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The tragic death of Sapper Bradley Parks in 2019 has been the inspiration for several fundraising events for SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity and the latest has been with motorcycle group 365 Warriors. More than £660 raised by 365 Warriors will go to the Staffordshire branch of SSAFA. 
Bradley served in 26 Engineer Regiment, part of the Royal Engineers, based in Tidworth and was diagnosed with bipolar in April 2019, just three months before he took his life. He was in the process of leaving the Army after four years’ service and would have been discharged in February 2020.
John and Rachel Parks – Bradley’s parents – have been raising awareness about mental health and help others who are suffering by supporting SSAFA. Their good friends Mark Pearman and Lydia Holmes, who run 365 Warriors, have supported them in this and with earlier two-wheeled fundraising activities.
Lydia said that 365 Warriors took groups of bikers out on rideouts into the Peak District and surrounding areas, charging £5 per bike, with many donating more. Mark and Lydia, who run M & L Detailing, gave £5 to SSAFA from each bike cleaned. They also held a fun day at a local pub and an auction on Facebook, and sold bike decals and cups, all adding to the generous tally.
Explaining further 365 Warriors’ reason for supporting SSAFA in Bradley’s name, Lydia said: “We’re a charity bike group, and we raise money for good causes by doing what we love: riding our motorbikes, because bikes are our passion and our life.”
Anne MacKinnon, Branch Secretary of SSAFA Staffordshire, added: “The tragic death of Bradley, a young man who became a Sapper to serve his country, has touched the hearts of many in the Forces family, and outside it, around the country. On behalf of SSAFA Staffordshire, I am extremely grateful to Lydia and Mark, 365 Warriors, and all those bikers and others who supported this fundraising drive in Bradley’s name.”
To find out more about SSAFA and the support it provides, visit ssafa.org.uk
SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, from Second World War veterans to young men and women who have served in more recent conflicts, and their families. The SSAFA family includes the Military Wives Choirs, both an independent charity and a subsidiary of SSAFA, which supports women across the military community. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us. ssafa.org.uk
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BeMoto insurance launches £35,000 BeLotto prize draw 
* Free to enter prize draw
* Win a Ducati Panigale V4 S
* Scoop a £10,000 Prize Pot as well
* BeMoto insurance customers get automatic entry
BeMoto, the multibike and modified motorbike insurance specialists, have launched BeLotto: a free to enter competition to win a Ducati Panigale V4 S along with a £10,000 prize pot of motorcycling goodies.
Obtaining an entry into the BeMoto BeLotto is incredibly simple: rewarding the loyalty for riders who are insured through BeMoto with a single Motorcycle, Race Van, Quad, Trike or Buggy policy live on April 18, 2022 (the closing date of the draw), they will automatically be entered with two tickets. Further improving the chance to win is that every additional bike insurance in a Multibike road insurance package along with any live SORN, Annual Travel or GAP Insurance Policy on the closing date also counts for an additional two entries per policy.
For those who aren’t insured with BeMoto but desperately want to win this incredible prize package, they can gain an entry into BeLotto by filling out a short and simple online form at www.bemoto.uk/belotto where the full terms and conditions can also be found.
The main prize of a Ducati Panigale V4 S (£25,000) - acquired from Seastar Superbikes in Norwich - is arguably one of the finest sportsbikes ever built; the 211bhp V4 engine is wrapped in a race-winning chassis and beautiful bodywork, tamed by an incredible package of electronics (and wings) to help try to keep both wheels on the floor and all that performance getting to the ground.
Included within the BeLotto Prize Pot is £10,000 worth of motorcycling clothing, accessories, security products and much more. Already ‘in the pot’ are £1200 worth of R&G styling and protection products for the bike, a top of the range Shoei X-Spirit III helmet, a Helite Turtle 2 Air Bag Vest, a Guardsman Barrier from Image4Security, an Innovv motorcycle dash cam, a pair of Knox Handroid gloves, Ultimate custom motorcycle ear plugs, a Titan motorcycle shelter, BeMoto insurance for the bike up to a value of £1000, and much more.
