The Honda WorldSBK Team is pleased to announce the signing of 26-year-old Stefan Bradl from Germany for the 2017 FIM Superbike World Championship. Crowned Moto2 World Champion in 2011, Bradl will join former MotoGP™ Champion Nicky Hayden to complete a stellar line-up for Honda next season.

Despite his young age, Bradl has a wealth of experience at international level. Since his 125cc debut in 2005, he has collected nineteen podium finishes and seven wins across all Grand Prix classes. After winning the Moto2 World Championship in 2011, Stefan made his MotoGP debut with the LCR Honda Team in 2012 where his best result was a second-place finish at Laguna Seca in 2013.

The Honda WorldSBK Team would like to thank Michael van der Mark for his outstanding efforts and title-winning contribution during his tenure as a Honda rider. The team will maintain its unconditional support for Michael for the remainder of the season, with the goal of achieving the best possible results.

The Honda WorldSBK Team is pleased to confirm that its riders for the 2017 season will be Nicky Hayden and Stefan Bradl.

Over 100 of the finest classic motorcycles and customs will be on full display in the showcases at the 2016 Festival of Bikes.    

To be staged on Sunday 21st August at the Cheltenham Racecourse all visitors will be able to enjoy the UK's most stunning creations, ranging from vintage race bikes, classic specials, choppers, bobbers, cafe racers, street trackers, scooters and contemporary "streetfighters".

Visitors will also be able to enjoy mooching around all the trade stalls selling quality gear, accessories and parts plus there's an art gallery, you can have a go at airbrush painting, relax in TV lounge showing vintage biker movies, enjoy a coffee, tea and beer plus lunch...and there's ample free parking.

Visiting motorcyclists can rock up and park right outside the main entrance, always cool to do that!

If you're quick you can still buy discounted tickets from TheCustomShow.com for just £8.95 and kids under 15 for a quid. Or, you can get in on the door and pay £10 cash for adult and £3 for kids.

The 2016 Festival of Bikes opens at 11am and closes at around 5.30pm. It's all inside the Centaur Hall at the Cheltenham Racecourse.

Unique Motorcycle Exhibition. Gear. Art. Movies.

Elvis “That’s All Right” Tribute Night

Saturday 13th August | 9pm – 2am | Entry £12

Ace Cafe London’s annual Elvis Tribute Night, held at the cafe from 9pm – 2am on Saturday 13th August, this year celebrates the 60th anniversary of Elvis in his breakout year of 1956,the release of his vinyl 45rpm single “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel”, and his teaming up with The Jordanaires – it was Presleymania and Elvis was making history!

This evening at the Ace, dedicated to the ‘King’, features the talented and dynamic Danny Fisher with the 5 piece Elvis in Mind band, together with the duel vocal harmonies of The Chordinaires, and DJ Bill Guntrip spinning the wax.

There will also be prizes up for grabs on the evening, including copies of Vintage Rock magazine, Ace meal vouchers for two and, courtesy of the UK label Vee-Tone Records, a CD set of three volumes that showcase the music from the "King's" personal jukebox, carefully chosen to demonstrate the young Elvis Presley's wide musical tastes, including Blues, Rhythm n' Blues, Rockabilly and Rock n' Roll, plus pairs of tickets to attend the cafe’s forthcoming annual Billy Fury Night on Saturday 8th October.

For a chance to win, just retain your entry raffle ticket.

www.dannyfisher.co.uk
www.vintagerockmag.com
www.veetonerecords.com

For more information about what's on, check out the scrolling calendar at www.ace-cafe-london.com

Sorry no Under 18’s

ALVARO BAUTISTA: "TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MISANO TESTS"‬
STEFAN BRADL: "FLOWING TRACK, A GOOD FIT FOR OUR SETTINGS"

A charming and historical track will host round 12 on the 2016 MotoGP calendar. The Silverstone circuit, a former RAF military airstrip and the first track to host a Formula 1 race, has various points of interest. Fast and flowing, it always provides spectacular races, attracting large and enthusiastic crowds. The unpredictable weather conditions also add another variable.

