Bautista and Melandri on the track to improve with their RS-GP bikes

Austin (Texas - USA), 7 April 2015 - The second round of the 2015 MotoGP season, scheduled on the track at Austin, Texas, has Aprilia continuing its growth and development project.

In the opening round at Qatar it was Marco Melandri who rode his Aprilia RS-GP across the wire in his first race distance outing, whereas Alvaro Bautista – who had shown excellent signs during the test sessions on Saturday – was forced to withdraw due to damage to the braking system after contact with Marc Marquez in the first lap.

Bautista's performance in particular would have been important to have a “snapshot” of the progress made by Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, since this is the testing spirit with which the team is facing this first part of the season. In any case, the American round will provide the setting for a second and important test bench.

ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
“A season that is so packed, with eighteen GP races on the calendar, doesn't leave us much time even to complain. We left Qatar disappointed that we weren't able to assess Bautista's performance over race distance, but here is a second chance. For us it will be another fundamental test on our itinerary and obtaining information during the race would be really important. In the opening weekend we received confirmation of just how hard a challenge we accepted, but we also achieved some positive results that we'll be able to confirm during this American round in order to lay some solid cornerstones for development.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
“After a Grand Prix as peculiar as the night race in Qatar, in Texas we'll be back on the track in conditions that we are obviously more accustomed to. The Losail track proved to be particularly demanding, but we expected that. Our Championship strategy is to learn all the tracks on the calendar so we can arrive at the 2016 season fully prepared from every point of view. Looking at it that way, Circuit of the Americas, which is a very complete track with fast turns and long straight stretches mixed with a more flowing part, represents another important test bench and a chance to collect important data. After the episode that involved Alvaro with no fault of his own during the race in Losail, our goal for this round is to have both riders finish the race, testing and taking a first step forward in terms of performance as well, both on the flying lap and race pace.”

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“In Texas we'll be taking on a completely different track than the one that hosted the first Grand Prix of the year. During the winter test sessions at Valencia, Jerez and Sepang the bike consistently performed the same way basically, whereas in Qatar we were facing new situations, but we don't know if that had to do with the particular characteristics of the track or the particular racing conditions with not much grip on the tarmac. So I'm anxious to get onto the track in Austin, a track with some hard braking sections and long straight stretches where we'll be able to check some important things concerning the way the RS-GP performs and continue our development work on the bike. It is essential for us to find the right motivation straight away after our disappointment in the first Grand Prix, where I was unable to complete even the first lap of the race, and get back to work with a positive attitude.”

MARCO MELANDRI
“Austin is a new track for me, so I am expecting a demanding weekend. In any case I think that finishing the race in Qatar was a helpful first experience and I hope it was also useful for the guys at Aprilia to make some important changes that will be able to help me gain more confidence on the bike. Now I'd like to take a few steps forward and at least try to get into the pack of riders ahead of me. It won't be easy, but I'm anxious to try.”

It was a mixed opening round of the 2015 British Superbike Championship for Ducati at Donington Park today (6 April). Problems in the main BSB class were overshadowed by a sensational debut performance from James Eagan in the National Superstock 1000 class.

Jakub ‘Kuba’ Smrz returns for a second season aboard the increasingly competitive Ducati Panigale riding for the Lloyds British Moto Rapido team. It wasn’t to be an ideal start to the campaign, however, as a crash for Kuba in free practice put him out of contention for qualifying.

Despite the best efforts of the team and a complete rebuild of the #96 machine following the accident, there was yet more bad luck in store for the squad as Smrz was forced to start race one from pit lane with tyre issues being discovered just before the green flag lap. Having made progress in the early running the Ducati racer was forced to retire with arm pump – a symptom of having had so little track time this weekend.

For the second race of the bank holiday Monday Smrz made a great start and was up to 22nd from 28th on the grid after lap one. A small mistake saw him run wide, however, and gave him all the hard work to do again. He closed the mammoth gap of over 14 seconds to the pack ahead and began to make up places, but ultimately could only manage 24th across the line.

Team Owner Steve Moore said: “The team have done so well this weekend so a massive thanks to everyone. The total number of laps we completed over the whole weekend is what we'd normally expect to do on day one, so actually all things considered it's not too bad. We had a bit of bad luck with a tyre that Pirelli has confirmed was faulty, and starting from pit lane always sets you back. That's racing though, the key is we completed the second race. Kuba ran wide on lap one but we said let's take the risk and push as hard as we can, and then use the rest of the race as a test session. We've got loads of data to go on to Brands Hatch, so onwards and upwards!”

There were better fortunes for Ducati in the intensely competitive National Superstock 1000 category. Having signed South African rider James Eagan for the 2015 campaign, this weekend was expected to be something of a learning curve as the MWR Motorsport team enjoyed precious little testing in the off-season.

Having had just a single dry session aboard the Ducati Panigale R prior to the weekend, the 24-year-old was able to secure 30th on the grid for Monday morning’s race. The performance of this new bike/rider pairing as the race got underway was something extraordinary, as within a few laps of the Leicestershire venue Eagan was already inside the top twenty.

With his pace increasing at every circulation the Ducati continued to pass rider after rider, and by the end of the 17-lap contest Eagan crossed the line an incredible 11th.

Eagan said: “The bike is just something else – I immediately felt comfortable on it, but the really exciting thing is that there’s so much more to come. Last year in this championship I was just about knocking on the door of the top group by the end of the season, but we’re already at that level after just a couple of sessions on the Ducati – it’s by far the best bike I’ve ridden! We were making big steps forward all weekend, and it’s just a shame we don’t get more track time – if I’d started that race 11th instead of 30th, who knows what might have happened!”

