The government has got a long way to go to convince drivers that they have the pothole problem in control as 67 per cent of motorists think that they are doing a bad or a very bad job of maintaining the nation’s roads, according to the latest research published today by road safety charity, the Institute of Advanced Motorists.

Almost two thirds (65 per cent) of female drivers believe that the government is doing a bad or very bad job, but the figure increases for male drivers 69 per cent unhappy with the current state of the roads.

There is a clear lack of communication between the motoring public and local councils. A third of drivers (34 per cent) think that their council is cutting spending on road maintenance but 60 per cent of drivers don’t know if budgets are being cut, suggesting councils are performing poorly on informing and engaging with local residents. Over half of drivers (52 per cent) think that local councils are doing a bad or very bad job of looking after local roads. Fifty-seven per cent of males and 49 per cent of females believe their council is doing a bad or very bad job.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “Despite the government’s pothole review, there is a high level of dissatisfaction with the efforts of authorities to keep our roads safe and smooth drive or ride on.

“The government need to convince motorists that they have a real cure for the pothole pandemic. This can only be achieved through clear communication on new policies, more sharing of resources, sustained long-term funding and a continued commitment to eradicating the maintenance backlog of crumbling British roads.”

The IAM offers tips on avoiding the risks associated with potholes:

•Leave plenty of room between you and the vehicle in front so that you can see the road surface before you drive or ride on it.
•If you do hit a pothole accidentally, make a point of checking your tyres once you’ve stopped. Check the inner as well as the outer tyre wall, which may have been damaged as a result.
•Avoid suddenly pulling out to avoid a hole – you might discover that there is a motorcyclist trying to get past you, or encounter an oncoming vehicle.
•Bikers and cyclists need to look well ahead and change direction early so they have time to deal with the holes, and so that their movements don’t cause surprise to other road users.
•Potholes tend to reappear in the same place again and again as previous repairs fail - remember where you saw one and expect it to be there again.
•Be extra vigilant on roads with lots of lorries and also around bus stops. Extra pressure is put on the road surface wherever heavy vehicles stop, start or turn.

Clive Padgett’s road race team has been given a boost for 2014 with the announcement that the squad will have a new title sponsor - oil giant Valvoline. 

The rainbow coloured machines of the Batley based Honda outfit have finished on the podium in 20 of the last 25 TTs they’ve raced in, including Ian Hutchinson’s unprecedented five-in-week in 2010. 

It was this track record that clinched the deal for Valvoline boss, Dr Simon Cupples.

“Padgett’s have a helluva track record in racing and we were looking for a winning team that would give us the opportunity to demonstrate the technology and relevance of our products- Padgett’s provide that opportunity.” he said as the deal was signed in the Yorkshire dealer’s busy showroom last week.

The tie-up will be Valvoline’s first significant involvement in bike racing since the company sponsored Niall McKenzie in Grands Prix in 1993 on the WCM Yamaha. Kiwi Bruce Anstey will be the team’s main rider for 2014 as he chases down his 10th TT win.

“I don’t want to sound corporate because I’m definitely not corporate.” Clive Padgett said. “But it is great to be approached by a company like Valvoline because of our success on the track. We see ourselves as a ‘mates racing ‘ team and this deal will ensure we are able to keep doing what we do.”

The new colours will have their first public showing at the opening two BSB rounds at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch, with Kiwi Bruce Anstey and Aussie Glen Richards riding Fireblades in the Superstock races.

John McGuinness, who will ride the Valvoline/Padgetts Hondas in the RL 360 Superstock and Monster Energy Supersport races at the Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy alongside his official factory prepared SP Fireblade Superbike, also welcomed the oil company’s backing.

“We will try to deliver the goods for Clive and Valvoline this year. The only problem I see is that these jackets are a bit white and they will get dirty pretty quickly when we’re working on the bikes.”   

The British Championship winning Smiths Triumph team will make their debut at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy, fielding Gary Johnson and Michael Rutter.

The duo will line up on the 675cc Triumph Daytona’s in the two 4-lap Monster Energy Supersport races, and with two potential race winners on board, the British manufacturer has a great chance of replicating the success achieved by Bruce Anstey and the Valmoto Triumph team back in 2003 when they won the Junior 600cc encounter. The news also gives further proof of the TT’s stature with yet another British Championship team adding it to their schedule.

Johnson has already tasted success in the Supersport category at the TT, having won the second race in 2011, and looked set to do the same in 2012 before running out of fuel on the final lap of the Supersport 1 Race. Rutter, too, has been victorious in the 600cc category, winning the 1998 race after getting the better of team-mate Ian Simpson by just 4.7s although 2014 will be the first time he’s contested the class since 2009.

The team, run by father and daughter duo Alan and Rebecca Smith, forms a part of the Gloucester-based firm. They are one of the region’s largest and most respected construction services and waste management companies and their team has been at the forefront of the British Supersport Championship since they first contested it in 2010.

Their crowning moment came in 2012 when Australian Glen Richards took the title by just 8.5 points after a thrilling final round at Brands Hatch. Richards’ title defence last year was interrupted by injury but fellow Australian Billy McConnell took third place overall for the second successive year with the duo taking a combined 15 wins and 40 podiums in those two seasons. McConnell will again challenge for the British Championship in 2014 where he’ll be joined by new teammate Graeme Gowland.

Commenting on the appearance of the team at the 2014 TT, Paul Phillips said: "The welcome appearance of another high profile, successful team from the British Championship gives the TT its strongest line up for many years. This year also represents one of the strongest in living memory in terms of manufacturer representation with another credible marque added to the list of potential race winners."

