Everything is ready for Dakar 2012. After the two days of scrutineerings, all is set for the big start in January 1st. Team Aprilia will be represented by the Chilean rider Francisco “Chaleco” López and the French-Malian Alain Duclos.

MAR DEL PLATA – The bureaucracy preceding the race is finally over and everything is set for the big show of the Dakar Argentina-Chile-Peru, which will start tomorrow with the first of fourteen stages. Team Aprilia will relive the adventure with last year´s amazing performance of Francisco “Chaleco” López, who has finished third and fourth in the last two editions.

“Chaleco” has totally recovered from the accident in Tunisia´s Rally and find himself motivated to face this new adventure. The Chilean rider will be accompanied by his “bodyguard” Alain Duclos, who will participate in the Dakar with Aprilia for the second time after his outstanding performance as last year´s fastest private rider!

The duo will take the new version of the Aprilia RXV 4.5 into the South American deserts specially prepared by Aprilia Racing that made this new bike faster and lighter. Many other technical changes were applied to adapt the bike for rally raid use, most of all concerning reliability, a very important matter in order to complete the 8391 kilometers of the race that will cross Argentina, Chile and Peru, where riders will reach the finish line in Lima next January 15th.

There will be also two other Aprilia RXV in the race, supported by the structure of Team Giofil: the French rider of thirty seven years old Arnaud Besnier that jumps into this extreme challenge, and also Edouard Boulanger, Dakar Challenge´s winner who will make his dream come true. The French rider living in Italy earned the free registration fees to participate in the Dakar after his great performance as private rider in Pharaons Rally 2011.

Tomorrow the Dakar 2012 will have its official start ceremony in Plaza Colón in Mar del Plata, in front of the Casino Municipal, where all competitors will greet the start and the first competitive stage will be a 57 km timed section with 763 of road connection to arrive to the first bivouac located in Santa Rosa de La Pampa.

APRILIA RACING RIDERS

FRANCISCO “CHALECO” LOPEZ

Francisco López was born September 15th, 1975 in Curicó, the southern center region of Chile. At the age of four, he starts riding a motorcycle, motivated by his father, Renato Lopez, a very brave motocross rider. López not only inherits the talent from his father, but also the nickname “Chaleco”, which means “sweater”, coming from the fact that his dad raced with a sweater knitted by his mother Ana María.

He started in rally raid in Por las Pampas in 2005, where he obtained a stage victory, showing its strength in this discipline. In 2007, he was crowned World Champion in 450 cc class with Honda. This result took him straight to take the place of an official KTM rider in 2007.

“Chaleco” became an official rider of Team Giofil Aprilia Racing in Pharaons Rally 2009 and took the Aprilia bike made in Noale, Italy, to the third place in Dakar 2010. That same year, López won the Rally of Tunisia and took the second place overall and first in 450cc class in the Rally of Egypt, finishing second in the world ranking.

The unfortunate end of Dakar 2011 is still in mind. López was on the third place overall, but some miles before the finish line of the last stage the rear suspension broke down and he could only reach the fourth place after two stage victories. Then, in Tunisia´s Rally last April, the Chilean was well placed overall when an accident cost him a long period of inactivity and time to recover from it.

Now, Chaleco is ready to race again, motivated to the highest point after his return to the races in Pharaons 2011 last October, his last test before the Dakar 2012 Argentina-Chile-Peru.

ALAIN DUCLOS

Alain Duclos was born on June 25th, 1971 in Bamako, Mali, from a French father and Malian mother. At the beginning of the 80´s, and as part of a very passionate family, he discovered the two wheel universe but he was still too young, so he decided to dedicate himself to BMX.

In 1982, the Dakar´s passage through Korghoro light the fire inside of him and he promised himself that he was going to participate on it once.

He practiced Enduro for years until he finally took part of the race in 2000, in the Dakar Paris-Dakar-Cairo. Duclos has always been improving results, he took the 14th place in 2005 and 7th in 2006, where he was the fastest private rider.

Also 6th in 2010, before starting with Team Aprilia, he alternated great stage results and technical problems during the last Dakar, where he was an outstanding support for the 4th position of Francisco López. Duclos arrives to the hardest race in the world highly motivated to take his new Aprilia RXV 4.5 to the top.

If you are looking to purchase a quad bike or already have one ready to take out, it is important to make sure that you have appropriate quad bike insurance from a provider such as MCE Insurance. There are many different levels of cover available, so seeking out insurance from such a reputable specialist provider will help to ensure that you have an appropriate level of cover for your activities. The quad bike insurance cover that you need depends on how you will be using your quad bike, so it is important to know the different options that are available to you.

What Are You Planning to Use Your Quad Bike For?

Before you seek out quad bike insurance, think about how you are likely to use your quad bike. With so many options and levels of cover available you need to consider your own circumstances. For example, will you use your quad bike on road? Do you plan on travelling abroad? Do you need cover for more than one rider? Answering these questions will help you avoid paying for extras that you don't need while staying covered for the activities you will be undertaking.

