Just deserts for Knox Cross Shirt

Knox are a long term sponsor of Redtread, who offer professionally guided, life enhancing, off-road tours through South Morocco. They state the CE-approved Knox Cross Shirt lasts better than any other brand they have worn.

Used by new riders every week for 3-4 days at a time in the punishing desert terrain, and washed every week, so far the shirts are each lasting about 18 months - along time considering the accelerated use.

"Whilst we were out on the last tour, I took a couple of the guys to one side and we took some photos from on top of the Cathedral Dune in Merzuga" writes Redtread Honda Morocco boss Ian. Imagine tackling that on your BMW1200GS!

KINESIS – movement in response to stimulus

Major development in impact protection launched by Knox
Knox, the British impact protection specialists have a reputation for innovation dating back to the early 1980's, when they pioneered back protectors and body armour. Knox was the first brand to bring CE-approved limb and back protectors to market, the first to produce a roll-up back protector and in fact Knox has consistently displayed an energy and enthusiasm for creative ways to make motorcycling safer and more enjoyable. Knox are now proud to launch the revolutionary KINESIS impact protectors, the ultimate incarnation of its OEM range of armour.

The most significant innovation in impact protection since the introduction of a European standard in 1995, KINESIS doesn't just absorb energy from an impact, it deflects it! Developed during routine testing in the Knox Lab, when a 5KG weight is dropped onto new designs to test their impact absorption properties, the Knox Team discovered that less energy was transmitted if the sample protector sipped out of position when hit. They realised that this is because an oblique force deflects much of the energy from an impact, whereas blunt force is transmitted directly.

Due in garments launched in late 2011, ready for the 2012 season, Kinesis will redefine motorcycle impact protection. For more information call 01900 825825 or visit www.knox-lab.com

We love Intermot

Just back from Cologne, where the Knox Team previewed the 2011 collection to an international audience at the Intermot exhibition. Attracting nearly 200,000 visitors over six days, this is a massive event and we took the opportunity to launch KINESIS - revolutionary technology for body armour. More to follow on the Blog soon, so keep coming back ..

Knox Contour is a 'life saver' at the World's fastest road race

Whether you ride on road or track you need the best protection available, but when racing on the roads the stakes are really high. Dave Hewson was competing in the Superstock class (1000cc superbikes on road tyres) at the Ulster GP, which is the fastest road race in the World. He was wearing a Knox Contour when he fell off at the superstock race. While he sustained injury he is now well on the way to a full recovery and Dave is in no doubt that his Knox Contour saved his life;

"As the A+E nurse said, and I fully agree 'if it wasn't for your back protector you'd probably be dead.' With that in mind I'd like to thank you for making such brilliant products and I'll be buying another knox contour before I get back on my bike. Thank you."

Everyone at Knox wishes Dave a speedy recovery.

Ellison returns to winning ways at Silverstone

Knox Handroid protected James Ellison returned to the top step of the podium at Silverstone in the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, taking a commanding victory in the second race.

Ellison had just missed out on a podium finish in race one with a strong fourth place, but in the wet conditions in the second outing he led from the start of the race to edge out an impressive 5.8 second lead over second placed Ryuichi Kiyonari.

Ellison said: "I can't express the emotions I was feeling, not only in the final laps but also now as it feels like it has been a long time coming. The first race we were losing a bit of grip and we were going to make some changes, but then it rained and we knew we were confident with out wet setting. I went out in race two and just got my groove on and knew from my pit board I had a gap over Kiyo, but I have been so unlucky this season that I was waiting for something like a plane to fall out of the sky and hit me! I knew in the last laps I just needed to hold it together and I got a bit excited on the last lap and nearly threw myself off, but fortunately I saved it and it was such a rush of feelings for me when I crossed the line. I need to thank everybody who has supported me this season and also send special thanks to my crew chief Mick Shanley as he missed the race today as his wife is about to have a baby. I now just want to get to Oulton Park!"
Swan Honda team manager Shaun Muir concluded: "I can't express how happy the whole of the Swan Honda team are feeling at the end of that second race. James put in a faultless performance and he really deserved that win after what has been a tough season with his injury. It feels like it has been a long time coming for him, but he got his head down and got on with the job and showed that had it not been for the crash at Thruxton he would have been a serious title contender. "

Head start with Cold Killers this winter

The face, head and chest are more sensitive to changes in temperature than the rest of the body*, and as any motorcyclist and scooter rider will know, keeping those areas properly insulated and protected from the cold and damp can be difficult.

Part of the Softshell mid-layer collection, Cold Killers' Hot Hood, Maxi Tube and Mini Tube are specifically designed to help keep the face, head, neck and chest area warm and dry, during even the most miserable winter weather conditions. Like the complete Cold Killers range, the Hot Hood, Maxi Tube and Mini Tube all feature Softshell fabric construction: a three-ply laminate, with a tough and tightly woven stretch fabric on the outside, a laminated membrane, and 3-D fleece liner.

This three-layer system acts as a barrier against the wind - helping to reduce the effects of wind chill - and allows warm air to circulate round the skin, reducing the overheat/chill-down cycle associated with conventional layering. It's also water repellent and breathable, so prevents rain getting in while letting perspiration out.

Thin and flexible, Cold Killers eliminates the need for extra layering, allowing freedom of movement and ensuring there are no ‘tight spots' to restrict circulation. In addition, flat seams and stretch panels are used throughout for a comfortable fit.

Softshell is also fully machine washable, to ensure season-long protection and comfort. The Cold Killers Hot Hood and Mini Tube are available at an RRP of £16.99 each; the Maxi Tube - which features an extended chest area - costs £19.99. All are available in a ‘one size' universal fitting for men and women. For detailed information on each product and the entire range of Cold Killers Softshell garments, call 01900 825825, or visit www.coldkillers.co.uk

Ends

Editor's notes: *Source: Don't Swallow Your Gum: And Other Medical Myths Debunked: Dr Aaron Carroll Dr Rachel Vreeman. Penguin, 5 Nov 2009. ISBN: 978-0141043364.

Knox Armour Czechs out

Petr Mühlhans wins overall ranking of Czech 4X Cup!

An awesome end to the season waited for Knox-Armour protected Petr in Pec pod Snezkou. By third place in the final round, he managed to jump on the top of the overall podium and became a part of history in this world's prestigious series. Find photo, video and interesting links directly in Petr's blog. A big bonus is a Wobenzym video spot, that was shot during the season as a TV commercial for Czech Public TV, where it is on air these days.

Lougher makes it 129 wins at Scarborough

Knox-Armour protected Ian Lougher returned to the race track with some intent as he extended his tally of wins at Oliver's Mount to 129, with three more successes in the 60th Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup meeting at the Scarborough circuit.

The Blackhorse Kawasaki team boss was in superb form throughout the weekend, also recording three second place finishes, a third, a fourth and a seventh, completing every race he started in his first outing since the Ulster Grand Prix in August.

