One of the highlights in the Arai range is undoubtedly the introduction of the new limited Isle of Man TT Races helmet.

Arai and the Isle of Man TT have a long-standing partnership and part of it is the annual introduction of a special, always limited edition helmet. 

As a result of Arai’s exclusive license and official partnership, Arai is the only helmet that carries the world famous official TT logo as part of the helmet design. Undoubtedly the new Arai RX-7V with its revolutionary VAS visor system was the obvious choice for this special helmet.

From the very beginning Italian top designer Aldo Drudi has been the designer and creator of these very popular models and certain details are ever present in his TT designs. As well as the famous three-legged symbol (the ‘’Triskelion’’), the words ‘’Ellan Vannin’’ which is the Manx-language name of the Isle of Man have been used on every design.

These references and the well-known Isle of Man TT Races logo form an integral part of this new 2016 design. Again Drudi has managed to create a helmet complete in the spirit of the existing Isle of Man TT range, but still different from all its successors.

The 2016 Arai TT helmet will be handmade in a limited production run. After these have been made, no more of this helmet will be produced.

The very first Isle of Man TT 2016 helmets will be available in the Arai village on the first TT practice day on Saturday May 28th from the Arai service centre in the Isle of Man TT paddock. From then on, the Arai Isle of Man TT 2016 Limited Edition will be available through all European Arai dealers.

Saturday 27th February  4pm – 11pm

 Ace Cafe London’s regular monthly All-American Cruise-In, combined with Jimmy Guntrip’s Rhythm n’ Cruise Rockin’ Record Hop, from 4pm – 11pm, Saturday 27th February, includes a chance to win a pair of tickets to attend the cafe’s forthcoming “March of the Teds” night, on Saturday 12th March, with The Jets!

 Spend £5 or more over the counter from 6pm and receive a raffle ticket.

 Draw to be held at 10pm.

For more information about Ace Cafe London or what's on, check out: www.ace-cafe-london.com

Prescott Bike Festival takes place once again on Sunday 17th April 2016 at Prescott Hill Climb, near Cheltenham. The Festival prides itself on its diversity and celebrates engineering excellence; from rare, classic, modern, customised to hand built bikes and those of historic significance, this year the organisers have secured the most diverse motorcycles yet, from the World’s fastest shopping trolley powered by a Chinook helicopter engine (holds record speed of 70.4mph/ 113.298kmh), the Carlos Checa's MotoGP bike through to Bob Farmer, winner of the 1966 Lightweight Manx TT with his 1960's Aermacchi (the model he took the win on).

The organisers are delighted to announce that Blood Bike ambassador and ‘Queen of Bikers’ Maria Costello MBE is the latest personality to join the line-up for this year’s Prescott Bike Festival. Maria is best known for being the female TT lap record holder and first woman to ever secure a podium finish at the Manx Grand Prix. She has held the Guinness World Record for the fastest woman to lap the Isle of Man TT Course, with an average speed of 114.73mph, and is currently the fastest female ever around the Ulster Grand Prix course. Maria was awarded an MBE in 2009 for services to motorcycling. Maria founded “Woman on a Motorcycle” in 2012, her women only track days is for women of all riding abilities, that wish to improve their riding skills, gain confidence, receive support, training and guidance from Maria. This will be Maria’s debut at Prescott and she is really looking forward to taking to the historic hill climb course.

Unlike a static bike show, Prescott gives visitors the unique opportunity to get up close to see smell and hear lots of historic, classic and race bikes run the historic hill climb course; “better than Goodwood”, said one excited visitor. There are so many significant motorcycles heading to Prescott this year including the Kevin Schwantz' 1995 Suzuki RGV500 XR85, the last Suzuki GP bike Schwantz ever rode.

Whilst there are just too many entries to mention, here are a few to whet your appetite;

• A 1988 Bimota YB6, 1000cc - One of only 510 YB6’s built by Bimota with the FZR1000 engine. This bike was owned by the President of the Bimota Club in Italy, before being imported to the UK in 2015 by present owner
• A 1989 Yamaha FZR750RR OW01, 750cc. Only 500 of these bikes were built to homologate them for World Superbike entry, most of which went straight onto the race track, with very few remaining in road trim
• A 1997 Honda CBR600 600cc World Supersport race bike formally raced by James Toseland
• The 2002 Vertemati Supermoto 570cc David Jeffries Supermoto factory race bike
• The 2005 Honda Fireblade 1000cc, Ex Ian Hughes TT bike, Southern 100 winner and Macau GP bike
• Plus an incredible collection of KTM SuperMoto bikes, including the British Championship winning machine

For the first time, we welcome riders from British Mini Bikes plus Talan Skeels Piggins, the world’s first paraplegic racer, in between racing his SV650 and skiing for Great Britain, he runs the charity ‘The Bike Experience’ helping soldiers injured in combat to get back on a bike.

Another Prescott debut will be Tom ‘The Atom’ Anable, a Lincolnshire based rider, who has designed, built and engineered several Monowheel machines that has held several records. It’s sure to be a great spectacle, when he completes an extraordinary run of the renowned hill climb course.

Also in the paddock, will be Nuclear Research Engineer and iconic motorcycle builder Allen Millyard who will regularly fire up, and take to the hill on his home-built ‘Flying Millyard’. Despite resembling a classic 1920s sedate two-wheeled Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, this beast has two cylinders from a Pratt and Whitney 1340 radial, and a 5.0-litre V-Twin, engine designed for an aeroplane.

