Dan Sayle has had an impressive first run out with John Holden with the pair teaming up to win both races in the opening round of the ACU/FSRA F2 British Championship round at Oulton Park at the weekend. The victories took Holden to 40 wins Dan now has three - his first since winning with Nick Crowe in 2007.

The pair will team up again at this year's Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy with Dan returning to the sidecar paddock after a year's absence. The Sulby man will passenger for John Holden after Holden's regular passenger Andrew Winkle withdrew with a suspected broken hand in an incident during the previous World Championship round at Donnington Park.

Sayle has won TT Races with Tim Reeves, Dave Molyneux and Klaus Klaffenbock. His eighth victory came when he teamed up with Tim Reeves in 2013, which made him the joint most successful passenger in history, joining Rick Long on eight victories.

John Holden became the oldest first time TT race winner in the event's history when he won in 2011 at the age of 54 and the Lancashire based racer's Silicone Engineering/Barnes Racing outfit will again be one of the team's to beat with Sayle on board. Holden took two podium places at the 2014 meeting.

Sayle made his debut in 2002 and took his first podium a year later, partnering Greg Lambert. His first victory came in 2004 when he teamed up with fellow Manxman Dave Molyneux. He also has two victories from the Manx Grand Prix as a solo competitor.

Commenting on his return to the paddock Dan said:

"I've got a huge amount of respect for John and his record at the TT and I think that together we can have a good go at this year's races. I'm really looking forward to getting back in the sidecar around the Mountain Course and I think we'll be one of the teams to beat. It was good to get a run together at Oulton Park and I already feel that John and I are gelling as a team."

This year's Sure Sidecar races boast the largest field for ten years with 70 entries confirmed to start including seven former race winners.

Many many thanks for the free tickets to the the Prescott Bike Fest 2015. We had a lovely day out, even though the Missus was stuck in a wheelchair due to Gall Stones! Not pleasant. We were treated to fresh, yet fine and sunny weather, so that made all the difference.

Never attended a race rally before so we were intrigued by the rules, track and procedure. Brilliant atmosphere! Great to see lots of different bikes and 3 wheelers competing to win the race. Sport bikes, racers and even a couple of FS1E's. A replica of the Shuttleworth TT racer ( George Formby) was there. Sadly no photo..

Managed to see Charlie Boorman being interviewed. He intimated that he would be doing a survival/TV reality show soon, but definitely NOT the Jungle ( cannot possibly repeat his story of penis' and balls!!!)... sort of guessed at the Bear Grylls, but who knows.

Only managed to take a few snaps for you. Linda insisted on the one next to the Club House sign!  

The event was well attended and I can only guess at being successful. The only negative was that the venue was not very "disabled" friendly. It was a rough terrain to push a manual wheelchair!  However, all in all, worth the 220 mile round trip.

Our next biking adventure is to visit the Harley Rally at Faaker Am See in Austria, September 2015, which looks like 2,200 mile.  

Once again, thanks for the tickets, and the new edition of the Handbook - proudly displayed... An excellent need to have book.

All the very best
Cheers

Pete and Linda.

A petition to allow powered two wheeled vehicles full Bus Lane use in Greater Manchester. 

Started by Stephen Blay, please sign here to help change the rules in bus lanes.

Here is why it is important...

All the evidence from multiple studies across the country and the largest study from Transport for Greater London confirms that allowing PTW's to use Bus Lanes reduces congestion, reduces air pollution, decreases journey times, makes for more efficient fuel usage and does not cause an increase in accidents between any other Bus lane user.

The cost of not allowing PTW's to use Bus Lanes far outweighs the cost of a Traffic Regulation Order allowing their use.

All of the above reasons that would allow PTW's to use Bus Lanes are stated in the TFGM Plans for transport up to 2021, yet the Chairman refuses to engage any Group representing PTW users.

Other areas, including County Durham, Leeds, Doncaster Sheffield, Brighton to name but a few have already seen the sense in the proposal.

Sign the petition by clicking here.