His wins came in both 125cc races for the Stu Reed Trophy and in the second heat of the 600cc David Jefferies Cup.

Saturday dawned with blue skies albeit with a typically autumnal chill in the air. With practice and qualifying over, the first of the day's 11 races got underway at the scheduled time of 1.00pm. Races one and two were the opening heats of the Darran Lindsay Trophy for Superbikes, both over four laps. Ian was in the second heat, opting to use his Superstock Ninja ZX-10R for the 'big bike' classes. And at the conclusion of his first outing of the day he finished fourth behind third placed John McGuinness.

Ian was soon out again for the first leg of the 125cc Stu Reed Trophy race. Fans around the circuit were eagerly awaiting the sight of Ian on the Repli-Cast UK Racing 125GP machine of Nigel Percy. Ian last rode the bike in 2009 with a wildcard entry at Silverstone where his technical input was invaluable to the team at that time. At the end of the first lap it was Ryan Farquhar on a KXF450 by half a second from William Dunlop with Ian coming through from fourth to move into third. Farquhar had increased the lead to three-quarters of a second a lap later, as the positions remained the same, with Chris Palmer fourth. But at the halfway stage Ian, who had only just stepped on to the bike for practice earlier in the day, had now moved ominously into second and had reduced the gap dramatically between himself and Farquhar to 0.343 of a second. Lougher took the lead at Drury’s and now led by 0.361 seconds as they went into the penultimate lap. Ian held on brilliantly to take the win at the flag from Farquhar by 0.25 seconds with William Dunlop third.

Ian was then straight into action on the Ninja ZX-10R in the first leg of the Darran Lindsay Trophy races. At the end of the opening lap of eight it was Ryan Farquhar from Guy Martin, John McGuinness, Michael Pearson, and Ian Hutchinson, with Loughercompleting the top six. Michael Dunlop went out on lap three with machine trouble as positions remained the same. Farquhar still led at the three-quarter race mark with Ian Hutchinson now third ahead of Pearson. At the chequered flag Lougher brought the Ninja ZX-10R home in a safe seventh just behind Derek Shiels.

Ian then had time to catch his breath before coming to the line for the second heat of the David Jefferies 600cc Cup over four laps. In this one he had a trouble free run as he coasted to first place, just over five seconds ahead of Michal Dokoupil.

After the heats of the David Jefferies Cup came the first 8-lap leg, the penultimate race of Saturday's programme. Ian Hutchinson was in pole position and held the hole-shot into Mere Hairpin and up Sheene’s Rise. Two miles later it was still Hutchy in the lead by 1.38 seconds from Guy Martin with Ian third, then Dokoupil and Michael Dunlop with Stephen Oates in sixth. Lap two and the lead was up to 2.42 seconds as Hutchinson broke the lap record at 81.96mph with positions the same.
On to the fifth lap of eight and the lead had extended to 4.56 seconds with Michael Dunlop now fourth, Ian meanwhile was safe in third on the ZX-6R and at the chequered flag he maintained his position to finish a fine third and bring his first day's racing to a satisfactory close.

Unfortunately Sunday's weather wasn't so kind with rain persisting on and off for most of the day. Ian's first event of the second day was the second leg of the Darran Lindsay Trophy. In Saturday's first leg Ian finished seventh behind Farquhar, Martin, Hutchinson, Pearson, McGuinness and Shiels, however this time around he addressed the balance on all but Farquhar who again took the win with Ian a fine second, almost 2.5 seconds ahead of Ian Hutchinson. Guy Martin was a retirement on the third lap.

Next up for Ian was a run on the ZX-6R as he took part in the second leg of the David Jefferies Cup. Winner of the first leg was Ian Hutchinson by some 7.7 seconds from Guy Martin. This time though Hutchy was pushed all the way by Lougher who was just over a second behind at the finish. The two were well clear of third place man Guy Martin who was a further 10 seconds back.

As the riders came to the line for the feature Gold Cup race, the programme was running behind schedule due to the weather conditions. Thus the organisers decided to reduce the race by two laps to eight. As in the David Jefferies Cup race a little earlier, it was again Hutchinson who set the pace with Lougher the only one able to forge a challenge. Despite Ian's best efforts, Hutchinson again took the honours with Ian a brilliant second on the Superstock Ninja ZX-10R, the first Kawasaki rider home and with a fastest lap of the race at 77.01mph to reward his efforts. Third was Ryan Farquhar, another twelve seconds in arrears with Michael Dunlop fourth.

Ian was straight back on track again as he jumped from the big bike on to the smaller Repli-Cast UK Racing 125GP machine for the second leg of the Stu Reed Trophy. Having won the previous day's first leg, could Lougher do it again? The result was never in doubt as Ian took victory by 13.5 seconds from the KXF450 of Ryan Farquhar who in turn was well clear of Chris Palmer in third. Again the fastest lap went to Ian at 69.86mph.

So a successful Gold Cup meeting for Ian Lougher for whom the Oliver's Mount success story continues, can he make it 130 wins next year? It would take a brave person to bet against it!

It's a return to the British Superbike Championship scene next weekend for Blackhorse Kawasaki when Victor Cox and David Pearce will once again be in the team colours for the latest round of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 and Junior 600 Championships at Silverstone.

Photo: courtesy Simon Charity

www.blackhorsekawasaki.com

Great results for Team FiveTwo in final round

Knox Armour protected Team FiveTwo's Suzy Lacey arrived at the final round of the National 4x series at Chicksands in Bedford facing huge tension and pressure, as she could take home the series champion's title if she beat just one other rider - Nichola Anderson (a multiple national bmx champion winner).

Team boss John Lee was excited by the prospect; "The newly refurbished and designed track was fantastic, now with some really challenging berms and driffty corners offering a selection of crazy lines and ruts added to the chicksands speed trap track - it meant there was some crazy racing and crashes about to go down! The team battled hard and achieved some amazing results over the day!"

Kieran Brown in the Juvenile category qualified for his first ever B final and came 7th in the final round.

Claire Pollard in the female category also came back to ride like her old self and put in a great day's racing to finish off 6th - a great comeback after her crash at Cannock a few months ago.

John Lee in the senior category had a rough old day of racing, which was full of crashes and a DQ from one of his motos - and after some difficult racing in his category he just missed out of the semi final round's qualification by 1 point.

Suzy Lacey in the female category really had her race face on and wasn't even bothered about the pressure piled up on her. In every moto race she gave 100% effort and came out with all cylinders firing and was seriously impressive to watch. In the A final race she already knew that the overall title was in the bag, as Nicola Anderson had already raced and couldn't win the series with the points she had won that day, so Suzy decided to aim for a final podium result and she threw herself into the final race of the series with a winning attitude and she was rewarded with a 3rd place.

Suzy was chuffed to take the win; "This is all I wanted this season, to be crowned. This result means I have been the most consistent racer in the 2010 4x series, massive thanks to the team and my sponsors for the support in 2010, bring on next year!"

