Here’s the word on the South West Motorcycle Show, which is sponsored by Carole Nash Insurance;

The show takes place on Sat 27th August and Sun 28th August, at the Westpoint Showground, near Exeter.

It may be taking place over the same, Bank Holiday weekend but it’s a whole new show at this year’s South West Motorcycle Show at Exeter’s Westpoint Centre. Although it’s in its tenth year, this is an exciting, up-dated programme for the thousands of visitors expected from as far as the toe of Cornwall up to the Midlands.

NEW FOR 2005

Wall of Death - an exciting new challenge for this years’ show is to be held at 2pm Saturday 27th and again at 2pm Sunday 28th August. For the first time ever, a steam powered motorcycle will be ridden on the Wall of Death by the world’s leading Wall of Death rider, Ken Fox. ,br>
This has never been attempted before and if he succeeds it will be a world first. Not only does this bike have an MOT it has a boiler certificate!

Ken has accepted a challenge from the West of England Steam Engine Society to ride a steam motorcycle around the Wall of Death. This will be an incredible challenge and a new chapter in the 70 year history of Wall of Death riding. The motorcycle will be ridden inside an 18ft cylindrical wall with a viewing platform around the top, so that spectators can watch the performers from above.

The Carole Nash Head2Head - four riders - one winner - the ultimate trials experience.

Gemini Radio - tune in during PM Drivetime when Gemini FM’s Black Thunder Crew will be giving away a pair of tickets each day to the South West Show. They will also be attending the show on Saturday 27th.

Custom and Extreme Performance Corner - come along and view some of the finest Custom and Streetfighter machines and specialist stands.

PLUS ALL THE REGULARS

Classic, Custom, Vintage - trade stands for everything from bikes to leathers, accessories and specialist performance parts along with demonstrations by the best stunt riders in the UK. Joining living legend Sonnie Ferguson is young turk, Marc Gillespie, who began his professional stunt riding career five years ago. In 2003, he came third in the Scottish Motorcycle Stunt Riding Championship. Marc will be performing his trademark trick – riding with a helmet bag over his head whilst hanging off the side of his Yamaha YZR-R1 and sledging on a titanium plate.

There is also a free bike park and helmet park and a chance to win a hair-raising drive with Hollywood’s stunt-driving ace, Russ Swift.

Come along and say hello to Nick Sanders who has just returned from his record breaking round the world trip.

DON’T FORGET

Come along and see the show team at the Carole Nash stand, who will be happy to give you a quote on car, bike, travel or household insurance, plus details on bike servicing and repair deals, accident repair services and motorcycle hire. We will also have some mugs, pens and keyrings to give away.

There’s more on the show at www.bikeshowseurope.com

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

Honda CBR600RR

Located at Plymouth, fitted with rear-sets and in really beautiful condition. If you are looking for a 600 - this is the one. For more information on this bike, feel free to drop into the showroom, or give us a call. GT Motorcycles are offering this bike for £5,699.00.

Colour: red
Year: 2004
Mileage: 8740
Location: Plymouth
Engine: 599cc inline four
Power: 117.00hp (85.4kw) at 13000rpm
Gearbox: 6speed, liquid cooled
Dry Weight: 169.0kg
Fuel Capacity: 18.00litres

Honda CBR600RR

Located at Plymouth, fitted with rear-sets and in really beautiful condition. If you are looking for a 600 - this is the one. For more information on this bike, feel free to drop into the showroom, or give us a call. GT Motorcycles are offering this bike for £5,699.00.

Colour: red
Year: 2004
Mileage: 8740
Location: Plymouth
Engine: 599cc inline four
Power: 117.00hp (85.4kw) at 13000rpm
Gearbox: 6speed, liquid cooled
Dry Weight: 169.0kg
Fuel Capacity: 18.00litres

Rizla Suzuki has teamed up with Silverstone Circuit to put on an exciting weekend of events and activities at the ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at the Northamptonshire circuit this weekend 19th-21st August.

Silverstone BSB promises to be one of the best races of the year and is described by Rizla Suzuki British Superbike Champion John Reynolds as: “A technically demanding circuit that takes real skill and courage to master. Fast straights combined with a turning and twisting infield section surrounded by grandstands of cheering fans make this one of my favourite tracks in the world.”

JR was the fastest on race rubber at the circuit in a recent test and is looking to score a pair of wins at the 2.21-mile long circuit. His Rizla Suzuki team mate James Haydon was just behind him at the test and is also threatening to stand on the podium.

If you are a Rizla Suzuki fan or Suzuki rider there are a host of brilliant attractions just for you, including:

· The free Suzuki bike park. Preferential parking for all riders arriving on Suzukis, just follow the signs.

· The Rizla Suzuki Grandstand at Priory. With seating for 1000 race fans, this free access grandstand is one of the best viewing areas at the circuit.

· The Rizla Suzuki display area. Right beside the grandstand there are plenty of attractions for you to visit including: the Suzuki village with new Suzuki models on display, Suzuki race bikes, the Suzuki Owners Club, Shell Advance Oils, Mac Tools, Triboseat, Fast Bikes, Express Insurance and more.

· Free entry Rizla Suzuki Prize Draw made by JR and James Haydon at 2:30pm on race day. Great prizes include: Free Fan Club Plus membership and evening meal with team worth £120, 2xVIP passes worth £600, a pillion ride with Niall Mackenzie at a future round plus 2xVIP passes worth £600, JR sliders, JH sliders, signed posters, a year’s supply of Rizla papers, signed team cap, signed team shirt, mini radios, Silverstone caps and pens.

