JOBS with Bridgestone in Italy

Bridgestone recruits engineers in European push



 
Bridgestone Europe is hiring engineers in the coming months as part of an investment plan to expand Bridgestone’s business in Europe.

The company is targeting engineers with a range of different experience levels, from recent graduates to experienced individuals. They will be based at its European Technical Centre (TCE) near Rome and their role will involve designing and developing innovative products to improve tyre performance on all types of road and in all types of climate.

“Bridgestone is the number one tyre and rubber  manufacturer in the world and is committed to reinforce his leadership position in the industry also for the future,”  said Bridgestone Europe CEO, Franco Annunziato.

Bridgestone is encouraging would-be candidates for the engineering posts to take part in an online chat on 22 October with various leaders to discover more about the company, what it stands for and the opportunities on offer at TCE. This is the first of a series of three online information events – see more at http://onedaywith.com/bridgestone/homepage.html. The site has been especially created for the new recruitment campaign. It will gather all the information that candidates need before applying for a post.

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WIN: £6k Honda prize in dirt bike show promotion

£6k Honda prize in dirt bike show promotion

One lucky visitor to this year's Dirt Bike Show in five weeks' time will return home with a Honda CRF250R worth over £6600.

The promotion aims to boost attendance at Europe’s largest dedicated off-road exhibition, which will be held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire from 29 October to 1 November.

The CRF will be situated on the Classic Dirt Bike magazine stand in hall three, on display throughout the show. Visitors can enter the competition at the event or online at www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk

Money-saving advance tickets are now on sale, offering adult admission from just £8 for the opening day, or £13 for Friday through to Sunday. Those aged over 60 or between 11 and 15 can visit the show on any day for just £8 with an advance ticket, and children aged 10 and under go free. For every 10 adult tickets bought together, the 11th is free.

www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk where the show app can also be downloaded, Facebook liked and Twitter followed.

www.dirtbikeshow.co.uk

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JOB: AREA SALES MANAGER REQUIRED

AREA SALES MANAGER REQUIRED

CONTACT DETAILS: DON MCMARTIN, WWW.BICKERS-ONLINE.CO.UK

A rewarding and exciting opportunity has arisen for an Area Sales Manager to join the UK’s most progressive and vibrant distributor of motorcycle hard parts and tyres. Well known and highly respected throughout the industry, the company was founded nearly 40 years ago.
Covering the South West (Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset, Avon, South Wales) the Area Sales Manager’s role will be to generate the maximum amount of profitable sales through the achievement of sales targets and by making new and existing distributors and dealers aware of the Company's excellent product range.

Your responsibilities will include:

Generate sales to achieve maximum profitability against annual sales targets.
Identify and exploit new sales opportunities with existing and potential customers.
Monitor customer accounts within the allocated sales area to ensure that sales potential is fully exploited.
Establish and maintain effective communication links with other company departments.

Maintain accurate records of all sales activity and prepare regular forecasts to enable effective forward planning.

Develop knowledge and maintain awareness of company products and competitors.

Highlight and monitor any bad debts and assist in collecting them as and when required.

Provide feedback to any relevant company departments about complaints and problems to try to ensure that these do not arise in the future.

Maintain contact with the sales office and distribution department in relation to account queries returns or damage to goods etc.

Attend and participate in quarterly national sales meetings.

Monitor feedback from customers to measure their satisfaction with company products.
Attend at exhibitions and trade fairs throughout the UK and Europe
An ideal Area Sales Manager will hold the following skills and experiences:

• A proven successful background in field sales preferably gained in the motorcycle or allied industries
• Confident in presenting at all levels.
• Excellent communication and computer skills with experience in using CRM systems.
• Well-presented and personable with the ability to build and hold rapport with clients.
• The ability to close on face to face sales.
• Target driven and the ability to perform to KPi's.

In return you will receive a salary of £24,000 basic, per annum plus commission resulting in the realistic OTE of £40,000 plus (uncapped). A fully expensed BMW company car, laptop, mobile telephone and company credit card

Applications in writing with full CV and covering letter should be made to:

Mr Don McMartin
Director
Bickers
Maxxis International UK PLC
Carr Road, Felixstowe,
Suffolk  IP11 3RX

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JOB: AREA SALES MANAGER

AREA SALES MANAGER

CONTACT DETAILS: DYLAN BROWN, DYLAN@APICO.CO.UK

APICO Are looking to recruit an

AREA SALES MANAGER

To cover parts of Yorkshire and the North-East of England.

