British Superbike star Peter Hickman has been confirmed as a special guest at the IAM RoadSmart 60th anniversary bike party on 2nd July at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

Peter, or Hicky as he is better known, races this year for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki Team and currently stands eighth in the series with one win so far. By coincidence his race number is 60 in 2016.

Peter also raced at the Northwest 200 and Isle of Man TT this year. He scored two podiums at the Northwest and became the fourth fastest rider ever at the TT this year with a 132.465mph lap in the Superbike race.

Peter will be on the ‘Stars on Stage’ discussion panel which will take place three times during the day, alongside seven times Isle of Man TT winner Mick Grant. MC for the discussion forum will be Steve Plater, 2009 British Supersport champion.

The event is a celebration of all things motorbike, while also marking the 60^th birthday of the Institute of Advanced Motorists, now renamed IAM RoadSmart.

Established in 1956, the Institute of Advanced Motorists introduced its advanced motorcycle test in 1976. By 1994 more than 250,000 had taken and passed the advanced test for drivers and riders. Today more than 400,000 have passed it.

Peter will be joined for the Stars on Stage sessions, which will allow visitors to put their questions to the guests, by Mick Grant. Mick won the fearsome Isle of Man TT race seven times in the 70’s and 80’s.

MC for Stars on Stage will be Steve Plater, 2009 British Supersport champion and twice Isle of Man TT winner.

During the funday there will be a slow riding skills contest, offering the chance to show just how good you are - but keeping the speed way down. This is being looked after by Birmingham Advanced Motorcycle Group.

There will also be a marketplace featuring a number of exhibitors including Intaride, National Association of Disabled Bikers and the National Association of Blood Bikes, and the chance to stock up on memorabilia and useful bike accessories during the day.

Tickets are just £10 each which includes a barbecue lunch and a tour of the National Motorcycle Museum.

Peter Hickman said: “I am really looking forward to coming along to help IAM RoadSmart celebrate its 60^th anniversary. Helping so many people become better riders is a real achievement. I know that being safe and precise was my way of becoming a winner – and using these skills on real roads is it’s just as big an achievement.”

“I applaud anyone who has become an advanced rider, and look forward to meeting so many enthusiasts this Saturday.”

Tickets are available online through our special event page or by calling 0300 303 1134.

Aleix Espargaró, Spanish rider born in Granollers on 30 July 1989, will ride an Aprilia RS-GP in the MotoGP World Championship. The agreement signed with Aprilia Racing is for two years, covering the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

Bringing Espargaró on board is part of Aprilia's development plan - which aims for an increase in competitiveness, in line with the progress already demonstrated this year - and it reaffirms the Piaggio Group's commitment to an excellent technological and sport project aimed at making the Aprilia brand a protagonist on the track and on the road.

Aleix Espargaró was the Spanish champion in the 125 category in 2004. After a series of placements in the 125 and 250 categories, in 2009 he made his début in the top class where he drew attention during the 2012 season astride the ART (the CRT bike developed by Aprilia Racing), finishing the season as the best rider in the category. This excellent result was repeated the next season as well, again on the ART - Aprilia Racing bike. Overall, in MotoGP, he has taken two pole positions and a podium finish, as well as seventh place in the rider standings (his personal best) for the 2014 championship season.

Honda WorldSBK rider Nicky Hayden is one of the stars of this year’s ‘Goodwood Festival of Speed’, which takes place this weekend in the grounds of Goodwood House in West Sussex, England. This will be the second time that the 34-year-old American rider has taken part in the iconic event that gathers together the best of four and two-wheel machines old and new, along with famous sportsmen, celebrities and an incredible crowd of motorsport enthusiasts.  

The ‘Kentucky Kid’ will take on the legendary Goodwood House hillclimb aboard the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP he is currently racing in his rookie World Superbike season. He will do it four times during the weekend: the first two on Saturday the 25th of June at 9:55 and 13:50, with the other two being scheduled for Sunday at 10:45 and 14:30.

He will also take part in a series of media activities, including two Q&A sessions at the Honda stand, one on Saturday at 16:30 and the other at 10:00 the following day.

Stormin’ the Castle are pleased to announce that legendary guitarist Bernie Tormé will headline the Main Stage on Saturday night. 

Guitar legend, blues rock psychedelic shredmeister, glam punk sleaze rock frontman: Bernie Tormé has enjoyed a long and remarkable career. Hit records, world tours and international acclaim came as lead guitarist in Gillan in the 80’s. Bernie stepped in for Ozzy Osbourne in the aftermath of guitar legend Randy Rhodes tragic death before going on to front Electric Gypsies and Tormé. Teaming up with Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider and Iron Maiden’s drummer Clive Burr he formed Desperado and later reunited with ex-Gillan colleague, John McCoy and drummer Robin Guy in Guy McCoy Tormé (GMT).

More recently, Bernie Tormé has been touring with Chris Heilmann (bass) and Ian Harris (drums) releasing two critically-acclaimed solo albums, ‘Flowers & Dirt’ (2014) and ‘Blackheart’ (2015). Both were crowdfunded, connecting Bernie directly with his fans.

Bernie: “In the past you were pretty distant and separated from your fans with a record label in between. Making these albums with pledge campaigns has been a great experience. I like having the connection with fans and getting the feedback direct on making an album.”

His love of performing is still strong: “I feel very lucky, very blessed, to be able to still perform live and as long as I can keep doing it I will!”. In 2013 Bernie started playing solo gigs again returning, once more, to his favoured format of the three piece line- up. 2014 saw the release of the critically acclaimed ‘Flowers & Dirt’ double album and a UK tour, followed by ‘Blackheart’ in 2015 and a further successful UK tour.
Bernie Torme has recorded over 24 albums in his career to date as a solo artist or band member.

www.storminthecastle.co.uk

Ace Cafe London, and in association with Monster Energy and Carole Nash, returns to London’s world renowned stadium complex at Wembley for the 7th annual Stunt Festival & Streetfighter Show.

This increasingly popular annual event, to be held throughout the day from 10am on Sunday 17th July, combines the cafe's legendary Streetfighter Sunday, as well as showcasing the live action finals of the Freestyle Open Stuntbike Championship Finals, with individual stunt riders from across Europe and beyond taking part and competing for coveted awards and a prize fund totalling £5K.

This year, the stunt riders will be matched by equally spectacular drivers and the Fueltopia Barrel Sprint, a cross between car drag racing, gymkhana and drifting. It will be the UK’s only qualifier for Ken Block’s Gymkhana GRiD European series, and the fight to represent Britain will be relentless!

Highlights of the event include "Best Streetfighter" static bike display and competition with awards and prizes, an array of spectacular modified cars linking the event to Ace Cafe London’s own InCarNation, street magician Dippy, and special guest judges from USA. Double European Superstock Champion and World Endurance Champion, BSB rider James Ellison will be joining on the day for signing sessions and more, in support of Ovarian Cancer Action.

With interactive stands and displays, and live entertainment on the Ace stage mixed with music, the roar of engines and tyre shredding drifters, adrenaline will be pumping!

www.ace-cafe-london.com

Advance price tickets are now available from Ace Cafe shop and on-line