The Aprilia RS-GP machines ridden by Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista arrive in the United Kingdom after the Misano tests, where both riders continued the development programme. Some of the solutions used on the Italian track are ready to be implemented at Silverstone.
Both the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders like the layout of the English circuit. Last year, Alvaro Bautista took one of his best race results right here on the fast corners of Silverstone, with a tenth place finish.

ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
"Silverstone is definitely a complex track where, in any case, both Alvaro and Stefan demonstrated good race performance last year, despite the wet conditions. We are arriving here after the Misano tests that were rather important, with many parts tested and a further push forward in our continuous development process on the RS-GP. In England we will have some chassis upgrades and a modified gearbox with neutral lock, whereas after Brno we did an in depth analysis of traction control operation, improving reactions in situations where the grip condition varies during the race".

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
"In the last two races we did not reap much, although we actually worked quite hard. We are putting forth a lot of effort with great dedication and, in fact, right after Brno we went to Misano where we conducted tests both with the two factory riders and with the test team. Aprilia is increasing efforts toward the goal of making further progress and obviously, we are seeking to accompany them down this path. We are coming to Silverstone ready for battle. We need a good result and we will give 100% in order to achieve it because it would be a great confidence booster in view of the important upcoming home round at Misano".

ALVARO BAUTISTA
"I like Silverstone a lot. It is a fun ride. The weather is crucial here. It can change from one moment to the next between rain and sunny skies, so it is a factor that must be watched. After the Misano tests I think we will be able to implement some new ideas on the track, taking the best advantage of the tests. I hope to have a good weekend, working well in every session. Having top-10 potential on race day would be a great result for us".

STEFAN BRADL
"We expect a demanding weekend, but one that we are tackling after the good tests conducted at Misano. We have a lot of material to confirm on a new track. I think that some of the things used in the tests will be useful for us. I would like to have stable weather conditions so we can continue this development effort. The track is fast and flowing. It should suit be a good fit for our settings that usually perform well on this type of layout".

Michael Rutter and Cameron Donald have joined forces to form a formidable looking line-up for Ripley Land Racing at the 2016 Classic TT presented by Bennetts, with Rutter hoping to make it two wins in a row in the Okells Junior Classic TT Race.

The Bridgnorth rider will again campaign the 350cc Drixton Honda that he took to victory last year, when he also set the fastest lap of the race at 102.356mph, and he’ll be joined in the four lap race by Donald who took second in the inaugural Okells 350cc Race in 2013. Donald was also the first and only rider to lap the mountain course on a standard frame AJS 7R and was the first GP1 bike over the line. The Australian makes his first return to the event since then and will again be on board the team’s 350cc AJS 7R.

In addition, Rutter will also ride Ian Garbutt’s MkII 500cc Seeley G50 Matchless in the Bennetts Senior Race, having ridden the machine for last two years. Rutter broke the 500cc single cylinder record in his first year on the bike in 2014 with a stunning lap of 109.102 mph and was leading the race and on course for a fairytale victory until a minor problem on the third lap caused him to retire on the Mountain Mile.

Problems on the opening lap last year saw him lap at just 60.975mph but he gamely carried on and lapped in excess of 106mph before retiring on the final lap.

Both Rutter and Donald will be amongst the favourites for victory in their respective races, further highlighting the credibility and importance of the Classic TT whilst Ripley Land Racing’s intentions are clear to see.

Team owners Ian and Janet Garbutt are staunch supporters of the Classic TT, having been likewise at the Classic Manx Grand Prix before that, and with two of the two finest Mountain Course riders on their books, they’ve a superb chance of adding to their already impressive track record, which includes two victories with the recently retired Chris Palmer.

Speaking about his team’s chances at the Classic TT, Team Owner Ian Garbutt commented:

“We are really looking forward to the Classic TT with two riders on board who are able to get the very best out of a classic racing machine. The quality of both the machines and riders across the Classic TT continues to rise but we believe that we have what it takes to contest for places on the podium in both the Senior and Junior Races.”

Classic TT Grandstand tickets are available for Friday’s final qualifying session priced at £5. All prior qualifying sessions are free for the main Grandstand. There are also race day tickets available for both Classic TT race days on Saturday 27th and Monday 29th August as well as VIP and Platinum hospitality tickets. To purchase tickets go to iomtt.com or phone Duke Marketing on (00 44) 1624 640011.