We are looking for a self-motivated person with motorcycle sales experience to manage an existing portfolio of dealers and to develop business within the area.

Apico have a range of over 50 brands exclusively distributed in the UK, as well as the long established Apico Hardparts brand.

Excellent package available for the right candidate.

Please email your covering letter and CV to: Dylan Brown, Dylan@apico.co.uk 

Closing date for applications: 30th October 2015

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EVENT: BCA PETERBOROUGH GEARS UP FOR MOTORBIKE SUPERSALE

BCA PETERBOROUGH GEARS UP FOR MOTORBIKE SUPERSALE

Auctioneer BCA is preparing for the next motorbike supersale, on 25h September, which is expected to attract a strong turn-out of buyers with over 120 bikes featured from a wide range of vendors including Black Horse, MotoNovo, BMW Financial Services and Bristol Street Motors. A selection of police bikes will also be on offer.

Star attractions include a Ducati 1199 Panigale with 4000 miles on the clock, a Harley-Davidson E-Glide with 16,000 miles and cruise control and a BMW S1000 ABS with 2100 miles on the clock.  A Triumph Thunderbird, with 1200 miles and one owner from new, is also expected to attract a lot of attention on the day.

The supersale begins at 1pm.

www.bca.co.uk. 

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NEWS: Triumph to launch dealer apprenticeship scheme

Triumph to launch dealer apprenticeship scheme

Triumph has announced it is to participate in a government-funded scheme and will take on 12 apprentice technicians.

As part of the three-year course, each apprentice will spend about six weeks at Triumph's purpose-built training workshops, with the rest of the programme undertaken at their respective dealerships.

Successful participants will be Automotive Technician Accredited (ATA) with a City and Guilds qualification in Motor Vehicle Engineering. The course gives young technicians a grounding in technology, enables them to diagnose and repair problems and become familiar with key financial management and legal principles.

Rick Cawley, UK general manager at Triumph, said: "As one of the most well-known names in motorcycling we recognise the importance of supporting our dealerships and growing new talent. Our apprenticeship programme will give young technicians the best of both worlds, allowing them to earn money while gaining vital qualifications.

"We feel this new scheme will go a long way to securing the future of the industry, with key skills preserved in the next generation of technicians."

The government-funded scheme is recruiting now, with the first intake due to start in November.

www.triumphmotorcycles.co.uk or call 01455 452193.

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EVENTS: Moto Guzzi Garage Days

MOTO GUZZI GARAGE DAYS


From 19th to 26th September the Moto Guzzi Garage Days are the chance for current and potential Moto Guzzi V7 owners to get their hands on the extensive range of accessories specifically developed by Moto Guzzi's designers for their bike.

Therefore, if you love your V7 but would like to freshen up its style, your Moto Guzzi retailer has a wide range of high-quality customisation parts that are specifically engineered for your bike.

Customisation is a labour of love, so Moto Guzzi has fine-tuned a complete line for enthusiasts that also includes four kits that draw from the history of the Eagle brand, but take inspiration from the latest trends, creating individual styles and distinct riding experiences, including:

DARK RIDER: a kit designed to create a "Gothic" look inspired by nocturnal and metropolitan settings. The accessories dedicated to this style include a black aluminium top fairing, aluminium side panels, aluminium mudguards, a black tank with the traditional red Moto Guzzi eagle, and wire wheels for a blacked-out look.

SCRAMBLER: made up of high quality aluminium satin finished parts, a high two-in-one exhaust, offroad knobby tyres, a cross brace handlebar and offroad footpegs for that offroad look and a strong personality. The long satin finish mudguards, the satin finish number plates the satin finish guards and the long vintage '70s saddle are the elements that complete the transformation.

LEGEND: in the '40s the Moto Guzzi Alce, a bike used by the Italian Army, was characterised by its reliability, sturdiness and great flexibility. The configuration that can be achieved with the parts from the Legend world allow you to reinterpret that extremely fascinating concept.

