Claudio Domenicali Is The New President Of Motor Valley

Ducati CEO to lead the Association that brings together all the “Motor Valley” brands of Emilia-Romagna.

Begin press release:


A press conference has been held at the Ducati Auditorium in Borgo Panigale to officially announce Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali’s new role as President of the Motor Valley Association. The event was attended by delegates from the district’s companies and international race circuits, Regional Institutes and the media.

The Association unites all the car and motorcycle brands from Italy’s “Motor Valley”, in Emilia-Romagna. Motor Valley – a concentration of brands, private collections, international race circuits and specialized training centers like no other on the planet – works alongside the Region to make the very best of this heritage in terms of tourism.

“Motor Valley brings together a series of brands that are unique, renowned and appreciated around the world for their design, technology and performance, all of them located within a radius of just 150 km. As Ducati, we take pride in being part of this association, just as I am personally proud to take on the Presidency. For me, accepting this role is an act of responsibility and recognition towards an extraordinary part of Italy that has given me so much”, stated Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati and President of Motor Valley. “This Region enjoys an unparalleled academic culture and unmatched motoring and technological skills. It’s also a magnet for enthusiasts, new talent and businesses and as such deserves our wholehearted support.”

Motor Valley encapsulates Made-in-Italy automotive and industrial excellence: it’s a project that highlights the area’s capacity to network and make the most of internationally unique qualities. It concentrates on the car and motorcycle industry, the beating heart of the Region’s economy, on its excellent universities and its truly global appeal.

Dallara, Ducati, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati and Pagani are just a few of these Motor Valley brands, loved by fans all over the world. Motor Valley also includes 15 specialized museums (such as the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena, the Ferrari Museum in Maranello, the Automobili Lamborghini Museum, the Ferruccio Lamborghini Museum, the Ducati Museum in Borgo Panigale and the Horacio Pagani Museum in Modena), 16 private collections and 4 racetracks (the “Riccardo Paletti” circuit in Varano de’ Melegari, the Modena racetrack in Marzaglia, the “Enzo e Dino Ferrari” circuit in Imola and the Marco Simoncelli Misano World Circuit at Misano Adriatico).

“Emilia-Romagna’s Motor Valley is a concentrate of talent, know-how, flair, design, industrial prowess, craftsmanship, innovation and research, making it unlike anywhere else in the world”, points out the Region’s President, Stefano Bonaccini. “Its dream brands fly our Region’s flag internationally, attracting visitors from all over the globe. It does so thanks to the effective teamwork between local institutions and private companies that has allowed us to build a fascinating association of 4 international racetracks, 6 specialized training centers, 6 world-leading car and motorcycle makers, 11 museums, 16 collections, 7 key industry players and 188 sports teams that combines culture, entrepreneurship and speed. It’s a district that – together with Food Valley, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and the beauty of the Apennine Mountains and the Po Delta – is a global magnet for tourists. It’s also a district that provides work for thousands. It’s intertwined with the Region’s higher education and university network, as highlighted by MUNER – the Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna that offers international automotive-dedicated degree courses, co-organized by the four universities of Emilia-Romagna and its deep-rooted car and motorcycle manufacturers – which is attracting many motivated, exceptional young people to our region from all over Europe and, indeed, the world. Today we welcome an enlightened, forward-thinking entrepreneur to the Presidency, a man whose experience and vision will do much to enhance this unique concentration of passion and expertise even further”.

The Osservatorio Turistico of Motor Valley – a study run by Unioncamere Emilia Romagna, Trademark Italia and Mailander – shows how Motor Valley attracted, in 2018 alone, 1.2 million overnight visitors, injecting over 300 million euros into the local economy (through revenues generated by events at the Imola and Misano race circuits and visits to company museums). Total visitor numbers to the district were about 1.8 million, of whom 44% were Italian and 56% foreign, with 1,190,000 overnight stays by visitors to museums and collections and spectators at racetrack events.

In Emilia-Romagna – Italy’s third most important region in the national car and motorcycle industry, preceded only by Lombardy and Piedmont – the automotive supply chain involves 16,500 businesses and over 66,000 employees, or 10% of the entire national supply chain.