· Meet John Reynolds and James Haydon on race day. Hear their thoughts on the day’s action in special briefings and get autographs or your picture taken with them within the Rizla Suzuki display area. The riders will be meeting the public at approx 10:30am and 2:30pm.

(this release issued by Rizla-Suzuki PressOffice)

Fastest woman racer in the UK aims to be the first female to win an Isle of Man solo race

Maria Costello is looking to set a new record when she races at the Manx GP in the Isle of Man later this month. Not content with holding the Guinness World Record as the fastest lady to lap the infamous Isle of Man course Costello is aiming to become the first female to win an Isle of Man solo race.

Costello will be competing in two categories at this year’s Manx GP. The first will be the Junior Race where she will compete on her Bering Honda CBR600RR prepared by Ricky from RLR Motorsports. She will also take part in the Ultra Lightweight race onboard the RLR Motorsports RVF400. Costello has already had some experience with the RVF when she claimed 7th place in her debut at the North West 200 in May this year.

“This is my big event of this season and I’m more prepared than ever before, both physically, mentally and machine wise too. My goal is to become the first female to win a solo race at the Isle of Man and I’ll also be aiming to break my own Guinness World Record and go even faster round the island,” said Maria. “Ricky has done a fantastic job preparing the bikes and I am confident that if it all goes well I can be on the top step of the podium this year.”

Costello is no stranger to the Manx GP having first competed in the event back in 1996 when she finished 10th in the Manx Senior Newcomers Race. In 2002 Maria officially took the record of the fastest woman at the Manx GP recording a fastest lap of 110.25mph. Next time round, in 2003, Maria beat her existing lap record and clocked up 113.52mph and Costello headed up the top ten last year, finishing the senior event in 8th place out of a field of 80 competitors.

Costello heads out to the Isle of Man for practice, which runs from Saturday 20th August until her, first race in the Junior Manx Grand Prix on Wednesday 31st August on her Bering Honda CBR600RR. Costello then finishes off race week with the Ultra Lightweight class on Friday 2nd September. Practice and race reports following Maria Costello’s progress will be available by clicking on RACE DIARY on her website www.costelloracing.com.

Maria would like to say thank you to RADI COOL for the gorgeous radiator, Andy Peck of M A Nicholls Coachworks for the beautiful paintwork and to Greenlight Performance Bike Hire for the generator.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

Fastest woman racer in the UK aims to be the first female to win an Isle of Man solo race

Maria Costello is looking to set a new record when she races at the Manx GP in the Isle of Man later this month. Not content with holding the Guinness World Record as the fastest lady to lap the infamous Isle of Man course Costello is aiming to become the first female to win an Isle of Man solo race.

Costello will be competing in two categories at this year’s Manx GP. The first will be the Junior Race where she will compete on her Bering Honda CBR600RR prepared by Ricky from RLR Motorsports. She will also take part in the Ultra Lightweight race onboard the RLR Motorsports RVF400. Costello has already had some experience with the RVF when she claimed 7th place in her debut at the North West 200 in May this year.

“This is my big event of this season and I’m more prepared than ever before, both physically, mentally and machine wise too. My goal is to become the first female to win a solo race at the Isle of Man and I’ll also be aiming to break my own Guinness World Record and go even faster round the island,” said Maria. “Ricky has done a fantastic job preparing the bikes and I am confident that if it all goes well I can be on the top step of the podium this year.”

Costello is no stranger to the Manx GP having first competed in the event back in 1996 when she finished 10th in the Manx Senior Newcomers Race. In 2002 Maria officially took the record of the fastest woman at the Manx GP recording a fastest lap of 110.25mph. Next time round, in 2003, Maria beat her existing lap record and clocked up 113.52mph and Costello headed up the top ten last year, finishing the senior event in 8th place out of a field of 80 competitors.

Costello heads out to the Isle of Man for practice, which runs from Saturday 20th August until her, first race in the Junior Manx Grand Prix on Wednesday 31st August on her Bering Honda CBR600RR. Costello then finishes off race week with the Ultra Lightweight class on Friday 2nd September. Practice and race reports following Maria Costello’s progress will be available by clicking on RACE DIARY on her website www.costelloracing.com.

Maria would like to say thank you to RADI COOL for the gorgeous radiator, Andy Peck of M A Nicholls Coachworks for the beautiful paintwork and to Greenlight Performance Bike Hire for the generator.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)

Yamaha Motor Co. has released its second electric vehicle (EV) model, an under-50cc motorbike powered solely by electricity. The new model is called the “Yamaha Electric Commuter EC-02.”

The EC-02 is equipped with a detachable, rechargeable lithium ion battery that recharges in about six hours from a domestic 100-volt alternating current power source. Very economical at 16 yen per charge, the EC-02 can travel 25-30 km on open roads in urban areas.

According to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) environmental assessment formula, using this motorbike reduces emissions of carbon dioxide by about 57 percent, nitrogen oxide by 88 percent and sulfur oxide by 80 percent. It is eligible for an electric vehicle purchase subsidy offered by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; the national government will pay up to 50,000 yen to purchasers who apply for the subsidy before they register the vehicle.

The EC-02 model has the advantage of running entirely on electricity, which makes it smooth and quiet. By using innovative, unique technologies for power output control and a super-slim power unit/battery, Yamaha has built a bike with a smooth, quiet ride, a soft start and good stability during medium-speed driving and uphill ascents. The EC-02 is smaller and lighter than the former model, as it has an aluminum body frame; this makes it easy to carry or keep indoors by folding up its wheels. Yamaha hopes that electric motorbikes will become more popular as consumers become more concerned about environmental issues.

(this article was taken from insidebikes.com)