DAPPER: this includes a range of accessories developed and made to recreate the Café Racer world, replicating the racing style of the '70s era through the creation of polished aluminium accessories (mudguards, injector covers, guards, number plates) and accessories such as the low semi-handlebar and the single-seat saddle that convey an attractive riding set-up.

These are the ideas of the Moto Guzzi designers but you can let your imagination run wild and mix and match items from each kit to create your own unique interpretation, along with many other accessories from the Moto Guzzi catalogue.

To find your nearest participating Moto Guzzi retailer, go to uk.motoguzzi.it

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JOB: MV Agusta UK

MV AGUSTA UK

CONTACT DETAILS: MARK FRANKLIN, MARK.FRANKLIN@MVAGUSTA.COM

Due to expansion, we are looking to recruit!

Due to expansion, we are looking to recruit two experienced ASM’s for the Southern regions to add to the small UK team.

Applicants should have a good knowledge of the motorcycle industry and hold a current car & motorcycle licence along with a genuine passion for managing a young and expanding dealer network and liaison with the HQ in Milan along with occasional European travel.

Attitude and development potential are more important than outright academic qualifications, however communication skills, literacy and computer proficiency are fundamental along with a high standard of personal presentation. The position involves day to day management and support of the fastest growing brand network in the UK industry and the ability to facilitate commercial targets both numerical and qualitative.

At least 5 years Industry related experience are the minimum requirement for this important role within the rebirth of the company.

In the first instance please send your CV, a brief covering letter and salary expectations in strictest confidence to mark.franklin@mvagusta.com.

Previous applicants need not apply on this occasion.

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News: MOT system 'stabilised'

New MOT system 'stabilised'

DVSA’s new online system for recording and managing MOT test results has now been rolled out to all 22,700 MOT garages across the country, with over 3 million tests already conducted using the new service.

The web-based service has been designed to offer more flexibility for garages; it doesn’t require specialist IT equipment, and allows garages to enter tests results using mobile devices such as tablets and laptops.

DVSA’s MOT Service Manager, Neil Barlow, said: "There have been a few issues, but the service has now been stabilised and we are pleased to see that around 150,000 MOT certificates are being issued every working day – which means the service is operating up to the levels seen in the old MOT comp system.

"I would like to thank garages for their patience during the transition phase. This is now complete, and although we still have workarounds in place for some temporary issues, I am confident that testers will already be seeing the benefits of a more modern, flexible service.

"We will continue to develop the system based on the feedback we get from garages. For example we will shortly be updating the process for issuing certificates, to allow garages to email certificates to customers and download copies for their own records. We will also be streamlining the process for carrying out retests."


DVSA has published guidance on GOV.UK for testers on how to get around certain temporary issues, such as slot accounts not updating and incorrect expiry dates for cherished transfers. Garages can also keep up to date with any developments by following the DVSA’s Matters of Testing blog.

Full information and guidance about using the new MOT testing service is available at gov.uk/mot-testing-service.

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NEWS: BULL-IT BACKS DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE

BULL-IT BACKS DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN'S RIDE

Bull-it Jeans of Southampton is donating money to the Distinguished Gentleman's Ride charity appeal to fund prostate cancer research.

The protective clothing manufacturer has pledged to donate £10 for every pair of SR6 Chino jeans sold through its UK dealer network and to gift a matching belt to their supporting customers. 

To trigger the donation and gift, customers need to post the garment size card back to Bull-it Jeans, and note their preference for a black or white belt, together with a copy of the receipt. 

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride

The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride - to be held on Sunday 27 September this year - was born as an idea in Sydney, Australia three years ago and has since grown almost beyond belief and around the world. For this autumn, 16,753 riders have registered so far, for a ride out in one of 406 cities in 79 countries and in 2015; $850,000 has already been raised towards a target of $3 million. 

http://www.bull-it.com/

For more information about The 2015 Distinguished Gentleman's Ride:

http://www.gentlemansride.com/

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EVENT: NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM “LIVE” OPEN DAY- SAT 31/10/15.

NATIONAL MOTORCYCLE MUSEUM “LIVE” OPEN DAY- SAT 31/10/15.