Yet Motor Valley also – and above all – plays a strategic role. A role that sees companies and universities committed at every level. A role that focuses on technological innovation, specialization, research and development, with project members working closely alongside each other.

A tangible example is the MUNER (Motorvehicle University of Emilia-Romagna No Profit per Education) project. In 2017, the four regional universities (Bologna, Parma, Ferrara and Modena-Reggio Emilia) and the industry’s eight top companies, including Ducati, Ferrari and Lamborghini, created the Università dell’Automotive. It holds two courses that aim to train the automotive engineers of the future.

“Global competition is no longer between individual businesses but regional systems” underlined Andrea Pontremoli, CEO of Dallara and President of MUNER, “and regional systems consist of businesses, training facilities and institutions”.

Motor valley simply has to be experienced. And next year will offer a golden opportunity to do so in the form of the second Motor Valley Fest, to be held from 14 to 17 May in the heart of Modena.

The post Claudio Domenicali Is The New President Of Motor Valley appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Arai Awarded First-Ever FIM Gold Medal As Maker Of Safety Equipment For Motorcycle Riders

It’s a little interesting that this is the first time the award has been given to someone in the field of motorcyclist’s safety.

Begin press release:


Mr. Michio Arai was awarded the Nicolas Rodil del Valle Gold Medal and praised for meritorious service by the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM; English: International Motorcycling Federation) as president and representative of Arai Helmet, Ltd. a manufacturer of rider helmets based in Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

The FIM is an international organization standing as the head of supervising motorcycle sports in more than 80 countries around the world. Based in Switzerland, the FIM is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as well. This special gold medal, first presented in 1983, was awarded to persons with significant contributions to 2-wheel racing activities and management of businesses and was awarded only in the case where there was a qualified person. The FIM awarded Mr. Arai this medal for “achievement in contributions to the safety of many riders and numerous advancements to motorcycle sports over many years”. Furthermore, while Mr. Arai is the 23rd person awarded this gold medal, he is the first ever awarded as a maker of rider safety equipment.

Understanding the reason for this award, Arai Helmet continues to make helmets without compromise for the sake of rider protection since the company’s founding as the first motorcycle helmet manufacturer in Japan. It’s not an exaggeration to say these contributions are recognized around the world by the granting of this award. Mr. Arai received the award directly from the FIM on November 30th in Monte Carlo, Monaco at the 2019 FIM Awards Ceremony General Meeting.

 

The post Arai Awarded First-Ever FIM Gold Medal As Maker Of Safety Equipment For Motorcycle Riders appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Complete Routine Work With These Analog Tire Pressure Gauges

Checking your tire pressure is a simple and necessary maintenance task.
Checking your tire pressure is a simple and necessary maintenance task.Milan Degraeve

Checking tire pressure and properly inflating a motorcycle tire is one of the easiest forms of maintenance. Plug the gauge chuck on the valve stem and confirm the pressure matches the specification called for in the owner’s manual. Inflate the tire air as needed. Since manuals often recommend checking tire pressure before every ride, a good tire pressure gauge is important to keep close. Brands like Vondior, Rhino, Summit Tools, and many others supply analog tire pressure gauges that help get this simple but necessary task done. Their heavy-duty designs, easy-to-read displays, and pressure-release features make them staples for the garage.

Vondior Tire Pressure Gauge

Vondior Tire Pressure Gauge
A rubber shield protects the Vondior tire pressure gauge.Amazon

The analog tire pressure gauge from Vondior displays tire pressure accurately (+/- 1 percent) up to 60 psi. A release valve makes relieving some overinflated tire pressure easy while the 2-inch display is still in view. Further, the hand and numbers glow in the dark so if you are burning the midnight maintenance oil, then the reading will be seen regardless of the amount of garage lighting. The swiveling valve connector is also a convenient feature since it allows you to read the display from multiple angles.

Rhino USA Heavy-Duty Tire Pressure Gauge

Rhino USA Heavy-Duty Tire Pressure Gauge
Features include a braided air hose and brass hardware, pressure lock/reset button, grip cover, and 2-inch glow-in-the-dark dial.Amazon

In case you have a long or tight reach to the valve stem, the Rhino USA tire pressure gauge has a braided air hose instead of the attached-chuck design of the other tools in this list. The 45-degree chuck with 360 degrees of swivel action further allow this gauge to adapt to whichever angle is needed for the job. It measures up to 75 psi with the glow-in-the-dark 2-inch display.