Knox lend Kirkham a Handroid to become Superstock Champion

Jon Kirkham wrapped up the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship at the Croft circuit, but without Knox it could all have been very different.

On practice day Jon took the opportunity to try out a Knox Aegis back protector and Handroid gloves. Fate must have been on his side, because he then took an uncharacteristic spill aboard his newly Samsung-sponsored JK Racing BMW S1000RR. Fortunately the Knox Scaphoid Protection System on the Handroids proved its worth once again, preventing a potentially season-ending wrist injury.

With a comfortable lead in the series, he could have coasted to an overall victory in the final three races. However Jon was able to top both timed qualifying sessions, dipping well under the Superstock 1000 lap record in the second dry session of Saturday afternoon.

In the race Jon inherited a clear track following early leader Scott Smart's retirement, leaving fellow BMW rider Tristan Palmer in second. Despite setting the fastest lap of the race, Palmer never really troubled Kirkham, who put in consistent lap times from start to finish.

“What a weekend, I’m buzzing!" said Kirkham afterwards. "It was a weird one in a way because I had my first crash of the year on Friday and decided to take it easy on Saturday. But I ended up fastest in both sessions and on pole. It was a similar thing in the race really, I decided to just take it easy and let the race unfold and it came to me".

Classic protection from Knox

In the rough and tumble world of classic motocross, sometimes Tim Britton - the editor of Classic Dirt Bike - takes a tumble in the rough. Luckily the delicate extremities of the 50-year old are well protected with Knox elbow, knee and back protectors.

"Without them the second corner tumble at Nostalgia would have been much
more painful" says Tim. "Do you wear Knox protection?" he asks.

Teenage fan club

We received the following email from Denise, mother of 17-year old motorcyclist Thomas, who survived a spectacular accident thanks to Knox armour.

"My 17 year old son as just been in a serious bike accident. Somehow he managed to ride up the ramp of a workman's trailer , travel over the trailer and cab in the air and land on his back in the road. He was in 2nd gear travelling between 20 and 25 miles per hour. You can see 2 people behind the ambulance - that's where Tom landed!

Thanks to the superior quality of your clothing Tom has sustained nothing more than serious bruising. He will be very sore and uncomfortable for a fair few months but thanks to the protective clothing he is safe and well and has astounded the hospital staff by not having any broken bones. He landed on his back after travelling 15-20 feet in the air and was saved, I have no doubt, by your clothing so thank you from the bottom of my heart.

My son was more concerned and none too impressed by the fact that the ambulance staff had too cut his protective (3 week old) clothing off- I am sure later he will realise how lucky he was to have had the correct gear on!!!

Thank you again from a very very grateful parent - who will soon be shopping for new clothing!

Thank you so much.

Denise - parent to a very lucky Thomas"

Advertising watchdog investigates air vest complaint

Amidst growing concern surrounding claims made about the protective qualities of air vests (none of which meet the current impact protection standards for body protectors for horse riding or motorcycling) a UK trade organisation has now madean official complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority. BETA, which is accepted as the official representative body for the equestrian manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade. has issued the following statement;

"The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) is investigating a complaint in relation to an advertisement placed by Point Two [air vest manufacturer] in Your Horse magazine. The advertisement, which appeared in the September publication, made representations about the effectiveness of the company’s inflatable vest products in preventing or reducing injury and drew comparisons to level three body protectors.

BETA, the body that developed and administers the BETA Body Protector Standard, has filed a complaint with the ASA in relation to the extent of the claims made by Point Two within its advertisement with reference to body protectors. BETA has received an acknowledgment confirming that the ASA is investigating the complaint about the claims of the effectiveness of the air vest products and the potential to cause confusion.

BETA has received a number of enquiries from its Members about the similarities and differences between body protectors and air vests. As a trade association with a responsibility to its Retail and Trade Members, as well as consumers, BETA has issued the following résumé of advice pending the ASA’s findings:-

Body protectors (that meet the EN13158/BETA 2000/2009 Standard) and air vests are distinct items of equipment with different functions, making direct comparisons difficult. Namely:

• Up-to-standard, foam-filled body protectors offer constant protection to wearers, whether they are on or off a horse.

• Air vests offer protection to riders only in the event of a fall from a horse and only upon inflation.

• BETA Standard body protectors were developed specifically for equestrian sport and encompass three levels of protection for different types of riding and handling horses. Level 3 offers the highest degree of protection. Air vests were originally developed for use in the motor cycle industry.

• The BETA Body Protector Standard has been in existence, with revisions, for 18 years. In order to meet this requisite standard, body protectors must pass a range of rigorous tests to comply with a universally accepted European standard (EN13158). BETA approved garments are additionally required to undergo annual testing.

• Air vests are not subject to a standardised testing protocol and therefore do not comply with European standard EN13158. However, BETA has endorsed the furtherance of work towards developing one and has scheduled a meeting to advance this.

• It is requirement under British Eventing (BE) rules that air vests must be used in conjunction with a body protector (e.g. an air vest should not be not be used to the exclusion of a body protector), with BETA Level 3 being strongly recommended. Unaffiliated disciplines tends to follow BE guidelines.

BETA Member Retailers requiring further guidance or help with answering customers’ questions should call the BETA office".

Kanteq equestrian body protectors, which use Knox technology, meet all current BETA and European standards.

Bomber Harris on target for Oxford Tag Triumph

A wet and windswept Cadwell Park played host to round nine of the British Supersport Championship over the August Bank Holiday weekend. With both Saturday’s and Sunday’s sessions blighted by on and off showers and gusting high winds, recent signing, Karl Harris showed his class by consistently running in the top five throughout the changeable conditions while Lee Johnston impressed during the wet sessions.

With the weather improving and the track drying out for second qualifying, the Knox-Armour protected Oxford Tag Triumph trio of Harris, Johnston and Shaun Winfield had it all to do with the lap times tumbling towards record-smashing figures.

The session started badly for the team and rapidly got worse. A bizarre misfire afflicted Harris’ machine, leaving the likable Sheffield rider with just two flying laps to post a time, leaving him down in 16th position while Johnston’s luck was no better, with a similar problem forcing him to complete just one lap leaving him languishing in 32nd place.

Having struggled to find the exact cause of the fault for morning warm-up, the team decided to replace the entire electrical system and it was a decision that proved to be the right one, with Harris riding a superb race to finish ninth, posting his fastest lap on the last lap of the race and matching the times of the leaders, a testament to the set up of his Triumph Daytona 675 machine.

16-year-old Shaun Winfield struggled with set-up but put in a determined performance to finish just outside the top 20 overall and 8th in the Supersport Cup championship.

Make what's inside count this autumn

Autumn in the UK is synonymous with unsettled weather conditions; unpredictable levels of rainfall, huge variations in temperature and an increased risk of storms can all be expected between September and November, which makes choosing the right riding kit extremely difficult.

An effective base layer can help deal with many of the issues associated with such changeable conditions - such as perspiration, overheating and chills - regulating and stabilising body temperature, acting as ‘climate control' for the rider.

