Ride to Work Week (20^th to 26^th June) highlights the benefits of commuting via motorcycle and scooter, which is being actively encouraged by Northamptonshire County Council.

The Ride to Work team has produced a video showing why this decision makes sense:                                                                                                                                                  

John Spencer, Team Leader of Road Safety and Travel Choices, Northamptonshire Highways says: 

“As part of our modal shift strategy Northamptonshire County Council intends to embrace motorcycles and scooters as a sustainable transport mode within the future countywide transport programme. Greater use of motorcycles can bring environmental, congestion and accessibility benefits, particularly on journeys made for commuting to places of employment or education. The road safety team in Northamptonshire is committed to improving safety for all road users but is also looking at encouraging different ways to travel. In 2015 we carried out a motorcycle survey to reaffirm why people were using motorbikes, but also why they were not!  We collaborate with various partners like the Motorcycle Industry Association, Get on Team and the Ride to Work team, to encourage people to take up motorcycling as a safe, sustainable and better way of getting around.” 

Background to Northamptonshire project

• Motorcycle Northants was recently launched by Northamptonshire County Council, making it the first local authority in the UK to actively encourage a modal shift towards motorcycles, which is currently just 0.4% of all commuter traffic in the county.  This is part of a wider plan to encourage sustainable transport options, which also include cycling, walking and using public transport.

• Motorcycle Northants will encourage the county’s leisure riders to use their bikes to commute, especially where distance by pedal bike is impractical, aiming for an initial modal shift of 3%.  Each day in Northamptonshire, an estimated 43% of commuter journeys are made by just one person in a car or van, so there is great capacity for some of these to be made on a powered two wheeler.  

• Northamptonshire recognises that journey times on motorcycles are shorter due to the ability to filter and reduced pressure on parking. This helps all road users, which is backed up by a European study showing when just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped, then congestion for all road users is reduced by 40%.[1]

• As a county which relies heavily on the distribution/logistics industry, it is important that the roads do not become congested.  For the first phase of the project, Motorcycle Northants has put a framework in place to make sure existing and new riders have access to high quality training providers.

• A second phase of the project will include looking at increasing motorcycle friendly infrastructure on roads and working with employers to encourage the availability of workplace changing facilities and motorcycle parking.

• Around two-thirds of motorcyclists do not have commuter cover on their policy, so major motorcycle insurers Ageas, ERS and Carole Nash are making commuter insurance cover available free to existing customers during Ride to Work Week. [2]

About Ride to Work Week

National Ride to Work Week spotlights the many benefits of commuting on a motorcycle, scooter or moped and will be particularly active in Northamptonshire this year.  The county’s residents will get the chance to try a motorcycle for free with Get On – the motorcycle industry’s free ‘try out’ programme - during Ride to Work Week.

• These are available after work each evening at the Obelisk Centre, Kingsthorpe, Northampton, NN2 8UE.  Monday 20^th to Friday 24^th June between 6pm and 9pm each evening.

• Also available on Saturday 25^th June at the Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, Northampton, NN12 8TN between 9.15 am and 4.30 pm.

• Get On sessions are with professional instructors and last for half an hour. All protective clothing is provided.  Get On provides a safe and structured introduction to motorcycling.  There are also opportunities to try motorcycling in several parts of the UK during the Summer and Autumn. 
  
  Booking via the website www.geton.co.uk or by calling 02476 408040.

For the ultimate on top of the world feeling there's not much that beats motorcycle touring in the Himalayas - the exhilaration of riding at altitude, being at one with this awe inspiring landscape and the sights and sounds of a spiritual land.  

Come free your spirit with one of our guided tours to: India Himalayan High Road Adventure, Bhutan Thunder Dragon Adventure or Tibet Roof of the World Adventure.

With H-C Travel you are in safe hands. We've been organising tours to the Himalayas since 1996. We can also book your flights, organise specialist travel insurance and your holiday finance is protected by our ATOL bond and TTA membership.

Just call Carol Hooker - Himalaya specialist on 01256 770775 for more information. 

www.hctravel.com

Michael van der Mark has returned to podium ways by taking third place at the end of the 21-lap opening race of the weekend at Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’ in Italy, where the eighth round of the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship is currently underway. His Honda WorldSBK Team mate Nicky Hayden crashed out of third place in the early stages of the race.

In what was an ultra-close Superpole 2, Nicky Hayden claimed sixth place on the grid despite being only 0.084secs away from third place. Michael van der Mark impoved on his FP2 lap time by half a second to take the tenth slot on the grid.