Summit Tools Tire Pressure Gauge

Summit Tools Tire Pressure Gauge
The Summit Tools gauge is made of a brass body with rubber armor for drop and impact resistance.Amazon

This 60 psi gauge from Summit Tools is another attached-chuck design option for your garage. Although this device’s readings are accurate up to +/- 2 percent, which is less than the Vondior, it can be read easily with the glow-in-the-dark dial and 360-degree swivel capability. If overinflation occurs, the air bleeder button allows you to reduce pressure.

Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com

Regulation changes: testing, wildcards and wet race starts

The Grand Prix Commission has made some changes across all three classes for the 2020 season

The Grand Prix Commission, composed of Messrs. Carmelo Ezpeleta (Dorna, Chairman), Paul Duparc (FIM), Herve Poncharal (IRTA) and Takanao Tsubouchi (MSMA), in the presence of Carlos Ezpeleta (Dorna), Mike Trimby (IRTA, Secretary of the meeting), Corrado Cecchinelli (Director of Technology), Danny Aldridge (Technical Director), Mike Webb (Race Director and Franck Vayssié (CCR Director) in a meeting held in Madrid on 27th. November 2019, made the following decisions:

Sporting Regulations – Effective Season 2020

Testing Regulations

Currently, teams have only been allowed to test not contracted riders at tests by replacing their contracted rider for injury or another reason.

Furthermore, as there is no longer private testing in the MotoGP™ class, (only allowed for manufacturers with concessions) it makes it difficult for the rest of the MotoGP™ manufacturers and teams to test other riders for the future.

The Grand Prix Commission has approved a change to the regulations as follows:

All classes:
Teams may substitute their contracted rider for all or part of a test, provided that the maximum number of test days is respected, and that the substitute takes the place of the contracted rider, i.e. both cannot be on track at the same time. Such substitute riders must be approved the Selection Committee.

Moto3™ and Moto2™ classes:
Any replacement or substitute rider is deemed to be the original rider for the purposes of counting test days, so test days accumulate for both rider and team (that is, a team cannot have more test days by changing riders and a contracted rider cannot have more test days by changing teams).

The effect of these changes is that teams will have the opportunity to evaluate the competence of non-contracted riders for future use as a substitute or replacement rider. It also gives the opportunity for teams, and the selection Committee, to assess the performance of riders who might be proposed as contracted riders for subsequent seasons.

Wild Cards – MotoGP™ class:
Currently, MotoGP™ class Manufacturers are not permitted to nominate wild card entries for consecutive events.

The Commission have agreed that this restriction should be removed for those manufacturers who benefit from concessions. Such manufacturers are permitted a maximum of six wild card entries and scheduling applications for events that are not consecutive has proved difficult, particularly when some riders are also committed to other Championships like MotoE™.

Wet Race Start Procedure for Moto3™ and Moto2™:
To bring this procedure into line with similar regulations that involve a delayed start. The Commission has agreed that the restarted race will be 2/3 of the original race distance.

Fancy keeping up with all the 2020 preseason testing action and the 2020 season proper? Look no further than VideoPass!

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Buriram tops 2019 spectator billing

Buriram, after claiming 2018 Grand Prix of the season, again hosted a spectacular weekend of MotoGP™ action that saw 226,655 fans descend to see Marc Marquez (Repsol Honda Team) claim his eighth World Championship, compared to 222,535 in 2018. Le Mans welcomed 206,323 supporters this year, 294 less than 2018, with the Sachsenring getting over 200,000 fans through the gate for the first time since 2016 – 201,162 visited the German GP this season.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Team America announced for 2020 Island Classic

Team America for 2020 International Challenge announced


Team America have thrown down the gauntlet to defending champion Australia ahead of the 2020 International Island Classic, which will run at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit this coming Australia Day long weekend (January 24-26).

