ON ANY SUNDAY stars David Aldana and Gene Romero have staked their claims as the most popular Stafford bike show star guests, with thousands packing in to the huge annual event to meet their heroes.

Compere Steve Plater had his work cut out keeping the lively ‘comedy duo’ on track during on stage interviews at the Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show – October 15-16 – as they covered a range of subjects including the iconic film, their racing experiences and some entertaining stories from the glory years.

Visitor Ian McDonald said: “Every year the guests of honour are great, this year they have gone up a gear… fantastic!”. Fellow showgoer Kev Hewitt added to the praise calling the pair “brilliant blokes and great characters”.
Attracting attention as well as the two stars was a Husqvarna previously owned by Hollywood legend Steve McQueen who part-funded the On Any Sunday film, while the addition of the Suzuki Village at Staffordshire County Showground proved to be a hit also. Large crowds headed to the marquee to see Barry Sheene’s two world championship-winning RG500s among a host of other machines from the famous marque.

And it was Suzuki which stole the headlines in the event awards with Heidi Cockerton’s rare 1965 K11T – displayed on the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club stand – scooping the honour of Best in Show. Head judge Dennis Frost called the machine “a window on a world that’s now gone” and explained that it had been an easy decision to select it for the top award: “The work Heidi has done is fantastic, and the added history of the bike made it a show stand-out.

“Its documents reveal that it was imported by AMC in the mid-1960s as a road-going bike, but seems to have been modified to a trials machine with the addition of English wrist grips. There were probably only 20-30 of these made, and this is the only one we know of. The last registered owner was in March 1968, so where the bike was between then and now creates a mystery which only adds to the intrigue.”

Bonhams’ auction – another Stafford favourite – once again demonstrated the strength of the classic bike market as a 1924 Croft-Cameron Super Eight sold for £203,100, contributing to a sale total of £1,572,712.
Hundreds of trade stands reported profitable weekends, enthusiasts enjoyed live action in the Classic Racer GP Paddock, Classic Dirt Bike Experience and Cavalcade, and the Yamaha FS1-E Owners Club offered expert advice in the restoration theatre.

Exhibition manager Nick Mowbray said: “It’s been a superb weekend with a real sense of excitement around the venue. The clamour to see and hear from our two guest stars was unprecedented, and there were long queues after each interview with people wanting to meet the pair and have items signed. “All in all the show has been an undoubted success, and we look forward to returning in April for yet another Stafford classic.”

Two-wheel action returns to Staffordshire County Showground on April 22-23 for the Carole Nash International Classic MotorCycle Show. Details for that, and other events, can be found at classicbikeshows.com

Mika Perez is the winner of the 2016 Wil Sport European Junior Cup, powered by Honda. With a fourth place finish in today’s second race of the double-header season finale at Jerez, the recently turned 17-year-old from Altea, a town located on the south eastern coast of Spain near Alicante, sealed the ultimate prize of what is the last-ever edition of the series. 

After racing minibikes in the Valencian Championship in 2007 at the age of eight, Perez quickly rose through the ranks and by 2012 he had already won the national ‘Cuna de Campeones’ MiniGP140 title. In 2013, he made a one-off appearance in the European Junior Cup as a wildcard lined up by Honda Spain. The following year, Perez impressed many by finishing sixth in his first full EJC season, which was followed by a difficult second campaign in the championship.

In 2016, Perez has been a master of consistency as he claimed one win, three second places and one third in the first six races. After a first missed title point in Magny-Cours a fortnight ago, when he was fourth at the chequered flag, Mika entered the Jerez double-header with a 25-point advantage over Paolo Grassia.

The Italian got the better of him in race one to take another five points away from his lead, but in race two Perez smartly managed the championship situation to cross the line fourth a result that rewarded him with the final victory.

Perez can now enjoy his well deserved EJC Championship success before embarking on the next step of his motorcycle-racing career.

Name: Mika Perez
2016 Racing number: 8
Birthdate: 05/10/1999
Birthplace: Altea (Spain)

2016 Wil Sport European Junior Cup, powered by Honda – 1^st – 1 win, 1 pole position, 4 seconds, 2 thirds
2015 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda – 18^th
2014 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda – 6^th – 1 podium
2013 Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda – 1 race

Motorcycle Live, the UK's biggest bike show, is pleased to present a brand-new riding feature for 2016. Experience Adventure is supported by Ducati, Honda, KTM and Triumph and will allow show visitors to do just that! The adventure bike skills course is designed to introduce people to their first taste of adventure riding and will include tuition on bike set-up, body positioning and balance across a number of testing terrains.

Participants will be able to choose one of six stunning adventure machines from the line-up of manufacturers – the Ducati Multistrada Enduro, Honda Africa Twin, Triumph Tiger 800 XCx Low, Triumph Tiger 800 XCA, KTM 1050 Adventure and KTM 1290 Super Adventure – and will be kitted out with the latest protective kit provided by Bell Helmets and clothing distributor RaceFX. Each rider will be accompanied by an instructor specially trained in handling their chosen model.

A limited number of spaces on Experience Adventure are bookable in advance, with the remaining slots available to book on the day. Participants must have a full, clean motorcycle licence and purchase an entrance ticket to Motorcycle Live.

Book your slot on Experience Adventure here

Set within the beautiful village of Camerton, near to the historic Roman city of Bath, luxurious self-catering holiday accommodation, ideally situated for enjoying all that Somerset and Wiltshire has to offer!  

Two lodges (sleeping 4+2) and two first floor studio apartments (sleeping 2+2), with fully equipped kitchens, welcome Pack with complimentary toiletries and no hidden extras, as electricity, bed linen and towels are all included in the price. A Continental Breakfast is available on request (at £5pp). Fabulous facilities including hot-tubs, outdoor heated swimming pool, a gym with sauna, barbeque, sun terrace and ample seating areas for you to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of your surroundings.

A warm welcome awaits you at this family run business, where owner Chris (a Biker himself) can assist with local routes and places to head to. Within an easy ride to Longleat, Priston Mill, Wookey Hole Caves, Glastonbury and Stonehenge. Free Wi-Fi. Motorcycle washing facilities. Private parking, with CCTV and security systems. 

where: Bridge Place Road, Camerton, Bath, Somerset, BA2 0PD 
tel: 01761 471358 
website: www.purbeckholidaylets.co.uk 
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e-mail: [email protected]

PJ Jacobsen (Honda WorldSSP Team) has finished one tenth of a second away from a podium finish in today’s FIM Supersport World Championship race at ‘Circuito de Jerez’. The 23-year-old from Montgomery, New York, crossed the line fourth behind fellow Honda rider Kyle Smith at the end of a solid 19-lap encounter around the 4.423 km fast-flowing Spanish venue.

Jacobsen got a good launch off the third row of the grid, making up two places as the WorldSSP field attacked the first turns of the race. After Krummenacher crashed out of the lead on lap five, Jacobsen was promoted to fourth and, together with Smith, he was able to bridge the gap to the front. When the Briton had a moment in front of him, the two lost touch with the leading duo but kept the battle alive for third.

The young American closed in on his rival during the last lap, although not enough to try one last move for the third step of the podium. With one race left in the season, which will be contested at the Losail International Circuit in a fortnight’s time, Jacobsen is still fourth in the standings but now only seven points away from the runner up spot.