Double World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea heads up a whole host of racing stars at Motorcycle Live

Recently-crowned double World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea will be one of many racing stars to appear at the UK’s biggest bike show, Motorcycle Live, which opens at The NEC, Birmingham on 19 November.

Rea will be joined at the show on opening day by racing legend Freddie Spencer, MotoGP rider Eugene Laverty, World Superbike's Josh Brookes, British Superbike star Leon Haslam and Isle of Man TT record-breaker Michael Dunlop.

The stars will keep on coming throughout the week with appearances from the likes of MotoGP riders Scott Redding and Bradley Smith, World Superbike legends Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser, SBK’s Alex Lowes, the championship-winning MacKenzie family and racing commentators Toby Moody and Julian Ryder.

The Isle of Man TT riders will be out in force on TT Day (Sunday 27 November), as well as every day of the week, with John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Dean Harrison, Ian Hutchinson, Bruce Anstey, Michael Rutter and many more all appearing.

For a full list of riders, updated as and when more are confirmed, visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/racers-and-vips

Over 40 manufacturers!
Motorcycle Live 2016 opens its doors next week with over 40 of the world’s leading motorcycle manufacturers showcasing their stunning machinery, including many of the brand-new 2017 models unveiled at EICMA this week. Be one of the first in the UK to see, touch and sit on the new bikes – books your tickets now!

Kiddi-fun
Kids can get a taste for two wheeled freedom at the Kiddimoto Children’s Fun Track, where youngsters from the age of two can have a go on a Kiddimoto balance bike around a fantastic inflatable track. There’s no need to book and it’s FREE!

Try Trials
The ACU Try Trials feature will give show visitors the opportunity to learn the basics of the super-skilled trials discipline for FREE.  Each session will be 15 minutes long and include full instruction from ACU certified coaches, who will also be doing riding demonstrations every day. 

A touch of adventure 
The BMW GS Experience will add a touch of adventure to Motorcycle Live, giving visitors a chance to learn and try some of the handling techniques taught at Simon Pavey’s world-famous BMW Off Road Skills school using BMW GS motorcycles.

The Arenacross Bar and Grill will provide the perfect place to meet your mates, rest your feet, grab a bite to eat and chat about which of the hundreds of motorcycles on display are on your wish list! 

 

An advance adult ticket for Motorcycle Live is priced at just £19.50, while Seniors pay just £12, 11-16 year olds are £1 and children aged ten and under get in FREE (accompanied by a paying adult)*.

www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

IAM RoadSmart has welcomed an increase in the punishment for drivers caught using a held-held mobile phone whilst driving – saying drivers need to learn that their actions could kill.

This morning (8 November) the Government announced that anyone caught using a hand-held mobile phone while at the wheel of a car would be fined £200 and receive six points on the licence – a doubling of the existing penalty.

The issue was brought into sharp focus last week when lorry driver Tomasz Kroker was jailed for 10 years when he killed a family of four in a crash caused by him being distracted by his mobile phone.

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart Director of Policy and Research, said: “Addressing the growing problem of smartphone use whilst driving will require a combination of enforcement and education as well as drivers, passengers, companies and individuals taking more responsibility. 

“IAM RoadSmart is disappointed that the government did not support our calls for first time offenders to be sent automatically on a re-education course specifically tailored to mobile phone use and breaking our apparent addiction to being constantly connected.  We also want to see car companies, mobile phone makers and social media providers working together to develop technical solutions to hand held mobile phone use in vehicles.”

Neil added: “It is essential that drivers get the clear message that if you are on the phone and have a fatal crash you can expect to go to prison for a long time.  There is a lot of support among the driving public for stronger penalties and more enforcement focus on mobile phones, but also a feeling that this is not always reflected in sentencing. 

“The Home Office must also review it’s policing priorities to ensure they reflect the risks that new technology can bring on the road.”

Very few people these days have seen a sidecar close up, let alone had the opportunity to ride them, especially along dirt roads!  

I think I have the largest collection of sidecars in central Brittany and have even made a little museum for them.

Many Bikers have ridden them when staying with us, including one lady who has spent a lifetime riding pillion, far and wide with her husband (even up to the arctic circle) and had never ridden a bike herself.

With a little persuasion and help, she rode the Russian outfit - The joy on her face was a picture and she was almost in tears and said she never thought she would be able to do something like that.

The pictures of the guys and gals on the sidecars in the bike shed are of Bikers all from Derbyshire.

Sidecar coming through the trees of two brothers

We all had some terrific times.

Rog @ Countryside Holidays in France

www.countrysideholidaysinfrance.co.uk

See them on THE BIKER GUIDE here