Now in its 50^th year, delegates to the bmf’s AGM on Saturday heard that while the bmf finds itself operating in difficult times, the structure is sound and measures are now in place for a bright future.

Held at the Burton Caribbean Association, Burton-On-Trent, chairman Anna Zee said of all her five years in the job, this year had been the most difficult, but she added, the bmf had an important role to play in fighting for rider’s rights and this must continue. She said that her job, and that of the team, had been primarily to ensure that the bmf was fit for that purpose.

While not standing for re-election, Anna nevertheless said she would stay on to help the bmf implement the action plan that was announced earlier in the year; streamlining operations, outsourcing some administration and using the best technology in order to concentrate on the bmf’s primary purpose of representing the road-riding motorcyclist.

On this theme, Chris Hodder, the bmf’s Government Relations Executive and Director of Lobbying for FEMA, (the Federation on European Motorcyclists), outlined a busy year of activities from work on the Riders are Voters campaign, through representations on the driving licence test fiasco to the latest European Framework Directive.

On membership, Member Services Director Peter Laidlaw said membership was holding steady at nearly 80,000 members and plans were in place to increase it still further, but the bmf, like many similar organisations, cannot operate on membership income alone and that is why the bmf’s portfolio of events is so important to its operations.

When it came to the events report, Martin Chick, MD of the Mulberry Group, the bmf’s event organisers, admitted that 2010 had been a very steep learning curve. He had come in at a time when it was acknowledged that bmf events had lost a lot of their originality and sparkle and stabilising the situation, let alone developing the events, had been difficult.

This had not been helped by bad weather at the Kelso and Tailend shows he said, but despite these downsides, the revitalised shows had been generally well received by the public and traders alike. Martin added that he had also been encouraged by the support that he had had from bmf marshals and the trade. “People want to us to succeed, the bmf’s brand is sound, we’ve learnt a lot and we are now looking forward to 2011” he said. 

Outgoing director of Public Relations and Communications Dorian Burrows said that modern methods of communication were key to the bmf’s future and outlined the steps taken for a new website, a new magazine and a new platform for email communications with members.

www.maguk.org

Cologne, Germany - 5 October 2010

With an impressive exhibition presence of approximately 400m2, stand D-040 in hall 8 of Cologne's INTERMOT 2010 show now plays host to exciting new arrivals in the Superbike family in addition to new colours and updates for both the Streetfighter and Monster range. With new models, accessories and apparel, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer from Bologna is showing a wide range of new 2011 products at this major international show.

“We decided to consolidate our presence here in Cologne because we believe in the importance of this exhibition event, which opens the European motor show season," stated Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding, during the opening press conference. "Our presence at the show is proof of our commitment to customers in Germany and northern Europe, and underlines our aim to expand in Germany, which is the second most important market in Europe for Ducati. For this reason we decided to preview here some of the new products scheduled for 2011, such as the new additions to the Superbike family with the 848EVO and 1198 SP, and new liveries for the Monster and Streetfighter models.”

Gabriele Del Torchio also commented on the results of the first eight months of 2010: “Despite a shrinking global motorcycle market, we have used Ducati’s product policy and the quality of its distribution network to improve both our market share, now at 8.5%, and also to increase our sales by 5% compared to this period 2009.”

A huge attendance is expected at the German show and visitors to the Ducati stand are sure to admire the innovative and ground-breaking Multistrada 1200, which made an immediate impact on the market upon debut in March 2010. The current model will not undergo any changes for 2011, confirming its proven design and high standard of quality. INTERMOT is also the first European event to celebrate the Multistrada's victory at the “Pike’s Peak International Hillclimb”, the famous annual race held high in the Colorado mountains, where riders have to quickly adapt to changing road surfaces. The Multistrada on which American, Greg Tracy, took victory has been specially flown in to Cologne from the US so that fans can share in this major celebration and see further proof of the Multistrada 1200’s incredible versatility.

Important additions to the Ducati Superbike family are on show in an exclusive preview of the 2011 range, including the new 848EVO which boasts 140hp and is equipped with Brembo Monobloc callipers and steering damper. The performance-enhanced model celebrates the INTERMOT show by revealing a stunning new “arctic white” livery with sporty red wheels and red frame.

The standard 1198 is also ready to satisfy an ever more demanding market, with the addition of Ducati Traction Control (DTC), the Ducati Data Analyser (DDA) and the brand new Ducati Quick Shift (DQS) fitted as standard equipment on all versions. For 2011, the improved 1198 is joined by the exciting new 1198 SP, which enhances the previous 'S' version by rolling out equipped with DTC, DQS, DDA, Ohlins TTX rear suspension, slipper clutch and aluminium fuel tank in addition to the usual Ohlins front suspension, forged Marchesini wheels and lightweight carbon fibre components.
 
The 2011 Streetfighter is presented with a new arctic white colour scheme while the Streetfighter S looks impressive in its new colour schemes of red with red frame or diamond black with racing black frame, both with black wheels. A black radiator cover on all versions completes the Streetfighter's aesthetic updates.

Enhanced comfort and safety, in addition to new colour schemes, headline the main updates to Ducati's naked icon, the Monster. The entry level 696 gets new 43mm Marzocchi forks and enhanced ergonomics, including 20mm higher handlebars and a new rear sub-frame designed to accept the user-friendly passenger grab-rail kit available as a Ducati Performance accessory. The Monster 696 presents the two new colour schemes of “dark stealth” and “stone white”, perfectly complementing the new matte chrome handlebar finish. The Monster 796, which was launched in April 2010 as an early entry model year 2011, also adopts Marzocchi front suspension and continues its incredible success. Along with the Monster 1100, the 696 and 796 complete the 2011 range, confirming the family's status as a style and design icon, backed-up by 17 years of Ducati Monster heritage.

INTERMOTwill be open to the public until Sunday, 10 October.

Ducati will also be displaying these new additions in the UK during Motorcycle Live at the National Exhibition Centre which runs from the 27th November until the 5th December.