Island Classic RCimage Larry Pegram
Larry Pegram – Image by Russell Colvin

America’s 12-rider squad for the International Challenge teams’ event not only boasts three riders who finished in the top six of the individual standings in 2019 – Josh Hayes, Larry Pegram and Michael Gilbert – but it’s now also added seven-time Canadian superbike champion Jordan Szoke and former AMA front-runner Taylor Knapp to its ever-strengthening roster.

Island Classic RCimage Josh Hayes Race
Josh Hayes #4 – Image Russ Colvin

Team America also boasts the first woman to take part in the International Challenge – Melissa Paris, who made her professional debut in the 2009 and has world supersport, world endurance, AMA and Spanish CEV experience on her vast CV.

Melissa is the wife of Josh Hayes and said on her inclusion in the US squad, “After hearing what a great time Josh had last January I’m so pumped to go this year!”

Husband Hayes is expected to be a powerhouse for Team America, and the four-time AMA superbike champion – and second on the all-time race winner’s list behind Aussie Mat Mladin – will have fond memories of winning the fourth and final International Challenge race in 2019 on his Yamaha FJ1250.

Josh Hayes

“In the first race of 2019 I was quite taken back by the level of competition on these classic era bikes. Even got my feelings hurt a few times!” said Hayes of his 2019 Island Classic debut. But when I was able to win the 4th and final Challenge race, and returned to our pit to find the captains of all the other teams there to celebrate alongside us, I knew this was a special event, more about 2 wheel passion than business, and something that I wanted to continue to be a part of. In 2019 I was able to test the Mojo Yamaha a handful of times.

Island Classic RCimage Josh Hayes Profile
Josh Hayes – Image Russ Colvin

“Also, I rode in MotoAmerica’s Supersport races at seven events; racing for my wife’s MP13 Racing Yamaha, with her also as my crew chief. The 2020 Island Classic is going to be a family event for me this year with my wife, Melissa, and my 2yr old son, Hawk, joining me. Even better is that Melissa will be riding a Mojo Yamaha TZ-750 in the International Classic races. With her experience of riding all types of motorcycles, and all over the world, I think she will be a strong asset for the American team. For her and Hawk to get to experience Australia again with me also, is just icing on the cake.”

Island Classic RCimage Josh Hayes Metcher
Josh Hayes #4 – Image Russ Colvin

The final race victory of 2019 catapulted Hayes to third in the individual standings on a countback ahead of Aussie Shawn Giles, while Pegram and Gilbert were fifth and sixth.

Dave Crussell will once again captain the American squad, and also on his roster are Jorge Gurero, Joe Pethoud, Brian Filo, Bruce Lind and Robert Ruwoldt.

2017 Island Classic - Dave Crussell
2017 Island Classic – Dave Crussell

The bike of choice for the majority of the team will again be the Yamaha based CMR FJ 1250, while the Americans also have three potent Yamaha TZ750 at their disposal.

America finished second in the 2019 International Challenge behind Australia and ahead of New Zealand, but the addition of Szoke, Knapp and Price could cause some real headaches for Australia which is shooting for its 13th win in 16 starts.

Jordan Szoke IMGBrianCouture
Jordan Szoke – Image by Brian Couture

The Australian team for the International Challenge features David Johnson, Shawn Giles, Jed Metcher, Craig Ditchburn, Aaron Morris, Scott Webster, Cameron Donald, Steve Martin, Beau Beaton, John Allen and Alex Phillis.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom returns to the Interactional Challenge arena in 2020 with a new-look team, which will be announced next week.


Grab your 2020 Island Classic tickets today

The Island Classic, is now in its 27th year, is the largest historic motorcycle racing event in the Southern Hemisphere. The weekend honours a century of motorcycling in three action-packed days, with the International Challenge just one element of an event that celebrates the splendour of historic racing across all levels.

Island Classic RCimage Larry Pegram Metcher Pack
2019 Island Classic – Image by Russell Colvin

As well the International Challenge, the Island Classic includes 52 other races for machines across the six historic racing categories: Veteran (up to 1919), Vintage (1920-1945), Classic (1946-1962), Post Classic (1963-1972), Forgotten Era (1973-1982) and New Era (1983-1990).

