Top six all round at Cadwell for Cummins

Knox-protected Conor Cummins got back into Championship contention at Cadwell Park when he finished in 6th place in round 4 of the Metzeler National 1000cc Superstock Championship. The Team Blackhorse Kawasaki rider overcame a tough first qualifying session to steadily increase his pace over the course of the weekend and he was rewarded with a fighting sixth place in the 15-lap race to move into fifth place in the title race.

Following slight problems with the handling in Friday's opening qualifying session, Conor made a few changes to the set-up of the bike and he was able to shave over a second off his time in qualifying on Saturday, jumping up to 8th on the grid, which was good enough for a third row start.

With extremely warm temperatures on Sunday, it was going to be a tough race for the 36-strong field but a good start by Conor saw him move up to sixth straightaway and when the safety car came out on the sixth lap he was up to fifth and more than handily placed. Two laps later, the car pulled in and for the second half of the race Conor was embroiled in a fine seven-rider battle for fourth place, a position he briefly held having overhauled Luke Quigley before the Suzuki rider fought back. With the leading three riders clear, fourth place was still anyone's but Quigley manfully resisted all challenges Conor made and in the run in to the line he slipped back to sixth as Glen Richards just sneaked by. Nevertheless, after crashing out of the last round at Oulton, it was good to be back in the top six and the ten Championship points picked up by Conor see him well placed in fifth overall.

Talking later, the 23-year old said: "I'm really happy to be back in the top six again and it's been nice to move back up to fifth in the Championship table. With the TT so close, it's important to stay out of trouble but you've also still got to give 100%. I'm really looking forward to the TT now and can't wait for it to begin!"

Handroid 100mph crash test report

"After seeing a good friend and close rival crash at croft and suffer serious hand injuries I decided to invest in some quality race gloves" writes Jamie Harrison (race no. 90). "After studying the market I decided on the very impressive Knox handroids".

"During the next race meeting at Cadwell Park on the 2nd May, shortly after taking the lead, I had a big off at the Gooseneck travelling around 100mph, which destroyed my bike, snapping the frame in half. After bowling over four or five times I came to a halt. My new Knox handroids and Knox back protector had done their job brilliantly and to everyone’s amazement I got up and walked away without a mark on me. Big thanks to Knox for another great product and I won’t be racing without my handroids on!!"

These close-ups show how effectively the sliders have worked, protecting the leather from serious abrasion. Read all about Hand armour at http://www.knox-lab.com/

Draggin Jeans choose Knox for their unique CE-approved riding jeans

Australia's Draggin Jeans are the first producer of denim motorcycle jeans to receive full European CE-approval and British-made Knox protectors are part of their success story.
Only a handful of leather and textile motorcycle garments has reached this level of approval to date and it has never previously been granted to a street fashion jean. CE tests are applied by scientific laboratories and strictly impose minimum safety requirements, so gaining CE-approval means that a product has successfully satisfied all of those imposed standards. Draggin Jeans passed the European standards regulating the protective qualities of motorcycle clothing, EN 13595, which ensures the product offers real protection.

To gain CE-approval clothing must have CE-approved impact protection fitted at key impact areas – for trousers that means the knees and hips. Draggin Jeans have been long-term users of Knox body armour and chose the company's Air V2 protectors for its CE-approved jeans.

Grant Mackintosh, founder and CEO of Draggin Jeans, said: "This is a fantastic result. We have always maintained absolute faith in our product and its amazing safety features. We have always had the safest lining in the market, however, the requirements for CE approval are very strict, so we are elated."

The CE jean named C-Evo will immediately go into production and be available by the end of May. Knox protection is the choice of many leading clothing brands and their V2 protectors are also available for riders to retro-fit to existing clothing.
For more information on Knox protection call 01900 825 825 or visit www.knox-armour.co.uk. Draggin Jeans can be found at www.dragginjeans.net

Double top for Knox racers at NW200

Knox-protected Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider Alastair Seeley made history at the International North West 200 road races by becoming the first Irishman in 13 years to win the feature Superbike event. The 30-year-old reigning British Superstock champion also took the opening Supersport race victory, a Superbike race one podium and two other fourth-placed finishes - on a day when Relentless by TAS Suzuki posted four podiums from five races.

When the feature NW200 Superbike event was cut from six laps to four, the odds were stacked against all three Relentless by TAS Suzuki riders, positioned on rows three, four and five. Teammate Bruce Anstey got the better start of the trio but Seeley, holding the expectations of a 100,000-strong local crowd, forced his way through and onto the back of Honda duo Easton and McGuinness at mid distance, guaranteeing a grandstand finish. Seeley led onto the final nine-mile lap but Easton took up the initiative on the brakes into Metropole with only the two-mile Coast Road section to conquer. Seeley, however, wasn't prepared to settle for second place, putting the nose of his GSX-R1000 Suzuki under the Scotsman at the very next turn before demonstrating his pure road racing prowess to take a very famous victory. In pursuit of the Honda pair, the Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider also upped the lap record to a staggering 121.875mph.

