Thrilling racing and a close finish are expected to be the order of the day in the Locate.im Junior Classic TT at this year’s Classic TT Races presented by Bennetts with a grid of almost 80 entries featuring many of the world’s leading road racers.

Last year’s winner Michael Rutter returns with the Ripley Land Racing Honda which he also took to victory in 2015 and he will set off at number four again in a race which looks set to be dominated by the Japanese marque.

The Davies Motorsport trio of Alan Oversby (#2), Dominic Herbertson (#8) and 2014 race winner Lee Johnston (#13) are all race contenders as is Jamie Coward (#3) returns on board the Ted Woof/Craven Honda that he took to third place twelve months ago.

Daniel Cooper on the CSC Racing Honda has the honour of setting off first down Glencrutchery Road and he will be looking to get back on to the Classic TT podium for the first time since 2014.

Rutter has a team-mate this year in the shape of Derek McGee - the Irish rider, who achieved his maiden TT podium in this year’s Lightweight TT Race – who will go ten seconds behind his team leader with Olie Linsdell (#9), Conor Cummins (#10) and Phil McGurk (#11) adding further weight to the Honda challenge.

Only two of the first ten starters won’t be Honda mounted - Danny Webb (#6) on the Dunnell Racing Norton and Chris Swallow (#8) on his Velocette both fly the British flag.

Classic racing legend Bill Swallow (#17) is also on board a Velocette and aside from Bob Owen (#20) on an Aermacchi, the remaining top twenty all on the favoured 350cc single cylinder Honda with Hefyn Owen (#14), Alex Sinclair (#15), David Madsen-Mygdal (#16), Peter Boast (#18) and Steve Ferguson (#19) all top ten contenders.

There are a number of other riders more than capable of finishing inside the top ten seeded outside of the top twenty including Chris McGahan (#21), Mark Herbertson (#22), Dave Matravers (#26), Chris Moore (#30), Lancelot Unissart (#33) and Sam Johnson (#39). A number of regular TT competitors have also entered the Junior Classic TT Race including Timothee Monot, Dave Moffitt  and Forest Dunn.

The four-lap race is scheduled to get underway at 10.15am on Monday 27^th August. 

Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available now starting from as little at £5 with race day tickets priced at £30. VIP experiences, tickets for the Classic TT Party on Saturday 25^th August and the RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner on Sunday 26^th August are all available to buy now at iomtt.com or via our sales hotline on (00 44) (0) 1624 640011.

Aleix Espargaró, victim of a violent crash at turn 4 during the Warm Up, will not start today's German GP. After crashing on his fifth lap at the circuit of Sachsenring, the Spanish rider suffered a bad thoracic trauma in the left ribs area and was helicoptered to the nearby hospital of Chemnitz for further checks.

Sulfur Quarry in Calimani Mountains, Romania

- Claudiu Antonio Molnar

The 44^th Annual Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza

South Cerney Airfield, Cirencester 3-5 August 2018

3-5 August 2018 will see the Stroud Vintage Transport & Engine Club (SVTEC) stage their Annual Show at South Cerney Airfield in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. The show now in its 44^th year is widely regarded as one of the biggest and best Steam, Vintage and Countryside events in the UK and attracts thousands of exhibitors and visitors from across the country whilst actively raising thousands of pounds for both national and regional charities. Over £180, 000 has been donated in recent years. Whilst the show has evolved a lot, the mission remains the same - to inform, educate, celebrate and preserve our unique transport heritage.

One of the largest displays is the Motorcycle section featuring 230 registered entries representing manufacturers from across the globe. Among the marques on display are Honda, Yamaha, Harley Davidson, Moto Guzzi, HRD, AGS, James, Triumph, Royal Enfield, Rudge, Baker, BMW, Norton, Velocette, Panther, Francis Barnett, Matchless and Greeves. There will also be an abundance of Lambretta’s to celebrate the mods and rockers era plus the show will play host to the 7th BSA Bantam Club National Rally.

Section leader John Grange said ‘we always try to bring something of interest to all ages and interests, from Veteran to Vintage and Classic. From the smallest Brockhouse Corgi ‘Para’ bike to the HRD Vincent Meteor Series B, from the Yamaha FS1E (my first bike!) to the Suzuki GT750, there will be something to suit everyone’s motorcycling interests. The section celebrates 100 years of motorcycles’.