Utilizing both the Museum and our extensive conference facilities Saturday 31/10/15 will see the National Motorcycle Museum host our 2nd annual free open day when we will throw open the doors of the Museum and everyone will be invited to visit the Museum collection free of charge.  Not only that but there will be a host of other free attractions including two amazing “stars on stage” events hosted by Carl Fogarty & Jamie Whitham.

Museum Director James Hewing commented: “Utilizing our conference venue that adjoins the Museum we are planning another great open day event in some of the most prestigious surroundings you can imagine. After the huge success of our first Museum Live event in 2014 we decided to make this an annual free day for all the family to enjoy”. 

Free Museum Entry: Everyone will be invited to visit the museum collection, free-of-charge. 

To assist visitors everyone arriving on site will be given a free timetable with a full list & timings of all the day’s events!

Indoor Autojumble: The event will feature a large indoor autojumble held within the warm & dry surroundings of the National Motorcycle Museum’s conference facilities. For details of how to book a 6ft pitch for just £30.00 contact Steve or George on (0121) 704 2784 or e-mail sales@thenmm.co.uk

  

Museum Partners & Trade Displays: Throughout the day we will have special feature “tables” showcasing some of the specialist suppliers & craftsmen (including the Museum’s own restoration team) who will be available to chat and answer questions. The event will also feature trade stands & displays from many well-known names including Bonham’s Auctioneers and Footman James Insurance brokers.

Stars On Stage-Hosted by Carl Fogarty & Jamie Whitham: Carl Fogarty & Jamie Whitham will host two special “stars on stage” features at 11.00am & 2.00pm on Saturday 31/10/15.

Held on the stage of one of the Museum’s magnificent suites these free 1 hour chat shows will be hosted by Carl & Jamie featuring other motorcycling personalities & live “fire ups” of some of the most iconic race machines from the Museum’s inventory. 
The afternoon show will also include the handover to “Foggy” of his very first motorcycle which has just been restored by the Museum’s workshop.   

Motorcycle “Try a Bike” Training: Wheels Motorcycle Training will be giving visitors the chance to “try a bike” free of charge during Saturday 31/10/15. Everyone from just 16 years of age will have the opportunity to learn to ride in a controlled environment. Because of this features popularity you can pre-book by contacting Wheels Motorcycle Training on

0121 328 9906 or e-mail enq@2wheelstraining.com 

Celebratory Book Signings: Various motorcycling personalities will be available to sign copies of their books in the Museum shop during the event.

Museum Shop & Restaurant: The Museum shop and restaurant will be open throughout the day serving breakfast, lunch & a range of hot meals & snacks. 

Plus The Draw For The Best Classic Motorcycle Raffle Prize In The World: Our summer 2015 raffle to win a “Shadowised” 1947 Vincent Series B Rapide worth over £40,000 will be drawn by Jamie Whitham & Carl Fogarty live on stage during the afternoon of the Museum’s open day event on 31/10/15.

There’s still time to win this amazing prize with raffle tickets available to purchase on-line from www.thenmmshop.co.uk or by calling the Museum on 01675 444140  

For further details and updates of Museum Live 2015 see www.thenmm.co.uk 

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NEWS: SCHWANTZ TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY SUZUKI SPANNERMAN

SCHWANTZ TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY SUZUKI SPANNERMAN

Barry Sheene with Oggy

After an incredible career spanning 41 years, Suzuki GB technical manager Martyn “Oggy” Ogborne will finally hang up his spanners at the end of September.

Oggy joined Suzuki as a grand-prix technician in 1974 after being spotted while spannering for a privateer in the race paddock by the late Barry Sheene. He subsequently shared many of Sheene’s highs and lows, including two world titles. Ogborne also famously built the RG500 upon which the late Mike Hailwood took his swansong 1979 Senior TT victory and was Hailwood’s mechanic at that historic event.

He left the full-time racing scene in 1988 to become a Suzuki technical representative in the UK, latterly as service manager.

Schwantz: "Oggy is an absolute legend"

Commenting on Ogborne’s departure, 1993 500cc GP world champion Kevin Schwantz said: “Oggy is an absolute legend and as a result of the many years we’ve worked together, also a true friend. His passion and enthusiasm for Suzuki and racing has no end, and while I know he’ll be sorely missed by the global Suzuki family, he will continue to be a great representative. Of course, I’ve made sure he’s still around to work on my bikes when I’m in Europe, but wish him all the very best for a happy and healthy retirement."

