It was presented today – for the first time streamed live – the new Gresini Racing projects for Moto2 and Moto3. A surely unusual one, as it was missing its key piece: Fausto Gresini, who is still tackling a long recovery in hospital (started at the end of 2020) due to Covid-19.

While his presence was surely missed, this did not stop Team Gresini from continuing preparations for the Team Principal’s two most-dear projects. Two very different projects, but with a common denominator in the Italian-Indonesian flag for both classes – thanks to the partnerships with MP1 and Federal Oil.

The newly born Indonesian Racing Team Gresini Moto3 surely took over the scene with a radical change both in colours and graphics. A new red-and-black colour combination that will surely stand out on the quarter-litre class grid and two fast and experienced riders, ready to get in the mix at the sharp end of the field – of one of the most competitive classes on two-wheels.

Both Jeremy Alcoba and Gabriel Rodrigo have been training over the winter: the 2020 Rookie of the Year, who claimed his maiden world championship podium last year, is eager to consolidate his performance and growth while gravitating around the top-three, while the Argentine will try to turn his fortunes around – with the Moto3 that has to be a realistic goal for him.

Motorcyclists in the Gloucestershire region will be delighted to hear that the Prescott Bike Festival is scheduled to return to the county in June. The event, which is designed to raise precious funds for the National Association of Blood Bikes and the Severn Freewheelers, is an opportunity for enthusiasts to ride their bike up the iconic Prescott Hill Climb and engage with some of the nation’s biggest motorbike racing icons and celebrities. 

The return of Prescott Bike Festival is much needed for the local economy as it has long been one of the most important events on Cheltenham's annual calendar. Of course, the Cheltenham Festival remains the number-one event in town each year, bringing a veritable World Cup of jump racing to Gloucestershire. 

Unlike the Cheltenham Festival, which is held over four days, this year’s Prescott Bike Festival is a weekend show. The event begins with the special Preview Day on Saturday 26th June. Although there is no action on the track during the Saturday, there is plenty to see and do in the Paddock. The Paddock Specials see the festival’s invited guests rock up with their iconic motorcycles, bringing from of the most fascinating models to the show, including one-off factory specials, illustrious road and race models and even jet-powered examples to wow the crowds.  

Sunday the funday

Sunday is considered the Main Show Day by the event’s organisers. It’s when visitors can catch a glimpse of some raw track action. The event is also partnered with Kickback, the National Custom Show, which plays a major part in the overall festival. On Sunday, Kickback stages its National Custom Championships right here at Prescott Bike Festival. 80 finalists will arrive to compete to become the number-one custom bike builder. There are multiple categories for builders to enter, including Young Builder, Modified Sportsbike, Modified Triumph and Freestyle groups, as well as the prestigious outright Best in Show.

Kickback’s National Custom Championships will be judged by an exclusive panel of experts, spanning professional custom bike builders, as well as custom bike magazine editors. This year’s guest judge will be Steve Parrish, the former professional motorcycle and truck racer turned commentator. All trophies and awards will be announced during the Main Show Day on Sunday. The National Custom Championships and Kickback also entices dozens of high-quality exhibitors to the event too. In fact, there’s over 100 exhibitions to check out during the weekend.

Something for everyone

There’s something for everyone at the Prescott Bike Festival, with a family zone also designed to keep youngsters entertained with rides and attractions, all designed to inspire the next generation of motorcycling enthusiasts – along with a healthy dose of ice cream.

If you purchase a ticket to this year’s festival, the good news is that the National Motorcycle Museum will automatically grant you a 50% discount on your next visit to Bickenhill, Solihull, which contains the world’s biggest collection of iconic British motorcycles – over 850 to be precise.

The festival’s organisers are offering advance purchase tickets for both single day and weekend passes at significant discounts. Advance weekend tickets are available for just £22 compared with £28 on the day. Meanwhile advance Saturday and Sunday tickets can be purchased for just £8 and £15 respectively. All under-16s can enter the festival for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

If you’ve always fancied running the Prescott Hill, now is your chance. You can also buy advance weekend tickets to run the hill for £49 or £39 for the Sunday only.

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With no ‘days out’ allowed this half-term the British Motor Museum is offering families a range of free fun activities to enjoy from home as a welcome break from home-schooling! These February activities explore future fuels and are available online from the Museum’s website www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/online-future-fuels. Children can take part in a wordsearch, a fantastic fuels quiz, and even watch a Science Show!

As it looks like the Museum will have to remain closed for longer than it hoped, it will continue to bring new family activities online each month until it is allowed to re-open. March’s activities will be themed around Woman’s History Month and April will focus on the 1921 London Bus, which is on permanent loan in the Museum’s collection.

For families with children aged five and under the Museum’s regular Mini Motorists will still take place on the 3^rd Monday of every month, but for now these are being delivered as a live story-time on Facebook. This month they will be a storytelling of Chris Van Dusen’s ‘If I Built a Car’ live on the Museum’s Facebook page at 11am on Monday 15 February. The theme for 15 March  will be ‘Ready, Steady, Go’ whilst the theme for 19 April will be ‘Bessie is our friend’.

