Three years after Warwickshire Police ended their very successful BikeSafe workshops, the British Motor Museum are pleased to announce that they have become BikeSafe partners. Throughout 2016 they will be running a number of motorcycle rider skills workshops designed to hopefully make motorcycle riding safer and more enjoyable.

The workshops are run by ex-police instructors and advanced police riders as well as senior instructors from both RoSPA and IAM, all of whom were previously involved in the Warwickshire Police BikeSafe initiative from 2001-2013. They explore the main riding hazards that bikers face helping improve riders skills, knowledge and hazard awareness.

The workshops include classroom and open road sessions, covering observations, hazard perception, anticipation and planning, cornering and overtaking. Riders will also have their riding assessed out on the open road.

Neil Colledge, Workshop Instructor from the British Motor Museum and former head of the Warwickshire BikeSafe initiative said “Hundreds of motorcyclists are killed or seriously injured each year on our roads. Our workshops are run by bikers, for bikers! They are about learning to assess your riding strengths and weakness, allowing you to improve your riding skills and enable you to get the most out of your machines in a safe and responsible way”.

The first workshop is on Saturday 28 May, it is a full day and costs £65 including tuition, refreshments, a light lunch as well as an opportunity to look around the fantastic newly refurbished Museum.

For more information about the motorcycle rider skills workshops please visit www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk or call 01926 645056. The British Motor Museum will also be exhibiting at the Rugby Bike Fest on Sunday 22 May.

Ride to Work Week 2016 is on between Monday 20^th and Sunday 26^th June. The campaign aims to raise the profile of commuting by motorcycle or scooter and to highlight the main benefits.

These include:

• Time saved – less time in traffic means more time in bed! 
• Money saved – save on petrol spend more on you
• Easy parking – motorcyclists get into the smallest spaces
• Road skills improve - riders who drive are better car drivers too
• It’s just more fun – you’ll turn up to work with a smile on your face

Special content will be shared during the week via social media, using the hashtag #commutehappy

• Riders can share their own pictures and Ride to Work Week content via the facebook page and Twitter in order to show the rest of the UK why their mode of transport is so enjoyable.

• Events will be held across the UK for the public and for employees at motorcycle friendly businesses. These range from ‘bikers breakfasts’ to VIP parking and free CBTs for non-riding staff. 

• The Ride to Work Week team will also put on a programme of events and Get On free ride opportunities in Northamptonshire, where the County Council is the first in the UK to actively encourage a modal shift towards motorcycling (more info available on request).

• Special offers, promotions and giveaways will be available throughout the week.  Watch the facebook page for details. These usually include free commuter cover from insurers, and offers on top brands for clothing and accessories as well as prizes!

• IAM is offering FREE ‘buddy’ advanced taster rides for licence holders who want to check out their commute with a local advanced observer.

• BikeSafe is holding a special ‘Bridging the Gap’ weekend workshop on June 18^th and 19^th at Northamptonshire Police Headquarters for riders who want to improve their riding. Booking is essential. £45 for the course.

• People across the UK who want to try motorcycling for the first time can book a session at a Get On road show event. These are also on regularly throughout the year at Silverstone in Northamptonshire.  Booking is via  www.geton.co.uk

• Special hi-viz vests and t-shirts are available to those organising events by contacting Stevie or Sandra via [email protected]
  
  

Information

• Riders are the happiest commuters. In a one off report by the Office for National Statistics, commuting via motorcycle, scooter and moped was found to have no negative impact on wellbeing on journeys up to 30 minutes long, in contrast to those using the bus, cycling, driving or walking, who all experienced a negative impact after just 15 minutes.
• Be nice to motorcyclists, they are reducing congestion for all road users. A study which modelled a modal shift towards powered two wheelers for one of the most congested roads in Europe found that if just 10% of car drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped, then congestion was reduced for all road users by 40%. If 25% swapped, then congestion was eliminated altogether.
• Better car drivers. Motorcycle insurance company Carole Nash found motorcyclists’ knowledge of road safety is almost twice as good as those who only drive a car.  To reflect this, they produced a special car insurance policy aimed at riders.
• More motorcyclists, safer roads. The Motorcycle Industry Association and the National Police Chiefs’ Council produced a framework of actions considering the idea that more powered two wheelers on the roads would increase awareness and reduce accidents. This is the same argument used by cycling lobbies and indeed an increase in both PTWs and bicycles is likely to benefit both groups.
• Ride to Work Week is organised by the Motorcycle Industry Association and it incorporates Ride to Work Day, which is on Monday 20^th.
  