His replacement at Suzuki GB as technical manager will be former regional manager Jon Coles, who comes with an extensive Suzuki technical background too, having worked in the Suzuki network before joining Suzuki GB in 2007.

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This Saturday! FREE Motorcycle lesson in Farnborough

Get On, the motorcycle industry’s free ‘try out’ programme is coming to Farnborough, Hampshire. It is open to anyone aged 15 or over who wants to try a motorcycle or scooter for the first time and is absolutely free.

Riders will be offered a 30 minute session with a professional instructor, with all safety clothing provided, during which time they will be introduced to the gears, brakes, clutch and slow speed handling.

Sessions are between 9am and 5pm at the Farnborough Practical Driving Test Centre this Saturday 13th September.

Places can be booked via the website www.geton.co.uk or by calling the Get On team on 02476 408040. 

Steve Kenward, CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Association says this is a great way for people to see if motorcycling is for them:

“Riding is a bit like marmite – you’ll either love it or hate it, but you’ll know fairly quickly which way it will go for you. When we surveyed over 4000 Get On riders, only 2.5% said they didn’t enjoy their Get On experience, so we are pretty confident that most people will want to do more.

“First and foremost motorcycling is fun but it is vital that people get their first taste of riding in a safe and structured environment, with advice about where to go for good training and what to wear. Get On does this very well”. 

Why a motorcycle?

There are huge advantages to commuting via a motorcycle. Riders are able to filter through stationary traffic, which means their journey times are shorter.

According to European research, a slight modal shift towards motorcycles could help cut congestion for all road users. A study which modelled the traffic for one of the busiest roads in Europe found that when just 10% of drivers swapped to a motorcycle, scooter or moped then congestion was reduced by 40% for all road users. When 25% swapped, it was eliminated altogether.

Motorcycling is tremendous fun and always scores highly as a mode of commuter transport. A one-off study by the Office for National Statistics found that travelling to work on a motorcycle, scooter or moped had no negative effect on well-being for journeys up to half an hour, in contrast to those who walked, took the bus, drove a car or cycled. These all experienced reduced well-being after just 15 minutes.

Practical details

The Farnborough Test Centre is located to the south of Farnborough Airport at 35 Hercules Way, Aerospace Boulevard, Unit C1, Cirrus, Farnborough, GU14 6UU

Booking is via the website www.geton.co.uk or by phoning 02476 408040.

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NEWS: BIKERS GIVE HUGE SEND-OFF TO EWEN HALDANE

BIKERS GIVE HUGE SEND-OFF TO EWEN HALDANE

AROUND 150 bikers joined the cortege for the funeral of motorcycle veteran Ewen Haldane through Greenock on Friday, 4 September.

Mr Haldane (86) died in a crash on the A82 at Luss last month. He was a former TT racer, having competed in 15 Mountain Course races, and ran a Honda dealership in his home town of Greenock for many years.

The bikers mustered in Newton Street and, escorted by police motorcycles, followed the hearse through the West End and along The Esplanade to Greenock Town Hall for a ceremony at noon.

Afterwards, bikers took part in the cortege from the town hall to the crematorium at South Street. 

Picture courtesy of Inverclyde Now.

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Chance to display your GSX-R at Motorcycle Live!

With 2015 marking the 30th anniversary of the legendary GSX-R range, Suzuki is celebrating the milestone at this year's Motorcycle Live with a special GSX-R display, and is inviting owners to win the chance of having their bike on display too.

In the run up to this year's show, GSX-R owners are being invited to upload photos of their bikes to Suzuki's website to create a gallery of the iconic sports bike range.

Owners who have their GSX-R selected to appear on display at Motorcycle Live will also receive two free tickets to the show as well as two season passes to next year's British Superbike championship.

Suzuki GB Marketing Manager Rob Cooper said, "30 years of GSX-R is a hugely significant milestone for one of the world's most popular range of motorcycles. It was only right to have a display at this year's Motorcycle Live show and we're excited about getting GSX-R owners involved and can't wait to see the photos, from the original GSX-R750 to the first 1100 model, SRADs to the first GSX-R1000, and everything in between."