The championship now moves to Brands Hatch in Kent on 17/19 April where in addition to British Superbike and National Superstock classes, the prestigious Ducati TriOptions Cup will blast off for its first event of the year.

Ticket sales seem to be going crazy this year for all of our rallies.

The introduction of Saturday only tickets represents our commitment to ensure access to our rallies is affordable and allows those that can't escape work on Friday to show their face - and have some fun! Our free T-shirt that comes with purchase of tickets for all three events has also been very popular. Don't forget that you can buy tickets for Into The Valley by cheque up to the 17th of April and on-line until the 24th of April - after that you will have to buy them on the gate.

Into The Valley will be offer the first Back Street Heroes Bike Show of the year and a range of top notch food vans providing quality food. Beer will be cheaper than through the local pubs. Full details of Into The Valley bands and comedians below.

Just to let you know that you can now obtain tickets from outlets and MAG reps in certain parts of the UK. We are hoping this will encourage a few of you to get out on your bikes and engage with MAG. Links to these outlets and contacts as well as other methods of buying tickets are below.

As always, our events are held on behalf of Riders' Rights throughout UK and Europe.  No Cars, No Vans, No Pedestrians, No Excuses.

MAG is inviting all motorcyclists and Scooter riders to come along and quiz representatives of Political parties on their party’s policies on motorcycling issues.  This is your chance to ensure politicians are aware of your views and concerns on motorcycling issues.

Issues such as secure bike parking, bikes in bus-lanes, ITS and the erosion of rider control through state use of telemetric data and automatic speed restrictions, VED, the rider testing regime, parity with other vulnerable road users on sentencing and justice and locally the proposed ban on learners on the existing Forth Road Bridge when the new Forth Crossing opens.

Where and when 7th April 7pm to 9pm at Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Centre 25 Palmerston  Place, Edinburgh EH12 5AP

We currently have representatives from the Green Party, Scottish Conservatives, SNP, UKIP, Scottish Labour and are expecting the Lib Dems to confirm a representative on Monday.  What we need now is riders to show we care passionately  about our bikes and scooters and being able to ride them.

MAG's Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns Lembit Opik will be chairing the meeting, but in keeping with MAG's policy will take an apolitical stance and will ensure we get to hear all views without favour or bias.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch via e-mail or on 07833264878 and please feel free to pass this message on to other riders you know or share my facebook post on the hustings.

Steve Wykes

Regional Representative

Motorcyle Action Group (Scotland)

Bike4Life organisers have announced an exciting line-up for this year’s Festival taking place on Sunday 26 April.  The much-loved event held at RAF Museum Cosford returns for its 5th year at the end of this month, raising money for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity (MAAC).

More than 8,000 people attended the event last year, making it one of the biggest and best biker events in the region. This year’s Festival promises to be even bigger with a great number of attractions on offer on the day.

Bike4Life Fest 2015 promises to be a great day out for bikers and families alike with more than 40 exhibitors signed up to showcase some of the latest motorbikes, including luxury motorbike retailer, Stratstone. Bikers on the lookout for accessories and clothing for the new biking season are sure to find what they are looking for at the Festival with all the latest brands on offer.  Also on board are Halesowen-based company Revs Suspension, so whether you’re revamping an old bike or giving your current bike a bit of TLC, the team will be on hand to offer you advice. 

Families looking for an entertaining day out are guaranteed to enjoy the family fun lined up. Visitors can take tours of two of the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s EC135 air ambulance helicopters and watch energetic performances from extreme mountain biker and British Trials Champion Danny Butler and daring displays from stunt bikers Inch Perfect and Moto Gymkhana. In addition to all of this, youngsters can have a go on the climbing wall, ride on the kiddie quad bikes and have their faces painted. 

Planet Rock 105.2FM will be showcasing the best in the Midlands’ music talent with Cairo Son, Fireroad, Good Companies, Redline and Skam lined up to rock the Festival. Keeping festival goers fuelled for the day, there will also be a fantastic range of food and drink on offer. 

Current King of the Jungle and seven times World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty will be taking part in a live Q&A on stage at the event, where visitors will also have the chance to meet and greet the racing champ. Carl will also be leading the much-anticipated 23-mile Ride Out from Meole Brace, Shrewsbury to the event’s home in Cosford.

Jason Levy, fundraising and marketing director for Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, said “It’s the final countdown to this year’s event and registrations have already gone through the roof. Over 3,000 bikers will ride out with Carl and thousands more are expected to come along to RAF Museum Cosford to see all that Bike4Life Fest has to offer.” 

Abi Betteridge, public events manager at RAF Museum Cosford, said “You don’t have to be a biker to enjoy Bike4Life 2015, there’s plenty to see and do for festival goers of all ages. In addition to the Spitfire flypast, live music, arena displays and family entertainment, visitors will also have access to the RAF Museum Cosford, with over 70 historic aircraft on display. We look forward to welcoming new and familiar faces to the museum on 26th April.”

The event, which is partnered with RAF Museum Cosford and the Safer Roads Partnership, aims to raise awareness of biker safety.

Any bikers wishing to take part in the Bike4Life Ride Out must register in advance through the Bike4Life website www.bike4lifefest.com as spaces are limited (£5 per bike). Any biking enthusiasts, fans of Carl Fogarty and live music lovers are welcome to head straight to the Festival at RAF Museum Cosford.  Entry to the Festival is free of charge with all donations on the day going towards the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.