Seeley was not the only Knox protected rider to enjoy the laurels at the NW200. Scotland's Keith Amor put in a stunning display of riding, capped off with his first ever International road race win. The Scots ace was at the forefront of the action in all five of his races but he saved the best for the 5-lap Superstock race which he clinched on the final lap to give the WA Corless/Jackson Racing team a dream win, also giving the BMW S1000R it's first ever win on the roads. He also finished second in the second Supersport race and finished in the top six in all five of his races on the KBMG Racing machines.

Road racers have a two-week break before the premier event of the year, the Isle of Man TT races, with opening practice getting underway on Saturday May 29th.

Knuckle down with Knox Biomech

Following hot on the heels of the Knox Handroid, with its unique exoskeleton, comes the latest model in the Hand Armour range - the Biomech. Safety is at the core of all Hand Armour and the Biomech features distinctive transparent knuckle and Metapod sections on the back of the hand. Unlike other hard shell knuckle protectors found on gloves, the Biomech contains an impact absorbing honeycomb gel, designed to absorb and spread impact forces away from the wearer’s hand. This is easily demonstrated, when pushing on the underside of the knuckle you see the honeycomb expand through the transparent shell.

As with all Knox Hand Armour the Biomech includes the Patented Knox Scaphoid Protection System, with additional cuff sliders and wrist guards for increased support and protection during impact.

Strong, tear resistant but supple kangaroo leather is used on the palm and fingers, and the palm is further reinforced with Schoeller Keprotec too. Advanced superfabric ceramic bead is used on the side of each little finger as an added precaution. Aniline leather sections feature on the fingers and back of the hand.

Topping off the Biomech’s impressive specification is the Boa Lacing system. Unique to the Hand Armour range, the Boa Lacing system provides a simple “dialed-in” fit mechanism, which uses aircraft grade stainless steel wire to draw ‘side pods’ over the wrist, with targeted multi-adjustable closure. Quick and easy to operate, the Boa Lacing system provides even tightening, and is micro adjustable for a secure and perfect fit.

The Biomech is available in three colours: black, red and blue, in sizes XS-XXL. The recommended retail price is £129.99 (including VAT). For further information and to find a stockist, call 01900 825825 or visit www.knox-lab.com/hand-armour

Cold Killers Spring Offer

Let's face it, this Spring has been colder than average so riders need protective layers for those chilly mornings and evenings. Both the Sport Top and Wind Buddy are excellent mid-layers that can be packed away neatly when the weather warms up during the day. These versatile garments are aloso great for cycling, hiking, fishing, snow sports, horse riding and just about any outdoor activity you can think of (with the obvious exception of naturism!)

So Knox are offering a very special "in store" promotion while stocks last. Buy a Sport Top or Wind Buddy and get a Cold Killers accessory (as pictured) FREE or Sport pants half price.

This deal is not available online - to find your nearest Knox dealer got to http://www.knox-armour.co.uk/stockists.php

Knox Hand Armour video 2010

Five Two Race Team and Suzy Lacey

John Lee (rider of 52 weeks) has set up a new race team - FiveTwo Race Team - and they come with massive support from some of the best sponsors within the industry! Their team of six riders will compete during 2010 and 2011, all of whom have been selected due to raw talent and potential to impress. Every team needs a flagship rider and Suzy Lacey is the chosen one for FiveTwo Race Team. Suzy had a fantastic season last year in Female 4X and Mini Downhill and only missed out on the podium very rarely. "We aim to build on this amazingly talented young rider by building more self belief and a structured effective training routine into her life. She has an amazing natural talent which we are sure will be complemented by her new sponsors and riding regime resulting in a great spread of results for her this season. - I'm thrilled about our flagship signing and extremly lucky to have the privelage to manage Suzy" says Manager, John Lee.
"I'm dead excited to be the first rider on FiveTwo Race Team; I'm following a new training programme with my mind fixed on spending as much time in the saddle before my first race of the year at NPS 4X round 2 HartHill in Cheshire and followed next by the World Cup 4X round at Fort William" comments Lucy. "I am really stoked with all my new products from Knox, DMR, GT85, Pink bike wash, Geax Tyres, Eat Natural Bars and RNR Goggles. Thanks to my manager John Lee and to all the sponsors to making this happen so quickly - I'm really excited for 2010 and 2011".

Mores points for Seeley at Oulton Park BSB

Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider Alastair Seeley left the Oulton Park third round on the BSB Championship in fifth place.

In race one it was Seeley who looked odds-on for his second BSB podium of the year on the GSX-R1000 Superbike , but a missed gear on the final lap allowed John Laverty to steal his thunder, which left the Carrickfergus man to narrowly pip his team-mate to the line for fourth.

In race two, while Laverty was soloing to a superb victory, Seeley fought his way through from mid-pack to take 10 valuable points in sixth place.

Alastair Seeley:

"I am a bit frustrated about not getting on the podium in race one, but there's no point in moaning about it. I missed a gear and fought back to fourth so we have to be pleased with that after a tough weekend at the previous round. In race two, I spun up going off the line and ended up bashing bars and fairings mid-pack. I got my head down and just tried to be smooth on the throttle and when I got onto the back of Josh Brookes he was all over the place. His tyre was obviously in worse condition than mine at that stage, so to get past for sixth was a good result in difficult conditions. I'm learning all the time about this Superbike and I've stayed fit and healthy with the North West 200 just over a week away - so that's a big positive."