The Knox Dry Inside ‘cotton-tech' base layer range does just that. It's the only base layer system available that combines the natural comfort of cotton with the wicking and water resistant properties of ‘technical' fabrics, and helps keep the wearer comfortable and dry, during such varied conditions.

Made from 95% natural cotton, with 5% Lycra® for a comfortable fit, Dry Inside tops and pants offer a flexible layer between the skin and outer garments, but unlike any other cotton base layers, are treated with 3XDRY® from Schoeller - 'The Feelgood Technology' - to help keep the wearer dry and regulate body temperature.

The 3XDRY® does this by absorbing perspiration from the inside of the garment and transporting it to the outside where it evaporates, stimulating a natural cooling effect, and helping to prevent overheating. All Knox Dry Inside garments are machine washable, and no re-proofing is required to keep the 3XDRY® layer performing; to re-activate, simply iron the garment inside out.

The Knox Dry Inside range includes long and short sleeve tops - priced £29.99 and £27.99 - and matching long and short pants - at £24.99 and £19.99 respectively. Both tops and pants are available in unisex sizes XS-XXL and the entire range has a fresh look for 2010, so the wearer can look as well as feel good this autumn.

Call 01900 825825 or visit www.dryinside.co.uk

KEEP UP WITH THE KNOX ATHLETES

Impact protection specialists Planet-Knox have launched a brand new micro site dedicated to the wide variety of athletes who rely on the British-company's market-leading safety products. With input from superbike racers, stunt riders, motocrossers and mountain bikers, the Knox Athletes site features picture galleries,plus regularly updated blogs and twitter feeds, so viewers can keep up with the latest news.

Prominent sports men on the Knox Athletes site are 2009 British Superbike runner-up James Ellison, racing for Swan Honda in BSB this year, and motorcycle stunt rider Sparky Stunts, widely regarded as the Ace Cafe's official No.1 Stunt Rider.

Off-road riding is represented by former Relentless Suzuki star Jamie Law, who is running a one-man team this year. Often the first non "works" rider home, Jamie is a great development rider and helped Knox create their class leading Warrior harness.

World Cup downhill mountain bike racers Stuart "Jenko" Jenkinson and Liam Little are both dedicated hard-riding competitors who rely on Knox armour to protect them during the unavoidable bumps and scrapes that occur in their sport and their blog entries are action-packed.

On top of all this readers can find out what members of the Knox test team are up to; with contributors from the design, development and sales teams. "We don't always get it right and it's the constant mishaps on the trail or track that keep the developments going" explains company MD Geoff Travell.

"Ultimately the intention is to grow the Knox Athletes microsite over the next 12 months to around 50 Knox-protected sports people from around the world, creating an exciting window that reveals the real face of Knox - the users." For further information, call Knox on 01900 825825 or visit www.knox-armour.co.uk/athletes/

Lougher re-writes the Ulster GP history book

Handroid-protected Ian Lougher became the second most successful rider in the history of the Ulster Grand Prix when he romped to victory in the 250cc race in Saturday's event. The win takes the popular Welshman to 15 wins, one more than Philip McCallen with only the great Joey Dunlop having secured more victories. Ian also moves into joint second with 18 wins in the all-time list of most victories round the Dundrod circuit, ahead of such notables as Ray McCullough, Brian Reid and Robert Dunlop, with Joey Dunlop topping the list again.

Ian's win on Norman Rank's, Pirate/Berwick Racing 250 was a brilliant display of speed racing, taking the race by the scruff of the neck from the lights he was simply unstoppable as he extended his lead on virtually every lap. An opening lap of 116.87mph gave him a lead of nearly four seconds and by the second lap the lead was up to around five seconds from William Dunlop. A blistering third lap of 120.12mph, just under Darren Lindsay's 2006 lap record, effectively broke any resistance from Dunlop and gave Ian a lead of almost ten seconds at the halfway stage. Ian was able to ease up for the remainder of the race and crossed the line at the finish just over ten seconds in front of Dunlop with Paul Robinson in third.

The Lisburn City Council Superstock Race was the first race on the programme, and from fifth on the second row of the grid Ian was soon in the mix and at the end of the opening lap he was up to fourth behind Amor, Hutchinson and Farquhar. By lap three Amor and Hutchinson had broken clear, with Farquhar on his own in third, and behind them Gary Johnson was fourth with Ian right behind. On the next lap however Lougher and Johnson were very much on the move and were right on Farquhar's case and as they crossed the line together at the end of the lap Ian was back up to to fourth. On the fifth lap the trio were locked together, however Ian overhauled Ryan Farquhar, moving into 3rd place and having eeked out a comfortable margin on the Ninja ZX-10R, a podium looked secure. But an incident further down the order forced the race to be red flagged, bringing the race to a premature conclusion and with the result being taken from the end of the previous lap, the Blackhorse Kawasaki team boss had to concede his 3rd place finish to finish just off the podium in 4th.

Having decided to give the second Supersport race a miss later in the day, Ian and the team pinned their Supersport hopes on the Strong Construction Supersport Race. However there was to be disappointment as Ian came off the ZX-6R at the Hairpin when Manxman Dan Kneen accidently hit the pit lane speed limiter button on his handlebar causing his bike to virtually stop; with Lougher poised for an over taking manouvre, a collision was unavoidable. Luckily Ian was unscathed and the damage to the machine was minimal.

In the Stoneyford Concrete/The Peoples UGP Superbike Race 1 Ian opted to ride the Ninja ZX-10R Superstock bike and from the off a small group made a break for it. Behind them Ian was leading a seven man express train out of Leathemstown Corner. As they completed the first circuit Ian was eighth just over a second behind Gary Johnson. Cameron Donald dropped back on the next lap as Ian battled on with James McBride, Dan Kneen and Michael Pearson for company. McBride got ahead of Lougher on the third lap with Kneen following suit on the next lap but there was nothing between the three and Ian doggedly fought back to overhaul Kneen once again. The battle between the two had allowed McBride to open up a small cushion and at the chequered flag he was able to secure seventh with Ian fending off the challenge of Kneen to finish a battling eighth.

The final race of the day, the second Superbike race, got off to a hectic start with Ian right in the mix as they arrived at Leathemstown. As with the first superbike race a small group was attempting to go clear whilst right behind them was Guy Martin, Lougher and Bruce Anstey. At the conclusion of the lap Martin and Anstey had opened up a small gap on Ian with Gary Johnson joining them. A lap later and Ian was in a relatively safe eighth place but the next lap saw him come under pressure from a three man group which included William Dunlop, James McBride and Michael Pearson. The next two laps to the finish would see Ian draw upon every ounce of his experience and skill to fend off his rivals and secure another eighth place superbike finish on his Superstock bike.


In conclusion, a satisfying Ulster Grand Prix for Ian Loughe, with a lap of 130.2mph on the Superstock Ninja ZX-10R proving what a great effort was made.

