Go BSB Racing with Ace!
 
Teaming up with MSV, organisers of the UK's premiere motorcycle race series, BSB, Ace Cafe London has an extra pair of tickets up for grabs as a raffle prize, at the cafe on Friday 12th October, to attend Round 12, the Finals, being held at the famous south London circuit Brands Hatch on Sunday 14th October.
 
Spend £5 or more over the counter at the cafe and receive a raffle ticket. Draw will take place at 10pm.
 
www.britishsuperbike.com
www.msvracing.com

Compass Expeditions is excited to announce that Charley Boorman and his good friend, and manager, Billy Ward will be leading two motorcycle tours within Australia in February and March 2013.

Both tours are of 10 days in length; one ride will start in Sydney and travel via the Blue Mountains, Broken Hill, Flinders Ranges and the Great Ocean Road before culminating in Melbourne. The second ride will begin in Melbourne and cross to Tasmania before crossing back to Melbourne and riding the spectacular Victorian High Country and the Snowy Mountains.

“We are very excited to have Charley lead for both these rides” says Compass Expeditions co-founder Mick McDonald, “Both Charley and Billy are great personable guys that are good fun to be around and to have them leading some rides for us is very exciting, it will be a fantastic experience for all involved” continues Mick.

www.compassexpeditions.com

Today’s Department for Transport statistics confirm that 1,901 people were killed in road accidents in 2011, an increase of three per cent on 2010 figures.  

23,122 people were seriously injured, an increase of two per cent on 2010 figures.   The numbers for fatalities for bus and coach occupants fell by 22 per cent, 10 per cent for motorcyclists and four per cent for cyclists.  

Fatalities for car occupants rose by six per cent and for pedestrians by 12 per cent.   The provisional estimated number of people killed in drink-drive accidents increased by 30 to 280. 

The provisional number of killed and seriously injured because of drink driving rose by five per cent to 1570.  

Drink driving accounts for more than half of the increase in road deaths.  Of the increase in the number of people killed on our roads (51), 30 can be attributed to drink driving.  

Failing to look properly was the most significant contributory factor, reported in 42 per cent of all accidents.  

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “The increase in deaths and serious injuries because of drink driving is absolutely shocking.  It accounts for more than half of the increase in road deaths.  In 2013, we must see a drink driving education campaign, backed up with enforcement, to put an end to these completely unnecessary deaths.  “With last year’s surprising increase in deaths and early indications from 2012 that a trend could be developing, the IAM urges the new road safety minister to make road safety his absolute priority. Britain has been at the top of the world road safety league, but a combination of public spending cuts and lack of central targets may be putting this in jeopardy. The 2011 figures show that saving lives on our roads can never be taken for granted and with human error still the top cause of crashes, education and training must take centre stage in the future.”  

www.iam.org.uk

Motorcycle Live 2012 is so much more than a display of the hottest new bikes and the latest accessories, it’s a chance to get fully immersed in every aspect of the world of two wheels – and to discover and experience parts of that world you never thought you would!      

Take the FREE Yamaha Off-Road Experience for example. A specially-designed indoor motocross circuit run under the watchful eye of trained instructors, it gives road riders the chance to try off-roading for the first time. 

If you’re already a fledging dirt rider, you can pick up some new skills and improve your technique. It’s a must-try for any adventurous rider looking to broaden their two-wheeled horizon, but don’t take our word for it, here’s what our 2011 visitors had to say…      

“Awesome and exhilarating!!!” – Nicola Ford, 55, Beccles      

"I loved it! Although the experience was free on the day it proved very costly a few weeks later when I went out and bought myself an MX bike!" – Tim Teale, 33, Wilmslow      

“With seeing so many new bikes on display, it was awesome to get a chance to ride one too. The Yamaha guys know exactly what they are talking about and it doesn’t matter how good or bad a rider you are, you leave the course feeling that you had learnt something from the experience.” – Mick Fenwick, 42 , Tiverton      

“It was superb. They look after you, give you all the kit, make you feel welcome and you don’t get treated like an idiot. It’s a great experience, well worth doing and I’d do it again.” – Dave Vaughan, 35, Solihull      

“It was a brilliant experience. I ride on the road all the time but this was my first time on dirt and I really enjoyed it.” – Peter Roberts, 23, Lincoln      

The Yamaha Off-Road Experience is overseen by Chief instructor Barry Johnson (a former Motocross Grand Prix Rider and current Auto Cycle Union Instructor) and caters for all levels of experience - from those who have just the basics of clutch control, through to experienced road riders. All safety equipment is provided.      

It is just one of the exciting live features at this year’s show. The all-inclusive Motorcycle Live ticket gives access to five exhibition halls crammed with all the latest bikes, clothing and accessories and six opportunities to ride a bike**, plus non-stop entertainment from some of the biggest names in biking and the BSH/Streetfighters Custom Xtreme Zone, the Yamaha Escape Zone and the Classic Zone in association with Coventry Transport Museum and entry into the Ramp’d Up Freestyle Motocross Arena**.      

Advance tickets for Motorcycle Live 2012 cost just £16 per adult, £10 for seniors and £6 per child*. To book your tickets, call 0844 581 2345 or visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk and click ‘Tickets’

Road safety charity the IAM is offering driving advice in response to the current severe weather warnings for heavy rain and wind.  

• Before you set off, set your heater controls – rain makes the windows mist up in seconds. You don’t want to be fiddling with controls when you should be concentrating on the road.

• Slow down. In the rain your stopping distance should be at least doubled. Giving yourself more space helps you to avoid spray, especially when following a large vehicle.

• Keep your eyes on the road ahead and plan your driving so that you can brake, accelerate and steer smoothly – harsh manoeuvres will unbalance the car.

• Strong winds can also unsettle your car and even change your direction of travel. Grip your steering wheel firmly and be aware of the effects of the elements on other road users, particularly motorcyclists and flat-sided vehicles.

• If you have cruise control, avoid using it on wet roads – it may create problems if you start to aquaplane.

• See and be seen. Put your lights on – as a rule of thumb, whenever you need to use your wipers you should also turn your headlights on, and before overtaking put your wipers on their fastest setting. In cases of severe flooding, you should reconsider making the journey at all. If it is unavoidable, and you have to drive through deep water, the IAM recommends drivers take the following precautions:  

• Drive on the highest section of the road and don't set off if a vehicle is approaching you

• Leave time and space to avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians  

• If you can’t see where you are going to come out of the water, such as when approaching flooding on a bend, think twice about starting to drive into it  

• In deep water never take your foot off the accelerator, as this could allow water to travel up the exhaust pipe

• Once you're out of the water, dry the brakes before you need them. The best way is to lightly apply the brake as you drive along for a few seconds, after checking nothing is following you too closely.  

Rodger said: "A suddenly very wet road surface increases the chances of slipping when braking or steering, which is a problem not just for motorists, but cyclists and motorcyclists too.  When driving in wet conditions remember that stopping distances will increase, and visibility will be reduced. Drop your speed and give yourself more time to slow down."

www.iam.org.uk