Which motorcycle legend would you like to enter Motor Sport Hall of Fame in 2018?

The list of nominees has been revealed, and voting is now open

Twelve of the greatest names in motorcycle history have been shortlisted for the Motor Sport Hall of Fame Awards in 2018. The prestigious event takes place on 4 June 2018 in the spectacular surroundings of the Royal Automobile Club’s Woodcote Park in Surrey, and its down to motorcycle fans to vote who will be the next to join legends such as the late great John Surtees, Giacomo Agostini, John McGuinness, Valentino Rossi and its latest inductee Barry Sheene.

The 2018 nominees are:

• Mike Hailwood MBE: few could forget the victorious late-1970s TT return of ‘Mike the Bike’, a fabulous encore for a peerless career that resulted in 14 Isle of Man wins and nine Grand Prix world championships. 
• Geoff Duke OBE: the Isle of Man legend was a household name in the 1950s, winning three world titles for Norton before repeating that success with Gilera.
• Soichiro Honda: as founder and president of the eponymous marque, Honda had a seismic impact on the world of motorcycling.
• Casey Stoner: the Australian star dominated the 2007 season with Ducati, then switched to Honda for 2011 to become a two-time MotoGP champion by the age of 26.
• Wayne Rainey: a fierce rivalry with fellow nominee Kevin Schwantz lit up the top division of Grand Prix racing, and inspired him to take a hat-trick of championships in 1990, ’91 and ’92.
• Kevin Schwantz: 25 times a Grand Prix winner and the 1993 500cc world champion, the hard-charging Schwantz was part of a golden era for motorcycle racing.
• Freddie Spencer: the versatile ‘Fast Freddie’ scored a historic double in 1985, claiming both the 250cc and 500cc world titles.
• Kenny Roberts: America’s first world champion and a fierce safety campaigner, Roberts secured his third and final title in 1983 after a memorable season-long battle with Freddie Spencer.
• Joey Dunlop OBE: a genuine icon of road-racing, ‘Yer Maun’ still holds the record for the most TT wins – a remarkable 26 victories over the course of 23 years.
• Eddie Lawson: as part of an incredible group of American racers who starred during the 1980s and ‘90s, Lawson won four 500c world championships.
• Mick Doohan: the dominant force during the 1990s, Aussie Doohan won five consecutive 500cc titles from ’94.
• Jim Redman MBE, During the sport’s golden era in the 1960s, no star shone brighter than six time world champion Jim Redman, achieving a unique 'hat trick' of double wins in 1963, 1964 and 1965 in the Lightweight & Junior Races

You can vote for your chosen inductees by visiting here 

The 2018 inductees will be announced at the Motor Sport Hall of Fame Awards dinner, held at the Royal Automobile Club, Woodcote Park on June 4 2018.

All voters will be entered into a special prize draw to win a package for two to the Le Mans Classic 2018, courtesy of Grandstand Motor Sports. Not only that, the lucky winner will also receive a beautiful Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronograph COSC Limited Edition watch, courtesy of Hall of Fame timing partner Christopher Ward.

About the Motor Sport Hall of Fame

Now in its seventh year, the Motor Sport Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest names in racing across Formula 1, motorcycling, sports cars, and other disciplines. Previous inductees include heroes such as Jim Clark and Tazio Nuvolari, as well as Stirling Moss, Niki Lauda and Alain Prost among others. The event is held at the exclusive Royal Automobile Club and attracts many stars from the world of motor sport. The ceremony is now an established fixture in the motor racing calendar. For more information about the 2018 event, visit: www.motorsportmagazine.com/hall-of-fame

If you are stuck without a clue of what to buy your car or bike loving relative or friend, wonder no further … IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driver Course and Advanced Rider Course is available to buy at a 10% discount until Christmas.

The advanced courses are administered by the UK’s biggest independent road safety charity and vouchers don’t have to be redeemed for 12 months. With the special offer you can buy the course for another person for £134 instead of the usual £149 until 20 December.

The vouchers are sent to the person who ordered them, so it allows him or her to write their own greeting inside.

The offer applies for both IAM RoadSmart’s Advanced Driver Course and Advanced Rider Course, and are sure ways of making sure your loved one becomes the safest driver or rider they can be – as well as getting a host of benefits once they pass, including access to low rate insurance from IAM Surety.

To order online use the following link: www.iamroadsmart.com/christmas or by phone call 0300 303 1134. Quote GV10 to obtain the 10% discount by phone or online.

Horst Saiger and the Saiger Racing team will switch to Yamaha to compete in the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other international Road Racing meetings, after Saiger reached an agreement with the Swiss Yamaha Importer ‘Hostettler.’

Saiger will ride Yamaha R6, R1 Superbike and R1 Superstock machinery prepared by Mandy Kainz from the Yamaha Austria Racing Team (‘YART’) with whom Saiger has a long racing history. 2018 will be an anniversary season as Hostettler will be celebrating 50 years of bringing Yamaha motorbikes to Switzerland.

Hostettler have a long and outstanding history not only in Switzerland but racing generally. Names to have represented the company include Rodney Gould who, in addition to the 1970 250cc World Championship, secured two runner up places in the Isle of Man TT Races in 1970 and 1972. Other names who have raced in the Hostettler colours include Michael Frutschi, Jacque Cornu, Roland Freymond, Bruno Kneubühler and sidecar competitors Rolf Biland / Kurt Waltisperger.

