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.”

May only be a tw and a 125cc, but that lap was a memorial to my brother who died racing in the Manx GP and I loved every turn of my wheel.

From Jan Smyth 

For prostate cancer and men's mental health. (Worksop)

from Rachel Boyle