The first annual Prescott Bike Festival in 2011 was successful beyond expectations. The one-day event attracted in excess of 5,500 visitors, 100 exhibitors and some unforgettable opportunities to celebrate all things two and three wheeled. Most importantly, it raised more than £52,000 for charities.

The Prescott Bike Festival was born out of the need to raise awareness and funds for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and one of its member groups, Severn Freewheelers. For Sunday 22nd April 2012 (a new date to avoid a clash with major bike motor sport events), the Prescott Bike Festival will be bigger and even better. It will hopefully generate even more money for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes than in 2011.

Set at one of the most prestigious hill climb venues in the UK against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold countryside, the Prescott Bike Festival aims to provide something for everyone; a relaxed family atmosphere, a huge variety of entertainment and a rare opportunity to ‘Run the Hill’ on your own motorcycle.

Well supported by the bike industry, highlights of the 2011 event included the UK debut of the Morgan 3 Wheeler, classic machinery from the Brooklands Museum, helicopter rides, live bands, the opportunity to meet the stars of the British Superbike Championship and riders aged from 8 to 81 taking to the hill.

In 2012, the Festival will feature the addition of a new Race Bikes Thru’ the Ages display. Never before will such an extensive collection of bikes have been brought together. Here, festival goers will not only be able to get up close with rare exotica, early pioneering machinery, modern MotoGP bikes and more but they will see many of them in action, ridden by race riders. Of particular note is support from competitors in the Lansdowne Classic Series, who will display some of the most prestigious race bikes of the 1950s and 1960s. The 2012 Festival also promises a new Orchard Food & Bar Village, a Run the Hill Fancy Dress competition and much more. One of the most amusing new features for the Prescott Bike Festival 2012 was inspired by the unexpected entry of Superman in the 2011 Run the Hill. For 2012, entrants can choose to tackle the hill climb in fancy dress to raise money for the Blood Bike charities and for the chance of winning a fantastic prize for the best costume of the day!

www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk has just been launched to provide more details of what will be in store and give riders the opportunity to purchase advance tickets and secure their place to Run the Hill. There are just 200 places available to Run the Hill, so it’s best to book early!

Scott Lawrie and James Neave, one of the UK’s leading sidecar outfits has confirmed that they will be making their first time appearance on the Mountain Course at the 2012 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy. The pair made the announcement at ‘TT Day’ at Motorcycle Live at the NEC.

Scottish driver Lawrie has had a rapid rise in the British F1 Sidecar Championship and, after finishing 12th in 2010, he shot up the table this season to take a superb 3rd place overall, only denied the runner-up spot to eventual Champion Tim Reeves after bad luck in the closing rounds. With 9 podiums from the 20 race series, it’s clear the talented Edinburgh man will be one to watch as he pits his wits against the 37 and ¾-mile circuit for the first time.

He also impressed on the World stage and although he only had two appearances in the 2011 World Championship, he made it count with 4th and 5th at the two races held at Oschersleben and 8th in race 1 at Schleiz. That was good enough to place him 9th overall in the Championship table and backed up his 7th place in the 2010 series where his best race result was again 4th, at Rijeka, Croatia.

Meanwhile, Neave, despite being one of the youngest passengers on the grid at 23, has already tasted race action at the TT having been in the chair with Andy Laidlow in 2009 where they finished 10th in the only race held that year. Their fastest lap was a more than creditable 106.069mph and, having partnered Lawrie since 2009, he’ll be the perfect ballast come June.

As well as going into 2012 as major British and World Championship F1 contenders, Scott and James are keen to make an impression at the Isle of Man TT, an event they have always been keen to try together and, with this in mind they have readily entered this year’s event where they will contest both three-lap Sure Sidecar Races.

The pairing have already begun preparing both outfits for the coming season and will call on the expertise of Steve Webster, the ten-times World Champion, who has been assisting their quest in recent years.

Talking about his debut, Lawrie commented:

“I’ve been thinking about contesting the Isle of Man for a while and believe the time is now right for me to make my debut. The F2 MR Equipeoutfit will be new to me as well as the Mountain Course, obviously, so I realise that I still have a lot to learn but with James already having solid experience on the Island it will stand us in good stead. The Newcomers have done incredibly well in recent years but I’ll approach the event in my own way and won’t set myself too many targets in my first year. It’s a long term project for me so the main thing for 2012 is to learn the course, do a good, solid job, enjoy myself and come back stronger in subsequent years.”

With two former World Champions, Tim Reeves and Ben Birchall, again on the entry list for the 2012 TT, as well as the established leading runners, including John Holden and the returning 14-times winner Dave Molyneux, the F2 Sidecar races at the Isle of Man continue to be the most prestigious sidecar races in the world and the two races in June promise action and quality of the very highest order.

Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Manager, commented:

“I’m delighted that we have secured the participation of this outfit as they are hugely promising competitors who I’m sure will do well on the Isle of Man for many years to come. The sidecar class, once again promises to be the unofficial World Championship and there are a number of very interesting crews in this year’s race.”

The 2012 Isle of Man TT begins with a week of practice from May 26th through to June 1st with the two three-lap Sidecar Races set for Saturday June 2nd and Wednesday June 6th.

As the Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) committee heads towards the scheduled vote on the 5th December regarding EU Regulations for motorcycles, we take a closer look at issues in the lead up to the vote.
 