Ae plus for Knox mountain bikers

Congratulations to Ben Hall, who came 1st in the Expert Class at Round 4 of the SDA Series at Ae Forest in SW Scotland.

Classic case for wearing Knox

It's not only riders of modern sports bikes who need knox-armour, as the following report from classic racer Frank Melling proves. When not busy organisining the Thundersprint, Frank races a G50 Matchless.

"I was reminded of the key reason for wearing a Knox back protector yesterday at Donington. The breather tube split on the Matchless and put oil on the back tyre. The rest, as they say, is history. I walked away with minimal damage except a bruised nose and other assorted lumps. This was almost nothing from a 70mph off. When I had finished sliding down the track on my back and head, the first thought in my mind was that state of the art protection is cheap. Forget power, handling and tyres. None of these mean a thing when the job goes wrong and at that point it’s rather too late to wish you had spent the money on a Knox back protector!"

He makes the following point about the need for protection; "I cannot understand the logic of: 'I only race a classic so I don’t need state of the art protection.' I didn’t notice the tarmac being any softer because I came off a G.50"

All at Knox wish Frank (and his Matchless) as speedy recovery and hoe they're back on track soon.

FiveTwo Race Team results from national champs and national points 4x series round 5

Nps 4x round 5 - With the team all eventually arriving in Devon, miles from home, we were all ready for a long weekend of racing and taking on the challenges that lay ahead (writes Team Manager John Lee). We all had some big goals and aims, but this is 4x racing and it never goes the way you expect!

John Lee 9th place in Senior - John battled hard and put up his best performance yet, but in all honesty was still finding his feet with large jumps and having a field day with any technical sections that featured here. By choosing some tight hard lines he was able to edge into the lead on tough corners, giving him ample space to lead with. After a great batch of moto`s he took two 1st places and a 2nd and 3rd, but unluckily got called for a run off to determine whether or not he would make his first ever B final. Off the gate John took a bike length lead and it looked in the bag, but as he rolled over the step up he was torn off his bike by a slipped pedal and slammed into the stem for a horrible ride down the first berm.

Suzy Lacey 4th place in Female/Elite - The wind and rain was making the series leader, Suzy, feel like she had to play the race safe and not air the jumps in her usual fashion. With pressure from every angle and with the jumps not being sorted she quickly found herself playing catch up and not in her usual winning position. As she approached the A final she gave it one last chance and came just inches behind 3rd place and with a focus being on the national champs the following day being a better result. Suzy still comfortably leads the series and is set to take the title home in September!

Claire Pollard 9th place in Female/Elite - Claire’s first race from her horrible crash was not going to be anything mind blowing or extravagant. But after her cautious training laps that morning she managed to piece together a safe run, which needed improvements in a lot of areas, but it still showed she was able to get back on her bike and show a lot of strength in other areas. With nice gates and better berm technique - winter will certainly see her move forwards with time for confidence to grow and thrust her forwards in her category.

Kieran Brown 9th place in Juvenile - Kieran’s second ever race was again another alien experience upon his newly geared up DMR. He started his day strong but just couldn’t seem to hold any lead he got in the races. After every race he tried harder and harder to get better results and make the final - but it just wasn’t his day. After some issues over the first double and step up he just couldn’t find his way through the pack and he ended his day just missing out on entering the finals.

Suzy Lacey - Silver UK National Championship 4x - With Suzy aiming all year to take home the national title and jersey, only one girl could stop her - the UK world cup experianced racer, Katy Curd. After a hard race the day before she had refocused and got her training session dialled on the track that morning before the races begun. In the final Suzy out-gated all of the competitors and led the field into the first straight and step up, as they came round the second berm her and Katy were neck and neck through the tabletops and into the rock garden. Katy managed to pull ahead of Suzy slightly and Suzy jumped her way to the finish only a bike length behind Katy Curd!

Claire Pollard - 6th UK National Championship 4x - Also returning from injury was Claire, whose confidence has taken a massive beating since her last big crash and her slow recovery meant she was cautious and slightly off in her fitness, but her brave and courageous efforts gained her into the B final and she finished 6th!


http://fivetworaceteam.weebly.com/index.html

Stunning Ulster GP Bike Week for Amor

Knox-armour protected Keith Amor enjoyed one of his best ever week's road racing, climbing the podium in all six of his races at the Ulster GP Bike Week. The KBMG Racing rider was in imperious form and he was able to take his second ever International Road Race win (his first at the Ulster GP), a win in the Dundrod 150 Superbike race and a brace of seconds and thirds in his remaining four races at the high-speed Dundrod circuit.

Thursday’s Dundrod 150 Superbike race set the trend for the week when Keith was embroiled in a terrific tussle with Ian Hutchinson. When the Honda rider retired on the third lap, Keith was able to take his Superstock BMW, simply fitted with slick tyres, to a commanding 4.75s win, setting the fastest lap of the race.

With fine weather on Saturday for the Ulster GP proper, Keith led the first four laps of the Superstock race only for Hutchinson to take over a lap later. The duo were 8 seconds clear of the rest of the pack when Keith re-took the lead on the penultimate lap. However, the red flag came out and with the result going back a lap, Keith had to settle for second place.

The first Supersport 600cc race saw the duo joined by Michael Dunlop and again Keith led the first four laps before Hutchinson pushed him back to second and he ended the race just 0.176s adrift on the Kojak Racing Honda. Next up was the feature Superbike race where the same pattern emerged. Lapping at over 133mph, Keith led early on once more before being pushed back to second by nemesis Hutchinson and at the chequered flag, the Suzuki of Bruce Anstey had relegated him to third as they encountered some backmarkers.

The second Supersport race saw a four-way battle between Keith, Hutchinson and Michael and William Dunlop with positions changing throughout. The race was held in two 3-lap legs due to an incident and, lying second after the first 3 laps, Keith had to get the better of Hutchinson by half a second to get the win on aggregate. It was nip and tuck all the way between the quartet but Keith wasn’t to be denied and after hitting the front on the final lap, he got the overall verdict over Hutchinson by 0.210s for his first ever Ulster GP win.

The final race of the day was the second Superbike race and it was nothing short of sensational as Keith battled it out with Hutchinson, Anstey, Cameron Donald and Guy Martin. Second on each of the first four laps, there was literally inches between the riders as they lapped at record-breaking speeds but, after a last lap sort-out, Keith had to settle for third place on the BMW behind race winner Anstey and Hutchinson with just 0.335s separating them at the end of the five laps. Keith also posted a personal best lap of 133.435mph to round out a truly memorable day.

Pictures by Alan Armstrong Photography

Success for Amor at Armoy

Keith Amor was back on the winner's podium with the KBMG Racing rider putting in a trio of fine rides at the Armoy Road Races. His first outing since Kells in mid-July, the Scotsman took the top step of the rostrum with his now, almost customary, Supersport 600cc victory and he backed this up with a brace of runner-up spots in the two Superbike races.

