Biker News - Regularly updated

Welcome to our News section, where articles are listed below and if relevant within the categories on the right, just to make it easier for you to find what you wish to read...

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  1. WHAT'S ON this week...

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    Bike Night - Jacks Hill Cafe
    The Old Goats Grumble 3
    Unwanted MCC's 13th Cock Out Rally
    Barflys Rally
    Mallory Bike Bonanza
    Carry On At The Camp
    Gravesend MCC Music & Bike show
    Isle of Man Bonanza, Jurby
    Stourbridge MCC Annual Motorcycle Custom Show
    Chinnor Bike Dayz
    The Billy Goat Rally
    BeicFest
    Garstang Autojumble
    Victory & Indian Bike Day @ Ace Cafe
    Great Western Air Ambulance Ride In And Festival

    See more details (and more events) on the main WHAT'S ON section for July

  2. A NICE SEVENTH PLACE RACE FINISH FOR ALEIX ESPARGARÓ WHO CLOSES OUT THE WEEKEND AS A PROTAGONIST

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    SAM LOWES CRASHES OUT WHILE BATTLING FOR POINTS

    ALBESIANO: “APRILIA CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE LEADERS AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO GROW”

    It was an excellent race for Aleix Espargaró who rode his Aprilia RS-GP to seventh place. With this nice race result, the Spaniard closes out a weekend where he was consistently among the protagonists. Starting from the third row (eighth best time qualifying), Aleix quickly moved in the group of riders battling for the top five. In this stage of the race he battled fearlessly with some of the riders who are leading the championship standings, supported well by his RS-GP which once again confirmed the great progress that the Aprilia MotoGP project has demonstrated in this first half of the season.

    After a few failed assaults, Aleix clinched his final pass at the end of the penultimate lap, overtaking Dovizioso to finish with a nice seventh place. The fifth best race lap time set by Espargaró (1’21.981) adds concrete confirmation and an element of satisfaction to a result that send the entire Aprilia Racing Team Gresini into the holiday break with a smile.

    Sam Lowes crashed out without any physical consequences during the thirteenth lap while, after making up several positions, he was on the hunt to earn championship points.
    ALEIX ESPARGARO'
    "A good result, but to be honest I expected something even more. With the exception of Jonas and Marc, who did an extraordinary race, I thought that I could have been closer to the podium. Unfortunately, at the beginning I had to force a lot to overtake, stressing the front tyre and losing a few tenths. In any case, it was a positive weekend for us. We are progressing step by step. Staying with the strongest riders for almost the entire race is positive. Now I am thinking about relaxing during the break and being ready when we turn up at Brno."
    SAM LOWES
    "A small mistake cost me the race today. It's a pity because I had overtaken a few riders and I was making up ground. My pace was good even compared with that of Aleix who really did an outstanding job today. The improvements are there. I am starting to ride well and the signs are encouraging. The summer break arrived at the right time. I know that I can still improve a lot and I feel positive about the second half of the season."
    ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
    “A nice race for Aleix. He was a contender on equal ground with bikes and riders who are battling for the championship. We are truly very close to staying with the leaders. We were among the best throughout the weekend and that is extremely positive, especially in the dry. If it had not rained on Saturday, Aleix would have been able to start even farther forward on the grid and that would have helped him to stress the front tyre less while battling in the early laps, but we are truly pleased with how things went. Some important technical innovations will arrive now so that we can continue growing and going beyond this good level that our project has reached.”
    FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
    “We were with the riders who are battling for the title for the entire race. This is a fantastic result that demonstrates the level of competitiveness we have reached. Now we are truly close to making a consistent play for the top positions. At mid-season our result is decidedly positive and we will continue to grow. Credit goes to Aleix, Aprilia who is working very well and the entire team that has skilfully managed the RS-GP.”

  3. James Hillier goes back to the future with Oxford Team Ducati

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    Oxford Products and Celeres Racing are proud to announce that James Hillier will be campaigning their Ducati 888 in the Motorsport Merchandise Superbike Classic TT Race at this year’s Classic TT presented by Bennetts meeting on the Isle of Man.

    Fresh from another successful TT campaign, where he secured a 2nd and two 4th places on the 37.73 mile Mountain Circuit, Hillier remains the 5th fastest rider in TT history. He will be riding the Celeres Racing Ducati 888 that celebrates the 25th anniversary of Oxford’s last TT campaign. To fully authenticate this replica the bike, with the support of Oxford Products, has been painted in classic 1992/3 Oxford livery, as used by Trevor Nation, Robert Dunlop and Mark Farmer.

    The Ducati 888 was built last year by Stafford Evans of Celeres Racing to compete in the 2016 Superbike F1 Classic TT race. Wearing Ducati red, Dave Hewson rode the bike to 11th place, with a best lap of 115.769mph.  Modifications were made to an original 1991 road frame and an abundance of carbon fibre parts were fitted to replicate the original machine. 

    Hillier will run race number 5 in 2017, the same number as Trevor Nation did 25 years ago and he will also wear replica leathers for the event. He was upbeat about his prospects.

    ‘I have a real ambition to win the Superbike race of course, but I will also make every effort to be the fastest man around the Island on a Ducati 888.’

    Team owner Stafford Evans was equally optimistic.

    ‘It’s a real honour to be able to replicate the Oxford team of 25 years ago. I actually think that with this bike and with James at the ‘bars, we have a real shot at bringing home the top prize. I am very excited.’

    Hillier is no stranger to the TT course having visited the rostrum several times. These include a Lightweight TT win in 2013 and a 2nd place in the F1 Classic TT in 2014.  

  4. Kiwi Aaron Slight – undoubtedly the best rider never to win the World Superbike title...

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    ... will be guest of honour at the 24th Carole Nash Classic Mechanics Show over the weekend of October 14-15 at Staffordshire County Showground.

    As fast and smooth on the track as he was flamboyant and controversial off it, and often sporting a multi-coloured Mohican haircut, Slight will have some entertaining tales to share with the Stafford audience. And with more than a decade racing in WSB, when the series was arguably at its peak for both factory Kawasaki and Castrol Honda teams, the friendly New Zealander will have plenty of great races to draw from.

    The Classic Mechanics Show, the largest show of its kind in the world which majors on the later Japanese and European scene, promises the usual successful mix of almost 1000 trade and autojumble stalls, stunning club stands and private entries, Bonhams record-breaking auction, live entertainment in the Classic Dirt Bike area and Classic Racer Grand Prix Paddock, and the live Restoration Theatre.

    Ticket prices are a bargain £12 for adults, £11 for seniors or £3 for under-12s if bought in advance. Parking is free.

    www.staffordclassicbikeshows.com/october