| Biker News - Regularly updated
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Channel 4's Find It, Fix It, Flog It is set to return to the screens this summer! 
Have you got a barn or shed stuffed with unwanted clutter or loved but unused bikes? Then Channel 4's Find It, Fix It, Flog It is looking for you!
Presenters Henry Cole and Simon O'Brien are looking to restore and up-cycle your old and forgotten items. Making you money in the process.
If you think you have some interesting items, then get in touch with them.
To take part, contact the production team on: [email protected]

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Honda Racing’s John McGuinness will continue his association with Jackson Racing in 2017 with the Preston-based team again supplying the Morecambe Missile with Honda machinery for the Supersport 600cc races. The deal sees McGuinness continue to be mounted on a CBR600RR Honda for the Supersport races at both the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT where he’ll be alongside the team’s full time rider Lee Johnston. Run by brothers Alan and Andy, it will be the third successive year the 23-times TT winner has ridden for the Jackson Racing concern and he’s keen to build on the success already achieved. More associated with success in the 1000cc races, McGuinness’s recent efforts on the Supersport machine have gone relatively unnoticed but 2016 proved he’s riding as well as ever on the 600. Indeed, a lap of 126.329mph in last year’s opening Supersport TT race was his quickest in the class since 2013 and helped him secure an excellent fifth place at the chequered flag. The year before had seen him secure seventh and eighth place finishes around the Mountain Course. Meanwhile, the North West 200 has seen McGuinness claim top ten finishes in both the races in 2015 and 2016, his best being a seventh in the second race of 2015. His eighth place finish in the opening Supersport race of 2016 around the Triangle was only five seconds adrift of a podium place. One of McGuinness' personal sponsors, BetVictor, will be adding their support to Jackson Racing in 2017 and the 44-year old will form part of a strong two-man line up with Ulsterman Johnston having already been announced as Jackson Racing’s full time rider for 2017. He’ll ride Hondas in the Superbike, Supersport and Superstock classes at all of the International road races. John McGuinness: “I’m delighted to be riding for Jackson Racing once more in the Supersport class as the two year’s we’ve had together so far have been excellent. Everyone knows the 600cc races are some of the most competitive around but I’ve been riding as well as ever in the class, which has been borne out in both my speeds and results. You’d be hard pushed to find two more enthusiastic people than Alan and Andy and in both 2015 and 2016 they’ve given me a bike that has been faultless.” “My fifth place in last year’s first Supersport race at the TT was one of my most pleasing results of the week and if you’re lapping at more than 126mph on a 600, you’re not hanging around! That shows the strength of the bike and I’m extremely confident we’re going to have another strong year. I’m really looking forward to riding for the team again and working with Lee.” Alan Jackson: “It’s great to have secured the services of John for a third successive year and the whole team is looking forward to working with him once more. The two year’s we’ve had together have been thoroughly enjoyable and we’re confident we can again supply John with machinery to get the results everyone knows he’s capable of. We’ve done some more development work on the engine, which should help even further, and the combination of John and Lee is a formidable team. They get on really well and with the master and the young gun on board, we’re looking forward to an excellent 2017.” “Most teams say each year that they have the best rider line up but this has never been truer for Jackson Racing. We’re in a really strong position to challenge for great results with the combination of both Lee and John on the Ten Kate-prepared machines.” The team’s preparations get underway later this week with their first pre-season tests taking place at Monteblanco, Spain.
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Following a hugely successful event last year, which raised over £4800 for charity, the Girder Fork and Classic Motorcycle Club is holding another show this year.
The event is where classic and modern motorcycles are shown by their owners, hoping to be awarded the best in class or best in show. There were over 100 motorcycles on show last year, covering 100 years of manufacture.
The show is open to all owners of 2 and 3 wheeled motorcycles, from 50cc mopeds to trikes powered by car engines. The wider the variety, the better the show.
The money raised this year will go to our 3 chosen charities: Manorlands, Yorkshire air ambulance and Blood bikes (who help the NHS by transporting blood and donor organs around the country).
The show opens to the public at 12 noon and the presentation of prizes will be held at approximately 3pm. Exhibitors’ motorcycles should be in place by 11.30am.
There will be refreshments and stalls available and the event can be under cover if the weather is inclement.
