The brand-new SHARK Evo-One will arrive in UK dealers this month. The latest innovation in SHARK Helmet’s popular EVO collection boasts a range of improved technical features, including an ‘Auto-up and Auto-down’ system, which automatically lifts the visor when raising or lowering the chin guard.

The Evo-One is more compact and 100g lighter than its predecessor, the Evoline, and features a sun visor 23% larger. The aerodynamic profile and reduction in wind noise come as a result of state-of-the-art Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) techniques.

As with all SHARK models, the helmet is compatible with the popular SHARKTOOTH® system. It also features the ‘Autoseal’ visor system, which flattens the visor onto the helmet, creating a soundproof seal that offers better protection against the elements and wind noise.

The Evo-One comes with a Pinlock MaxVision visor and a removable and washable interior. It is available in sizes XS-XL in a wide variety of colour options with RRPs starting from £309.99.

To find your local dealer, visit www.nevis.uk.com or call 01425 478936.

Former World Superbike Championship rider and double Italian Superbike Champion Alessandro Polita will make his TT Races debut at the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, contesting all three 1000cc races.

The Italian will ride a 1000cc BMW S1000R for former TT competitor Roberto Antonellini in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT Races and will aim to follow in the footsteps of countrymen Alessio Corradi and Stefano Bonetti who have both impressed in recent years.

The 31-year old came to prominence in 2005 when he finished fourth in the European Superstock 1000cc Championship and a year later he went on to win the title. Riding for Team Celani Suzuki, Polita took three wins and eight podiums that season to take the championship from Claudio Corti and Luca Scassa.

That paved the way to a move into the premier World Superbike Championship in 2007 where he impressively scored points on five occasions despite being on board the relatively uncompetitive GSXR 1000 K6 Suzuki. Subsequently, he moved back into the European Superstock 1000cc Championship for 2008 where he again proved his talent with third overall, just missing out on a second title by ten points.

Riding this time for the Sterilgarda Go Eleven Ducati squad, the Jesi resident won at Misano and stood on the podium at Monza, Brno and Donington Park to finish behind Brendan Roberts and Maxime Berger in the final Championship table.

2009 should have seen him continue with Team Sterilgarda and return to the World Superbike Championship as team-mate to Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne but the global economic crisis intervened and the team were forced to cut back to running just the British rider. As a result, Polita switched to the World Supersport Championship for a number of races before rejoining Team Celani.

For 2010, he moved into the Italian Superbike Championship riding a Ducati 1098R for Barni Racing and it proved to be a successful season as he won the title with a round to spare, ending the year a comfortable 41 points clear of team-mate Stefano Cruciani. The partnership continued into 2011 where Polita again contested the Italian Superbike Championship as well as picking up points as a wild card at the Imola and Misano World Superbike Championship rounds.

Polita again scored points in the World Superbike Championship in 2012 when he rode for the Red Devils Roma Ducati team and since then he has been highly successful in the Italian championship riding for the Guandalini Racing and BMW teams.

His presence on the grid in June adds both International and world class flavour to what is already shaping up to be yet another stunning entry and although 2016 will very much be a learning year, Polita’s World Championship credentials should ensure his performances are credible.

Commenting ahead of his TT Races debut, Polita said: "Returning from a weekend to the Island of Man, I’ve had the chance to reflect on my first steps that will lead me to one of the most important international motorcycling events for my career.
Taking in the Island, studying the course supervised by the hugely knowledgeable Richard 'Milky' Quayle, I understand the great honor that I have in being part of this great road racers family.”

He continued: “We studied every centimetre of the Island, and I am committed to fully live this adventure, as I always I said, without any ambitions or targets, but with only the need to find and experience again those feelings and emotions that only those who live in the motorcycling world can feel racing a motorcycle.”

DESPITE THE STOP BAUTISTA AND BRADL COMPLETE THE SCHEDULED WORK ON THE THIRD DAY OF TESTING

Sepang also had the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders only taking partial advantage of the eight hours available. This was due to the rain showers in the morning, not hard enough to justify using rain tyres but enough to force Alvaro Bautista and Stefan Bradl to come into the garage.