Prescott Bike festival is truly a big celebration of man and machine with large displays of historic, modern and race bikes, plus a Paddock Specials Show ‘n’ Tell area and the unique opportunity for members of the public to take part in the spectacle by ‘running the hill’ or participating in a thrilling passenger ride experience. There’s also a whole raft of entertainment too from live music, stunt shows, biker celebrity appearances and hundreds of trade stands, motorcycle manufacturers, dealer zone, motorcycle clubs, demo areas - what’s more it helps to raise vital money and awareness for the Blood Bike charities.

There’s so much to see and do:

Ride: You can ride the world famous Prescott Hill and be a Star of the Show, entries are limited and all places for 2016 are now booked but there’s lots of general admission tickets – book now to save 20% off the gate price

See: Get up close and personal with over 100 historic, rare, modern, factory race bikes, one off special builds and more. Lunchtime interviews in the Paddock with the riders and their bikes. Plus Club stands, Motorcycle manufacturers and more.

Do: Take the ride of your life with a thrilling passenger ride experience in a Formula Two or Watsonian Squire Sidecar, a Morgan Three Wheeler, Grinnall Trike or Scorpion – available to purchase on the day (leathers required). The Army Reserve will be attending with a Man SV Recovery Truck and providing Career advice; plus visitors can try their hand on the climbing wall and Airsoft Rifle Range.

Meet: Come and meet our special ‘biker’ celebs including; James Hillier, Lightweight TT (650cc) outright lap record, a member of the exclusive '132 club' and the 3rd fastest man round the TT course; former British Superbike and Isle of Man TT road racer Steve Plater; multiple British and Australia Supermoto champion, Chris Hodgson; son of ‘Mike the Bike’ David Hailwood plus BSB rider Richard Cooper, Charlie Nesbitt and for something a little bit bonkers - Matt McKeown and his World's Fastest jet-powered Shopping Trolley! Plus lots more yet to be announced!

Watch: ‘On The Edge’ motorcycle stunt show - probably the best Trials Stunt Show we’ve ever seen. Plus the welcome return of the George Formby tribute act from the motorcycle film, No Limit? He’ll also take to the hill on his 1920 ‘Shuttleworth Snap’

Buy: Bring lots of cash, with over 100 trade stands and all the motorcycle manufacturers there’s bound to be something you like.

Plus: Live music by 1950s inspired rockabilly band, Josie and the Outlaw plus Chickenbone John and his custom guitars! And great food and drink throughout the day.

Prescott Bike Festival is a ‘Must Do’ day out for all motorcycling enthusiasts. What’s more, all event proceeds of the event go to The Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.

Gates Opens at: 08:30am, Track starts at: 10:00am, Festival closes at: 17:00.

Exclusive infield motorcycle parking for Pre-1990 motorcycles: limited numbers, advance booking essential.

Advance general admission tickets cost just £12 and are available online at www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

Free parking, free motorcycle side stand puck and free helmet park for bikers

All details of exhibitors and celebrity appearances are available on the website.

Prescott Bike Festival - Sunday 17th April 2016

Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, near Cheltenham, GL52 9RD

The biggest annual fundraiser for the Blood Bike charities

Figures to be released today will show that more ‘commuter sized’ motorcycles and scooters were sold during 2015 than for any other year since comparative records began in 1983.

The Motorcycle Industry Association, which collates new registration data for the industry, will also report that total registrations for bikes of all sizes were more than 12% up on 2014.

During 2015 more than 43,700 new motorcycles (including scooters) between 101-125cc were sold. Exact figures will be adjusted later today (Friday 8th January). This sized motorcycle is very popular for commuting and also includes the scooter style.

Total registrations for 2015 for all sized motorcycles and mopeds will exceed 114,000, which is the highest annual total since 2008.

Steve Kenward, CEO of the MCIA, says news about sales of new motorcycles between 101-125cc is consistent with anecdotal evidence that commuting via motorcycle is becoming more popular:

“We’re seeing an increase in sales of new motorcycles of all sizes, but our records show that we’ve never seen as many bikes of this size sold before. We think it is likely that they are being used for commuting, as they are economical to run and easy to park. Motorcycle dealers have been reporting an increase in families swapping a second car for a motorcycle, to beat the misery of sitting in traffic during rush hour. Motorcycles and scooters can filter through slow moving traffic and are tremendous fun, with riders tending to rate their commute more enjoyable than other transport users”.*

Background

Sales of new motorcycles of all sizes fell dramatically during the recession, but recovery began during 2011, when the sale of small motorcycles began to rise along with petrol prices.

The rise for new sales in 2015 builds on an increase of 10% for 2014.

Steve Kenward predicts total sales will continue to increase: “We anticipate 2016 will see further growth on 2015 numbers and predict sales of around 124,000, which we will refine further during the year.”

* The Office for National Statistics conducted a one-off survey examining the impact of commuting patterns on people’s levels of anxiety, happiness and satisfaction. This showed that for journeys up to 30 minutes there was no effect on levels of happiness or anxiety for those who rode a motorcycle, moped or scooters to work. In contrast – for journeys between 15 and 30 minutes - those who walk, cycle, drive a car or take the bus – all experience an adverse increase in some or all of the factors measured.