The prize pot is being added to each week, so people are urged to keep checking back to the BeLotto page and BeMoto’s social media to see what further incredible items are being added to the mix.
The BeLotto prize draw closes on April 18, 2022, and the winner will be announced on the BeMoto Facebook page.
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If your motorcycle didn’t have an air filter, dust, dirt and all other airborne contaminants would be able to get into the engine. This would build up and eventually put a huge strain on the motor’s components, wearing down the pistons and cylinder walls. If the piston rings get damaged, gases may be able to escape from the combustion chamber, significantly impacting the engine’s performance.
In short, an effective filter is critical for a healthy motor. However, over time, the filter itself may become clogged with contaminants, which will prevent clean air from getting into the engine and reduce the vehicle’s power and fuel efficiency. This is why it is important to change it at recommended intervals.
Types of air filters
Material
Most air filters are made from paper or cellulose, foam, or an oil-coated cotton material. The quality of the component’s materials and its design ultimately determine its capacity to hold contaminants.
Paper-based air filters are very common as they are cheap to produce and easy to dispose of. However, this may also be a disadvantage because unlike some other components, the part cannot be cleaned or reused once it gets too dirty. They look fairly similar to the filters used in coffee machines, with small pores for trapping fine particles. The filtration element is pleated to increase its holding capacity and allow more air to flow through.
Cotton filtration components are usually the most expensive parts available due to their breathability and durability. They are typically used on high-performance bikes as they provide high-quality filtration at a rapid rate. Although the gauze is quite porous, the oil traps and prevents the contaminants in the air from passing through. The main advantage of these filters is that they can be reused multiple times. You may, however, have to purchase an additional cleaning and re-oiling kit.
Also known as depth filters, they are often used for off-road vehicles or very dusty environments due to their ability to block out contaminants. Many of them are also saturated in oil to trap dirt and grime. They can last a long time but they require regular cleaning and oiling to function.
Manufacturer
You should also consider the brand and production quality of the product when looking for an aftermarket replacement. It is advisable to only select products from trusted manufacturers, such as K&N, Maxima or MUYI. K&N is probably the most well-known brand in Europe as it is an industry leader in automotive filtration technology.
Design
Some air filters are intelligently designed to increase the engine’s horsepower. Your driving habits and environment should be taken into account when making a selection. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is therefore important to check the compatibility of the part with your motorbike. For example, the K&N YA-6098 air filter is oval shaped and designed specifically for Yamaha FZS600 Fazer 600 bikes. 
When to change your motorbike’s air filter
According to the majority of recommendations, you should replace or clean your air filter once every 10,000 to 15,000 miles or once per year. However, if you are using a component made from paper and you regularly drive on dusty roads, it may be a good idea to replace it as often as every 6,000 miles to maintain the engine’s performance.
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A whopping 800 pages of inspiration for motorcycle travels - that‘s the Touratech catalogue for the 2022/23 season. Whether it‘s high-quality components to upgrade your suspension, luggage systems in aluminium or waterproof textile, ultrarugged protectors, a comfort seat, an aerodynamically shaped windscreen or a trail-proof mount for your navigation system: everything adventure riders require to customise their machine can be found in the current Touratech catalogue. And of course in proven top quality Made in Germany.
Clearly structured
The practical grouping by motorbike model makes the search for the best parts for your own bike particularly convenient. All the latest adventure bikes are covered, as well as numerous tried-and-tested classics. And when it comes to riding gear, there is a full range from head to toe. Textile suits, helmets, boots or gloves - the Touratech range includes top-quality products developed in-house for maximum comfort on motorcycle trips near and far.
With all the concentrated information, there are exciting stories about great motorbike adventures. The lavishly designed work also includes extensive insights into the technologies Touratech uses to develop and manufacture motorcycle accessories.
Print – Online - Download
As always, the Touratech 2022/23 catalogue is free of charge. For those who prefer to browse on their PC or smartphone, there is a specially prepared and fully mobile-compatible online version of the catalogue. A download in PDF format is also possible.
