The National Motorcycle Museum had a particularly busy fortnight at this year’s Classic TT Festival, taking part in various high profile activities both on and off the track.

They really did take the museum to the people with no less than 32 Norton’s from every era being transported from the collection over to the island for our huge “pop up” museum display. From 1906 through to the 1990s, a Norton race machine from every decade of the last century was displayed in what many visitors described as “the best display ever seen in a TT paddock”.

One of the biggest highlights for many was the “Norton - The Rotary Years” – Parade.

Whilst individual Norton rotary race bikes have appeared in parade laps around the Mountain Course - and, of course featured in race wins and podiums - never before had so many appeared at one time on the island. A sunny Saturday on 29/08/15 saw no less than 12 of the revolutionary machines, all owned by the National Motorcycle Museum, take to the 37.73-mile course.

A whole host of famous names had the honour of taking part including some of the bike’s original riders including Trevor Nation, Steve Cull & Ian Simpson. Other riders included William and Michael Dunlop, Michael Rutter and Jamie Whitham.

“The White Charger” that the late Steve Hislop famously rode to victory in the 1992 Senior was ridden by 23-time TT Race winner John McGuinness resplendent in replica Hislop leathers & helmet!

Sunday 30/08/15 saw many of the museum’s ex-works rotary Norton’s appear once again on the short circuit at the Festival of Jurby with the likes of McGuinness, Rutter & Cull onboard.

Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing had a challenging week with team rider William Dunlop posting a DNF in the F1 race on the team’s rotary Norton race machine. Museum Director James Hewing commented: “Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing’s entry to run a Norton rotary race machine in the F1 event was a huge challenge and we are obviously disappointed not to have finished. William Dunlop and the whole team worked tirelessly all week with William declaring the bike ‘wicked fast’. Everyone knows that there is no tougher place to go racing and feedback from race fans has been really positive”.

The Museum film crew has created four short films from the event which include the paddock “pop up” museum, the rotary parade, the festival of Jurby and Team National Motorcycle Museum Racing. All these films will be available to view from early October on the museum’s new website www.thenmm.co.uk

It is time to tell a new story for Ducati. The story about to begin is refined, elegant and mysterious. And it is heading towards a new universe, as yet unexplored by the Company. A universe which will come to life on November 16, the date we will finally unveil all the innovations ready for 2016.

The story begins with a project called “This is Black” and is developed across three different forms of expression: a multimedia installation, video mapping and two unpublished musical tracks. The project kicks off locally: as part of the Bologna Design Week (from 30 September to 3 October) and at the international electronic music and digital arts event, roBOt Festival (Bologna, 7 to 10 October).

A new story to tell, which can be followed on the www.ducati.com website and on our social channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Fans can join the conversation regarding the new story using the #xducati hashtag.

The Savannah Way is Australia's ultimate adventure ride along the northern edge of the continent. From the Coral Sea to the Indian Ocean this 21 day adventure motorcycle tour encompasses unbelievable dirt riding that ventures across a staggering four world heritage areas and offers a chance to experience some of the finest off-road routes in Australia all whilst under the expert guidance of Dakar legend Simon Pavey and his Off Road Skills team.

After an outstanding research trip with Simon riding his 2009 Dakar BMW X-Challenge from Cairns to Broome, Compass Expeditions, part of the BikeRoundOz Group, are very excited to announce the inaugural Savannah Way tour departing Cairns August 1st 2016.

“This is an incredible ride that needs to be shouted from the mountaintops,” said an excited Simon Pavey after yet another day finding tracks that haven’t been used for 30 years, (according to locals), “this certainly isn’t a wide open flat dirt track tour of Australia,” continues Simon.

Supporting Simon on the research trip was Compass Expeditions co-founder Mick McDonald “I cant believe some of the tracks Simon has found, not super technical or enduro, but unused and some through private cattle stations and some we made ourselves” says Mick, “we do a lot of rides around the world but this is going to be one out of the box” continues Mick.

Accommodation is a mix of camping and some of the best hotels available at stunning locations. Riding is incredible with each day having a “Special” section in it. A Qualified chef will accompany the group preparing superb lunches and dinners when camping while Simon will lead the ride on his BMW X-Challenge that he raced in the 2009 Dakar, one of 10 Dakar’s Simon has raced in.

“We have truly found some incredible riding through some beautiful and very remote regions of Australia” says Mick; “this can only be done by very thorough research and navigational skills something that is paramount when competing in the Dakar,” continues Mick.

Bike Transport to Cairns and from Broome has been arranged, for those wishing to bring their own bikes, for a one off flat fee no matter where you live in Australia, (except Tasmania), our Tassie clients will need to get their bikes to Melbourne where Compass shall take care of the rest.

Tour information

www.compassexpeditions.com

The cold weather creeping in might mean the end of the summer motorcycling season, but every cloud has a silver lining and for many bike fans across the UK, that silver lining is Motorcycle Live. This year's show will open its doors at The NEC, Birmingham on Saturday 28 November and run at full revs for nine days, bringing modern motorcycling to life and offering adult visitors no fewer than six FREE opportunities to ride a bike.