It was Keith's first appearance at the 3-mile road circuit and his task of learning the course wasn't helped with most of Friday's practice sessions wiped out by rain but he was soon up to speed and running at the head of the field. First up was the Open race and although he was unable to match the pace of regular sparring partner Ryan Farquhar, he finished the 6-lap race only 2 seconds adrift on his S1000RR BMW.

The Supersport 600cc race was next up for Keith and he allowed Farquhar to set the pace, sitting right in the slipstream of his rival throughout. Hhappy once more with the performance of the Kojak Racing Honda, Keith waited until the last lap before making his move and overtook Ryan to take over at the front for the first time - he duly held on to the win, taking the chequered flag just under two tenths of a second.

The final race of the day was the 'Race of Legends' Grand Final and Keith hit the front immediately on the BMW with Farquhar again right with him. Keith held on to the lead for almost the entire race and looked like he'd take his second win of the day but coming in to the final corner of the final lap the duo encountered backmarkers. All of the riders collided and in the ensuing melee, Farquhar was able to get on the power first and Keith had to settle for second albeit just 0.153s behind.

Keith now heads straight to Belfast for the Dundrod 150 and Ulster GP races which take place on Thursday and Saturday respectively.

Pictures by Alan Armstrong

Victor Cox in the points at Silverstone

Blackhorse Kawasaki's Victor Cox fully justified his wild-card selection as he rode to a solid 14th place points finish in the FIM Superstock 1000 Championship round at Silverstone.

Friday's free practice session saw Victor out on unfamiliar Pirelli tyres as opposed to the Metzeler tyres which are commonplace in the BSB Superstock 1000 Championship, creating a challenge for the team especially in suspension set-up, however the session concluded with Victor in an excellent seventh position.

Having qualified in 18th, the team knew that more changes were needed to the suspension set-up and on Saturday evening a lot of thought and effort went into trying a whole different approach, it was a move that was to pay dividends. In the morning warm up Victor was 9th quickest which was pleasing but frustrating, as everyone in the team knew it would be a hard job for him to get through from 18th on the grid to run with the front runners. However Victor is a great competitor and he gave it a real go, taking 1.3 seconds off his best qualifying time in the race to finish a fine 14th with an uncharacteristic mistake on the last lap costing him a possible 12th place. Nevertheless a strong ride from the 24 year old which didn't go unnoticed by the Eurosport commentary team during their live coverage of the race.

Returning to action for Blackhorse Kawasaki at Silverstone was David Pearce who resumed his Metzeler National Superstock 600 campaign after missing the Snetterton round through injury, the Silverstone race being rescheduled from the postponed event at Oulton Park earlier in the season. David spent the allocated two free practice sessions learning his way round the unfamiliar circuit and with grid positions for the race determined by qualifying from the previously cancelled Oulton Park event, he started the race from 31st position on the grid. However the team shrewdly adapted similar changes to David's ZX-6R that had paid dividends for Victor Cox in the earlier race and this enabled David to storm through to 18th place when the race was stopped with two laps remaining thus denying the young Manx rider an even higher placing, an impressive ride however as a lot of the other lads had been at Silverstone on track days and had learnt the track which was a good advantage with the track being so long at 3.66 miles. Also, like his team-mate before him, David also lapped much quicker in the race knocking a full 2.1 seconds off his qualifying time with a lap of 2:18.2 seconds to round off a very satisfying weekend for the team.

It's a return to the domestic scene this weekend when both Victor and David will be in action in the next installments of the Metzeler National 1000 and 600 Championships respectively. The venue being the Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent.

Photo: Victor Cox and the Blackhorse Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (Courtesy: Clive Challinor Motorsport Photography)

www.blackhorsekawasaki.com

FiveTwo Race Team update July 2010

Amazing results over the weekend for the team at PORC Mini DH and Round 4 of NPS 4X (downhill MTB races)

Check the team website for a detailed race report write up and don't forget to check in the gallery on the website for the latest images.

Also on the front page is a message from our injured rider Claire to bring you up to speed, following a hefty bang on the head.

http://fivetworaceteam.weebly.com/index.html

Away from racing a fun day on the chase with FiveTwo Racing and a few Cannock regulars

Knox Handroid passes driving test

Barely six months since it was unveiled at the motorcycle show in Birmingham, innovative Knox Handroid hand armour is winning praise from road testers on the UK’s best-selling motorcycle magazines.

“They have to be the trickest gloves on the market, everyone has commented on them favourably, and it’s not just for show” writes Adam Child of Motor Cycle News.
Comfort and control has featured prominently in feedback;

“Initial feel is of supreme protection, because of the wealth of it in the glove's construction” states Fast Bikes’ Benjamin Kubas Cronin. “Despite the palm leather being thicker than many of their rivals, feel is not compromised and they've lasted longer than any other pair of gloves I've used thus far.”

Alan Dowds at Superbike adds; “They do look cool, of course, and the click of the Boa lacing system sounds even more cool. Once on though it’s the fit and comfort that really pleases, plus there’s loads of feel for the controls through the kangaroo skin on the palm.”

The exclusive Boa lacing system has proved popular; “Aside from the obvious and cool bio-mechanical protection running the length of the fingers, by far the best part is the cuff-closure system,” comments Benjamin. Adam concurs; “The fastening mechanism works really well, simply turn the dial to fasten the glove effectively and quickly”.

Featuring patented technology including the Exo skeletal flexible spines, Scaphoid Protection and Boa lacing systems, Knox Hand Armour is redefining the motorcycle glove. Available from all authorised Knox retailers, call 01900 825 825 or visit http://www.knox-lab.com/ for details. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/planetknox

Karl Harris signs for Oxford Tag Triumph

Former European Superstock and three times British Supersport Champion, Karl Harris has signed with the factory supported Oxford Tag Triumph team to ride the Daytona 675 in the British Supersport Championship for the remainder of the 2010 season.

The 30-year-old from Sheffield has signed for Rob Winfield’s Triumph Supersport team following a difficult start to the year campaigning an uncompetitive machine in the Metzeler National Superstock Championship.

Looking as fit and as motivated as ever before, Harris brings to the team a wealth of experience in the Supersport class with a proven pedigree and the confidence that he can start bringing in the results that both he and the Triumph Daytona 675 are capable of.

Karl will be reunited with two of his former race technicians, namely Lee Machin and Carl Buckle who worked alongside Harris during his time with the Hydrex Honda Superbike team.

Karl will test the bike over the next couple of weeks as the team focus on getting the triple-champion accustomed to the Triumph Daytona’s unique engine and chassis character.

For more information or for hi-resolution images of the Oxford Tag Triumph team in action log onto www.tagtriumph.co.uk

Knox to launch 2011 collection at Intermot

See the 2011 collection from Planet Knox at Intermot, the international motorcycle, scooter and bicycle fair, which runs from 6 to 10 October 2010 in Cologne.

Open to both trade and public, Intermot is the perfect platform for Knox to promote its range, including back protectors and body armour for motorcycling and cycling, hand armour, Cold Killers windproof mid-layer and the Dry Inside technical base layer.

