Following the huge success of the two previous events, the third annual Prescott Bike Festival on Sunday 7 April 2013 will be even bigger and better with many more bike manufacturers involved, a large display of historic, modern and race bikes in the paddock, more bike clubs than ever and lots of entertainment for all the family.

Most recently, we've had confirmation of several rare and interesting bikes that will at the Festival. These include the following bikes on display:

• David Jeffries' Suzuki GSXR1000 TT bike
• James Toseland' s first World Superbike, a Honda CBR600
• The original Old Spice Ducati 916 British Superbike
• The ex-Reve Red Bull John Reynolds Ducatti 996RS Championship bike

The many interesting bikes in action during the day now include the following:

• Tony Hudson's 1963 replica works Honda, four-cylinder, 250cc racer as ridden by Jim Redman, Mike Hailwood etc.  It looks and sounds just like the real thing and revs to 16,000 just like the 1960’s works bikes
• The ex-BSB Honda CBR1000 entered by North Glos Road Racing Club, ridden by Johnny Rea and prepared by HM Plant for Red Bull Racing

Also entered by North Glos Road Racing Club, the ex-Black Horse Kawasaki ZX10 Superstock bike ridden by Connor Cummins then Victor Cox. 

For bikers who enjoy classic machinery, Adrian Sellars is bringing his 1956 Norton Manx and a reverse-head 350cc Norton. He will be joined by Clive Hurst with a 1974 three-cylinder, two-stroke 1974 Kawasaki and a 1975 1000cc PEM Kawasaki.

As an event to raise awareness and funds for the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and one of its member groups, Severn Freewheelers, the first annual Prescott Bike Festival in 2011 attracted in excess of 5,500 visitors and raised more than 52,000 for charities. The 2012 Prescott Bike Festival attracted more exhibitors, had even better displays, was visited by more celebrities and raised more money for charities.

After attending last year, MotoGP commentator, Steve Parrish, said: "I had a really great day at the Prescott Bike Festival. I was like a kid in a sweet shop with other like-minded petrol-heads. Riding a 220mph grand prix Ducati up a hill that I hadn't seen before certainly got my attention. Then I was given the keys to a brand new Morgan three-wheeler to take prize winners for a run. I can think of no better way to spend a Sunday."

The Prescott Bike Festival 2013 will build on the success of the previous years by introducing a number of new features. These include a 'Happy Hour' an hour of activity on the hill featuring rare race machinery and factory bikes – in fact, anything that's special, different, rare or exotic. This is no static display; every entry to Happy Hour will Run the Hill. Not only will spectators be able to get close to some really special kit, they can hear it fire up and Run the Hill.

During the day, spectators who purchased Run The Hill tickets (now sold out but there are still plenty of General Admission tickets available) also have two opportunities to ride their own bike up the famous Prescott Hill Climb course

Festival organiser, Gordon Downie, says, “Obviously the unique opportunity to ride the hill is a major attraction, but the Prescott Bike Festival promises so much more. With all major motorcycle manufacturers in attendance, fans will get the chance to see all the major models up close and personal, a host of trade stands as well as famous racers and great lunchtime entertainment too. The festival really is set to offer something for every motorcycle fan.”

Other features of the Prescott Bike Festival 2013 include:

Dealer stands from the likes of Ducati, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Enfield, Triumph, AJP, Harley, Victory, BMW and KTM

Demonstrations throughout the day by 10 times British Trials Champion, Steve Saunders

A demonstration of the exciting new motorcycle sport, Moto Gymkhana

An opportunity to meet celebrities including Nick Sanders (who has motorcycled around the world seven times) and Chris Hodgson (current British Supermoto Champion)

Thrilling passenger experiences on a variety of machinery

Plus more than 100 trade stands

There will also be many displays of bikes of all ages and types including:

Ducati Sporting Club's Desmo Due one-make race series

The Classic 50cc Racing Club – 50cc racing machines and their riders from the early beginnings around 1953, through the classic period and up to the time when the class was dropped from GPs in 1983

Leominster Classic Club

The National Chopper Club – showcasing extreme custom bikes

Musical entertainment will include covers band, Come Up and See Me, and (returning by popular demand), 1950s inspired rockabilly, rock & roll and R&B band, Josie and the Outlaw.

Set at one of the most prestigious hill climb venues in the UK against the beautiful backdrop of the Cotswold countryside, the Prescott Bike Festival aims to provide something for everyone; a relaxed family atmosphere, a huge variety of entertainment and a rare opportunity to ‘Run the Hill’ on your own motorcycle. All proceeds from the day will go to the Nationwide Association of Blood Bikes and Severn Freewheelers.

Venue:

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

Easily accessible from junction 9 of the M5 and from London via the A40 to Cheltenham.

Tickets:

Advance tickets are £12; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.

On-the-day tickets are £15; under 16s (with a paying adult) get in free.

Run the Hill tickets are £35 and must be purchased in advance.

There is no charge for bike parking (free side stand puck provided)

Car parking is £3 per vehicle.

Disabled access: there are a limited number of on-site parking spaces available. When full, there is an overflow facility close to the main car park entrance point. Note that this terrain can be a little rough in inclement weather as it is a hill climb venue.