When looking at shiny new machines just isn't enough, the Test Ride Zone supported by Shoei, Sidi and Spada offers a great line up of bikes from the leading manufacturers for visitors to try on the open road*, all for FREE. Those yet to pass their test can also have a go, thanks to the industry-backed Get On campaign, which will give aspiring bikers a FREE first taste of riding a motorcycle or scooter with the help of an experienced instructor.

Visitors will have the opportunity to give off-road riding a try thanks to the FREE Yamaha AMCA MX Experience, which will provide expert tuition on a range of off-road machinery around an indoor dirt track specially built for Motorcycle Live. The ACU Try Trials feature also makes a welcome return, offering visitors 15-minute taster sessions of this super-skilled two-wheel discipline.

Two manufacturers – Yamaha and BMW – will also be bringing their own FREE riding experiences to Motorcycle Live. The popular Yamaha Dark Side MT Tour will make its final stop of the season at The NEC, bringing with it a fleet of MT-09 Tracers plus MT-09 and MT-07 demo bikes that will be available for visitors to enjoy in escorted test rides*.

Meanwhile, the BMW GS Trophy Experience will add a touch of adventure and excitement to Motorcycle Live, giving visitors a chance to learn and try some of the handling techniques taught at Simon Pavey’s world-famous BMW Off Road Skills school using BMW GS motorcycles.

Motorcycle Live 2015 will run from 28 November to 6 December. Advance tickets are on sale now, at just £17.50 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 11-16** (kids aged 10 and under accompanied by a paying adult go free). There is also a £20.50 advance ticket, which includes entry to the show and a choice of Oxford neck wear worth £15. To book, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

Spectacular Supermoto to wow Wales Rally GB crowds

•UK's best riders to slip-slide and wheelie in front of rally fans
•Advance Chirk Castle RallyFest tickets available priced from just £25

The list of entertainment confirmed by the organisers of Wales Rally GB for this year's family-friendly RallyFest at Chirk Castle (14 November) continues to grow as crowds are set for a scrambling Supermoto showcase at the medieval, National Trust owned fortress.

For those who aren’t familiar with the sport, Supermoto is essentially a two-wheel version of rallycross where riders are tasked with getting the better of a course made up of 75 per cent asphalt and 25 per cent off-road sections, with jumps and bumps thrown into the mix for good measure.

As in rallycross, the racing is hectic and riders must display immense skill to negotiate the undulations and extreme contrasts offered up by a changing surface with their high-performance racing bikes.

The riders are set to star at Chirk Castle with a variety of tricks, stunts, wheelies and time attacks to whip the crowd into a frenzy between the dirt-slinging rallying action.

“Supermoto UK in association with Dave Clarke Racing are hoping to have ten or so of the best riders in the country and a few star ‘wildcards’," said Neil Jay of Supermoto UK. In addition to the on-track action, we will have a pit area in the RallyFest zone and we invite families to come and have a look around, grab some autographs and get children sitting on the bikes. Being invited by Wales Rally GB to perform at the Chirk Castle RallyFest stage is the highlight of the year for us. It is an honour for Supermoto UK and Dave Clarke Racing to perform on a world stage and we can’t wait to rev up the crowd!”

Meanwhile, on the day, there will be a wealth of activities for fans to enjoy, including parades and displays of supercars and historic rally cars as well as a cavalcade of Colin McRae rally machinery to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of the legendary Scot's World Rally Championship title triumph.

Holder of 22 stunt-driving world records, Terry Grant will also be at Chirk Castle with a show-stopping performance of bravery and car control. All of this will be topped off by high-octane WRC action as the world’s fastest drivers blast their way through a specially designed competitive section laid out along the private roads around the medieval castle.

RallyFest has been created to offer fans and spectators much more than just the thrills of the dramatic rally stage. There will be more exciting attractions to be announced in the build-up to Wales Rally GB, the UK’s concluding round of the 2015 FIA World Rally Championship.

Fans wanting to experience RallyFest and the host of entertainment on offer can take advantage of discounted Special Stage tickets by purchasing in advance.
 


The four-day World Rally Pass is the all-inclusive ticket for fans. It provides access to all the individual Special Stages as well as Thursday’s pre-event Shakedown. It is priced at £99 for adults (or just £1 for accompanied children aged 9-15) and comes with a desirable hard card and lanyard plus an event programme valued at £9.
 


Forest Passes offer a similar level of flexibility as the World Rally Pass but for individual days of the event. Again they include an official programme and can be purchased in advance from just £25 – a considerable saving on Single Stage tickets which will cost £30 on the gate.

Tickets for the family-friendly RallyFest at Chirk Castle are available now for £25 with an even greater discount for families. Full ticket information can be found on the WalesRallyGB.com website.

For further updates, follow Wales Rally GB on Twitter @WalesRallyGB or join the conversations on facebook