Sunday 10th December
Depart 11.00 am

One week before the annual Xmas Toy Run, meeting at Ace Cafe to depart at 11am, is the annual ride out to attend the Mayhew Animal Home in Kensal Rise, NW10. Established during the reign of Queen Victoria in 1886, the home is entirely funded by, and dependent upon, public support.

Being the season for giving, we must not forget the animals, so often overlooked and neglected, and which entirely rely on places like "The Mayhew" and the generosity and support of all.

The Mayhew welcomes gifts, to include towels, blankets (used as bedding) as well as pet food and treats for cats and dogs.

Private donations can also be made on your visit to the Mayhew. You may even find a furry friend that you may wish to adopt!
For those of you who can't make the run, there will be collecting tins on the counter and a collection box for food, treats and bedding etc. at the cafe in the week leading up to the run.

www.mayhewanimalhome.org

Former Pirelli National Superstock 600 Race winner Davey Todd will make his Mountain Course debut at the 2018 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, riding for the highly experienced and respected Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing Team.

The Saltburn rider will have a full complement of machinery for his maiden TT appearance, riding one of the latest generation GSXR Suzuki 1000 machines in the RST Superbike, PokerStars Senior and RL360 Quantum Superstock TT Races. 

The 22-year old made his name in the National Superstock 600cc Championship, finishing in a strong sixth overall in 2016 after taking race wins at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch and a brace of fourths at Silverstone and Donington Park.

2017 saw him take third place in the opening round at Donington Park but he then left the series to turn his attention to road racing where he immediately impressed. An excellent second place finish was secured in the Dundrod 150 National Race at the Ulster Grand Prix and he was on course for a sensational top six result in the second Ulster Grand Prix Supersport 600cc race before being forced to retire but not before he’d lapped at 125.503mph which more than demonstrated his road racing potential. 

Todd had earlier made the established guard sit up and take note with a number of top five results at the Skerries 100 Road Races before going to the Armoy event and making headlines with a second place in one of the Supersport Races behind Irish Champion Derek McGee. He then took his 600cc machine to a superb third in the Superbike Race behind TT hero Michael Dunlop and McGee, beating William Dunlop in the process.

Todd also impressed on his debut at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough with a series of top ten results at the Barry Sheene Festival in July and the youngster has all the talent to succeed on the 37.73-mile Mountain Course in the years ahead.

An enthusiastic Todd said: 

"This is the opportunity I have been waiting for and I'm very grateful to John Burrows and his team for giving me this shot! I know I'm joining a very professional team with proven competitive machinery so I'm very excited about my prospects for next season.”

" I'll be a newcomer to the TT Races but I'm preparing hard for the event and when I get there I'll aim to make progress quickly but stay safe.."

Dawn Harrison, Wendy and Bill Hobbs and Geoff Springthorpe, at Donington Park Services, meeting point for the 2017 Ride to the Wall.

Motorcycle apparel brand RST has signed a new long-term sponsorship agreement with the Isle of Man Government to be the Official Safety Partner of the Isle of Man TT Races and Classic TT Races, extending a relationship that originally began in 2015.

The company will be the title sponsor of both the RST Superbike TT and RST Superbike Classic TT Races and the title sponsor of the ‘RST Classic TT Heroes Dinner’.
 
As part of their sponsorship, RST will provide the TT Travelling Marshals and Rider Liaison Officers with the safety equipment that they require during the events including custom made jackets for the Travelling Marshals and personalised equipment for the Rider Liaison Officers.

RST will develop a line of high quality safety wear products and a premium merchandise featuring the TT logo that will available to purchase from their retail unit at the TT Grandstand at both events as well as globally through the company’s network of distributors and retailers as well as through the company’s own on-line store from March 2018.

RST will sponsor a new Star of Tomorrow Award at the TT Races, which will be judged on a range of factors by the TT Rider Liaison Officers. The award will include two complete sets of factory, made to measure safety wear as well as a package of undercuts, sliders and casual wear.

Jonny Towers, Founder of RST commented:

“Since the outset RST has had a strong sponsorship programme that focuses on British riders and the TT Races has been a particular focus for us when selecting riders because we don’t believe that there’s a better way of demonstrating and showcasing our products than in the world’s toughest and most prestigious motorcycle race.”

Richard Quayle TT Rider Liaison Officer commented:

“RST are a great partner for the Isle of Man TT and Classic TT and we are happy to endorse the effectiveness of their products and associate the TT’s name with their company because their products have been proven time and time again on the Mountain Course.”

He continued:

“Their support for the up and coming riders is a real tangible benefit for the guys starting out and shows that their thinking is aligned and in tune with riders and their requirements.”

Team Birchall - TT sidecar winners and lap record holders - travelled to Andorra last Sunday to attend the 2017 FIM Awards ceremony. The Mitchells of Mansfield supported riders joined the other FIM World Champions at the event held at the Andorra Park Hotel in the Pyrenean Principality.

 The Birchalls, along with team-members James Brindley and Tom Mitchell, rubbed shoulders with 35 fellow FIM World Champions and members from the FIM Team World Championships. Swapping their leathers for dinner jackets, the boys enjoyed an evening to remember relaxing and sharing stories with motorcycling royalty such as Marc Marquez, Toni Cairoli and Jonathan Rea.

 Earlier in the day, the team had attended a fan signing session with the other world champions at the Centre de Congressos in Andorra before heading to the red-carpet and the awards ceremony where they picked up their medals for the 2017 FIM World Sidecar Championships.

 The ceremony capped an outstanding year that also saw the brothers win both Sidecar races at the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, breaking the outright sidecar lap record in the process.

 Ben Birchall: “What an amazing experience – I’m absolutely blown away by the whole weekend and how we were treated by the FIM during our time in Andorra. The country is incredible, its love for motorcycling is obvious and the awards couldn’t have been held in a more beautiful location. To attend such a prestigious event, surrounded by other world champions is something I’ll never forget. I feel honoured to be a world champion myself and the whole experience has only strengthened my desire to defend our title in the 2018 season.”

 Tom Birchall: “What an incredible event held in such a beautiful country. I want to say a massive thank you to the FIM for including us in the celebrations. It was awesome to be there with other riders such as Marc Marquez and Jonny Rea – as bike fans ourselves it was an honour and a privilege to be included in such company.

 “With the capacity changes over the past couple of years in the Sidecar World Championships, I really think the FIM have made the right decisions and the championship is stronger than ever - we’ll be back next year to hopefully retain the crown. I want to say a massive thank you to all our sponsors, friends, family and supporters, without whom this wouldn’t be possible. 2017 was our best yet, but lets see if we can go even better next year.”