World Superbike season gets underway..

Troy Corser (Yamaha Motor Italia) powered to the 41^st pole position of his career in the opening round of the 2008 HANNspree Superbike World Championship at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar but he had to work hard to hold off the challenge of Ruben Xaus and Max Biaggi, second and third respectively. Corser's time of 1'58.053 was four-tenths of a second quicker than the circuit's best lap, which the 36-year-old Australian set for Yamaha last year. Xaus and Biaggi, both on Ducati 1098 RS08 machines from the private Sterilgarda Go Eleven squad, were heading for a sensational 1-2 before Corser put in his quick lap. Alongside them on the grid for the two races tomorrow will be Alstare Suzuki's young German rider Max Neukirchner.
In World Supersport Frenchman Fabien Foret (Yamaha World Supersport) continued his impressive start to the weekend as he notched up the first pole position of the year at Losail on his YZF-R6 machine. Foret, WSS champion in 2002, knocked a tenth of a second off the circuit's best lap to record a time of 2'01.928. He will be joined on the front row of the grid by Craig Jones on the Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR, the British rider looking promising for this new Portuguese-backed team. Two more Hondas are alongside, the Intermoto Czech version of Matthieu Lagrive and the HANNspree Ten Kate version of BSB sensation Jonathan Rea. 2007 runner-up Broc Parkes was fifth quickest on the other Yamaha World Supersport machine, while Triumph had an encouraging debut with Australian veteran Garry McCoy powering the 675cc triple machine to seventh place ahead of another Triumph of Italian Ivan Clementi.
Look on the BikeWise Events calendar for details and links to this years WSB and other motorcycling events or visit the official SBK site , the new SBK YouTube video site....or MCN's site
Enjoy watching the racing, but Do Not then go out onto the road and try and ride like Corser, Haga, Baylis etc - they 'Do it on a Racetrack - NOT on a Road' .....

Next Meeting - 16th March

Many Thanks to all who took part in our meeting on Sunday 17th February. The riders & their families/friends for supporting us.
A special 'Thank You' to all those who helped all day with the marshalling.



Our 4th indoor meeting of 2008 is to be held at Black & Deckers on Sunday 16th March..
1000hrs 'signing on' for a 1030hrs safety briefing/start.


Remember to bring some warm clothing & hot drinks, as it will be cold...

All members should have now received an email re the event and if you haven't already done so then sign up to facebook and join the BikeWise Mini-Bike Club Group for all the latest info and chat between members...

Former D.A.M chairman turns to pedal power....

Former Durham Advanced Motorcyclists chairman, John Shorter & his wife Maureen are turning from motorcyle horsepower to pedal power this spring as they intend to cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats commencing on the 6th May.

John was one of the original members of DAM and through the years progressed through the club, becoming an observer then Senior Observer and also group chairman. He stepped down from the role when Maureen and him retired and moved over to the Lake District.
This year, in fact until June 2008, John is President of Penrith Rotary Club. As a personal contribution to club fundraising, and because they want to, John & Maureen have decided to cycle from Lands End to John o' Groats. They hope to raise lots of money for Cancer Research UK and Eden Valley Children's Hospice in Carlisle UK.
Their plan is to do the ride in May 2008 without support; just 2 bodies 2 bikes and 4 panniers.
To check on their progress during training and on the ride, or to make an online donation, please visit : Shorters End to End
Best wishes from the BikeWise team and with all them miles under their belts we might even see them cycle to BikeWise this year !!

BikeWise Training.... coming soon.....

BikeWise Training - a new venture, provided by the Durham Road Safety partnership is to be launched soon.
The scheme is open to all riders, but is primarily aimed at riders of motorcycles of 500cc and above who reside in County Durham and have recently passed their test, or who are returning to biking following a break.

The focus is very much on optimum rider/bike performance and you can be sure you’ll get the chance to explore both your own and your bikes full potential.

The motorcycle instructor's who will conduct your training and 'Raise Your Standards' are :-

Retired Motorcycle Sgt, Bob Brown & serving officer PC Mick Alder who between them have almost forty years experience of riding motorcycles professionally with the Durham Constabulary Motorcycle Section.

Both are Police Class 1 Motorcyclists and also Advanced Police Motorcycle Instructors.

Their experience of riding motorcycles on public roads and the incidents that have occurred involving motorcyclists throughout the years are unrivalled.

For further information and application forms please visit the BikeWise Training website at : www.bikewise-training.co.uk

Durham Advanced Motorcyclists....

Congratulations to Tony Graham & Denise Lindsey, who both passed their Institute of Advanced Motorists (I.A.M) Test on Saturday 9th February.

Durham Advanced Motorcyclist's were formed in 1995 and have been supported throughout by Durham Motorcycle Section..

If you want further information please look on the groups website at : http://www.durhamadvancedmotorcyclists.org.uk/index.html

Register your attendance at the Easter Egg Run

The 4th Annual BikeWise will soon be with us ...
Register your attendance at the event at :
Easter Egg Run

2nd Indoor Meeting of 2008 - Photographs

The photo's from our 2nd indoor meeting of 2008 at Black & Deckers, Spennymoor.
'Many Thanks' to John Attle for taking the photographs on the day.
Big Thank You to everybody for making the day such a success...
Some really smooth riding and a really nice atmosphere.

BikeWise Mini Moto Club Jan 27th 2008

Double Click on this image to view photographs