Both Hayden and van der Mark enjoyed a great start to the race and were running fourth and fifth on the opening lap. They were promoted to third and fourth when Giugliano crashed out but shortly afterwards, it was Hayden who low-sided at the last turn before the completion of lap two. Once in third place, van der Mark rode a superb race and maintained a competitive pace up to the chequered flag, claiming his fifth podium of the season despite a strong comeback by fourth-placed Chaz Davies.

Race two will be contested tomorrow from 13:00 local time (GMT +2) and will be preceded by the traditional 15-minute morning warm-up at 9:25.

Paul Shoesmith, who lost his life participating in the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races and his family have been awarded the 2016 PokerStars Spirit of the TT.

The award is given annually to the person or persons who best represent the ethos and values of the TT Races including decency, honesty, generosity, courage, compassion, integrity, respect, teamwork and commitment to the development of the races.

The presentation of the award was made at the Grandstand podium ahead of this year’s PokerStars Senior TT Race.

Paul Shoesmith was one of the biggest characters in the TT paddock who not only competed in the TT Races but also gave the opportunity for a number of riders to race on the Mountain Course through his Ice Valley Four Anjels Racing outfit including Peter Hickman, who made his TT debut for the team, and Simon Andrews as well as a number of international competitors.  He was also well known for his fundraising efforts, most notably his work with the Simon Andrews Foundation.

Eric Hollreiser, Director of Corporate Communications, PokerStars commented:

“We have been overwhelmed with the response to this year’s award.  Paul has received many more nominations than we have ever had before and it is clear that he has a huge number of friends in the TT paddock and helped numerous people at the TT.”

David Cretney, Isle of Man Government’s Tourism and Motorsport representative said:

"Paul was truly one of the largest personalities in the TT paddock and his character shone through in everything that he did. He made an enormous impact on everyone who met him, not only through his racing but his larger than life personality, his incredible generosity and willingness to help anyone. He was a great ambassador for the TT Races and his loss is hugely felt by everyone associated with the event and the Isle of Man."

He continued:

“This award is not only for Paul but also for his remarkable family who have shown such spirit and resilience in such difficult circumstances.”

As well as the award to Paul’s family, PokerStars would also like to highlight a number of other people who were nominated including fundraiser Shaun Hogg, who raises money to run ambulances at Motorsport events on the Isle of Man in memory of his brother Phil.

A number of marshals have been recognised this year including Matthew Horn who is battling major injuries from a motorbike crash but continues to marshal at this year’s TT, Kevin Quinn who marshalled this week at Alpine despite battling cancer and a posthumous award to Willy Killey who marshalled for 59 years at the TT and passed away during TT2015 race week, after carryout flag duty throughout practice week.  TT marshal Emma Limerick who continued to marshal this week despite personal loss will also be recognised.

PokerStars will be creating mementoes for all of the above named nominees, which will be sent out to them shortly.

Representatives from the Isle of Man Government's Motorsport team including David Cretney, the Isle of Man Government representative with responsibility for Motorsport and Tourism, TT rider liaison officers Richard Quayle and John Barton, ACU Clerk of the Course Gary Thompson and PokerStars Director of Corporate Communications Eric Hollreiser judged the award. Nominations were invited from members of the public and from officials associated with the TT.

Previous winners have included Paul Owen, Conor Cummins, the Birchall Brothers, TT Marshal Eric Alexander and TTRA secretary Frances Thorp.  Last year’s winners were 91 year old Harold Leece who opens up his garden to visitors and 8 year old fundraiser Cici Reed.

Whether on the roof of the world or in deepest Africa, few products embody the spirit of adventure so much as Touratech Desierto fairings, which have proven themselves time and again on extended journeys across all continents over the last years.

Touratech is starting a new chapter in this success story with Desierto IV for the BMW R 1200 GS / Adventure (LC), reinterpreting the concept of distinctive looks and maximum ride comfort.

The characteristic Desierto sweep above the headlight is striking at first glance, as are the distinctive wedge-shaped side sections creating a concordant link between fairing and tank. The dynamic styling emphasises the agile nature of the R 1200 GS (LC), lending a new aesthetic dimension to the familiar Desierto look. The side sections are available in black, gray or white.

The windscreen itself is at a steeper angle than the original, which gives a superior ride feel, enhances the sense of space, and at the same time optimises wind protection without adding turbulence at helmet level. Since the standard adjustment capabilities are retained, the height and angle of the windscreen can be modified as required while riding.

In response to customer requests, Touratech offers four different windscreens for the Desierto IV: a small version that is visibly lower than the original GS screen, provides greater ventilation and is intended for more sporty riding, and a significantly higher screen for touring and travelling. Both are available in a clear and a tinted version.