  
  www.ridetoworkweek.co.uk

ALVARO BAUTISTA: “A DIFFICULT TRACK BUT TOP-10 IS POSSIBLE" STEFAN BRADL: "SPECIAL TRACK AND SPECIAL FANS"

One of the most exciting tracks on the MotoGP calendar is the setting for the first Italian race, an incredible round and long awaited by the fans. The Mugello Circuit, nestled among the Tuscan hills, will also be the first home race for the Aprilia RS-GP 2016, a project that has grown consistently over the first five rounds of the season and that shows great room for improvement.

Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl will have some upgrades available to them, but above all they will be able to benefit from the hard work done during recent race weekends. In fact, thanks to the information gathered, they will be able to focus on finding the best setup solutions for their Aprilias, striving for the best possible result on a rather demanding track.
The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini will therefore be attacking Mugello with an obvious dose of pressure, a positive element for an expert team working with a new and developing project.

ROMANO ALBESIANO - RESPONSABILE APRILIA RACING
“For the Mugello weekend we will once again have new upgrades available, especially in terms of electronics, but more than anything, we want to take on each individual session effectively, focusing on the best possible performance straight away. In fact, up to now we have spent a lot of time during race weekends testing setups, often making drastic changes, and this is a necessary process for exploring the potential of the RS-GP and understanding the way the bike reacts to the various changes. This weekend, on the other hand, we will be starting from a stable base and focusing on the setup straight away on a track where smooth riding and agility are absolutely essential and where painstaking work on the chassis and electronics can really make the difference”.

FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
“For us, the Italian Grand Prix is a very important round. We are particularly keen to make a good impression and to further improve the RS-GP. Unfortunately, because of the rain, the day of tests at Mugello was just about useless. In any case, the important thing is that our development work is progressing well. This is an effort that we hope will allow us to recover 3 to 5 tenths of a second per lap, which would mean shaving 10 to 12 seconds off of race time”.

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“We are coming to a very special race, playing on Aprilia's home pitch, where we'll be able to count on new developments for the bike. After the Le Mans race we will be able to start with a better base. In particular, on the race Sunday in France we found the direction we need to go in order to be faster. We will work on that setting and on the new components, that way we'll be able to have a bike that is fast in direction changes and stable at the front end. Battling for a top 10 finish will be hard on such a difficult track, but we are willing to try”.

STEFAN BRADL
“Mugello is a track where we riders have fun racing. The circuit is fantastic, but most of all, the atmosphere and the Italian fans are really welcoming. In terms of layout, it has everything we need: direction changes, slope changes and a long straight stretch. This will be an important race for Aprilia - the first home race - so all eyes will be on us, but I am confident that if we stay focused and patient, we'll continue to demonstrate how our potential is growing”.

After a fantastic weekend at The MCN Festival of Bikes we are even more excited about The National Bikesafe Show and Track Experience coming to Rockingham in just 7 weeks!

The National BikeSafe Show and Track Experience is taking place on Saturday 16th July 2016 at Rockingham Motor Speedway.

The event, which is this year sponsored by Northamptonshire Highways, will again bring riders the chance to take an assessed ride with highly respected police riders followed by a 15 minute track experience with California Super Bikes. All for just £35.

Are you booked for our track experience? Pre booking essential.

Sessions running throughout the day and booking up fast, particularly 10am to 2pm. Book now to reserve your space. Available 8am to 4pm.

£35 which includes a 2 to 1 assessment with a friendly police motorcyclist PLUS a 15 minute track experience under the guidance of California Superbike School!

The experience

•  Takes between 2 ½ – 3 hours INCLUDES: •  Hour long 2 to 1 assessment with police motorcyclist •  Safety briefing and 15 minute circuit ride with California Superbike School in groups of 16 or less.

Observed ride only- just £10

www.bikesafe.co.uk

Saturday July 16th

Where: Rockingham Circuit, Mitchell Road, Corby, Northamptonshire. NN17 5AF

Time: 10am – 5pm

In addition to this there will be plenty to do for other visitors including the chance for non-riders to have a go on a motorcycle in the Get On area. The paddock will be full of things for visitors to see and do.

The event is just £1 to enter payable on the gate.

Register for information on the event by emailing [email protected]

www.bikesafe.co.uk