Friday Evening Moto News - Bikesafe London / MCN London Motorcycle Show

Making a welcome appearance at the MCN London Motorcycle Show this weekend at the Excel Center in London were the representatives of Bikesafe London. The sessions are designed to stress motorcycle safety through skills development, training and good old experience... and it reduces their insurance costs as well. Charley Boorman and Chris Walker were among the many rather interesting people who were at the show as well. If any more decent reports come through, they will be here...and there are previous entries as well.

http://tinyurl.com/yjgk2s3

Monday Morning Moto News - The CAT & BMW WSBK

If you do not know who the 'Cat' is, I can only give you this hint - Red Dwarf. Now, if you do not know that this will probably not interest you. Apparently, Danny John-Jules really liked the BMW S1000RR. It's a good choice given the bikes capabilities, and a seemingly well-thought opinion. For more on the Cat and the MCN London Motorcycle Show, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ydkaejs

BMW has officially presented their 2010 World Superbike Championship team as of now. This comes to us via a press release, so expect the usual hype. However, at least we know exactly who we will see riding their new machines in the world-class racing series this year. For all the details, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/ybclhml

Sunday Afternoon Moto News - Duke Video & James Ellison

Duke Video has finally gone back and put the 1992 through 2001 MotoGP (Motorcycle Grand Prix) season reviews on DVD. The first batch, 1992 through 1996 will be available in February, and the second set will be released in March. It's about time that we can get rid of our VHS tapes and bring our favorite sport back into our entertainment selections in the 21st century.

http://tinyurl.com/yc858y6

James Ellison has finally found himself a seat in the 2010 British Superbike Championship. He will be riding alongside Stuart Easton at SMR Honda. It marks a return to the team for Ellison, and he seems quite happy to be riding for the team again. Given Ellison's results in 2009, it is hard to understand why it took so long for someone to pick up this talented racer!

http://tinyurl.com/ycw76tz

Thursday Evening Moto News - Team Suzuki Motocross & Norton Commando Cafe Racer SE

It's actually Team Suzuki City and they have three riders - Steven Clarke and Matt Lemoine competing in the East Coast Lites Supercross series and the AMA Outdoor Lites Championship, and Sherri Cruse will contest the AMA Women's Motocross Championships. The team has been around for three years now and they even have a sponsorship deal with Nitro Circus. 2010 will have good off-road racing as well!

http://tinyurl.com/yham779

At the MCN London Motorcycle Show - go ahead, guess where it is - the newly constituted Norton released their new 2010 Norton Commando Cafe Racer Special Edition (maybe not correct nomenclature). It is a lovely machine and customers can custom order - changing the finish, suspension, wheels and much more. It is not even all that expensive given the work. Take a look and you will see why this machine would look so good with you on it. Oh, and don't forget to pay attention to the young woman in the background - it's priceless!

http://tinyurl.com/ylnx39g

Thursday Afernoon Moto News - MCN London M/C Show & Motorcycles vs. Scooters

The MCN London Motorcycle Show will not only feature some of the great motorcycles which the attendees will certainly want to see - it will also feature some of the United Kingdom's best motorcycle road racers. John McGuinness, Guy Martin, Conor Cummins, and Ian Hutchinson. They will be there to promote their racing series and to hang out with the fans...get your tickets soon!

http://tinyurl.com/yh9za99

In Dallas, Texas (USA), there are shades of post-war England taking to the streets. This is the annual Rockers versus Mods event in the city and it attracts all sorts of riders on all sorts of bikes and scooters. In fact, if you attend the 28 - 30 March 2010 event, you are likely to feel like you have fallen back in time...The event has been getting larger every year and this is the third year, so expect some huge crowds, some lovely cafe racers from times past and the present, and some very well-decorated scooters. Try it out, you might just like it!

http://tinyurl.com/yem5bwk

More Afternoon Moto News - TTXGP Out of Isle of Man! David Bettencourt RIP & Norton, New

The TT Zero event, which just happens to be run by the ACU, is displacing the Isle of Man round of the TTXGP. There is a great deal of information after the link, so you should probably just go there to read the details. But, it just gets really sad when money and politics (which are everywhere) start to make our sport more complicated and harder to deal with. This move by the Isle of Man Tourism people is simply idiotic. I hope that the TTXGP sues them!

http://tinyurl.com/ycbw8nq

David Bettencourt has died while fighting leukemia and awaiting a bone marrow transplant. David's father, Dick, founded Bettencourt Honda over 65 years ago, and the name is a big part of the motorcycling culture. The dealership has sponsored hundreds of racers in its time. David was a championship-level dirt track and ice racer and will be remembered as a good friend to many people.

http://tinyurl.com/ydhfvx4

Nort0n, the new Norton that is, will be at the MCN Motorcycle Show in London. Honestly, did you expect any different? Of course Norton will be there!

http://tinyurl.com/ya7kceh

More Morning Moto News - FB Corse, VFR800RR Bioblade & MCN Motorcycle Show

FB Corse has officially announced that John Hopkins will no longer be their rider for the select rounds of the MotoGP series in 2010. Instead, they have selected another high-profile rider whose name we have yet to know. They insist that all is still on track for their first race, so they should be getting to testing very soon.

http://tinyurl.com/ybscz92

Could the replacement be Garry McCoy: http://tinyurl.com/ydy53fb

So, the VFR1200F was not as spectacular as we all expected it would be - Honda missed the mark a bit with that one. But, some Belgians have brought to us something Honda should have considered a rather long time ago. A 1999 VFR800 has been modified with Fireblade (CBR1000RR) suspension and a special engine adaptation which allows the bike to run on bio-fuel. Bio-fuel! And, it still turns out a respectable 134 HP and only weighs 212 kg (full of fuel). Honestly, if it is ever built and sold, I will buy one! Take a look at the VFR800RR Bioblade.