He continued: "Smiths have made a major commitment to the TT and by backing these experienced riders have a great chance of at least a podium place or even a race win."

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager, Smiths Triumph commented: "As a team we've often discussed the Isle of Man TT Races but only wanted to do it with everything in place. We are really looking forward to taking the iconic Triumph brand back to the Isle of Man and with Michael and Gary riding for us we are confident that we will be competitive."

makes surprise appearance at Prescott Bike Festival!

The fourth annual Prescott Bike Festival took place on Sunday 6 April 2014 in aid of the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and its member group, Severn Freewheelers. Despite the inclement weather, the event attracted several thousand visitors who enjoyed an action-packed day where rare classic, modern and famous motorcycles took to the historic hill, from Nortons, BSAs and Velocettes, to well-known superbikes such as Frankie Chili’s 1998 Ex WSB Ducati 996, James Toseland’ s first WSS machine and David Jeffries' GSX-R1000 TT bike (courtesy of Mike West). In the paddock the Carlos Checa’s MotoGP Ducati Desmosedici GP5 and Checa’s 2011 WSB winning Ducati 1198 F1 were fired up at regular intervals.

BBC Top Gear’s Richard Hammond also made a surprise appearance, arriving on a classic Norton Dominator motorcycle. It was his first visit to Prescott Bike Festival, and he spent several hours signing autographs and having pictures taken with fans. Richard said “as an honouree member of Bloodbikes, I am delighted to finally make it to Prescott Bike Festival and support such a fantastic cause”.

The festival was also supported by many motorcycle clubs, trade stalls and dealers including those representing Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Enfield, Triumph, AJP, Harley, Victory, BMW and KTM. Speaking at the event Colin Bailey, General Manager of Bransons said “We have supported Prescott Bike Festival for the past four years; the event is a great place for us to showcase our business, whilst supporting a great charity”.

Despite the inclement weather, all 200 tickets for members of the public to “ride the hill” were sold out months in advance as was the special features this year, Happy Hour, the public’s opportunity to see, hear, get up close and watch some special motorcycle machinery. Not surprisingly, passenger thrill rides in sidecars, Morgan Three Wheelers, Westfields, and Grinnall Scorpion sold out quickly. Throughout the day there were demonstrations by the Scott Redding Mini Moto Academy, Dave Coates Stunt Show, Skyzone Racings’ Chris Hodgson (current British Supermoto Champion), the NHCA Masters, the Classic 50cc Racing Club and motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders, who has motorcycled around the world seven times.

Special guest appearances included: motorcycle adventurer Nick Sanders. Plus Tag Racing Team with British Superbike rider Richard Cooper and Superstock rider Shaun Winfield, BeWiser Kawasaki Superstock rider Josh Day and Skyzone Racing Supermoto Team riders Chris Hodgson, Jay Smith and Thomas Elam. Plus Isle of Man TT rider for Centurion Racing Team, Dan Cooper. Sadly MotoGP commentator Steve Parrish was unable to make it as his flight from the Isle of Man was cancelled due to the weather conditions. Steve is a great supporter of Bloodbikes and was incredibly disappointed not to attend, he will be presenting a cheque of ?600 to Bloodbikes, from monies raised from the raffles that took place during his recent M.A.D tour.

Off track, the paddock was crammed with bike displays, motorcycle trade stands and a host of entertainment with live music from UK hot rocking band, Josie and the Outlaws, and Road House Rooster, Chickenbone John and his custom guitars. In addition there were roaming actors from the UK Garrison, the world’s largest and most accurate Star Wars costuming club, and, back by popular demand, the George Formby look-a-like from the motorcycle film, No Limit?.

In amongst the fun, there were serious messages too – Chris Harrison, Motorcycle Coordinator from Gloucestershire Road Safety Partnership said “Prescott Bike Festival is a prime place to get the Think Bike message out there to a large motorcycle audience. In Gloucestershire 84% of all motorcycle collisions involve another vehicle, and whilst it’s hoped they will never be needed, we are handing out free crash cards. Its a scheme where a rider places a crash card inside their helmet providing emergency contact details for ambulance crews in case they are injured in an accident. So far we have distributed over 6,000 in the county”.

Festival organiser, Gordon Downie, said, “Prescott Bike Festival raises vital funds for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes, it’s the charity's biggest fundraising event of the year and we are delighted that it has become a firm annual fixture in the motorcycle calendar. We are hugely grateful to all the exhibitors, bike clubs, dealers, marshals, volunteers, sponsors and visitors who continue to support us and have helped make the event such a success. Next year the festival will be held on Sunday 15 April”.

Did you “Ride the Hill” at Prescott Bike Festival? If so, why not buy a picture of your hill run, using the link on the Prescott Bike Festival website 

All proceeds from pictures bought will be donated to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes.

A cheap but dangerous form of road resurfacing comes in the form of surface dressing which is tar sprayed onto a poor surface and then over dressed with chippings.

It is not rolled in but left with lose chippings for months. Any that are not stuck down can lay in clusters and as such cannot be seen as they are the same grey colour.

This is fastest form of surfacing but it appears to be the cheapest but most expedient. However due to the lose chippings not rolled in it is definitely the most dangerous surface for any and all two wheeled vehicles, scooters, motorcycles and now including bicycle. Riding on it can only be likened to riding on marbles or ice or indeed diesel.

If that is not done then as an alternative perhaps the local authorities could be instructed and recommendations made with safeguards that all such temporary surfaces should be rolled to secure the surface and then it should be thoroughly swept to remove all traces of lose and dangerous chippings

Sign the petition here