June 25th - Skipton Auction Mart (BD23 1UD)
£3 entry for adults (accompanied under 16’s are free)
Further details can be obtained from
John Hunter
07960 917 483
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Two new riders, Aleix Espargarò and Sam Lowes, and the new 2017 RS-GP, more powerful and technologically advanced.
The new red, white and green livery designed by Aldo Drudi celebrates a fiercely proud, all-Italian project.
ROBERTO COLANINNO: "Staff, technology and a lot of passion. We have everything we need to continue growing. Aprilia's history of success demands that we be protagonists."
ROMANO ALBESIANO: "We grew a lot in the pre-season tests; we intend to do the same throughout the Championship." Last year the RS-GP made its début in the Doha tests, the first MotoGP bike developed entirely by Aprilia Racing to compete in the premier class of Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing. Just twelve months later, the all-Italian project must now face an important final exam: the constant progress demonstrated in the first season, with 16 Top-10 finishes, was reconfirmed during the tests in Valencia, Jerez, Sepang and Phillip Island.
Aleix Espargarò, a welcome returnee to the Aprilia camp, immediately found the right feeling with his RS-GP, especially in terms of braking stability. The Spanish rider was also able to test the 2017 evolution of the Italian MotoGP bike, approving of the progress made compared with the 2016 version and demonstrating encouraging competitiveness during the official tests.
Sam Lowes, on the other hand, could not help but have a different task than his teammate's. The talented English rider must first of all become familiar with a prototype that is very different from the Moto2 bike he has ridden in the past, both strictly in terms of performance and in terms of the riding style it requires. The progress demonstrated during the tests led to reducing the gap behind the best in the category and, much more importantly, improving his sensations in the saddle. ROBERTO COLANINNO - PIAGGIO GROUP CEO AND MANAGING DIRECTOR “Aprilia Racing represents one of the Piaggio Group's points of technological excellence. In fact, racing is the highest point of experimentation and the development of technological solutions from which all the products and brands in the group then benefit. Last year, we introduced our RS-GP, the first MotoGP bike designed and built entirely here in Noale. In the second half of the season, the new bike showed clear progress, consistently finishing in the Top-Ten. This year, we want to continue our growth trend and be a threat to manufacturers who have been in this class for decades and we have everything it takes to achieve this goal: staff, technology, experience and a lot of passion. Aprilia's sport history boasts 54 World Titles, most of which, no less than 28, have been earned since Aprilia has been part of the Piaggio Group. A history with such great success demands that we work hard to always be protagonists with the goal of continuing to entertain and attract the young people who have always been Aprilia's greatest asset.” The 2017 Aprilia RS-GP comes to the beginning of this season dressed in a new red, white and green livery to celebrate a fiercely proud all-Italian project. The fairing was designed by Aldo Drudi, certainly the most famous designer in the racing world, just one more Italian value that Aprilia will hold high in 2017 on tracks all over the world.
Important partnerships have been renewed this year that go beyond a simple sponsorship relationship, like SAP with whom the Piaggio Group is developing important future projects for connectivity between vehicle and rider and NOW TV, Sky's Internet TV, with a wealth of content such as Cinema, TV Series and Sports, with whom Aprilia Racing will be pioneering innovative content and entertainment formulas. ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER "For us, 2017 begins with a different situation compared with last year. We already know that we have a bike, the RS-GP, which has reached a good competitive level. The evolutions that we studied and applied in view of the new season concern every aspect of the bike, from its weight, which has been optimised, to overall balance, not to mention engine performance and the electronics package. An all-around operation but without any drastic changes, given the good starting base, with which we want to take another step toward the goals set for the Aprilia MotoGP project. The initial feedback has been encouraging. Aleix likes the new bike and has some rather clear ideas on which characteristics have the most room for improvement, so we will be working in those areas throughout the season. The racing department put in a lot of effort during the winter break. Everyone understands the importance of the challenge we are facing and our front fairing is just the most visible example of Aprilia's dedication to innovation. During the tests we stayed in a group of very competitive bikes and riders, where just a few tenths of a second can make a big difference. Our goal, after showing that we can consistently battle for the Top-10, is to improve further." ALEIX