For details on Internmot 2010 visit www.intermot-cologne.com

For further information, call Knox on 01900 825825 or visit www.knox-armour.co.uk

WIN ultimate touring accessories from Planet Knox

Planet- Knox is offering riders a chance to win the ultimate accessories for touring this summer in a free to enter competition.

The prize consists of a Pair of Recon Gloves from the innovative Hand armour range, a Dry Inside base layer top, an ultra-light CE-approved Kompakt Back Protector and a Six Pack rucksack. The total value of the prize is more than £235.

Visit www.planet-knox.com/competition/ to enter online or call 01900 825825 for further information.

Knox Handroid First Impressions - Benjamin - Fast Bikes Magazine

I've always struggled with gloves; mostly finding a set that fits my hands correctly. What I found most surprising at first about Knox's new Handroids, is that not only did they fit my hands perfectly, but seemed to also fit other hands that were the same size (but with different proportions in span and finger length), almost as perfectly as mine.

Initial feel is of supreme protection, because of the wealth of it in the glove's construction. It does create an odd feeling when you first grip a set of bars, but this goes away quickly as your hands acclimatise to firstly the comfort, and then the way that crucial riding information is transmitted through them without any degradation. Despite the palm leather being thicker than many of their rivals, feel is not compromised and they've lasted longer than any other pair of gloves I've used thus far. Ordinarily a set of sports gloves lasts me no longer than 3 months, maximum. My Handroids lasted over 5 months before I needed to hang them up, which we estimate to be nearly two years of 'average' motorcycle use.

Aside from the obvious and cool bio-mechanical protection running the length of the fingers, by far the best part is the cuff-closure system. It'll go as tight as you want and should never wear out, giving you a good feel that your hands are locked in and won't be ripped out in event of an accident.

The only problem I have is that I haven't had an accident in them, to test their protection first-hand. If you don't mind, I'd rather not, but overall I'd feel confident that the Handroid would protect my hands as well, if not better, than most other top-spec gloves on the market. For a first-time effort, Knox has hit the proverbial nail on the head first time out. Well done!

Benjamin - Fast Bikes mag

Lougher in the thick of the action at Scarborough

Blackhorse Kawasaki team boss Ian Lougher was in the thick of the action at the annual two-day Cock o' the North Road Races at Oliver's Mount, Scarborough. On the first of his two visits planned for the North Yorkshire venue this season, Ian came away with five third place finishes, a fourth and one fifth.

The first two races were six lap heats for the 175cc-1300cc machines, the first nine in each progressing to the two eight-lap legs. It was a Kawasaki one-two-three in the opening heat with Ryan Farquhar first, Michael Pearson, second and Ian a comfortable third.

Ian's second outing of the day was the first leg ofthe 600cc Supersport over eight laps and again the order was the same with Farquhar first followed by Michael Pearson and Ian on the ZX-6R, just 0.28 seconds behind in third.

Ian was straight back out again for race five, the first leg of the combined 125GP and 400cc race, again over eight laps, which he finished in fifth.

There was no rest for Ian as he brought the Blackhorse Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R to the line for the first leg of the National Superbikes. At the end of the first lap, Pearson had a 0.380 of a second lead over Farquhar with Ian third, 2 seconds down on the leader. Lap two and Farquhar was half-a-second in front with Ian still third, Derek Shiels, Dave Hewson and Ivan Lintin completed the top six. At the chequered flag it was Farquhar from Michael Pearson with Ian bringing his first day's action to a close in third.

Blue skies and bright sunshine once again bathed Oliver’s Mount for the second day’s racing. Ian's first race was the second leg of the Superbikes, over eight laps and there was disappointment when he retired at the end of the second lap. Undeterred he returned for Race 12 for 125’s and 400’s and managed a secure fifth.

The second leg of the 600’s was next up, at half distance it was Farquhar, Pearson and Lougher in the top three positions and it remained this way at the finish with Ian again close to a runner-up spot.

And so to Ian's final event of the meeting, the feature ten-lap Cock o’ the North Race. Michael Pearson, last year’s winner got the hole shot from Ryan Farquhar and was in front up Sheene’s Rise. At the end of the first lap Pearson still led the pack by 0.772 of a second with Farquhar second and Ian up to third from the second row of the grid. Positions remained the same on lap two, but on lap three Farquhar took the lead from Michael Pearson, with Ian still riding strongly in third. On the fourth lap it was still Farquhar but behind him Lougher had closed on Pearson with only half a second between the two, a lap later positions were the same with Pearson slightly increasing his advantage over Ian by 0.1 seconds but Ian pulled this back on the following lap. On lap eight Pearson's advantage over Ian was just 7/10th of a second. At the flag it was Farquhar from Pearson with Ian a battling third, just 0.299 seconds down on Pearson.

Ian Lougher uses Knox-Armour.

Photo courtesy of Chris Machin

RECON re-defines road riding

Planet Knox - world leaders in the development and manufacture of body protection systems - has added a third model to the Hand Armour range. Designed for touring and leisure riders, the Recon offers levels of protection usually only found on racing gloves, but doesn't sacrifice the comfort, feel and control crucial for long stretches in the saddle.

Heading up the Recon's safety features are unique Opaque Knuckle Protectors. Unlike other ‘hard shell' protectors, they contain a medical grade, impact-absorbing, honeycomb gel; specifically developed to absorb and spread impact forces away from the wearer's hand.

The Recon also features Knox's Patented Scaphoid Protection System® with the Low Profile SPS, and additional sliders on the fingers, wrist and cuff for extra abrasion resistance.

Soft and supple, drum-dyed aniline leather sections feature on the fingers and back of the hand for maximum flexibility with durable, tear resistant goat leather on the palm, which is reinforced with Schoeller Keprotec for added protection and overlaid with an Amara Grip Pad for improved control.

The Recon also features the Dialled-in Boa Lacing system, used across the entire Knox Hand Armour range. This unique closure system has a simple dial-in to fit mechanism, which uses aircraft grade stainless steel wire to draw ‘side pods' over the wrist, for targeted multi-adjustable closure. Quick and easy to operate - even with gloved hands - the Boa Lacing system provides even tightening, and is micro adjustable for a perfect fit. It also helps to ensure that the Recon will stay on the hand during an accident.

The Recon is available in three colours: black, black/white and brown/tan in sizes XS-XXL, at a recommended retail price of £99.99 (including VAT). For further information and to find a stockist, call 01900 825825 or visit www.knox-lab.com/hand-armour

52 weeks at Mega Avalanche 2010 - Part 3

Jumble's race report from the Mega Avalanche; "52 weeks ago I set myself a challenge to compete in the Mega Avalanche 2010 after a 10 year break away from my bike due to a back breaking injury. But after all those blogs and my recent patch of injuries - I can finally say it is finished!"

We won't spoil the story by telling you what position Jumble finished, but take a few minutes to watch the videos, filmed using a helmet-mounted camera - because they are absolutely gripping, edge of the seat stuff!

