT on their fuel bills unlike the RNLI who get an exemption.

I was amazed that this was the case - one essential charity was charged 17.5% (now 20%) on their fuel bill and another is not. Here is a charity that is giving an essential free service and they have to pay vat on their fuel bills - the biggest cost to them after buying the helicopter!

What does this mean to the general public?

If you fund raise for the Air Ambulance charities a 5th of what you get will be given to the government, however if you fund raise for the RNLI they can use all your contributions for helping to save lives. The exemption was given to the RNLI in 1977 when we entered the Common Market as it was then and very few, if any, Air Ambulance charities were around at that time.

I started to research the issue on the internet and I contacted several Air Ambulance Charities, but it did not get picked up. I think because it had been tried before and would require a change in the VAT rules as these are governed by the EU. That means loads and loads of bureaucracy and it would also require all member states to agree an exemption. A lot of the EU countries fund their Air Ambulance services through governments and so would not be interested.

I had a few e-mails from my MEP and she suggested that as finance budgets at the time were being debated in Brussels I should try and get the government to request the exemption for Air Ambulance charities. At this time the Euro was falling through the floor and my letter to the treasury fell on deaf ears.

I had asked my MP for help, as whilst researching this issue I had seen a question to the Prime Minister (video on youtube, May 2011) that said basically there was nothing we could do as it was up to the EU. I thought if we have to take vat from these charities because the EU says we have to, what is stopping us giving these charities a grant to the same amount? It is our governments money (well ours actually) and if we want to give them a grant for the fantastic job they are doing why don’t we?

I contacted my MP and suggested this to him and asked him to table an Early Day Motion EDM 2709 and after another few weeks he said he would (Christmas intervened). The EDM was tabled on the 9th and on the 10th February 2012. It had been signed by 14 MP’s from across all parties. I had suggested that I would open a government E-Petition.  This went live on Friday 10/02/2012 http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/29349 and at just after midnight there was over 1,000 signatures. At the time of this article 5,311.

We need to get 100,000 signatures and then the government will make time for a full debate on the issue and hopefully common sense will prevail and something will be done to change this ridiculous situation.

Ken Sharpe

Apparently everyone’s views, especially those of older people, are being sought in a survey aimed at improving road safety.

In 2010, 106 people aged 65 and above were killed or seriously injured on our roads, including 26 pedestrians.
 
Department for the Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: ‘These are chilling statistics. We know that older people are one of the most at risk groups on our roads and that they are particularly vulnerable when out walking. Improving their safety is a priority for my Department and a key part of Northern Ireland’s Road Safety Strategy to 2020, which recognises that older people will form an increasing proportion of the population here in the years ahead."

Inviting all road users to fill in a survey which is available online or that can be posted out, the Minister added: "I value the views of the whole community and would encourage everyone, not only older people, to take part in this important research. This is part of an ongoing project which will help us to better understand the issues involved and develop new ways to tackle them."
 
The survey can be completed by people of all ages and the questions will be automatically tailored to suit your age range. However, although the questions are designed to help find out about the behaviours and attitudes of road users as drivers, passengers, pedestrians or cyclists, you will note there is no mention of motorcyclists or any derivation of two wheels – scooterists or three wheels – Trike Riders.
 
At Right To Ride we are sure there is no conspiracy to exclude riders, because the content of the survey and its aims to investigate the main causes of, and factors contributing to, road collisions involving older people are more important.

Right To Rides, Trevor Baird, said, “The questions in the survey ask your views on, assessment to drive at 70+ years, a section for Older Drivers (60 years +) which goes in-depth into ability and issues for those over 60+ as a car diver, a pedestrian, a cyclists, Public Transport but not motorcyclists.”
 
However the survey does ask your views on your experience of older drivers and the data may also be used in a wider European study (the 'SaMERU' – Safer Mobility for Elderly Road Users - Project) into improving road safety of older people.
 
Like most “good” surveys at the end you can leave, “any additional comments including any suggestions on how the road safety of older people could be improved”.
 
At Right To Ride however, we are sure that riders will comment how disappointing it is that motorcycles - scooters or mopeds as motorised transport are not included in the survey and take the opportunity to comment as a 60+ rider or as a younger rider, on the issues.
 
The survey will run until the end of February and can be filled in at the following link and should take no longer than 10 minutes to complete or you can request for it can be posted out to you:

Road safety survey – SurveyMonkey website http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DOE_Older_Road_Users
 
Original Source:

Double TT winner Cameron Donald has confirmed that he'll be contesting the new Lightweight TT in June this year.

The Isle of Man TT will be the only event where Donald will race in the class and the 34-year old will ride a high-spec ER6 Kawasaki for Mick Charnock's DC Coldplaning team in the 3-lap Lightweight TT, which will take place on the final Friday of race week.

Charnock and Donald have a successful history together on the Isle of Man having joined forces back in 2005 when the Australian made his TT debut. He went on to take 11th and 16th in the two Supersport TT Races that year and picked up the coveted Newcomer's Trophy in the process.

Cameron has since gone on to become one of the TT's star performers, winning the 2008 Superbike and Superstock Races. He has also recorded a further four podium positions including the runner-up slot in last year's Dainese Superbike Race.
He is expected to be one of several previous TT winners making his debut in the new class with further announcements due on the line up once entries have closed at the end of February.

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government, commented:
"We've already had a great reaction to the Supertwin class and a number of the leading teams and riders have confirmed including a few surprises. It's going to be a very competitive race and represents something different for the fans this year."

The Honda TT Legends team has successfully completed a Dunlop tyre test at the Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia in preparation for the 2012 Endurance World Championship, which kicks off in April with the Bol d’Or 24-hour.

The three-day test was the first official outing for new signing Gary Johnson, who will contest in the EWC alongside John McGuinness, Cameron Donald and Simon Andrews. Donald and Andrews – who are both recovering from injury – did not attend.
 
McGuinness and Johnson put in over 350 laps and covered almost 2,000km as the team trialled a variety of Dunlop tyre compounds in the intense Malaysian heat. They left the Sepang circuit yesterday in a positive mood having achieved all the agreed objectives.
 
Neil Tuxworth – team manager; The three-day test has been very successful as we accomplished all the goals agreed with Dunlop beforehand. We certainly found some tyres that will not only work well in hot weather, which was the main objective of the test, but will also be beneficial for other races this year.

John McGuinness; The test has been terrific to be honest. I’ve never ridden such a long distance in heat like this but it’s so good to be back on the bike and blowing the cobwebs away. We’ve done a huge amount of work in just three days. We went though a lot of compounds and found some really good set ups on the front and rear so it’s been very positive. I’m  really looking forward to the season now and can’t wait to get going on the 2012 Fireblade.
 
Gary Johnson; This has been a great first test. I’ve gained a lot of experience and lost a lot of sweat – it was so hot! I’m really pleased that we got so many laps in and over the three days we have made some great progress on both the front and rear tyres. This was my first test with Honda TT Legends and it all went like clockwork. The crew works so well together and it means I can concentrate fully on my job on the bike.

2012 Endurance World Championship calendar

14 April - Bol d'Or 24-hour, France
24 June - Doha 8-hour, Qatar
29 July - Suzuka 8-hour, Japan
11 August - Oschersleben, Germany
8 September - Le Mans 24-hour, France