Back on the track just after 4 in the afternoon, Alvaro and Stefan continued the scheduled tests with their usual professionalism until the red light came on, focusing specifically on developing the new controlled electronics package. At the end of the tests both riders pointed out the progress achieved both in terms of the new tyres and the electronics package, confirming the latter as the area with most room for improvement where efforts need to be concentrated between now and the first race in Qatar.

Over the three days Bautista put in 132 laps with a best time of 2'02,876. 128 laps with a best time of 2'02.372 for Stefan Bradl.

ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
"Here at Sepang we worked on two fronts, the new electronics and the Michelin tyres. I'm rather satisfied with the progress the tyres show, especially the front which provides the riders with a good feeling and lets them push with confidence. On the electronics front, on the other hand, we still have a lot of work to do in order to reach a satisfactory base level. We need more time to figure out how to take the best advantage of the settings for all the parameters. Overall we have taken some steps forward and now we have the most difficult challenge ahead - taking the new 2016 bike onto the track."

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
“Three very useful days to increase our familiarity with the new aspects of this season, tyres and the new electronics. Being able to finish various assessments was extremely important, especially in terms of the electronics, in order to create a good base setup to transfer to the new prototype. Stefan and Alvaro once again proved to be great professionals. The data collected will allow us to streamline setting up development on the new bike. It will début before long and I would like to thank all the Aprilia engineers and technicians who put in an enormous effort to make a new bike. We can't wait to see it in action.”

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“We did a lot of work over these three days, especially on the electronics. We put in a lot of short sessions to give our technicians a change to analyse a large quantity of small changes, gathering information which will then be analysed at home. There is still a lot to do. For the tyres I'm beginning to learn the characteristics and the feeling has greatly improved. After riding for my entire MotoGP career on a certain type of tyre it took some time to adapt. I can't wait to get to Doha where there will be more days of hard work but with the important motivation of the new bike.”

STEFAN BRADL
“These were some intense tests, spent above all on trying to improve the electronics package. Progress was made although we know that there is still plenty of room for improvement. This was the last test with the 2015 bike, so gathering as much data as possible was fundamental to facilitate the racing department's job. My mind is already on the next tests in Qatar where we'll have a completely new bike on which to apply everything we've learned thus far. By analysing the data and crunching the numbers on what we've tested I think that we'll be able to start from the best possible base electronics settings and then improve on it race after race.”

Prescott Bike Festival will take 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). 

Unlike a static bike show, Prescott gives you 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; Skyzone Racing featuring multiple British 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 17 April 2016

Prescott Hill Climb, Gotherington, Nr Cheltenham GL52 9RD

The biggest annual fundraiser for the Blood Bike charities

Tyre giant Michelin has unveiled a series of riding experiences at iconic venues across the UK.

Customers buying a set of tyres from Michelin’s track-focussed Power range will be eligible to attend a track day hosted by legendary racer Terry Rymer for just £49. The Michelin Power Days will include 120 minutes of track time, tyre technical workshops and track day tuition from Terry himself. Refreshments are included and riders will also receive a photo and a limited edition T-shirt and mug. Four iconic circuits have been secured by event partner GTC Motorcycle – Knockhill, Brands Hatch, Oulton Park and Mallory Park.

James Dimmock, Marketing Manager for Michelin motorcycle tyres in the UK and Ireland, said: “The Power range has been really well received, and we know these days will allow riders to get the most out of their tyres and their time on the track. Having the likes of Terry Rymer on board will be a big pull. He will be able to offer customers some real insights and he is well aware of the role top quality tyres play in staying safe and pushing the boundaries of performance.”

GTC Motorcycle director Matt Sunderland said: “We’re really excited to be co-ordinating the Michelin Power Days. We know riders will have a fantastic time and we’re looking forward to putting on track days that will help them return some blistering lap times.”

Places are limited and they will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Eligible customers buying a set of Michelin Power SuperSport Evo, Michelin Power Cup Evo, Michelin Power Slick Evo or Michelin Power Rain in 2016 can apply for the Power Days.

Proof of purchase will be required at the point of booking.

For full terms and conditions visit www.gtc-moto.co.uk/michelinpowerdays