Individual accolades will also include the Phil Irving Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the rider who accrues the most points outside the International Challenge races, for the highest scorer in the non-International Challenge events.

IIC Phillip Island Rob Mott Sunday Start Aaron Morris Steve Martin
2019 Island Classic – Image by Rob Mott

Qualifying will begin on Friday for all classes, followed by a full program of racing on Saturday and Sunday. For more information and tickets, visit www.islandclassic.com.au (link). Pre-purchase and save on general admission and camping tickets, with children under 15 free.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Alpine MotoSafe earplugs just got better!

A tiny little piece of plastic has just made universal-fit MotoSafe earplugs from Dutch company Alpine Hearing Protection even better.

With the new minigrip they are now just that little bit easier to pull out, extending the life of the earplugs.

We have written on many occasions about the importance of earplugs. Basically they make you more relaxed, less weary, more alert and save your hearing, all at the same time.

We’ve tried many different earplugs, including personalised moulded plugs which are very effective, but can leave you feeling disoriented like you are underwater.

MotoSafe plugs are cheaper, more convenient (no need for a fitting because they fit all ears) and more comfortable, even when riding all day with a tight helmet. Since there is no silicone in the material, they also don’t get sweaty or itchy.

Most importantly, they filter out the damaging wing noise. And that’s why we sell them online.Alpine Motosafe earplugs

MotoSafe safe

Turbulence generated at high speeds can reach 103dB which is why all racers wear foam plugs to block out all sound.

The filter in MotoSafe blocks damaging high-frequency wind noise, but still allows you to hear important sounds such as sirens, horns and screeching tyres.

Meanwhile, it still allows you to hear “pleasant sounds” such as your music, phone conversation, GPS turn prompts and your bike’s exhaust note!

However, we have damaged a couple of sets in the past trying to pull them out.

They come with a small black plastic applicator which you use to push them all the way in until you hear an air seal. (Make sure to wet the plug first!)

To remove them, reverse the applicator and dig underneath the plug to break the seal, then grab the filter and gently pull them out.

The previous plug design had a short filter and you sometimes had to twist them to get them out, breaking the filter in the process!

Alpine MotoSafe earplugs make riders safer
Old MotoSafe earplugs without the mingrip

Now the minigrip prevents that issue and makes them just that little bit better.

They come in black (Tour) which reduces noise by 27dB or red (Race) which provides 30dB of noise filtering. I use the red ones all the time; even when just heading out to the shops.

Tinnitus

In Australia, about four million people have hearing loss. In the UK it’s 10 million and in the US, some 48 million have some form of hearing loss.

While hearing loss is a part of the natural ageing process, it is increased by prolonged exposure to excessive noise and riders are more than likely to experience greater hearing losses in their senior years.

I not only have profound hearing loss, but, like about 30% of the population, I also suffer from tinnitus (ringing in the ears).

These conditions have developed from years of motorcycle riding, as well as playing in rock bands, going to concerts and listening to loud music.

The ringing is so bad it sometimes wakes me at night.

It’s not actually motorcycle exhaust or engine noise that cause the biggest problem, but wind noise, according to the American Industrial Paramedic Services.

That’s why riders should have some form of hearing protection whenever they ride, especially on long trips. Any earplug is better than no earplugs.

How long can you ride without risk of hearing damage?

Speed Average volume of wind noise under a helmet              Maximum time without risk of hearing damage
100km/h 94dB 15 minutes
120km/h 98dB 7 minutes
140km/h 102dB 3 minutes
160km/h 106dB 90 seconds

Helmet protection?Loud music wind noise earplugs

If you don’t think you can get hearing loss or tinnitus from riding because you wear a full-face helmet, you’re wrong.

Dutch magazine Promotor tested the noise levels in 10 different “system” (modular or flip-up) helmets at varying speeds and found some startling results.

The best result was 86dB at 50km/h which proses a risk of permanent hearing damage after just two hours of riding.

At 100km/h, the same helmet registered 100dB which is more noise than a hammer drill at 95dB.

At the other end of the spectrum the worst performing helmet registered 92dB at 50km/h which is comparable to a train speeding past.

At 100km/h it registered 106dB, which is louder than the noise of a chain saw or a disco.

