More than 13,500 motorcycles are booked to travel to the 2015 Isle of Man TT with the Steam Packet Company.

The figure represents an increase of more than 10% in the number of bookings compared with this time last year.

The increase has been made possible by the Steam Packet Company's investment in a removable mezzanine deck on fast craft Manannan. This has created additional space for motorcycles during the TT and Festival of Motorcycling periods, allowing fans who have previously travelled as foot passengers the chance to bring their bikes.

Crucially, MV Arrow providing freight services during the TT has allowed more space on Ben-my-Chree for vehicles. The charter of P&O Express has also once again added additional passenger capacity for the event.

Steam Packet Company Chief Executive Mark Woodward said, "The fact that bookings for the TT are up on this time last year shows the ongoing popularity of the event and the demand from visitors to experience it for themselves. We constantly review our services and identified there was a clear demand for extra space for motorcycles. We have invested heavily in the removable mezzanine deck to create this space, and that has allowed us to ensure more people can bring their bikes this year. In addition, there has been significant investment in the charter of P&O Express, to supplement our passenger services, and MV Arrow, which will take over the Ben-my-Chree's freight duties during the TT so there is more room for fans."

He added: "Our team works around the clock during the TT bringing fans to the event, and based on the current bookings we're looking forward to another really busy year." 

This year's Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy sees the introduction of the Carl Cox Motorsport sidecar team to the Sure sidecar class.

One of the world's most recognised DJ's, Carl Cox is also a complete motorsport fan, an avid collector of iconic motorcycles, and actively participates in track days, ride schools, motorcycle tours and even jumps behind the wheel of his V8 drag cars when he can!

Carl has also become a regular fixture at the MotoGP and WSB meetings and based on his ever-growing involvement within the motorsport community he formed Carl Cox Motorsport with good friend Gavin Sokolich from New Zealand, in order to take on an active role in the race circles with his own teams.

The brand has quickly grown to include an F1/F2 Sidecar team, 2 bikes in the Ducati TriOptions cup (BSB support class), 2 bikes in the post-classic series in Australia, and several drag race cars.

In 2013 experienced NZ Passenger Robbie Shorter and his rider Barry Smith (ex UK GP rider from the 80's) put together a home-built F1 chassis with a K4 Suzuki gsxr1000 engine and proceeded to win multiple short circuit and road races throughout NZ, when 2014 rolled around they decided to purchase an F1 Windle to see if they could contest the New Zealand Championship.

It was around this time the team was noticed by the newly formed motorsport franchise of Carl Cox Motorsport- Carl was on a motorcycle tour in NZ and had no hesitation in signing them as the first formal team for the brand. The team went on to finish #2 for their first full season racing for the brand.

Plans for the TT were made, and they purchased a 2010 BLR/Suzuki chassis that was in the UK- their first time riding the bike was when they picked it up from the old owner, put it in the back of the van, drove to Oschersleben in Germany, and raced in the inaugural F2 World Trophy! The pair had an 8th place finish and then put the bike into a container headed for New Zealand for the team to begin preparation.

Jan 2015 saw the start of the NZ national series, and in a spectacular incident in the very first race of the season, the F1 Windle flipped, resulting in a substantial shoulder injury to rider Barry Smith- unfortunately this meant he would be unable to ride this year's TT as planned.

A call was made to a retired Kiwi sidecar legend, and rider Colin Buckley agreed to hop on a sidecar after a 12 year break to finish the NZ series with Carl Cox Motorsport, and also return to the Island for his fourth time at the TT, having previously raced in 1996, '97 and '98, gaining several bronze replicas.

Silver Bikers are a force to be reckoned with... and they are growing.

In 2014, the over 50s in the UK spent a total of £340 million on motorcycle purchases. This represents nearly a third of total motorcycle spending. In the seven years 2008-2014, growth in annual motorcycle spending among the over 50s averaged 41% compared to 4% for those under 50.*

So, are you a Silver Biker?

Are you over 60 and recently chucked out the bedroom slippers and bought a Ducati Monster? What spurred this change in your lifestyle? The feeling that life was escaping you and it was time to grab a bit of excitement?

David Graeme-Baker, a professional photographer for over 40 years, is currently researching a personal project to document this phenomenon. He is looking for bikers, over 60 and as old as can be, men and women, who have supposedly grown wiser with the passing of the years, but who choose, instead of looking after their grandchildren, to opt for the open road and the wind in their face.

What is it about two wheels and a big engine that is attracting our senior citizens back on the road?

If you think you have a tale to tell, tattoos to show, a bushy beard or a sexy bike get in touch. Contact David and tell him about yourself and your love affair with the Motorbike!

This project is still only in the research stage and its success will depend solely upon the mix of characters who are prepared to take part.

Get in touch with David through his website
 and the questionnaire

www.david.gb.com/Biker

or e-mail for the Silver Biker Project to [email protected]

The first Grand Prix of the year marks Aprilia's return to the top World Championship category

Losail (Qatar), 24 March 2015 - The night races at the Qatar Grand Prix will launch the 2015 MotoGP season and mark Aprilia's return to the top world championship motorcycling competition with Gresini Racing. This is a courageous choice, move up one year ahead of the originally announced schedule, driven by the desire to grow more quickly, accepting the challenge of the track.

The steps in the project include this first year dedicated entirely to development, even and especially in race conditions, before introducing a Full Factory configuration prototype bike in 2016.

This is an ambitious plan, but well within the ability of the designers, engineers and structure of Aprilia Racing at Noale, which boasts 54 world championship wreaths, 28 of which from 2006 to the present, after Aprilia joined the Piaggio Group. The Manufacturer from Noale also skilfully demonstrated its competitiveness in World Superbike, where it quickly became a genuine dominator, earning an impressive seven world titles in the last five years.

