To celebrate tickets going on sale for Motorcycle Live 2013, over 100 bikers, pillion riders and special star guests today took part in a ride-out from the home of the show, The NEC, Birmingham, to Day of Champions at Silverstone race circuit.

The ride-out was led by a whole host of racing stars and biking celebrities – including Moto2 rider Scott Redding, BBC commentators Matt Roberts and Steve Parrish, Eurosport’s James Whitham, TT ace James Hillier, British Supersport contender Taylor MacKenzie and three-time British Superbike Champion John Reynolds – and made for a spectacular sight as it departed from the Birmingham venue.

Motorcycle Live, which takes places at The NEC from 23 November to 1 December, has become an annual pilgrimage for thousands of bikers and their families and friends. Every major manufacturer will be present, showcasing the 2014 model launches in the UK for the first time, while 16 FREE live features – including eight opportunities to ride a bike – will keep motorcycle fans of all ages entertained.

There will also be a daily dose of famous biking faces and racing stars from MotoGP, World Superbike, British Superbike and the Isle of Man TT, all taking part in fan meet-and-greets and on-stage game shows and Q&As with racers-turned-broadcasters Steve Parrish and James Whitham.

Visitors to the show will also be pleased to learn that this year, Motorcycle Live will be subsidising the car parking fees increased by The NEC in 2012, bringing the cost down from £10 to £8 per vehicle – and of course, motorcycles can be parked for FREE in a secure, indoor area.

Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2013 went on sale today, costing just £17 per adult, £11 for Seniors and £7 for children aged 6-16* (kids under five accompanied by a paying adult go free).

To book you tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

The next step in evolution

After Zega and Zega Pro, we have now developed the Zega Pro2. Based on the Zega Pro, its excellent properties have all been retained, but many details have also been significantly improved.

The Zega Pro2 shines with its improved profile for even better operation, a carrying handle as standard and optimised ventilation. Above all, though, the pre-assembled version is an absolute revolution! It is factory-fitted with an entirely new attachment system  that combines suitability with maximum ease of use, facilitating single-handed use – you could say it’s “Plug and play” for fully packed aluminium panniers!

Zega Pro 2 Aluminium Pannier systems are now available in aluminium, anodised silver or anodised black (31/38 litre) (38/45 litre) for:

Triumph Tiger Explorer, BMW R1200GS from 2013, Yamaha XT1200Z Supertenere, BMW F800GS / F700GS / F650GS (Twin).

Visit the webshop for more information.

www.touratech.co.uk

Sunday 8th September, 10am – 4pm @ Hoghton Tower, Nr Preston, Lancs, PR5 0SH.

Admission Prices: £7.00 per adult £3.00 per child (7-14yrs) Under 7's Ffee

A big thank you to the forty or so brave souls who turned up in their classic cars on 23rd of June when the Hoghton Tower event was washed out for the second year running. We organised an impromptu classic car park on the formal lawns in front of the house and it was quite clear from the visitors and enthusiasts who did arrive, in quite appalling conditions, that there is a great deal of affection for the Hoghton Tower classic events. Last year when a similar thing happened in June we had our best ever turn out in the September at Hoghton Tower and that is almost a quarter of a century of organising events at this popular venue. Needless to say if you had a pass for the June event it will be valid for the event on Sunday 8th September. Autojumble space at Hoghton Tower is free as long as you are selling spare parts for old cars and motorcycles (this does not apply to trade stands selling other items). So don’t moan that there is no autojumble, simply bring your own and clear your unwanted items out of your garage to make room for your winter project!

Some of the clubs that are booked in to the event are as follows: The Cheshire Classic Car Club, The Stag OC, Toyota Enthusiasts & the Nutcrackers with the many other clubs that were booked in for the June event also joining us there are likely to be many great club stands.

As well as the show you can have a walk around the beautiful house and grounds by a separate small admission price. There will be an all day concours competition with live commentary and awards and there catering options, including a cafe, are available. Parking is free and dogs are welcome at the show as long as they remain on a lead. Hopefully providing an enjoyable day out for everyone!

SECOND PLACE IN RACE 2 FOR EUGENE LAVERTY WHO WAS MAKING A PLAY FOR THE LEAD WHEN THE RACE WAS STOPPED.

WITH A FOURTH AND FIFTH PLACE FINISH SYLVAIN GUINTOLI LIMITS THE DAMAGE AND STAYS CLOSE TO THE LEAD IN THE RIDER STANDINGS.

APRILIA CONTINUES TO LEAD THE MANUFACTURER CHAMPIONSHIP.

Nürburgring, 1 September 2013 – Two red flags due to oil on the track, both during the penultimate lap, stopped the World Superbike races at the Nürburgring. A blown out engine for Sandi first and a crash by Smrz in the second forced Race Direction to end the competitions a lap early.

While the finishing order had all but been decided when Race 1 was suspended, in the second race the duels between Davies and Eugene Laverty for first place and between Sylvain Guintoli and Sykes for fourth place were just heating up. In fact, the red flag kept the Aprilia Racing Team standard bearers from a direct attack on their rivals at the chequered flag.