While full-face helmets are quieter, they are not substantially quieter, especially if you ride with the visor open on hot summer days.

Technical details

Alpine MotoSafe earplug filters reduce noise at different levels for different frequencies.

For the technically minded, the Tour plugs reduce bass sounds around 63Hz by 6.6dB and 8000Hz treble sounds by 16.12dB which is wind noise at 50km/h.

The maximum amount of protection is in the harsh and harmful midrange of 2000-4000Hz where the noise suppression is 23.8-18.5dB.

The Race plugs drop bass frequencies 15.7dB, midrange by 26.1 and treble by 19.7dB.

Reduction in noise may vary from ear to ear, depending on fit, with a variation of 2.8 to 4.4dB.

This data was tested according to European standard EN 352-2: 2002.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team announced for 2020


In the wake of Rodney Faggotter’s announcement that he will compete in the 2020 Dakar Rally on a WR450F as a privateer (full article here – link), Yamaha Motor Europe have revealed that its partnership with Monster Energy in MXGP will now extend to the official Yamaha Rally squad.

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
2020 Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

The renamed Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team will contest all five rounds of the 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, which will span three continents and feature events in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and South America.

The 2020 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship gets underway with the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March, followed in May by Rally Kazakhstan. In July the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team will contest the 8000 km Silk Way Rally, which starts in Moscow’s Red Square and finishes in China, before heading across the Atlantic the following month for the Rally dos Sertões in Brazil. The season will conclude with the Rally Du Maroc in North Africa in October.

Xavier De Soultrait Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
Xavier De Soultrait – Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

Ahead of what promises to be a demanding season, the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team will contest the 2020 Dakar Rally which, after a 10-year sojourn in South America, heads into Asia for the first time, with the entire route contained within the borders of Saudi Arabia.

For the 2020 edition of the Dakar Rally, which will be contested over 12 stages and will cover a total of 7500 km, the Monster Energy Yamaha line up will feature Adrien van Beveren, Xavier De Soultrait, Franco Caimi and Jamie McCanney.

Van Beveren was the highest placed Yamaha rider in the 2019 championship standings, with his best result coming in the Silk Way Rally, which the 28-year-old Yamaha rider finished on the podium in third place. The Frenchman is a former stage winner at the Dakar and led the rally for four stages in 2018 before being forced to retire following a crash.

Xavier De Soultrait Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
Xavier De Soultrait – Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

De Soultrait is also a former stage winner at the Dakar Rally. The Frenchman took victory on stage three and then backed that up with a podium finish on stage five to finish the 2019 edition of the rally in a creditable sixth place, a result he is keen to improve upon in 2020.

Following a highly successful career in Enduro racing, where he won multiple national titles in South America, Caimi made the switch to rally competition at the age of 28 and impressed the global rally scene by finishing in eighth place on his Dakar debut in 2017. The Argentinian rider returns to the Dakar in 2020 determined to repeat his debut success, having retired from the previous two editions.

McCanney, from Douglas on the Isle of Man, faces a baptism of fire in Saudi Arabia. The Enduro Junior World Champion in 2015 and E2 vice-Champion aboard a Yamaha in 2017 and 2018, the Manxman switched to Rally at the end of the 2018 season and after one year of intense preparation he is ready to join his three teammates in Jeddah on 5th January 2020, to start the Dakar for the first time.

Xavier De Soultrait Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team
Xavier De Soultrait – Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

2020 will be only the second time in its 40-year history that the Dakar route has been confined to a single country. In 2019 the rally was run wholly in Peru following the withdrawal of Bolivia and Chile from the event.

At the moment, where the organiser is building up the ‘third chapter’ in the history of the Dakar, Yamaha is not comfortable with this format and has encouraged the organiser to return to the original spirit of a true multi-country adventure.

Source: MCNews.com.au

Electric corner signs alert riders

Signs that light up and display a safety alert and message if you are riding too fast for the corner are being trialled in the UK.

British company TWM Traffic Control Systems have developed the LED signs that include a radar sensor.

Be alert, not alarmed

But don’t worry! The smart alert signs are not designed to issue speeding tickets, says TWM spokesmen Chris Rayner. At least for now!

“It’s purely advisory,” he assures us.