Saiger made his TT Mountain Course debut in 2013, finishing the second fastest newcomer behind Josh Brookes and he achieved his highest placed finish of tenth in the 2017 RL360 Quantum Superstock TT Race.

The team will launch the bikes at the Swiss Moto Zurich show (22nd - 25th February 2018).

Saiger will also be returning to his roots, having spent 10 years riding Yamaha machinery in the past.

"I rode as an instructor at the Yamaha Riding Academy of Hostettler and was able to get a first glimpse of the Yamaha YZF-R1 at the race track of Aragon. I was immediately convinced by the unique engine concept as well as the super sporty R1 in general – I fell heavily in love with this motorbike, when returning to home.”

He continued:

“I am now looking forward to my 2018 season, which will start with the NW200. Further confirmed dates are the Isle of Man TT, which is my main highlight, and Macau. Unfortunately the Terlicko Road Racing meeting clashes with the Endurance World Championship at Oschersleben and I wont be able to compete there. But I am still hoping to make my return to the Ulster GP and I am considering a detour to Frohburg as well.”

Elements of the scooter/motorcycle rivalry of the mid-60s will be showcased at the Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic show. The motorcycling event, now in its seventh year, takes place at Newark Showground on January 6-7 and has been expanded by two halls for 2018.

Among the many attractions on offer will be a Retro area dedicated to the 50s, 60s and 70s; slap bang in the middle of that time period was the collision of youth cultures that defined what the press came to call ‘the Mods and Rockers’ era.

Visitors and traders alike are encouraged to join in the fun by dressing in their finest Mod or Rocker gear to enjoy a faux-seaside atmosphere reminiscent of Brighton, Clacton or Hastings during the heyday of the two movements. Prizes will be on offer from the organisers to the best-dressed Mod and Rocker. The Retro area will also feature gentlemen’s grooming specialists Arthur Razor from West London. Known to stars such as Colin Firth and Tim Vincent, the pop-up barber shop will be offering great contemporary and vintage haircuts and excellent traditional wet shaves to visitors.

Alongside the Retro area will be the show-within-a-show that is Scooter World – which this year will feature the sounds of the scooterist internet radio station, Mod Radio, as well as some of the finest custom scooters on the scene today.

Another adjoining hall will also contain a dedicated ‘Pit Area’ which will reflect the atmosphere of a race paddock and will include a ‘Blast From The Past’ bike start-up area which will see highly-tuned sprint and race machines revved-up for your enjoyment – earplugs are optional!

Event planner Vicky Bean said: “Outside it might be the depths of winter, but inside we’re aiming to recreate those hazy lazy days of mid-summer at a south coast resort during the golden age of two-wheeled travel. Visitors will be able to explore the sights and sounds of our Retro area before stepping into Scooter World halls for a dedicated scooterist experience.

“Why not escape those post-Christmas blues to join us for some scooter and motorcycle-related retro enjoyment among like-minded enthusiasts!”

Beyond the Retro area and Scooter World, visitors will be able to explore and admire hundreds of beautiful classic bikes, pick up parts for their project, or find spares for the motorcycling year ahead.

Discounted advance tickets are now on sale for the show, with a one-day adult pass costing just £8. Tickets will also be available on the gate, priced at £10 each. Under 12s go free, and free parking is available for visitors.

For more information visit classicbikeshows.com

2017 marked the most successful campaign for the Penz13 BMW Motorrad Motorsport team in real road racing. Manxman Dan Kneen earned the team’s first TT podium finish and Michael Rutter, Danny Webb and Alessandro Polita achieved multiple race wins and podiums in the IRRC.

After Kneen's contract expired and he moved to Tyco BMW, team principal Rico Penzkofer assessed their approach to the 2018 season. The team's main focus has always been the FIM Endurance World Championship, while Penzkofer's heart has always been with road racing.

Derek Sheils deputised as a stand-in rider for the ill Kneen at the Joey Dunlop Open event at Frohburg in Germany earlier this season and after his strong performance in the recent Macau Grand Prix, the Irishman was considered a perfect fit for the vacant seat in the Penz13 squad.

Sheils will be provided with the latest BMW machinery in Superstock and Superbike configurations for the 300 Corners of Gustav Havel event in Czech Republic, which the team uses as a test for the season’s main event, the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. Additionally, Sheils will join the experienced and proven winning formula at the Imatranajo in Finland, the Joey Dunlop Open in Frohburg, Germany and the prestigious Macau Grand Prix.

Derek Sheils:
"I am grateful for the support of John Burrows so far, giving me the opportunity to sign for the Penz13 team for the TT. I enjoyed my stand-in race in Frohburg last September and felt that the BMW is the right bike to step up into the world’s top league of road racers. I quickly got the grip with the electronics that come along with the HP4 and I was surprised how well advanced their electronic suspension from Tractive Suspension actually is. I am obviously aiming high and hope to finish all the TT Races within the Top ten but also taking some race victories over in Europe.”

Rico Penzkofer:
"I didn’t know much about Derek until he joined us in Frohburg, but immediately saw that he would fit perfectly into the team and could be a good replacement for Dan Kneen. His recent Macau GP pace convinced me even more and I took the opportunity to sign him right after the race. In Frohburg was actually the first time he rode a BMW with all the electronics. Our suspension engineer Eric Lindemann as well as our mechanic crew pointed out that he provides very good feedback. I enjoyed working with him and therefore hope that he can help us to further establish our team in real road racing in 2018. I am sure there is a lot to come from Derek in the near future.”