After a difficult Superpole Sylvain Guintoli got off to a good start in both races, immediately gaining positions. After successfully fending off attacks by Giugliano and Camier, Sylvain's race for the podium stopped short at fourth place in Race 1. In the penultimate lap an oil leak caused Rea and Camier to crash, unfortunately injured in the accident, putting an end to the race and deciding the finishing order. Race 2 followed a similar script, at least in the first part. With an excellent start followed by a series of fast laps, the French rider had closed the gap with the leading pack, nipping at Sykes' heels during the final laps. Just as the duel was about to start in earnest, a crash by wild card Smrz with fluids leaking onto the track from his bike put an end to the race a lap early. Thanks to his fifth place finish, Sylvain is now in second place in the rider standings, just one point behind Sykes.

Sylvain Guintoli: “This was a difficult weekend on a very physical track. In Race 1 I couldn't find my rhythm in the first laps, dropping behind the leaders and having to ride alone, fending off attacks. In Race 2 the changes we made to my RSV4 really worked well. I pushed hard to catch Sykes up and when I did my plan was to attack in the last lap, but unfortunately the red flag stopped the race. My only consolation is that my shoulder responded well. I was able to push hard all the way to the end in both races without serious problems. It hurts now, but as long as I'm on the bike everything is OK. We'll go to Turkey as pursuers, but it's a track that I like where I think I can make a good play for it just as well as the other four or five riders who have proven to be consistently fast”

It was a double-sided weekend for Eugene Laverty. Starting from the twelfth spot on the grid, the Northern Irish rider also had two good starts. However, his comeback in Race 1 was interrupted in the fourth lap when a crash forced him to head back to the garage. After the damage to his bike was repaired Eugene went back out, ending the race in fifteenth place and earning one point. In Race 2 Eugene unleashed his potential from the start, reaching the podium range within a few laps where he engaged in battle first with Sykes and then with Melandri, overtaking them both and setting his sights on frontrunner Davies. All signs pointed to an assault in the final laps, just when the red flag that ratified a second place finish for Eugene came out.

Eugene Laverty: “It was a shame about the red flag in Race 2 when I was about to attack Chaz Davies for first place. I'm not saying I would have won it, but I would have had a go. The crash in Race 1 created a bit of a mess. I want to battle for the Championship and mistakes like that one can be costly. When you start so far back on the grid there's a lot more pressure and with that comes the risk of making some mistakes. We definitely will not be able to make any more slip ups for the rest of the season. All told we haven't lost too much ground behind the Championship leaders but we've got a hard battle ahead.”

Aprilia leads the manufacturer championship with 369 points in front of Kawasaki (341), BMW (321), Honda (201), Suzuki (175), Ducati (144) and Yamaha (4). 

Lorenzo Zanetti and Michael van der Mark finished in fourth and fifth places respectively in the tenth-round World Supersport championship race at the Nürburgring in Germany this afternoon.

The 19-lap race around the 5.137km circuit was won by series leader Sam Lowes after his closest challenger Kenan Sofuoglu crashed out of contention. Starting from fifth place on the grid, Zanetti was battling in a podium position for much of the race but a small error two laps from the end saw him slip back a place.

It was a different race for van der Mark, who started from the fourth row after set-up issues and bad weather affected his qualifying performance. The 20-year-old Dutch ace dropped back to 16th in the opening laps but fought his way through the pack impressively to fifth, retaining fourth place in the points standings.

Lorenzo Zanetti – 4th

I have not been 100% fit this weekend, but after Silverstone I had some confidence. I wasn’t sure we could fight for the podium here but I like the circuit and we made some good steps. We changed completely the front of the bike after warm-up this morning. It was a big change and I started the race without trying it, which was a bit strange. Two laps before the end I made a mistake and I lost the podium position but before this I had a good rhythm and was staying with the front guys. I feel positive for Turkey and the rest of the season.

Michael van der Mark – 5th

My start was not so good and I probably released the clutch a little bit too fast. In the fourth corner a rider in front of me made a stupid move and cut right across me so I had to close the throttle. Everybody passed me and then I was 16th, I think. I had to push all through the race and, although I had the pace for the podium, I lost too much time and too many positions at the start.

Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

Michael started from quite a way back and then had to come back from 16th after not such a good first lap. To fight back to fifth was another amazing achievement and he showed again what he can do on the bike. Lorenzo also had a good race but couldn’t quite hold on to third place. He fought all through the race, though, and the result was a good achievement.

2013 World Supersport championship, round 10

Nürburgring, Germany – 5.137km, 19 laps

Race result:

1 Sam Lowes (GBR) Yamaha

2 Fabien Foret (FRA) Kawasaki

3 Kevin Coghlan (GBR) Kawasaki

4 Lorenzo Zanetti (ITA) Pata Honda

5 Michael van der Mark (NED) Pata Honda

6 Ricardo Russo (ITA) Kawasaki

Championship points after 10 of 14 rounds:

1 Lowes 185, 2 Sofuoglu 131, 3 Foret 121, 4 van der Mark 91, 5 Zanetti 86, 6 Scassa 69. Next round: Istanbul, Turkey – 13-15 September