Bradford biker Chris Eden has issued an invite to all Yorkshire motorcyclists to join the 2013 Ride of Honour a mass motorcycle ride in aid of military charities.

The 55-mile Sunday ride out will take place on September 22nd, leaving Squires Café at Sherburn-in-Elmet at 11am to arrive in Catterick Garrison in time for lunch.

There, they are being hosted by Help for Heroes northern Rehabilitation Centre, Phoenix House, which the riders will have the opportunity to look around before setting off home.

It’s the third year in succession that Chris, an HGV technician, has organised the fundraising event. To date, it has raised £13,500, which has been shared out between Help for Heroes, the Black Rat Fund and SOS,this years ride is sponsored by Bike Tyres Leeds and Scorpion Exhausts UK.

“I feel very strongly about what our servicemen and women do and this is my way of helping and supporting them,” said the 40-year-old.

Money is raised through the £15 participation fee, in return for which the bikers receive a commemorative T-shirt. Pillion riders are free.

Last year, the Ride of Honour comprised 750 bikes and trikes from all over Yorkshire, Humberside, Lancashire and the North East and Chris is hoping for the same number – if not more – this year.

Phoenix House Manager, Mo Usman, said he was delighted by the show of support from the biking fraternity.

“Their monetary donation is, of course, very welcome and will be invested well in our work to provide direct, practical assistance by funding projects and individual support that make a real difference throughout the life of wounded servicemen and women, veterans and their families,” said Mo.

“But we are aware that many bikers are ex servicemen themselves and, equally important to us, is the role those who visit Phoenix House can play in spreading the word about what we do so that no one who needs help slips through the net. We are here to assist veterans, however long ago they were discharged.”

Anyone interested in joining The Ride of Honour to Catterick needs to register in advance at www.rideofhonour.com. All those who register will go into a prize draw to win a pair of Michelin tyres worth up to £240.

Three time motorcycle Grand Prix World Champion Freddie Spencer is the latest star name to be added to a glittering cast list for the inaugural Classic TT Races due to be held in August this year.

The American will ride his 1987 500cc, 3 Cylinder Rothmans Honda that he is currently parading in Europe at the Festival of Jurby on the 25th August and again in the Classic Racer Magazine Lap of Honour on Monday 26th August.

He will also be a guest in the official VIP Hospitality Club and will host a table at the Classic TT Legends Dinner on the evening of Sunday 25th August.

'Fast Freddie' first came to prominence in 1978, winning the 250cc US National Road Racing Championship and gained international recognition at the 1980 U.S. versus Britain Trans-Atlantic Match races when he won two legs, defeating World Champions Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene in the process.

He was promoted to Honda's Grand Prix team in 1982 and in 1983 he won his first 500cc World Championship at the age of 21, becoming the youngest person to win the title, a distinction previously held by Mike Hailwood.

The 1983 season is remembered as one of the most dramatic title chases in the history of Grand Prix racing; Honda's Spencer and Yamaha's Kenny Roberts fighting for the points lead throughout the championship with each of them earning six victories. The season culminated at the penultimate round in Sweden when Roberts ran off the track on the last lap leaving Spencer to sprint to the finish line and victory. Roberts won the last race but Spencer finished second, securing his first world title by two points.

Teething problems with Honda's radically new V4 NSR500 coupled with injuries from crashes hindered Spencer's title defense in 1984 but 1985 proved to be an historic year for him. He won both the 250cc and 500cc Grand Prix World Championships, the last rider to achieve such a feat. His career was cut short by wrist injuries and he retired from Grand Prix racing at the beginning of 1988.

Commenting on his appearance at this year's Classic TT he said: "The Isle of Man TT is one of the great event's in motorsport and to get the chance to be involved in the inaugural Classic TT is a real honour. I'm really looking forward to experiencing the place where so many great names have competed and to meeting the fans."

Other legendary names from the past already confirmed to attend the Classic TT include Giacomo Agostini, Phil Read, Mick Grant, Phillip McCallen, Kork Ballington and Steve Baker.

To book tickets for the Classic TT Legends Dinner, Platinum or VIP Hospitality places or Grandstand tickets for the Classic TT Races go to www.iomtt.com or contact Duke Marketing on +44 (0) 1624 640 000.

TT fans will get the chance to meet some of the greatest names in Motorcycling history at the 'Classic TT Heroes Dinner’ on Sunday 25th August during this year's inaugural Classic TT Races event.

The evening will take place in the prestigious new TT 'VIP Club' facility, situated at the heart of the race paddock. It will be 'sandwiched' between the two race days for what is already building up to be the World's leading Classic motorcycle race meeting.

With a plethora of World Champions, national champions and a stunning line up of TT riders past and present with over a hundred race victories and numerous podiums, it promises to be an unforgettable and exclusive evening.

The 'Who's Who' of motorcycle racing includes modern TT stars John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Ian Lougher, Bruce Anstey, Dave Molyneux, Conor Cummins, Cameron Donald, James Hillier, Michael and William Dunlop and Gary Johnson - all of whom raced at this year's TT.

Joining them will be some of the most successful Mountain Course competitors of yesteryear including Mick Grant, Phil McCallen, Brian Reid, Ryan Farquhar and Phil Read while Italian legend Giacomo Agostini, fresh from his parade lap with John McGuinness recreating the unforgettable '67 Senior TT duel with Mike Hailwood, will also be at the event.

Other World champions due to appear include four time GP title winner Kork Ballington, American Freddie Spencer, Venezuelan Carlos Lavardo, the double 250cc title winner, Steve Baker, the first American to win a road racing world championship and Australian Kel Carruthers, a double Lightweight TT Race winner including his victorious 1969 World Championship winning year.