Show Highlights include

Vintage displays of nearly 700 classic cars from pre and post war, including over 70 Classic American, 30 visiting car clubs plus 300 Motorbikes, scooters, 70 bicycles from 1903 - 1980, 30 miniature steam engines, 90 stationary engines, 70 full size steam engines, model engineering, 200 Tractors, over 80 Buses and Coaches, 120 Military Vehicles, 300 Emergency and Commercial Vehicles, 60 Industrial Trucks, 50 vintage Caravans, and over 50 model Aircraft taking to the sky above.

Live Arena with non-stop demonstrations from spectacular Showman’s Engines to dancing tractors plus the opportunity to drive a steam engine and NEW – a motorcycle display team show

Vintage Fun fair with fairground organs, 'electric yachts', waltzers, big wheel, steam-driven 'gallopers' and traditional penny arcade games, plus ‘Chuffy the train’ passenger rides

The Dog Show runs over the weekend and is organised by Cotswold Dog and Cat Home. Categories include: Scruffiest Mutt, Prettiest Bitch, Handsomest Dog Quickest Sit, Best Child Handler, Best Rescue to Waggiest Tail. Come and enter your four-legged fury friend on the day for just £2 per entry per class (in addition to show event entry fee) all money goes to help the marvellous local animal shelter.

The Countryside Arena actively promotes animal conservation and features both fun and education displays from ferret racing, rare breeds, alpaca’s, shire horses, horse logging, reptiles to bee hive making. NEW for 2018 – vulture flying display. Back by popular demand is the hilarious ‘Sheep Show’ - an entertaining demonstration of shearing and sheep dancing - get into the groove with the Sheep Show Shuffle!  Plus, the children’s area has traditional vintage funfair games, face painting and Professor Colliwobble with his free regular Punch and Judy Shows.

Massive Trade stand village featuring over 100 trade stalls, models tents, 2 large craft marques, specialist displays of memorabilia from bygone days.

The showground site is sprawling, but there’s plenty of food and drink ‘pit stops’, a firm favourite is the vintage tea room with regular music and Lindy Hop dancing performances (both days). Live music with vintage songstress Betsy Harmony, performing a delightful selection of 1940s songs plus regular sets by the ‘Steamed Up Brass’.

Jump4Heroes parachute display team will descend into the arena on all three days of the event. Jump4Heroes is The Royal British Legion Extreme Human Flight Team, made up of serving and former members of the Army, to support and raise awareness of the Armed Forces charities.

FREE vintage bus rides around the showground on all three days. What more the Bedford OB hope to set a world record for the biggest gathering of vintage buses on site.

Each day at 10am the steam section will sound their bells in memory of the late arena commentator Alec Tanner. The main area will officially be named as the ‘Alec Tanner’ arena.

Chairman of the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club (S.V.T.E.C) Martyn Slater, said: ‘Our goal is to give the best value for money family day out in Gloucestershire’.

The Extravaganza is organised by the Stroud Vintage Transport and Engine Club. This non-profit making organisation raises money for national and local charities and up to 30 will be represented on site raising money and awareness of their respective causes. The rally is one of the largest events of its kind run entirely by volunteers from all the corners of Gloucestershire.

www.glosvintageextravaganza.co.uk

Maybe you have been creating something special in your shed or have a rare race bike or cafe racer in your garage. If you've built a beautiful chopper or bobber or modernised a classic, let us know, send us pics - and your bike could be proudly on show inside the Cheltenham Town Hall this September.

Oily Rag Co is headline sponsor for the exhibition and showcase which takes place in the Town Hall and around the Imperial Gardens from 8-9th September.

The motorcycle showcase will feature rare specials, award-winning customs, modified classics, stunning cafe racers, old school choppers and customised scooters...

Visitors will also be able to enjoy mooching around the trade stalls and grab lunch, coffee and hang out with friends and family in the licensed bar.

The Oily Rag Co Festival of Bikes takes place 8-9th September 2018 inside and around the Cheltenham Town Hall and you can get 20% off tickets when you buy online at TheCustomShow.com

Visit The Festival on either or both days - all tickets are valid for the Saturday and Sunday. 

If you would like to display your motorcycle masterpiece at this year's Festival of Bikes please email good photos for consideration to [email protected]