You'll also understand why wearing top quality CE-approved Knox armour is so important.

Click here to read the report on Pinkbike

Part 1 and 2 of the mega avalanche 2010 so far

"The journey to Mega was long – epically long" writes downhill mountainbiker and tester of knox-armour Jumble in his blog.

"After a 3 hour drive from Derby to Dover followed by a 2 hour ferry to Dunkirk, then followed up with a soul destroying 3 hour straight road drive to Paris - eventually we arrived at Base camp 1 for a mid way break in our journey and a good night's sleep".

Click here to read about what happened when he reached to the Mecca for so many mountain bikers that is Alpe de Huez. Oh, and there are some corking videos too.

Amor back in the saddle and back to winning ways

Planet-Knox protected Keith Amor made a successful return to racing on Saturday when he took victory in the Supersport 600cc race at the Skerries 100cc road races near Dublin. The Falkirk rider had had a three-week break since the Isle of Man TT races but it didn't take long for him to resume his rivalry with Ryan Farquhar. The duo had a race-long dice in the 600cc race where Keith ultimately come out on top.

It was the Open race that kickstarted the day for Keith and although he managed to hold off Farquhar initially, he was struggling slightly with the handling of the KBMG Racing BMW and had to give second best to the Ulsterman. With a bit of arm pump also creeping in, Keith focused his attentions on keeping Michael Dunlop at bay which he duly did for a solid runner's up spot. He then switched to the Kojak Racing Honda for the Supersport 600cc race where he was involved in a terrific dice with Farquhar, Dunlop and William Dunlop.

The lead changed hands in the early laps but Keith fought his way to the front of the group and opened up a slight gap before backmarkers in the closing stages allowed the foursome to close right back up again. However, aided by a new lap record of 107.263mph, Keith got the verdict and crossed the line at the end of the 8 laps 0.349s ahead of Farquhar. He then led the opening lap of the Grand Final before the race was stopped due to a serious accident that claimed the life of a rider and injured a spectator, a sad end to the day for all concerned.

Keith now has a two-week break before his next, the Kells Road Races taking place on July 17-18.

Pictures by Alan Armstrong Photography

COOL IT THIS SUMMER WITH AN AEGIS BACK PROTECTOR

With the summer riding season set to be a scorcher, Knox has made it even easier to look and feel cool, with improved ventilation and a sharp new look for their Aegis back protector. The most technically advanced in the British company's range, the Aegis offers unparalleled levels of comfort and protection.

Uprated venting allows maximum airflow, keeping the rider cool on hot and sticky days, and its unique low profile cut ensures that the Aegis sits perfectly under close-fitting jackets and suits, assuring ultimate comfort.

Independently tested and approved to EN1621-2 Level 2 (the highest rating under current European regulations*), the Aegis features exclusive honeycomb plate design and inclined cell wall technology for maximum impact protection. An adjustable and removable soft kidney section is included for extra peace of mind.

Freedom of movement remains central to the design of the Aegis - flex channels allow the spine section to articulate freely, moving with the rider and allowing the Aegis to sit perfectly around the contours of the back, ensuring that protection is maintained in all positions. The multi-position waist strap can be moved up or down by 2" (5cm), to suit differing lengths of torso, while the automatic shoulder strap slider system self-adjusts for a perfect fit every time.

Topping off this impressive specification is a cool new look for 2010; ice white flex panels and hot red highlights. Available in seven sizes, for men, women and children, the Knox Aegis sells for £89.99 in adult sizes. For further information, call Knox on 01900 825825 or visit www.knox-armour.co.uk. See the video at http://www.knox-armour.co.uk/product.html?product=aegisred

* EN 1621-2 assesses the performance of protective devices by measuring the force transmitted through it when impacted by a falling mass of 5kg. Protectors subjected to this test are deemed to conform to the standard if the average transmitted force of nine tests is less than the following:
Level 1 protectors: The average peak force recorded shall be below 18 kN, and no single value shall exceed 24 kN.
Level 2 protectors: The average peak force recorded shall be below 9 kN, and no single value shall exceed 12 kN.

Knox crew in Morzine

At Planet-Knox we take product testing really seriously ... but we have a lot of fun doing it too! Here are the Knox crew in the Alpine resort of Morzine (with 650km of slopesstarting from the village centre) testing out Knee Guards, Elbow Guards and Knox Dry Inside among other products. The picture on the left shows them before they went rapidly downhill and the second photo shows them after a hard day's riding, sampling a small glass of a locally brewed beverage. Cheers!

Speedway star on track with Knox

Speedway star Kevin Doolan is the latest sproting star to sign up for Knox.

Riding for Kings Lynn Stars in the premier league in England, and also for Vargarna ('wolves') in the Swedish elite league, Kevin is positive both about his season to date and his Knox armour.

"Things are going well with both teams and I have been scoring some big points,"says Kevin. "The bodyamour has been great and is holding up well to all the abuse."

Podium Delight for Oxford Tag Triumph

While England football fans watched in dismay on Sunday afternoon, another English team were celebrating their first British Supersport Cup podium result of 2010.

And it was a young English rider, on an English motorcycle, that really gave the fans something to cheer about. All season long 16-year-old Shaun Winfield has been showing glimpses of his potential as he’s got to grips with the Triumph Daytona 675 but it was at his home circuit of Mallory Park where he really shone and proved that he has the pace to run with his more experienced rivals.

In an incident-packed race, Knox-protected Shaun kept his cool despite the scorching weather, improving his lap times throughout the race and posting his fastest lap on lap 21 – when the tyres were way past their best – matching the pace of his senior team-mate, Jason O’Halloran who was forced to retire from the race with an electrical fault having held on to a strong 11th position at his first competitive visit to the Leicestershire circuit.

Team Oxford TAG Triumph will be back on track at Knockhill next weekend.

English lesson for bike stunts

It's not only professional motorcycle racers who rely on Knox for their work, so do many stunt men. Rick English has ridden bikes for film and TV productions including Mamma Mia, Spooks, Casualty, The Bill, Primeval and many more.

“For film and TV stunts it is quite important to choose armour carefully as the equipment chosen has to be able to take more than one impact” explains Rick. “Some motorcycle protection is designed to deform and therefore is good for just one accidental impact. On a movie, we may repeat the same stunt several times and the armour used has to be up to this!”

Rick has used Knox back protectors for several years and currently wears a Knox back protector or Cross Shirt for riding, alongside Cross Max Knee guards, as they give great knee and shin protection, which is especially useful as he tends to wear shorter boots for trick riding.

Stuntmen wear body armour for nearly every type of job; “My old Knox armour jacket has taken falls on Batman Begins and Casino Royale and never let me down”. Rick chooses Cross guard elbow pads for non-bike stunts because they give great protection but are quite low profile for use under costume. “Just last week I was relying on these to take the initial impact as I jumped through a 2nd floor toughened glass window!”

See more of Rick English, who is also performing bike stunts for the public these days, at www.rickenglish.co.uk