The two riders who will be accompanying development of the RS-GP are a part of Aprilia's victorious history: Italian Marco Melandri, already a World Champion on his Aprilia in 2002 (250 Class), MotoGP runner-up champion in 2005 and one of the stars of the World Superbike scene; and Alvaro Bautista, Spaniard, World Champion in 2006 in the 250 class, also on a bike from Noale, and busy in the MotoGP class for the last five years.

It is an exciting challenge which has been taken on thanks to partnership between Aprilia and Gresini Racing, a structure founded and led by two-time World Champion Fausto Gresini and one of the most skilled and successful teams in recent MotoGP history that boasts an extraordinary presence in Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing, where it has been a key player since 1997 without interruption, having won two world titles and taking home 40 race wins.

ROMANO ALBESIANO (Aprilia Racing Manager)
“With the Qatar round Aprilia's MotoGP adventure begins. We are well aware that we will be sizing ourselves up against the highest technical and sports level in motorcycling, but we are doing it confident that we have all the means to develop a successful project. Aprilia's sports history demonstrates this. The purpose of the upcoming season for us is to gather data and know-how on MotoGP specific technologies, to strengthen the work group at home and on the track and simultaneously it will allow us to design a prototype and put it on the track in 2016. The constant competition with our rivals, definitely fierce and difficult for us at the moment, will allow us to speed up our growth process in the category, as has already happened during the winter tests.”

FAUSTO GRESINI (Team Manager)
“For Gresini Racing this will be season number 19 in Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing, but it is always very exciting when we finally get back on the track. For the first time we'll be coming to MotoGP as a ‘Factory’ team, proud to be taking on an exciting challenge alongside a glorious brand like Aprilia which has all the skill and know-how that this category demands. It will take time to develop our project, but I agree with Aprilia's decision to move their début up to compete with stronger rivals, even if that means that there may not be immediate results. We like this challenge and we also like our riders: Alvaro and Marco are highly skilled experts and their contribution will be essential, beginning with this first Grand Prix race where we will continue working hard, experimenting and testing, with the goal of growing and achieving a good level of competitiveness as quickly as possible.”

ALVARO BAUTISTA
“After the winter tests it's finally time to get back to racing! Every time a new season begins it is very exciting and in this case it's even more so because it is also the beginning of our challenge together with Aprilia. This first round actually represents the natural continuation of testing for us: in fact, our primary goal is to develop the bike, no matter what the results are on the track, and it's pointless to focus on those right now. The tests were important for identifying the basic technique to start with. We'll take on the Grand Prix resuming our hard work to keep growing and improving my sensations in the saddle. There is a lot of work to be done, but that doesn't frighten us. To the contrary, the whole team is very united and motivated to make progress. I like the Losail track and I obviously also hope to have fun this weekend!”

MARCO MELANDRI
“For me this weekend is the start of a new challenge: returning the MotoGP after several years of absence will not be a walk in the park and I am well aware that the first Grand Prix races will not be simple for me, but I am confident that I'll be able to make progress throughout the season until I find the right feeling to be fast. Unfortunately, besides the time needed to adapt to a completely new technical package compared to the one I was accustomed to, my winter tests were also hindered by physical problems. I had been taking antibiotics until three days ago because of a pesky flu and I still haven't fully recovered. But in any case I hope to be fit for the race weekend where I will give it 100% as always along with my team which is supporting me in the best possible way.”

Lampkin & Co, one of the UK’s leading motorcycle accident law firms located near Chester servicing North West England and North Wales, has joined forces with Motorcycle Law Scotland to provide specialist cross-border legal expertise to motorcyclists injured in road traffic collisions in Scotland and the North West of England.

The strategic alliance unites the market leaders in motorcycle accident representation and will see each firm refer clients when an accident happens in the other’s jurisdiction and where a different legal system operates. It also builds on the Cross Border Alliance set up a year ago between Motorcycle Law Scotland and Hipkin & Co to service the North East of England and Scotland.

If a motorcyclist has a road traffic collision and is injured in Scotland but lives in England, their claim is subject to Scottish law and they therefore need to use the services of a Scottish firm. Likewise, if a Scottish motorcyclist has an accident in England, then they need to use a firm based in England or Wales as any claim is subject to the legal system of England and Wales.

Brenda Mitchell, founder of Motorcycle Law Scotland with more than 27 years of experience as a personal injury lawyer, said, “By working together, both Motorcycle Law Scotland and Lampkin & Co Solicitors will ensure that cross-border clients receive the specialist representation they deserve when claiming for often very serious injuries sustained in motorcycle accidents. Motorcyclists injured in road traffic accidents need the benefit of expert knowledge that can only come from experienced motorcycling lawyers who are committed to providing the very highest standard of legal representation.”

The alliance also aims to highlight the need to instruct independent, specialist motorcycle accident lawyers to fight a victim’s claim, rather than accept a solicitor ‘appointed’ by an insurer.

When a motorcyclist is involved in a road traffic collision as a result of a driver’s negligence, they are entitled to claim for their loss, injury and damage. The choice of legal representation is up to the motorcyclist and not his or her insurer and, because of the unique nature of motorcycle accidents, it is best to instruct an independent specialist motorcycle accident lawyer.

Mark Lampkin, owner of Lampkin & Co Solicitors added, “As expert bike accident lawyers, our clients will often come back to us or refer friends to us and quite often the accidents happen when they are on tour over the border. We have been looking for a firm in Scotland who we could trust with our client’s claims and I am delighted to have found a true diamond.”