Both Honda World Superbike Team riders, Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama, took two top ten finishes in today's opening round of the 2012 World Superbike championship at Phillip Island in Australia. 
 
With the race victories going to Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa, Rea took seventh and fourth places in the two 22-lap outings, while his team-mate Aoyama finished eighth and ninth.
 
Starting from the outside of the second row, 25-year-old Rea enjoyed good starts to both outings. In race one, however, a lack of rear grip had dropped him back to seventh at the flag, while in race two, he held second place for much of the race after a set-up change improved grip levels. However, with just two laps to go, he slipped behind Biaggi and then lost out to fellow Brit Tom Sykes on the final straight.
 
After problems in qualifying, World Superbike rookie Aoyama, started from 16th on the grid. Opting for the softer rear tyre in both races, the Japanese rider fought through to the top ten in race one, while a small set-up change allowed him to make it a double in his debut SBK outing.
 
Jonathan Rea – 7th and 4th
 
We’ve still got a bagful of points to go on to Imola with but we wanted to be on the podium in both races. I honestly feel like we got a bad tyre in race one and in race two we didn’t want to run in the same situation, so we were thinking about changing the tyre, but all our logic and race runs throughout the weekend told us to keep this [harder] tyre in the heat. Directly, I had more grip – OK, the temperature was even hotter, which would go against our logic – but the tyre felt like it should feel and I was able to ride strong and consistent until probably five laps to go when durability fell off and I was going backwards. I felt fresh and strong in both races and the guys have worked well all weekend. We had a little crash on Saturday and the boys worked so good with the one-bike rule to get us back out there. You have to think that this circuit is a bit unique with the tyre character, how long you’re on the side and the heat generated in the tyre. Now we move on to some tracks that are good for us and there’s a lot of work to do back at base. The guys need to find some speed, so that’s on the agenda; I’ve just done a de-brief and everything feels OK. I want to say thanks to everyone for all their help this weekend – it feels good to get to the start of the season fit and healthy and I’m looking forward to round two now.
 
Hiroshi Aoyama – 8th and 9th

I think it’s not so bad for my first Superbike weekend. We had a not-so-easy start on Friday when I had one crash and we had a lot of problems. That didn’t help us to go much faster and we tried many things but couldn’t improve. In the races we managed to finish in the top ten with eighth and ninth and I want to say thanks to all the guys who worked for me. It was a tough weekend but ended up not too bad. I’m looking forward to the next race in Imola – of course I’ve never ridden there, so it’s going to be tough for Friday. We have month to improve the bike a little bit and, if I can find a better feeling, I can push a little bit more and this is what I am looking for. Anyway, considering the situation now, it’s not so bad!
 
Riders' comments are available to view on video at the following link: 
 
2012 World Superbike championship, round one
 
Phillip Island, Australia – 4.445km, 22 laps
 
Race 1 results:
 
1 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia 34m13.963s
 
2 Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW +7.104s
 
3 Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Ducati +7.378s
 
4 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki +12.189s
 
5 Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati +16.424s
 
6 Michel Fabrizio (ITA) BMW +20.200s
 
7 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda World Superbike Team +20.223s
 
8 Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda World Superbike Team +24.108s
 
Race 2 results:
 
1 Carlos Checa (ESP) Ducati 34m26.728s
 
2 Max Biaggi (ITA) Aprilia +5.707s
 
3 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki +12.521s
 
4 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Honda World Superbike +12.665s
 
5 Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW +18.179s
 
6 Marco Melandri (ITA) BMW +18.831s
 
9 Hiroshi Aoyama (JPN) Honda World Superbike Team +19.554s
 
Championship points after one of 14 rounds:
 
1 Biaggi 45, 2 Melandri 30, 3 Sykes 29, 4 Checa 25, 5 Rea 22, 6 Guintoli 16, 9 Aoyama 15
 Next round: Imola, Italy – 30 March - 1 April

As part of Motorcycle Law Scotland’s commitment to supporting Scotland’s motorcyclists, the specialist legal service has provided a Scottish charity’s motorcycling fundraisers with bright pink, high-visibility vests.

“Every year, Breast Way Round raises tens of thousands of pounds for Macmillan Cancer Support by organising bike runs and other events,” said Brenda Mitchell of Motorcycle Law Scotland, Scotland’s only legal service specialising in providing advice and representation to motorcyclists and their families in the aftermath of a road traffic accident. “These eye-catching vests will help to ensure Breast Way Round’s motorcyclists are easily spotted by other road users, helping to keep them safe while also increasing awareness of this excellent charity, which, like Motorcycle Law Scotland, is run by motorcyclists."

Breast Way Round was founded in 2007 by Shirley-Ann McKnight to boost the profile of Scotland’s female motorcyclists and raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. ”When Shirley-Ann’s best friend and fellow motorcyclist, Alyson Porter, was diagnosed with cancer, Alyson received a lot of help from Macmillan Cancer Support,” said Jill Polanski of Breast Way Round. “Tragically, Alyson died soon after our first charity bike run but, so far, we have raised over £180,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.”

Breast Way Round’s main fundraiser is an annual four-day bike run for 80 female motorcyclists and 20 male motorcyclists exploring Scotland’s west coast.  “The Breast Way Round Bike Run is a fantastic experience – and a great way to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support,” said Jill. “In fact, many of the Breast Way Round girls have taken to two wheels just to be part of what we do.

“During the run, we stick bright pink mohicans onto our helmets and, now we have new – and equally bright - pink vests to wear over our leathers, we’ll certainly knock people’s socks off! There’ll be no mistaking the Breast Way Round bikers on this year’s run. We can’t thank Motorcycle Law Scotland’s enough for their support,” continued Jill, as she was presented with the vests at the Bikers’ Cove in South Queensferry, one of Scotland’s top motorcycling destinations.

