The Honda TT Legends achieved a world-first last weekend, completing the Le Mans 24-hour aboard a Combined ABS-equipped CBR1000RR Fireblade to become the first team to run the system at World Championship level.
  
The Endurance World Championship contenders have been testing Combined ABS throughout the 2011 season, working towards a potential launch at the 8-hour race in Qatar in November. Development has gone so well that the team decided to bring forward the introduction of the system and run it during the ultimate challenge of the Le Mans 24-hour.
 
The Combined ABS system ran smoothly throughout the demanding race, which saw the Honda TT Legends place fifth in a field of 62 teams to rise to ninth in the 2011 Endurance World Championship standings.
 
Honda pioneered the introduction of ABS on road-going motorcycles and the manufacturer has already experienced racing success at national level when a Combined ABS-equipped Fireblade ridden by Karl Muggeridge won the 2010 German Superbike Championship. The Honda TT Legends team will now continue to run Combined ABS for the remainder of the 2011 season – which concludes in Qatar– and into 2012.
 
Neil Tuxworth – Honda TT Legends team manager
 
Our plan was always to develop ABS during the 2011 season and we’ve done a lot of work at various tests. We were very confident that we were ready to go out and race it so we took the risk to use it at Le Mans. Honda has a long history of proving its technology in the ultimate competitive environment and what could be more testing that the Le Mans 24-hour race. We are over the moon with the performance and we had no problems with it whatsoever. The riders were very happy and while we’ll obviously keep developing the system, for this first time being used in World-level racing everything has certainly gone very well.

John McGuinness
 
We had no problems with the Combined ABS system at all. It’s still in the early stages and there are lots of sophisticated parts on the bike, but the brakes were fantastic for the whole of the 24-hours. There are certainly no complaints from me. To get fifth place on the first outing for the system is mega and hopefully we’ll get on the podium with it at some stage.
  
Cameron Donald

Having Combined ABS on the bike was definitely a benefit. I’m sure it got me out of trouble more than once, especially late on the race when fatigue was kicking in. The system ran so smoothly throughout the entire race and I can’t wait to see how it will develop. It’s definitely an exciting prospect.

Keith Amor

We didn’t really know what to expect when the team took the decision to run the Combined ABS bike. It’s pretty much brand new, so to come here and for the bike to last and do what it’s done is fantastic. 24 hours is a long time to race around here on any bike and to finish the race and place fifth on the new ABS machine is brilliant.

Rat Bikes, Rat Rods and other rodent inspired vehicles are all welcome to attend the cafe from 8am on Sunday 30th October, but all should be aware that 'The Cat' and friends will also be present!    

'The Cat', Danny John-Jules, together with Steve Keys and Matt Roberts will be departing the cafe at 10am on their 'Viva Valencia' ride to the final round of MotoGP 2011, all in aid of the charity 'Riders for Health'.

Raise a paw and wave them off!   As well as 'The Cat' riding his Pink bike, Matt Roberts will be riding the unique Jorge Lorenzo Tribute bike, built especially for Lorenzo to ride around TT 2010 - on it's return to the UK the bike is to be auctioned, in aid of Riders for Health, at the forthcoming NEC Birmingham Motorcycle Live Show www.motorcyclelive.co.uk

To help look after The Cat, the Rats and their friends, will be 'kittens' courtesy of Carole Nash and, if stripes are your thing, graphic artist and pinstriper Johnny 'Rat' Bradnam will be on hand with his paint van!  

More information about Viva Valencia and to donate to Riders for Health, check out:   www.motoventures.co.uk

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of having fully reopened, and influenced by a shared heritage and the links with the Ton Up Boys (and girls) and the Rockers, Ace Cafe London has teamed up with Triumph to produce a new range of official Triumph Ace Cafe gear.

The collection includes the Triumph Ace Cafe Jacket - classic black leather styling with modern riding technologies, and a bold black and white print to the inner, removable lining. Subtle outer branding includes a Ace Cafe/Triumph pin badge on the collar.  Also available exclusively from Triumph are an Ace Cafe Triumph tee-shirt, mug, baseball cap and sew on fabric patch.

Check out the Triumph dealership near you or look on the website:

www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk

As part of 'National Air Ambulance Week' we're asking you to 'Go Yellow' to help raise much needed funds to keep our two aircraft flying.

You could wear something yellow for the day, paint your face yellow, have a cake sale or Go Yellow competition at your workplace or even hold a non uniform day at your school.

Click on the link to see some examples of what you can do. Be creative!

Throughout this summer and ending on Sunday 2nd October, the Rockers return as Coventry Transport Museum and Ace Cafe London, two world famous transport attractions, showcase an exhibition "Coming of Age at the Ace Cafe" that will take you on a journey through the history of the iconic cafe, its customers and what it meant to be a British teenager in the 1950s and 60s - the story of fashion, the bikes and the music that defined a generation.

Planned as a roadside transport cafe during the 1930s, the Ace, on London's North Circular Road, quickly became a place where motorcycle riders gathered.  In the 1950's the cafe became the destination for a new breed of motorcyclist; the teenagers who met there listened to rock n' roll and burned up the road doing the 'Ton' - 100mph!

The exhibition, designed to tour and which celebrates the 10th anniversary of the cafe having been fully re-opened, will offer visitors the opportunity to explore and experience the sights and sounds of the Ace, leather jackets are optional!

Coming of Age at the Ace Cafe
Coventry Transport Museum
Ends Sunday 2nd October 2011

www.transport-museum.com