Former British and World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson will be compering the evening and interviewing each of the stars during the evening. Every table will be hosted by one of the legendary names so you'll also get the chance to ask your own questions and get memorabilia personally autographed. The riders will be switching tables after each of the three courses so you'll get your own experience and interview with many of the greatest names in racing history.

Tickets are £100 each plus VAT which includes a three-course meal and complementary, limited edition gift or you can block book tables of eight for £800 plus VAT. Tickets are available on the official www.iomtt.com website or by phoning Duke Marketing on +44 (0) 1624 640 000.

The latest Department for Transport road casualty statistics released today show a decrease in road casualty figures, the lowest number since records began in 1926.
 
• The number of people killed in road accidents reported to the police decreased to 1,754 in 2012 from 1,901 in 2011 (a fall of 8%).
• The number of people seriously injured decreased by 0.4% to 23,039 in 2012 from 23,122 in 2011. The total number of casualties in road accidents reported to the police in 2012 was 195,723, down 4% from the 2011 total.
• Total reported child causalities (ages 0-15) fell by 11% to 17,251 in 2012.
• The number of children killed or seriously injured also fell, decreasing by 6% to 2,272 in 2012 from 2,412 in 2011.
• There were 420 pedestrian deaths, 7 per cent fewer than in 2011.
• The number of cyclists killed rose by 10 per cent from 107 in 2011 to 118 in 2012.
• The number of car occupant fatalities in 2012 decreased to 801, down 9 per cent compared with 2011. The number of seriously injured car occupants in accidents reported to the police fell by 1 per cent to 8,232. Total reported casualties among car users were 119,708, 4 per cent fewer than 2011.
• The number of motorcycle users killed fell by 9 per cent from 362 in 2011 to 328 in 2012. The number of users reported as seriously injured decreased by 5 per cent to 5,000. Total reported motorcycle user casualties decreased by 4 per cent to 19,310 in 2012. Motorcycle traffic decreased by 2 per cent over the same period.  

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “IAM welcomes a return to the long-term improvements in road safety that the UK has been rightly recognised for. 

Last year was a clear warning for government that complacency in road safety cost lives.”   “The IAM has always warned that failing to match investment in segregated facilities with the growing numbers of cyclists would lead to an increase in death and serious injury and this worrying trend continues.  A ten per cent increase in cycling deaths in a year when the weather suppressed cycling trips is a real red danger signal that simply cannot be ignored.”  

www.iam.org.uk

A ground-breaking new survey has shown a staggering increase in the number of men experiencing symptoms traditionally associated with a mid-life crisis, including significant numbers of young men. The study also highlights that these men are still turning to the ‘classic techniques’ used for coping at such a time. 

The study was commissioned by Bennetts, the UK’s No.1 Bike Insurance Specialist, to understand whether the belief that men between 40 and 55 years old buy a motorbike to cope with a mid-life crisis, remains true or not. 

The research amongst over 1,000 British men* showed that six out of every ten men aged between 40 and 55, the age traditionally most associated with the mid-life crisis, now say they have had or are currently experiencing a mid-life crisis. Responses showed that those men find it difficult to understand and hard to handle, with friends and family being confused and showing limited support.     

These symptoms, however, are no longer reserved for this age group. The majority of men between 16 and 70 years old now report a life-review or transition experiences with nearly three quarters (73%) currently being or having recently been concerned with the direction of their life. Interestingly, more young men have recently asked themselves “where am I going with my life?” “what are my goals?” and “should I take more risks?” than those aged between 40 and 55.

Perhaps most strikingly the research by Bennetts reveals that, while more men are experiencing a mid-life crisis and at different ages, classic techniques for coping are still as popular as ever. Buying a car or motorbike still tops the list alongside changing job, moving house and forming a new relationship.

In fact, a third (30%) of motorcycle owners who are going through or have been through a mid-life crisis got into bikes specifically to cope. Bikers come out of the study exceptionally well, reporting the greatest success in managing their mid-life crisis adaptively, rather than being in denial. Over half felt they had dealt with their mid-life crisis positively, the top response.

Only 13% of the bikers said they had not yet overcome their mid-life crisis and they reported the fewest ‘changed relationships’ and the most ‘involved partners’, signifying that they maintained better relationships with their partners compared to men adopting different coping mechanisms.

Bennetts’ customer data shows that sports bikes are currently the biggest purchase of choice among men from the ages of 16 to 54, whilst from 55 upwards the roadster – a more relaxed and comfortable bike to cruise on - appears to become a more popular buy.   

Speaking about the research findings, Dr Derek Milne, author of ‘Coping with a Mid-Life Crisis’, commented: “These findings suggest that British men are struggling more than ever to cope with modern life. I find it heartening that bikers, often portrayed as somewhat solitary and anti-social, seemed to become more sociable through biking, helping them to deal with their mid-life crises.”

Darren Gough, the England cricket legend and Bennetts biking ambassador, who turned to motorcycling after retiring from first-class cricket in his mid-thirties, said: “You often hear about sports players finding it tough to call it a day. Finding something to replace the kick you get by taking a wicket and playing to a packed Lord’s is not easy. Learning to ride and buying an adventure motorbike was exciting as is the rush of freedom you get when hitting the open road for a few hours.” 

Hannah Squirrell, Associate Director, Bennetts, added: “I suspect a lot of men who dream about owning a motorcycle will be pleased to see motorbiking up there on the list of ways to deal with a mid-life crisis. If your partner questions whether you should be investing in a new bike, ‘saving or improving your relationship’ is a pretty strong reason to justify the expense!”

For more information about Bennetts, go to www.bennetts.co.uk

* The research by Bennetts was carried out online by Opinion Matters between the 5th and 14th June, 2013 amongst a panel resulting in 1,001 men aged between 16 and 70.