http://tinyurl.com/yazx7gt

At the upcoming MCN London Motorcycle Show, iconic race bikes from seasons past will be on display. These include Valentino Rossi's 2009 YZR-M1, Barry Sheene's Yamaha OW53, Kevin Schwantz's 1993 RGV500 and more. For all of the information, take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/y87f6cx

More Morning Moto News - BMW @ MCN Show & Mark Gardiner

BMW is quite pleased to be announcing that they will have their concept and new motorcycle models at the MCN London Motorcycle Show, which is coming up 4 - 7 February 2010. They have put out a press release with a list of bikes they will bring, and what else they will have going on at the show. If you are attending, you will want to read this link...

http://tinyurl.com/ycdumc7

Mark Gardiner has given us yet another inside look at racing. In the RoadRacer X column, 'AGV Backmarker', he covers the strange goings-on with the Triumph World Supersport teams. He delves into the situation with Jason DiSalvo and Gary McCoy. It was an interesting soap opera which left McCoy without a seat, and DiSalvo taking his place - both were completely ignorant of the machinations going on at the time. It is well worth a read - especially if you are interested in the politics of motorcycle road racing.

http://tinyurl.com/yhka7hp

MCN Motorcycle Show Update, Trails Videos and Tasmanian Riders

The Carole Nash MCN Motorcycle Show will take place at the ExCel in London during 4 - 7 February 2010. Get your tickets now! Or, try to win them through the various means available all over the U.K. Anyway, we have an update which includes all of the changes to date for the event. For all information on the show, please take the link.

http://tinyurl.com/yh33abh

From our friends (and helpers) at the AMA, we have a selection of Public Land Advocacy Videos produced by the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC). The videos are meant to help local organizations and individuals keep the trails open in their part of the country. The videos help with everything from organizing against closures, to how to lay out a plan to keep the trails open and even clean. For more information, please take the link. If you ride off-road in the US, this is for you!

http://tinyurl.com/yjxrdu4

A pair of motorcycle racers from Launceston in Tasmania will be representing their island in the annual Phillip Island Classic to be held this weekend. They will be riding a 1966 250cc Bultaco Metralla, a 1972 TR3 350cc Yamaha, and an old Suzuki 500c.c. GP bike in the event. Please take the link and learn more about these very brave souls...

http://tinyurl.com/ykmy5ve

http://tinyurl.com/ykmy5ve

More Wednesday Moto News from Just About Everywhere

This one will be at least two parts as I am sure to run out of room here...

The MCN Motorcycle Show in London is adding even more manufacturers to the list of attendees. There is one story here, but there are many others if you look. As more come in, I will update the list of links.

Aprilia, Moto Guzzi and Derbi: http://tinyurl.com/y9gk6gm

This is surely a rare motorcycle! The Lloyd Brothers-prepared Aprilia RSV Mille Flat Track Race Bike is for sale on eBay in California. This is the same machine which Larry Pegram made the main at the historic Springfield Mile. The machine, so far, is going for less than US$3K, believe it or not. It's funny, but when I first saw this machine a while back, I wanted it! Too bad I cannot afford it now...

http://tinyurl.com/ydf8yf5

We also have some good news, we all hope! The Wheatcroft family, who are the owners of Donington Park, have said that they will re-open the circuit as soon as possible. That is wonderful news as this historic track should not be relegated to the dustbin of history.

http://tinyurl.com/y9v7ajd

Monday Morning Moto News - Back to Work Edition, Part 2

Had to have a part two...unfortunately. The host of this blog only allows so many tags and I keep exceeding that number so I have to start a new post. Here we go, more 2010 moto news...

It looks like youngster Scott Redding may be close to inking a Moto2 deal for 2010. He may be riding for the new Belgian Moto2 team (Marc VDS Racing) led by former factory Kawasaki boss Michael Bartholemy. There is not a confirmation as of yet, but it is known that the two have been in talks since December.

http://tinyurl.com/yel8pps

More about the MCN Motorcycle Show coming up during 4 - 7 January 2010 at the ExCel London. You could win a wearable camera, the X170 Action Camera, which will debut at the event. Check it out!

http://tinyurl.com/yc8zmvu

Out in Sacramento, California, the California Automobile Museum (2200 Front St.) will have a show entitled "Born to Ride" which will feature several significant motorcycles from last century. Included will be an H-D once owned by Steve McQueen and the very rare 1942 Crocker. If you can get there, please do!

http://tinyurl.com/y8f4vgf

Harley and Honda Will Be at the MCN Motorcycle Show

The MCN London Motorcycle Show will feature two marques which did not attend the Carole Nash Show this week at the NEC. In February, Honda and Harley-Davidson will join Ducati, BMW, Kawasaki, Triumph, Yamaha and Victory at the show. So, if you missed Carole Nash for some reason, the London Motorcycle Show is not to be missed - even if you did make it to the Carole Nash Show, you might want to stop by the MCN version too...

http://tinyurl.com/yzmg7uu

Win One of 1000 Tickets to MCN (UK) Motorcycle Show

Greatcompetitions will be giving away 1000 tickets to the MCN Motorcycle Show which runs during 4 - 7 February 2010. The competition is open until 15 January 2010, so head on over and register - if you live in the United Kingdom - and enter the contest...

http://tinyurl.com/y9j8ryb