What Are the Basic Elements of Quad Bike Insurance?

Typically, the options available to you for quad bike insurance include off road cover, on road cover, options for multiple riders, and cover for accessories. You will almost always want off road cover - after all, that is what a quad bike is for! However, don't discount the benefits of on road cover. Will you ever need to ride on road in order to get to your destination? You may want to take advantage of a policy that offers a certain distance of 'commuting cover' within a defined area around your home.

Extra Cover for Businesses

If you are using your quad bike as part of a business you may also wish to obtain extra elements of cover as well. Such elements could include public liability cover, employers' liability cover and legal expenses cover.

What About Extra Cover for Sporting Events?

Liability insurance is not only needed if you run a business. Liability insurance covers you in the event that your actions cause an injury to another person. If you wish to take part in sporting events with your quad bike, the organisers will likely require you to have liability cover in case you injure spectators or other attendees.

Do You Need European Cover?

A standard policy will likely not cover you for using your quad bike overseas. You may wish to take parts in European events or just bring your quad bike with you on holiday for some fun on the continent. If this is the case you will need European cover. Typically, this extra cover is offered for a certain number of days from your preferred start date. Make sure that your policy will gives the level of cover that you require, and extend your cover if your trip runs over.

Get a free quote here... 

The British Motorcyclists Federation have welcomed the Department for Transport’s announcement that it is to cut the requirement for annual renewal of Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN).

In its submission on the DfT’s consultation, ‘Road Transport Red Tape Challenge’, the BMF had pointed out that for many motorcyclists with either classic bikes or other motorcycles undergoing renovation, they have had to renew their SORN every year even though the machine in question may not even be roadworthy. Now, once owners have notified the DVLA that their vehicle is covered by a SORN, they will no longer have to renew it.

Other cuts to red tape announced by Transport Secretary Justine Greening cover scrapping the regulation (by 2015) requiring motorists and motorcyclists to hold a paper counterpart to their driving licence and more controversially, the removal of the need for an insurance certificate.

In a previous consultation the BMF said it was concerned that under the new Continuous Insurance Enforcement Rules there would be sole dependence on the Motor Insurance Database (MID), a database that had proved less than reliable in cases of multi-vehicle insurance policies. However the Department for Transport says it will now work with the insurance industry on removing the need for insurance certificates.

By using the MID system the DfT say this will also remove the need for owners to prove they have insurance when taxing on-line because this will be checked against the registered keeper details held by the DVLA.

Commenting, BMF spokesman Jeff Stone said: “It makes a pleasant change these days to have less red tape and we know from our members that the removal of the annual SORN requirement will be particularly welcome.”

In the light of pending EU regulations, the BMF also welcomes the fact that the Motor Cycles (Single Vehicle Approval) Regulations 2003 are to be retained. These are regulations that provide motorcycle special builders and personal importers with a cost effective way to obtain type approval for one-off machines.

See full details.

Ace Cafe London's annual Elvis "Jailhouse Rock" Birthday Party Night, with Paul Ansell's No.9, from 9pm - 2am on Saturday 7th January, includes opportunity to win prizes to include from the range of the authentic USA made items by Prison Blues, as well as a CD set of three volumes that showcase the music from the "King's" personal Jukebox, courtesy of the UK label Vee-Tone Records - The Memphis Jukebox, Volumes 1, 2 and the recently released Volume 3, which contains 22 singles plus 2 special bonus tracks that have been carefully selected by Vee-Tone Records to demonstrate the young Elvis Presely's wide musical tastes including Blues, Rhythm & Blues, Rockabilly and Rock n' Roll.

David Gillespie of Vee-Tone Records said: "This is a truly unique and historic collection. Whilst many of the records individually will have been heard before, together they give a remarkable insight into Elvis' life and musical influences.  Every time you press 'play' to listen to this collection, you are recreating a moment in time; a moment in Elvis' life when he would press 'play' on his personal jukebox in Graceland." 

www.veetonerecords.com

www.prisonblues.co.uk

www.ace-cafe-london.com

Join us for a rockin' New Years Eve with Bill Fadden & The Rhythm Busters + DJ Jimmy Guntrip.

£15 advance booking - £20 on the door . Sorry No Under 18s.

The evening includes a hot supper, party poppers, and the chance to win some great prizes!

A copy of the new magazine Vintage Rock

Tickets to attend Zippos Cirque Extreme at the Winter Wonderland event in London's Hyde Park

Tickets to the annual Auto Sport International Show at Birmingham's NEC (12th-15th January)

A pair of tickets to Ace Cafe London's annual Elvis Birthday Party Night with Paul Ansell's No.9

(Saturday 7th January)

A pair of tickets to Ace Cafe London's annual Gene Vincent Night with Graham Fenton & The Allstar Band (Saturday 18th February)

www.vintagerockmag.com

www.hydeparkwinterwonderland.com

www.autosportinternational.com

www.ace-cafe-london.com