To purchase tickets in advance visit: www.prescottbikefestival.co.uk

Gates open at 08:30 and track action begins at 10:00. The festival closes at 17:00.

As the 2013 MotoGP season warms-up for the opening race of the year, preparations for Ducati Grandstands move into full swing ready for fans to support full-factory Ducati Team riders, Andrea Dovizioso and Nicky Hayden and factory-supported Pramac Racing Team riders, Andrea Iannone and Ben Spies.

Helping to inject Ducati passion into the series since 2003, Ducati Grandstands 2013 will roar into action under the floodlights of Qatar on 7 April, the highly-anticipated season opener. The brand-new Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas, USA will host the next Ducati Grandstand on 21 April, an event sure to be buzzing with local support for Ben Spies aboard his Pramac Racing Team Ducati Desmosedici GP13.

These first events will set the standard for Ducatisti to arrive en masse for the “home” Italian races of Mugello and Misano, before continuing around the world to tracks such as Le Mans, Assen, Laguna Seca, Silverstone, Valencia and the Sachsenring in Germany.

Silverstone will be host to the British MotoGP race on September 1, where Ducati fans will be able to see the action from a reserved Grandstand at Luffield B. The covered Luffield B Grandstand provides fans with a spectacular view of the bikes arriving down the Wellington Straight into Brooklands Corner before negotiating Luffield. The Luffield complex provides the spectators with not only a fantastic view but also an amazing atmosphere.

Weekend ticket prices for a reserved seat in the Luffield B stand are £110 and £95 for Sunday only. Included in the price of the Grandstand ticket will be a 'goody bag' which will include a Ducati T-shirt, lanyard and flag.

All Ducati Grandstand information, including details on how to purchase tickets is available in the “Experience” section of the official Ducati.com website or the national Ducati websites of participating countries.

The 2013 British MotoGP takes place from Fri 30 August - Sunday 01 September and tickets are available from Silverstone. 

 Or call: 08443 750 740

SHARK Helmets has introduced a brand new helmet into its extensive collection. The Race –R PRO CARBON has been developed from the Race –R PRO and will be worn by SHARK racers in MotoGP, Moto2, Moto3, World Superbike and British Superbikes during the 2013 season.       

Sitting at the top of SHARK’s Racing Division, the Race –R PRO CARBON has a significant noise reduction of 4.5db(A), compared with the Race –R PRO. The helmet benefits from its lightweight carbon/aramid shell construction and has superb aerodynamics thanks to its shape and rear spoiler. It also features SHARK’s brand new bamboo comfort fibre interior.      

SHARK has its own safety laboratory where helmets are pushed to their limits and strict safety tests are carried out, to ensure these helmets meet the five-star levels of protection achieved by the Race -R PRO.      

The Race –R PRO CARBON is available in a variety of colours, which all show a section of the carbon/aramid fibre that makes up the helmet, and is priced at £479.99.

www.shark-helmets.com

New exhibitors confirmed since last week include: ADS Verbatim, Atomic 56 LTD, Earnshaws, Ekselsior LTD, Hadrian V-Twin Tours & Clinton Enterprises to name just a few!

We are now 90% full, click here to see the full list of exhibitors.

All the major manufacturers are now on board: BMW, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Harley Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Triumph, Ducati, MV Augusta, Aprilia, Moto Guzzi AND Bimota.

The total number of exhibitors now stands at over 120, including THE BIKER GUIDE® making The Manchester Bike Show the largest indoor motorcycle show in the UK after the NEC and the largest in the North by miles and miles!  

The total number of classic, custom and racing bikes on display from clubs and private individuals is now in excess of 400 and along with the 100 or so motorcycles on the trade stands we will have over 500 motorcycles in the building.

Advance tickets now selling at double last years rate so with easy access and free parking at EventCity we are expecting a bumper crowd over the weekend of 23rd & 24th March.

Stunt displays from the Inch Perfect Trials team and live music from Aces N Eights are all in place, the big screen advert has just started in the adjacent Trafford Centre, the radio campaign is about to start on Real Radio XS as is the local media campaign throughout the North West. The Manchester Bike Show at EventCity is less than two weeks away, don’t miss it!  

We look forward to seeing you there,  The Manchester Bike Show Team  

To reserve your tickets and save 25% with no booking or transaction fee please call 01749 813899 or go to www.bradsons.co.uk

For reasons of poor health, Filippo Preziosi has taken the decision to resign his position.

The company thanks him for 19 years of outstanding professional service. The now vacant position of Ducati Motor Holding Director of R&D to be announced

Borgo Panigale, (Bologna, Italy) 28 February 2013 - Engineer, Filippo Preziosi, has communicated his intention to resign from his position at Ducati Motor Holding.

Declaring reasons of poor health related to his particular physical condition, Preziosi’s resignation was accepted by Ducati, saddened and disappointed to lose such an accomplished and strategic member of staff. The company respectfully acknowledges the 45-year old Italian’s decision and thanks him for his significant contribution during his 19 years with Ducati, 12 of which were within Ducati Corse.

Previously occupying the role of General Manager of Ducati Corse, Preziosi, was appointed Director of Research and Development of Ducati Motor Holding at the end of 2012 and was to start his new role after a period of rest. An announcement of the successor to this strategic role, now left vacant by the resignation, will be communicated in due course.