The Motorcycle Action Group (MAG UK) reported on November 23rd that “today sees the start of a new Impact Assessment into the EU Type Approval Regulation.” Stating that, “This has been demanded by the European Parliament following the incredible amount of work which has been done by every one of us who wrote to our MEPs or who rode in the protests of the 25th September.”
 
Regarding the scheduled vote in the IMCO committee, Paddy Tyson from MAG UK comments, “we have very good cause to believe it will be moved yet again, as there is no way the IA can be completed, a report prepared, and the Committee members have time to read it, before the 5th December”.
 
At Right To Ride, we make it our business to look in-depth at the issues, we always take a step back to look at the wider picture, to look at the background surrounding the issues before reporting factually and giving our opinion.
 
While we have every respect for MAG the organisation, is this information supplied by MAG’s Campaign Manager Paddy Tyson offering false hope to riders without an understanding of the technical contents of the proposal?
 
Paddy Tyson says this new Impact Assessment into the EU Type Approval Regulation will, “delay proceedings enough to set back the regulation till the Spring, at a Strasbourg meeting, which will be “MAG’s time to get out on the streets again.”
 
The Impact Assessment that Paddy Tyson mentions is not looking at the whole regulation proposal as submitted by the European Commission. The Impact Assessment will be looking at three compromise amendments which were submitted by MEPs to the IMCO Rapporteur, Mr van de Camp’s report.
 
To clarify, the European Commission has already had an Impact Assessment carried out and published on their proposed regulation.
 
Because these three amendments are substantive amendments to the proposal, the Chair of the IMCO committee, UK MEP Malcolm Harbour, has asked for an Impact Assessment specifically in relation to these three amendments.
 
These three amendments are:
 •Moving the ABS introduction date forward by a year.
 •Extending ABS cover to Powered Two Wheelers more than 50cc.
 •Earlier introduction of On Board Diagnostics II (OBD II)
 
The reason for the Impact Assessment on these amendments, is that none of these specific amendments have ever been costed. So the European Parliament through the IMCO committee, as the responsible committee, is assessing the amendments for potential impacts to the regulation.
 
So are there any advantages for riders in this specific Impact Assessment?

Our view is: Not in the grand scheme of things. It would appear that the Impact Assessment on these three amendments (as amendments that would have an impact on the proposed regulation), is to determine the cost and any disadvantages to manufacturers and riders.

The vote on the amendments in the IMCO committee is scheduled for the 5th December and it is possible that the Impact Assessment (relating to the three amendments mentioned above) would not be completed before this vote.
 
However our understanding is that even if the Impact Assessment is not ready for the vote on the 5th December, work on the Impact Assessment (relating to the three amendments mentioned above) would continue and once concluded would be used in informal negotiations known as trilogues.
 
It would appear not to be the great hope of, “every delay is a minor victory” but a tidying up of amendments to get to the bottom of the issues and to better align with and take into account the progress in the Council and introduction dates.

Full details on Right To Ride EU

Originally intended to be fully indoors, this new event has simply grown and grown, with many traders wanting to be based outside in the fresh Nottinghamshire air. The vast majority of indoor pitches have now been sold, with just a handful remaining – so if you want to be involved, time is running out.

To make the show even more informative, there'll be a 'roving mike' as Dave Craggs holds a Traders Tech Talk Walkabout – where he interviews traders, finds out what they do and asks them to do live demonstrations of their products and services.

You'll also find Moto GP presenter Julian Ryder on a stand in the Lady Eastwood Hall, one of more than 400 plots which include a mixture of trade, autojumble, clubs and private entries

Classic Bike Guide magazine editor Nigel Clark has been looking forward to the show for some time, and said: "We are planning to make the Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic a show to rival anything. We know that for many enthusiasts in the south, the Bristol show is their first chance to show off a new restoration, we’d like this show to become a showcase for northern talent too.”

Tickets for The Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic Show can be bought on the day or online. An advance adult day ticket is £7 online and £8 on the gate.

For more information on how to buy pre booked discounted tickets call our hotline discount number on 01507 529529.

Future Dates:

The 1st Carole Nash Classic Bike Guide Winter Classic Show – 7/8 January 2012 (NEW SHOW!)

32nd Carole Nash Bristol Classic MotorCycle Show -18/19 February 2012

32nd Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show – 28/29 April 2012

The 1st Carole Nash Great Scottish Bike Show - 12/13 May 2012 (NEW SHOW!)

The 19th Carole Nash Eurojumble – 7/8 September 2012

The 19th Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show – 20/21 October 2012

1st Carole Nash Scottish Dirt Bike Show – 1/2 December 2012 (NEW SHOW!)

Comment on budget announcement of £5 billion for infrastructure projects
 
IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “£270 million for managed motorways is good news. In some cases managed motorways have halved the number of crashes.  They also ease congestion and cut carbon emissions.  The extra money for our A roads is also welcome. But while today’s announcement will help, we need serious and sustained investment across the UK’s road network.
 
“Our roads are crying out for basic maintenance.  Crumbling roads and potholes are a serious problem and a road safety hazard, especially for those on two wheels.”
 
Comment on plans to cancel 2012 fuel duty increases
 
IAM chief examiner Peter Rodger said: “Cancelling fuel duty rises next year is a welcome relief for motorists. But don’t wait for the chancellor to reduce the cost of driving, do it yourself now. The way you drive has a big impact on the amount of fuel you use. If you slow down and leave more of a gap between yourself and the vehicle in front, you won’t need to accelerate and brake so much. That’s two easy ways to reduce your fuel consumption by up to 15 per cent.”