Fabio Quartararo has just turned fourteen and will make his debut this year in Moto3. Phillipe Le Gallo, meanwhile is fifty-five and has been competed for several seasons in the Stock Extreme Class. He says racing his his passion and he hopes to continue for years to come!

It also seems that French riders and drivers have decided to get rid of diesel, with figures dropping significantly from 2011, going from 45% to 20%. Not bad. So, what do you think, would you head out and buy an eco-friendly bike like our French counterparts if the bank manager allowed it? Or are you happy to stick with your old faithful? Leave us a comment and let us know!

So far, customers with vouchers worth hundreds of pounds have been told there’s no guarantee they’ll see any kind of return on their cash, with refunds impossible to confirm.

Easytrack’s sudden end was confirmed on Facebook, with track owners MSV saying;

‘As of Thursday April 11th 2013, Easytrack has ceased to trade. Therefore regrettably all future events booked by Easytrack on MSV circuits have been cancelled. For more information please contact Easytrack directly.’

Not only does the Cup give young riders the opportunity to improve their skills on some of the most famous circuits around the world, it also provides them with financial assistance when it comes to getting to the tracks, transporting their equipment, working in professional racing environments and receiving the best technical support possible.

As ever, here at The Bike Insurer, we like you to make you feel a part of the action as much as we possibly can, so why not sit back, relax, and let this video take you on a virtual tour of the European Junior Cup. Enjoy.

All you had to do to be in with a chance of winning was upload your picture or video directly to The Bike Insurer site. You then needed to share its link with your own Facebook account and get its viewers to hit that all-important ‘Like’ button. The picture or video with the most ‘Likes’ by the competition closing date would be crowned the winner. It was that simple!

The competition was a great success, and we’d like to say a big thank you to everybody who entered; as always though, there can only be one winner and out of the two competitions we ran, a big congratulations goes to Katie Hann who scooped 98 ‘Likes with her picture of her aboard her fantastic Honda VFR, and Richard Howlett, whose picture of a very near miss crash proved most popular amongst you bike fans! Katie scooped a signed BBC T-shirt for her efforts, while Richard walked away with 2 VIP tickets to the Thundersport GB at Donington Park.

Once again, a big thank you to everybody who took the time to enter. We hope Katie and Richard enjoy their prizes!

Riders for Health manages motorbikes and ambulances for health-related services within sub-Saharan Africa, and with Bridgestone’s help, the charity will be able to mobilise more health workers allowing them to deliver vital aid and healthcare. Bridgestone will provide tyres for Riders for Health’s fleets of vehicles in Africa, and will be able to help their fundraising efforts and promotional plan during the 2013 MotoGP season. Riders for Health CEO and co-founder, Andrea Coleman, said the partnership would greatly benefit the charity;

‘The partnership with Bridgestone is important and significant. The MotoGP paddock has long supported Riders for Health, raising hundreds and thousands of pounds for our life-saving work across Africa…With partners like this, combined with the skill of Riders’ African colleagues we are closer to seeing a world where healthcare reaches everyone, everywhere.’

Fitted completely free, the system covers a variety of engine chassis and bodywork parts, which will be marked using UV security etching, glass transponders, ultra-violet fluid, Datadots and discreet warning labels. Ducati MD, Tim Maccabee said;

‘Ducati is committed to ensuring that customers have a good level of security in place and the MASTER systems will certainly add benefit to the security of their beloved Ducati…We’re very pleased to be a part of an industry initiative that helps combat theft in this way and with support from our dealers we are proud to be a part of this effort.’

A ‘Save Mallory’ campaign has been set up on Twitter, by fans eager to save the circuit, while an official e-petition to the government has been created on the Direct Gov website, which currently has over 13,000 signatures. So far, Hinckley and Bosworth Council says it is committed to find a solution everybody will be pleased with which can avoid legal action.

If you would like to add your name to the e-petition, simply click the link http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/46739

As the official support for the World Superbike Championship, the European Junior Cup is the competition when it comes to giving talented young riders the chance to develop their skills on the track, around some of the most legendary circuits in the world. The ultimate goal of the Cup is to provide a clear career path for young riders taking them from the EJC, onto Superstock, and finally, for the most talented participants, a route into the World Supersport or World Superbike Championships.

In order to ensure nobody is prevented from taking part because of finance , the EJC’s organisers arrange all transportation of bikes and equipment to the circuits. They also provide workstations, hospitality, technical support and all spares in a dedicated racing village. Competition coaching is also provided from former World Superbike rider, Simon Crafar which includes on-track observation, debriefings, riding technique tips, qualifying strategies and practical advice on things such as bike set-up. There’s even guest lectures from top World Superbike riders to provide advice and encouragement for the racers of the future! The European Junior Cup is regulated by FIM Europe and is open to riders aged between 14-19. All entrants must have completed at least one year licensed competition in a motorcycle discipline.

The Bike Insurer is thrilled to have been invited to the training camp of this prestigious motorbike racing competition and as you can imagine, we’ll be bringing you all the latest news from the camp, as it happens! We’ll also be bringing you regular race results and updates so don’t forget to check back for the breaking news! When it comes to the European Junior Cup, think The Bike Insurer!