As well as being one of Scotland’s leading motorcycle accident lawyers, Brenda Mitchell is also a motorcyclist and has taken part in one of Breast Way Round’s girls-only track evenings at Knockhill Race Circuit and will be riding in this year’s charity bike run. “Breast Way Round is a great way to meet fellow female motorcyclists while also raising funds for a very worthwhile cause,” said Brenda.

“Motorcycle Law Scotland aims to support Scotland’s motorcyclists in as many ways as possible – what better way than by helping a group of female motorcyclists who are promoting motorcycling in such a positive way?”

www.breastwayround.com

www.motorcyclelawscotland.co.uk

Padgetts MMCG Racing, the Yorkshire based racing team that operates out of its Batley based showroom, has confirmed an exciting line up for the 2012 TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, that contains three race winners from last year's races.

Eight-time TT race winner Bruce Anstey, who won last year's Monster Energy Supersport Race 1, has again signed up for this year's meeting and will race for the team in the Monster Energy Supersport 1 and 2, Royal London 360 Superstock, Dainese Superbike and PokerStars Senior Races.

Bruce will be joined for the Supersport and Superstock races by last year's teammate John McGuinness, who, with seventeen race wins under his belt, added the Superbike and Senior races last year to his list of victories.

John also won the overall title last year, helped by runner up finishes in both the Superstock and second Supersport Races on Padgetts machinery.

The experienced pair have a new teammate this year in Gary Johnson, who achieved his maiden TT victory in last year's second Supersport Race. Gary will race the Superbike and Senior races for the Padgetts outfit.

The Padgetts MMCG Racing team has become a byword in consistency at the TT with 9 wins, including Ian Hutchinson's record breaking five in a week in 2010, in the last four years.

Since 2007, the team has taken a total of fourteen podiums with four fastest laps including two lap records in the Superstock class in 2009 and 2010. In total, the team has twenty-four top five finishes from the last thirty one races they've started in the same five year period. Between the 2008 and 2010 Senior Races they won eight out of the eleven races held.

Clive Padgett, team boss at Padgett's MMCG Racing, is clearly looking forward to the new season and said: "We've got a great team again this year and I know that all the lads enjoy racing for our team. Everyone gets on really well and feels part of the family when they climb onto our bikes. I'm delighted to welcome Gary on board and I'm sure we can help him, and John and Bruce, to add to their wins on the mountain course. Roll on June."

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government, commented:
"Padgetts has established themselves as the team to beat on the Isle of Man. There's a saying on the Isle of Man that to win the race you've got to finish it and Padgetts consistent performance has meant that they have had an unbeatable record over the last few years."

The nidirect Government Services website has published a reminder and information:  As of yesterday, 21st February 2012, “all learner moped and motorcycle riders must complete Compulsory Basic Training (CBT) before they can ride unaccompanied on public roads.”
 
CBT was introduced last year on 21st February 2011 and riders with a motorcycle provisional licence entitlement were allowed a year to take a motorcycle practical test without having to take CBT.
 
As this deadline has now passed, you will have to take CBT before you can do your practical test, which consists of two parts, a manoeuvres test which will last approximately 30 minute, (at present this is only available from certain test centres) and an on-road motorcycle riding test which lasts about 40 minutes.
 
There are five elements in the syllabus that covers CBT training. Elements A to D are not time bound – the duration will depend on your ability. However, element E will be a minimum of four hours. The overall length of the course will vary depending on your ability, knowledge, understanding and skills.
 
The nidirect Government Services website comments, “Biking can be a great experience but ridden inappropriately, a motorcycle becomes a lethal weapon. CBT will improve learners’ riding skills because they will receive training in a safe environment before being allowed to ride on public roads.”
 
Adding that, “Drivers should look out for motorcyclists -  Half of all motorcyclist casualties are caused by other drivers. Motorists should give extra consideration to motorcyclists and look out for bikes:
 •when overtaking
•at junctions
•when turning right
•when emerging onto main roads
 
Only registered Approved Motorcycle Instructors (AMI) will be allowed to conduct these training courses. It is intended that this new training scheme will improve safety for all road users.”
 
Module 1
 
Element A Introduction – theoretical training
Element B Practical training (touch, balance etc)
 
Module 2
 
Element C Practical riding skills
Element D Pre road-ride briefing
 
Module 3
 
Element E Practical on-road riding (compulsory 4 hours duration)
 
More Changes
 
If you are not already aware, in January 2013, the motorcycle test and licence categories will change through the implementation of the EU Third Licence Directive.
 
Yesterday (21st February) Right To Ride along with other stakeholders attended the second meeting to discuss this implementation.
 
To read this article and for further information and links on CBT in Northern Ireland go to Right To Ride

Ducati UK are pleased to announce the launch of 0% and low rate finance offers for both the Monster 696 and 796.

The Monster 696 and 796 are both now available with ABS and are the perfect choice for not only novices but also experienced riders looking for a stylish, iconic and yet practical bike for urban use.

The Monster 696 spearheads the Ducati UK’s learn to ride scheme due to its novice friendly 80hp engine, light clutch and low seat height and confidence inspiring handling. The 696 can be purchased on 0% finance over 3 years with a 50% deposit from as little as £95.05 per month.

The Monster 796 combines the user-friendliness of the 696 with the sports character of the 1100. Delivering 87hp, a dry weight of just 167kg (368lb) a single-sided swingarm perfectly balances lifestyle performance with everyday functionality to enhance the original Monster spirit. The 796 is also available on 0% finance over 3 years with a 50% deposit from as little as £105.88 per month.

0%, PCP and low rate finance packages are now available on the M696 / M796 (all variants) for the period up to 31st May 2012.