Videos of all the Museum’s stay at home activities dating back to last year’s lockdown  can be found on the Museum’s YouTube channel

The Museum is also delighted to announce that in recognition of its focus in making the Museum more accessible to families, it is a finalist in the Ankle Biters Awards 2021 for Warwickshire in the 'Best Museum' category. The Museum would love to encourage people to vote by clicking here by 28 February. Voting is completely free of charge! 

Emma Rawlinson, Life Long Learning Officer at the British Motor Museum said “We are delighted to host a range of fun activities for visitors to enjoy from home over the February half term and until the Museum can once again re-open. All of our activities are free of charge although donations would be most grateful. As we can’t physically see our visitors we would love them to share photos of their completed activities by uploading them to our website, emailing them to us or posting on our Facebook page!”

For more information about the online activities please visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/online-future-fuels 

and https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/whats-on/mini-motorists-february

After the cancellation of the 2020 event due to Covid-19, Saturday 30/10/21 will see the museum return to hosting our 7th annual free open day when everyone will be invited to visit the museum collection free of charge. Now one of the largest events in the biking calendar, there will also be a host of other free attractions including Henry Cole and Friends live on stage!

Museum Live 2021 Timetable: To assist visitors, everyone arriving on site will be given a free timetable with a full list & timings of all the day’s exciting, free, events.

Free Museum Entry: Everyone is invited to visit the museum collection, free-of-charge.

Indoor Autojumble & Trade Area: The event will feature a large indoor autojumble and trade area held within the warm & dry surroundings of the museum. For details of how to book a 2m pitch for just £100.00 (ex VAT) with electric hook up (if required) charged at £25.00, contact Dan Powell by e-mail [email protected]

The event will also feature trade stands & displays from many well-known names from the wonderful world of motorcycling!

The museum shop will be open throughout the event selling a huge range of classic motorcycling books, clothing & memorabilia.

Meet The Experts:

In attendance will be some of the museum’s specialist suppliers & craftsmen, (including our own restoration team) as well as other classic motorcycling experts who will be available to chat and answer questions.

Henry Cole And Friends Live On Stage:

TT legend & TV presenter STEVE PLATER will host two special free to enter HENRY COLE AND FRIENDS stage shows at 11.00am & 2.00pm.

Held on the stage in the museum’s magnificent Britannia suite, these now legendary free 1 hour chat shows will feature TVs Henry Cole and Sam Lovegrove, as well as whole host of motorcycling personalities from the past & present.

The celebrities joining Henry on stage will be announced in the coming months. Watch this space!

All our guest stars will also be making personal appearances to sign your favorite memorabilia in addition to some special book/memorabilia signing sessions.

LIVE “Start Up” Feature Presented By The Brackley Festival of Motorcycling:

See & HEAR some of the most famous race machines in the world started up on our LIVE Start-Up Stage, situated in our Britannia Suite. Bikes old and new will include some of the museum’s famous racing inventory as well as ex-Moto GP bikes courtesy of the Brackley Festival of Motorcycling & Phil Morris Racing.

Food Court & Bar:

Fantastic catering provided by the museum’s chefs will be available in our Premier Suite food court & bar area.

The museum restaurant will also be open as normal serving a wide variety of hot meals and snacks from breakfast time onwards.

The Draw For The Best Classic Motorcycle Raffle Prize In The World:

Our summer 2021 raffle to win an amazing classic motorcycle will be drawn by Henry Cole live on stage during the afternoon of the event on 30/10/21.

Parking:

Car parking for the event is just £10 per car with motorcycle parking absolutely free.

Covid-19:

Like the rest of the UK, we are hoping that normality will have resumed by the date of our event. Any Government guidance which is applicable at the time will be followed to ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors and museum staff.

For further details and updates on Museum Live 2021 see www.thenmm.co.uk

The UK’s biggest motorcycle show, Motorcycle Live in association with Bikesure Insurance, plans to be back better than ever in 2021, with dates now confirmed as 4-12 December,  at the NEC, Birmingham.  

To have the date confirmed in the midst of such uncertainty, underlines the show’s commitment to returning to not only a physical show, but one where the halls of The NEC are brimming with entertainment, interaction, manufacturers, retailers and motorcycles of all shapes, ages, engine types and sizes.

The halls will house regular interactive features and displays along with brand new entertainment to give a full and fantastic day out to visitors.

With the pandemic having cast a cloud over the UK for so long, organisers are keen to give two wheel fans something to look forward to, whilst ensuring the event is safe for all.

By bringing together the very best of the industry under one roof, where people can interact face-to-face and see, touch, feel and hear, in person, rather than just digitally, will give a welcomed return to ‘social’. And whilst biking brings many mental health benefits, meeting your friends and family, and sharing your passion will no doubt be a much-needed boost for many.

“We’re excited to welcome visitors back to The NEC, for what is already shaping up to be a fantastic show.  To be able to offer something to look forward to will see us end the year on a high – where once again two wheel fans can be together to soak up the first major show in the UK for two years.  The 2021 event promises a real treat - something everyone deserves.” said Finlay McAllan, Managing Director of Motorcycle Live. 

Tickets will go on sale later in the year.