 2013 racing calendar

• Training Camp – Alcarras, Spain – 7th April
• Aragon, Spain – 14th April
• Assen, Holland – 28th April
• Monza, Italy – 12th May
• Imola, Italy – 3oth June
• Silverstone, England – 4th August
• Nurburgring, Germany – 1st September
• Magny Cours, France – 6th October
• Plus one more round – TBC

From all the entries, ten riders will be selected to take part in the scheme, with every contestant given the opportunity to be mentored by industry figures in the skills needed to succeed in the professional racing world. Successful applicants will be provided with training throughout the year, delivered by top industry experts.

After that, the ten riders will be assessed by a panel, which includes a professional rider, race team manager, MSVR manager and senior figures from Triumph. This panel will then whittle the field down to three Young Guns finalists, before the successful three then go head to head. The overall winner will finally be announced in October. Last year’s winner, Tom Oliver (pictured on the left), said;

‘The Young Guns initiative is a lot more than a competition and provided me with a lot of insight, mentoring and support during 2012. 2011′s winner, Chrissy Rouse, did really well in the Triumph Triple Challenge so I am looking forward to putting what I learnt into practise this year with the continued help of the Triumph team.’

If you’re interested in entering Triumph Young Guns 2013, forms are available from the Triumph Motorcycles website now.

This attempt really is no mean feat, and if successful, John and his fellow-riders will be well-deserving world record holders!

Big John’s record attempt is taking place just ahead of Travis Pastrana’s Nitro Circus 3D Live – the world’s biggest action sports production ever seen under one roof! The show comprises two and a half hours of fully choreographed stunts from the best freestyle motocross, BMX and skateboard action, all centred around a fifty-foot high Nitro Gigant- A- Ramp and a multi-million dollar set. One of the show’s main attractions is its ten-rider Nitro backflip combo train, which really has to be seen to be believed!

So, if you’re a stunt-riding fan (and even if you’re not!) you won’t want to miss out on Big John’s world record attempt tonight at London’s O2 Arena! Good luck, John!

The team will take part in the British Superstock 1000 Championship as well as the Isle of Man TT and North West 200 aboard their RAF Reserves Honda Fireblade CBR1000RR.

Simon is no stranger to road and circuit racing having competed with the Honda TT Legends in the Endurance World Championship. He showed blistering speeds in the NW200 last year, but an accident forced him to bow out. Now however, he’s back with a vengeance! Simon said;

‘The project appealed to me from the outset and I was very interested to be a part of it…The Superstock 1000 Championship is very competitive but I have my sights set on winning it! I think together we make a good team, who knows, they might have me signing up the RAF Reserves at this rate. Keep me sharp in the off-season!’

Well now it seems the government has had a change of heart, and has released a report stating that, while the breathalysers should still be mandatory, you shouldn’t be fined if you’re found to be without one. Essentially then, while the law still wants you to have them, you won’t be punished if you don’t. I think you’ll agree, that’s pretty contradictory stuff!

It seems that this change has already had a fairly big effect, because the makers of the breathalysers have greatly reduced their staff numbers in response. So, what do you think? Do you think the law made sense, or are you glad to see the changes? Why not leave us a comment!

Now however, the mayor of Paris, (known for his distaste for bikes) is insisting that the government bring in the law for the city – and once again, the proposal is coming up against some serious derision among the biking fraternity. Already, the mayor has turned the Rive Gauche into a pedestrian area; closing it completely to traffic. He’s also outlawed all motorcycles which are ten years old or more from the inner city.

Apparently, the mayor is a stickler for environmental causes, but it’s clear to see why some people believe he is unfairly against motorcycles. So, what do you think? How would you feel if the UK government insisted on drastic changes to motorbike laws on our roads? Leave us your comments and let us know!

Organised by Ben’s mum Lorraine and sisters Alex and Jess, the even was hosted by Eurosport presenter Steve Day and Radio City’s Claire Simonson and is a wonderful testament both to Ben’s achievements in life and also to everything the Foundation has managed to achieve for young people in sport. In his life, Ben was a wonderful sportsman and there couldn’t be a better accolade for the talented young man. His mum Lorraine said she was extremely grateful for everybody’s support;

‘I would like to thank everybody this evening for their continued support…I am extremely grateful for their time given and the monies raised to date. There have been numerous recipients who have received grants from the Ben Gautrey Foundation and I can only hope that 2013 will be another successful year.’

Here is a fantastic selection of photos from the evening,

Ben Gautrey Foundation Annual Dinner View All

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The IAM has welcomed the renewed efforts for the improvement of motorcycle safety, but says it’s important spending also be increased in other areas of the road. Neil Greig, director of IAM policy said;

‘The successful drink-driving and bike campaigns have raised awareness and both seem to be working…the government needs to match that kind of expenditure and take the safety of children and adults seriously.’

In an amusing twist, this dangerous fool didn’t realise that the road he was sailing down was being monitored by speed cameras, nor did he appear to remember that he’d lost his license for being caught for speeding in the past. Needless to say, his bike was taken from him and he now faces a prison sentence. Clever.

The website was still live yesterday, but calls from bemused customers were being left unanswered. According to the site, a £4295 trip to Africa in February has been totally sold out.

According to the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing Scheme, anybody who has a planned booking with Global Enduro can expect to receive a full refund.