The catalogue will be published, both digitally and in print, in time for the start of the season on 1 March; pre-orders for the print version can be submitted as of now.
Further information
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Valentino Rossi’s announcement of retirement brings down the curtain on an incredible career in the MotoGP motorcycle world championships. With his nine titles, including seven in the premier class, he is widely regarded as the greatest motorcycle racer of all time, and his 26 seasons of Grand Prix racing make him unique across both motorcycling and Formula 1. Rossi has been captivating fans since he won his first Grand Prix at the age of 17 and even in his final season, at the age of 42, he has been riding faster than ever. 
In this major new book by top MotoGP journalist Mat Oxley, each and every one of these races comes under the microscope, complete with perspectives about Rossi’s achievements, the controversies, his character, and analysis of his bikes. This is a Valentino Rossi book like no other.
“It’s been a joy watching Valentino’s GP career from the very beginning in 1996 and I’ve really enjoyed reliving so many of his great moments through writing this book,” says Mat. “In fact I started with his first international campaign in 1995, dissecting and analysing every one of his 400 plus races since then. It’s a career that may never be matched and it’s been an honour to write this book, which I hope becomes the ultimate tribute to Valentino’s brilliance.”
“Mat wrote the world’s first biography of Valentino in 2002,” says Mark Hughes, Evro’s Publishing Director. “Working for the publisher then, I saw how Mat not only knew Valentino well and thought the world of him, but also wrote about his subject with sublime skill and insight. Back then, we could never have imagined just how much Valentino would go on to achieve, nor that he would still be racing nearly 20 years later. Now, upon his retirement, there is no-one better than Mat to record every single moment of his incredible career.”
Key content
Early days, from karting and minimoto bikes to a first GP win, on a 125 Aprilia in the 1996 Czech GP, then onwards to claim the 125cc world title in 1997.
Moving up to the 250cc class in 1998 brought four consecutive end-of-season wins riding for Aprilia, followed by a decisive title in 1999 with nine victories.
Grabbed by Honda to race its super-successful NSR500, Rossi graduated to the ‘class of kings’ for 2000, almost becoming champion that season — but the following year he sealed the last two-stroke 500cc crown with 11 wins.
MotoGP, for 990cc four-stroke bikes, took over and Rossi immediately reigned supreme aboard his Honda RC211V, securing back-to-back titles in 2002 and 2003, before a surprise departure to uncompetitive Yamaha.
Rossi rates his first year with Yamaha, 2004, as his best: defying expectation, he won first time out on the YZR-M1 and took a fourth successive title with nine wins.
In six more seasons with Yamaha, 2005–10, Rossi collected three more championship crowns, his 2008 success especially sweet because it involved a fightback after two leaner years.
Rossi’s move to Ducati looked to be an appetising all-Italian prospect but his two winless seasons there, 2011 and 2012, were disastrous.
A return to Yamaha never quite recaptured his greatest glories, but Rossi was championship runner-up three times and came very close to another title in 2015.
Author: As a motorcycle racer, Mat Oxley is an Isle of Man TT winner and lap record holder. As a writer, he has been plying his craft for 40 years and is revered for his sharp reporting of MotoGP for magazines and websites around the world, including Bike, Motor Sport, Motorcycle News and Performance Bikes. Ever since Rossi burst into Grand Prix racing in 1996, Oxley has followed his career closely and in 2001 wrote a landmark first biography, MotoGenius, with full cooperation from Valentino and his family. Among Oxley’s other acclaimed books are Mick Doohan: Thunder from Down Under (1999), Valentino Rossi: Portrait of a Speed God (2002) and Stealing Speed (2009). Married with two children, he lives in north London.
Valentino Rossi
All His Races
Mat Oxley
Publication date: 13 January 2022
Price: £50.00
ISBN: 978-1-910505-21-2
Format: 280x235mm hardback
Page extent: 336
Illustration: 280 photos
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