“It’s to aid riders or drivers and alert them to the potential dangers ahead. What you can do is have a function to record the activity along the road, traffic counts, speeds etc.”

The sign will display the rider’s speed and an alert such as SLOW DOWN, or CRASH SITE and flash amber LEDs.

When the vehicle then slows down and the speed falls below the secondary threshold limit, the sign displays THANK YOU with the real-time speed.

Warning signs

It’s similar to speed alert signs used around Australia and a Texas University project that developed stop signs that light up as a vehicle approaches.

Safer stop signs alert
Texas electronic stop signs

The TWM signs may help riders handle dangerous decreasing radius corners, but we wonder what they consider a safe corner speed for each vehicle.

For example, a motorcycle could easily handle a corner at a higher speed than a sports car which would be better than an SUV which would be better than a truck…!

Chris says the signs would allow the authorities to monitor the impact of approach speeds.

“The averages and 85th percentiles will all be calculated so further measures can be put in place if needed,” he says.

Our concern is that this could lead lower speed limits!

“We have been doing similar signage for various dangers, hazards and speed indication since 2002,” Chris says.

“I’m a biker myself and we have been supplying Isle of Man with some of our DayBright units for enhanced pedestrian crossings … I’m speaking to them to see if the crash site (sign) is something they could utilise as well.”

While the signs may be advisory now, we wonder how long before authorities use them to issue speeding tickets!

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Black Dog Ride marks 10 year anniversary

Riders will return to the Red Centre in 2020 to celebrate 10 years since the establishment of the first Black Dog Ride in 2010.

This year’s Around Australia Ride celebrated founder Steve Andrew’s solo ride around Australia in 2009 to raise awareness for mental health issues.

Black Dog Ride around Australia 2014 Steve Andrews founder boss FUTURE
Black Dog Ride founder Steve Andrews

His epic ride was followed in 2010 by the first Black Dog Ride to the Red Centre.

Limited registrations are now open for the 10th Red Centre ride.

Richard Brown of Black Dog Ride Australia says they are “focussing heavily on making sure that people who come on the ride feel very welcomed, and that they have fun”.

“Positive social connection/social relationships are very important when it comes to maintaining our mental health,” he says.

“We want this experience to be a good example of the spirit of mateship for all who participate.”

10 years onHOG Rally - Black Dog Ride

Brian says the 10-year celebration dinner in Alice Springs should be “a real hoot”.

He says they don’t have the money for a “lavish” dinner, but participants will feel “a great sense of accomplishment for having made the journey”, formed “some really nice relationships” and “feel part of something really special”.

The following ride groups will join the Red Centre Ride:

  • The NSW/ACT ride group will travel through inland New South Wales, south through South Australia, and up the centre to Alice Springs. 
  • WA and SA ride groups will both travel through their respective states, then meet up in Port Augusta to travel the rest of the way to Alice Springs as a combined group.
  • The Vic/Tas ride group will be travelling north through inland New South Wales and Queensland, then across to the Northern Territory and south to Alice Springs.
  • The Qld/NT ride group will travel through inland Queensland, then across to the Northern Territory, picking up Territorians before heading south to Alice Springs.

To register, go to the Black Dog Ride Red Centre 2020 page and click on the state or territory group you’d like to join.

Primary focus

Black Dog Ride indian scout bobber
Black Dog Riders head north

“Our primary purpose is raising awareness of depression and suicide prevention, so we plan to focus heavily on this,” Richard says.

“That means riding into towns and either attending a pre-organised community events, or simply parking down a main street and talking with community. Often people wandering by will ask ‘what’s this all about?’ or ‘what’s with the stuffed dogs?’

“So our participants literally get talking about mental health. Between all our state groups there will be just over 160 different town stops along the way.”

There is no fundraising target and participants are not required to raise extra funds.

Over the past 10 years, more than $3million has been raised by Black Dog Ride with finds passed on to organisations such as Lifeline, Mental Health First Aid Australia and the Black Dog Institute, as well as many many small community based volunteer groups and not-for-profits.

Richard says they have new destinations in mind for future years, so 2020 could be the last opportunity to ride to the Red Centre for several years.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

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