This weekend, thousands of bikers will gather in the Midlands for one of the biggest biking events in the country.  Taking place on Sunday 26th April the Bike4Life Ride Out and Festival has attracted riders from across the UK as far as Aberdeen and even some international riders from the likes of Frankfurt and Illinois in the USA, all signed up to be part of the day.

With three days still to go, advance registrations are at their highest level ever, with almost 3,000 riders signed up to take part in the mass ride out from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury to the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford.  Bikers will gather at Meole Brace park and ride, Shrewsbury from 9am on Sunday and will depart en masse at 11.30am.  Leading the Ride Out this year is current King of the Jungle and seven times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty and TV Presenter Richard Hammond. Carl and Richard will be joined at the front of the Ride Out by the Emergency Bikers Flymo and Forrest and a lucky competition winner.

The Ride Out will travel along the M54 motorway and arrive at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford around 12.15pm.  To ensure that bikers are kept safe and disruption to other motorists is kept to a minimum, a traffic management system is in place allowing bikers to travel en masse along the M54.  Staggered closures at junctions will be in place as the Ride Out approaches and junctions will re-open again as soon as the bikers have passed. 

Upon arrival at the Museum, bikers will park on the airfield at RAF Cosford and will join thousands of fellow bikers and members of the public at the Festival.  Festival goers will enjoy an afternoon of entertainment including arena displays, demonstrations and activities sponsored by some of the biggest names in the biking world.  A highlight for everyone attending the Festival will be a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire scheduled for 2.45pm (weather permitting). 

Plus, Carl Fogarty will be taking part in a live Q&A on stage and visitors will have the chance to meet and greet the racing champ.  With live performances from Good Companions, Skam, Cairo Son, FireRoad and Redline on the Planet Rock stage between 12noon and 4.00pm, the atmosphere is sure to be electric!

Entry to the Festival is free of charge with all donations on the day going towards the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.  Throughout the event, festival goers will have exclusive access to two of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s EC135 air ambulance helicopters and have the chance to meet the crew.  The event, which is partnered with RAF Museum Cosford and the Safer Roads Partnership, aims to raise awareness of biker safety and bikers are encourage to head to the safety zone on the day to find out more.

So, if you’re a biker and you’re not already registered, why not be a part of this fun charity Ride Out and sign up today, with places limited to 3,500 on the ride out, sign up now to avoid disappointment! Bikers wishing to participate in the Ride Out must have a full licence as the route to the Museum will travel along the M54 motorway.  The festival will be open from 10:00am to 4:00pm and visitors of all ages, not just bikers are encouraged to come along. For more information on Bike4Life Festival or to register for the Ride Out please visit www.bike4lifefest.com £5 per bike and spaces are limited. 

Keep up to date with the latest news and event information by following us on Facebook – Bike4LifeFest or on Twitter @Bike4LifeFest. 

Not only will Norton compete in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT Races at the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, but they will also be taking on the competitive Bennetts Lightweight class in partnership with The British Motorcycle Manufacturing Academy.  MCN's Senior Road Tester and TT racer Adam 'Chad' Child will be at the helm.

Students on the BMMA's apprenticeship programme at Norton HQ at Donington Park will primarily run the project. It is a unique opportunity for the students who will not only build the exciting new bike, but a lucky select few will travel with the Norton team to the TT to work on the lightweight bike alongside the factory team.

The project will use a proven Kawasaki ER-6 motor, in line with the majority of the field. Ohlins have already produced some bespoke suspension for the project; the BMMA race team are expected to start testing in the next few weeks.

Stuart Garner commented: "It's a great opportunity for the students who will work alongside the Norton race team. Chad will be on hand giving feedback developing the bike and the team, he's obviously got extensive bike testing experience and knowledge of Lightweight class."

Chad, who will be competing in his fourth TT, and has competed in every Lightweight race at the TT since the new class was introduced in 2012, is looking forward to the new project.

"It's going to be really interesting to work with the students, together we have steep learning curve; the TT is the ultimate test. They have bags of enthusiasm and it's going to an exciting few weeks; it will be great to see young faces in the paddock actually working on the race bike."