ESPARGARO' "I am happy to unveil the new livery that we will use this year. It is always nice to officially launch a new project, especially because I have great confidence in Aprilia Racing and the team's work. It will definitely be a good season. We still have a lot to improve, but we have undoubtedly gotten off on the right foot. We are keen to grow. We have specific goals and in order to achieve them, both the team and I will put all of our energy onto the track. All that's left now is to take on the first race in Qatar and see where we stand against our rivals." SAM LOWES "First of all, I am happy to be part of this big family with such a strong bond to racing, with a prestigious history of success like Aprilia Racing. I can't wait to get back on the track in Qatar. I think that I was able to express about 85% of our potential in the winter tests and from the first race I would like to identify a good base to build on, improving step by step all the way to Valencia. We are setting our sights on the points zone straight away and then aiming for the Top-Ten and to battle for some important MotoGP placements. I believe in myself and I fully believe in the potential of my bike and my team." FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER "We are approaching the 2017 season well aware that we can count on a good starting base: in the tests at Sepang and Phillip Island, the team and riders worked very well. On one side, a determined Aleix got straight to work astride the new RS-GP, finding excellent sensations and providing important indications to steer technical development, which is obviously nonstop and concerns all areas of the bike. On the other side, Lowes has made significant progress, getting much closer to his teammate in terms of times. Sam is tackling this new adventure with the right spirit, aiming at building up the necessary experience. The new RS-GP is very nice and none of us can wait to see it in action in the new colours: we are ready for a new and exciting challenge together with Aprilia Racing.” With 104 World Championships in its collection (54 Aprilia, 15 Moto Guzzi, 21 Derbi, 14 Gilera) the Piaggio Group is the most victorious motorcycle group of all times, and Aprilia, born into racing, is the true sports banner for the Piaggio Group.
With 294 Grand Prix races won in World Championship GP Motorcycle Racing, Aprilia holds the record for the most wins of any European manufacturer in the history of top motorcycle competition. These race wins are joined by 54 world titles: 38 in the World Motorcycle Championship (20 in the 125 class and 18 in the 250 class), 7 in Superbike (double Rider/Manufacturer title in 2010, 2012 and 2014, Manufacturer in 2013) and 9 in the Off Road disciplines (7 in Supermoto and 2 in Trial). The Aprilia trophy case also includes the 2005 Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, won with the RSV4 RF ridden by Lorenzo Savadori, currently riding an Aprilia in World Superbike alongside Eugene Laverty.
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Back for its 6th year, giving the motorcycling community in the North West a major indoor motorcycle show to be proud be part of and attend... and in March, with the anticipation of a good summer to follow...
The event has various zones covering over 22,000 sq meters of space - about the size of four football pitches making the Manchester Bike Show the largest indoor motorcycle show in the North of England. Attending will be a large variety of exhibitors and traders including Ducati, Chester Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph and Yamaha, local and national dealers, clothing and helmets, parts and accessories, touring holiday companies, along with many other exhibitors that you would expect to see at a bike show of this size and stature, including THE BIKER GUIDE.
Also see 100's of rare, exotic, modern, classic, custom and Streetfighter machines from clubs and private individuals, music and entertainment, stunt shows, DJ’s, special guest stars and much much more...
In 2016 16,500 motorcycle enthusiasts attended for an unforgettable action packed day and weekend out for all. Since 2012 they have doubled the floor space, doubled the number of trade exhibitors to 120 individual companies, doubled the number of participating clubs to 50, doubled the number motorbikes on display to over 1,000 and doubled the number of visitors.
Lots of Motorcycle clubs attending, including BMF, Ducati Owners’ Club, Gawsworth Jesters, Goldwing Misfits, Honda Owners’ Club Manchester, NABD, Rainy City Harley-Davidson, Rigby’s Guardians MCC, Royal British Legion Riders and the Chunky Tread Motorcycle Adventure Club. Clubs and individuals are welcome to display their bikes. Entry forms on the website.
venue: EventCity, Phoenix Way, off Barton Dock Road, Urmston, Manchester, M41 7TB. Free parking. price: Pre-book: Adult: £14. OAP: £12. Child (5-14): £4. Two adults & two children: £32. OTD: Adult: £17. OAP: £15. Child (5-14): £4. Two adults & two children: £37. tel: Organisers number 01484 667 776 website: www.manchesterbikeshow.com facebook facebook event e-mail: [email protected]
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