Visit the special GSX-R page here: www.suzuki-gb.co.uk/gsx-r-competition
Suzuki can be found on stand 4D20 at this year's Motorcycle Live, which takes place from November 28 - 6 December at the NEC in Birmingham.

For tickets and show information visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk. For more information on Suzuki's product range, visit www.suzuki-gb.co.uk.

Follow us on twitter: @suzukibikesuk

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UPDATE: Riders For Health MotoGP auction and Rossi competition

MotoGP stars and fans raised £209,394 for charity at the Day of Champions.
Around 3600 fans attended the event at Silverstone ahead of the British MotoGP. The proceeds go to MotoGP Riders for Health. 

The gates to the exclusive MotoGP paddock and pit-lane were opened to ticket holders, who had the chance to glimpse into the garages as teams prepared for the weekend’s racing. 

One of the highlights of the day was the famous Day of Champions auction, which this year was launched by British MotoGP star Bradley Smith, with a tribute to one of the founders of Day of Champions, Jeanette Wragg. Jeanette, who knew Bradley from his very first days in racing, sadly passed away in March this year.

In memory of her, Bradley donated a motorcycle for use by Riders for Health, which supplies bikes to African countries, allowing health workers to reach rural villages. Bradley's donation was matched by Dorna Sports and the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA), meaning two brand-new motorcycles will be heading to the continent.  
During the auction the stars of the MotoGP paddock were out in force and raised a record-breaking £98,000 as fans bid on 117 lots over five hours. 

Some of the most popular auction items of the day included a custom-made Marc Marquez guitar, which sold for £3000, a selfie on stage with Valentino Rossi and Dani Pedrosa’s leathers. Auction opener Bradley Smith raised nearly £5000, auctioning boots, a helmet and race leathers. Legendary MotoGP World Champion Kenny Roberts donated a picture of himself and Barry Sheene that he painted especially for the Day of Champions auction.
Colin Edwards and Riders for Health co-founder Barry Coleman helped to sell the painting on stage for £4500.

During the auction, Valentino Rossi, who raised a huge total of £13,650, launched a brand new Riders for Health competition to meet him on a VIP MotoGP weekend in Valencia. The  prize includes MotoGP paddock and grid passes, hospitality all weekend and tickets to the end of season party. Fans can enter at www.prizeo.com/rossi.

Away from the Day of Champions stage, there was plenty to entertain the crowds throughout the day. World famous trials rider, Dougie Lampkin, performed some incredible tricks and stunts, as did the Tigers Children’s Motorcycle Display Team.

At midday, 150 motorcyclists arrived at Silverstone as part of the Day of Champions ride-in, led by racing legend Niall Mackenzie and comedian and long-time supporter of Riders for Health, Ross Noble. After stopping for breakfast en route to Silverstone, the convoy completed two laps of the world famous circuit.

Famous faces from the world of motorcycle racing were on-hand throughout the day to entertain the crowds of fans. Motorcycling journalist and TV commentator, Julian Ryder, interviewed riders from Moto2 and Moto3 about the weekend of racing ahead, whilst Keith Huewen spoke to the ‘unsung heroes’ of MotoGP.

Riders for Health co-founder and CEO Andrea Coleman said: ‘Each year, MotoGP fans, teams and riders continue to amaze us with their support at Day of Champions, and the money we raise together really does change lives.  It’s helping us to reach 21.5 million people across rural Africa with health care using the one thing that brings us all together – the motorcycle.

‘This year, we were celebrating the 25th anniversary of Day of Champions and remember the amazing woman who helped make it a reality – Jeanette. Day of Champions is her legacy – her gift to the MotoGP fans and the millions of people across Africa who are supported by the money raised each year.

‘I’d like to thank everyone at Dorna, Circuit of Wales and Silverstone for supporting us, and to the fantastic help from presenters, riders, teams and volunteers who give up their time to make Day of Champions such a success.’

All of the money raised from Day of Champions will help Riders for Health ensure health workers in Africa have access to reliable, well maintained motorcycles and ambulances so that they can continue to deliver life-saving health care to 21.5 million people.

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