By Carly Rathmell
October 26 2004

Motorcycle manufacturers have stepped up their support for the Moto1 event at Donington Park, on 30-31 October, with the supply of more than 100 machines for the inaugural challenge.

Top-level machinery from Honda, Husaberg, Gas Gas, KTM, Montesa, Scorpa, Sherco, Suzuki, TM and Yamaha will be used by the twenty-four hopefuls all aiming to become Britain’s best all-round motorcycle sportsman.

Yamaha heads the list with more than twenty-five machines for the road race, motocross and supermoto elements, while the fourth discipline, trials, is catered for by specialist brands Sherco, Gas Gas, Montesa and Scorpa.

Moto1 Managing Director Robbie Allan commented: “The manufacturer support is outstanding. For the first year of Moto1 the response has been tremendous, and all of the machinery is top of the range.” Allan added: “The whole event is a massive logistic undertaking, and to obtain the co-operation from the manufacturers like we have is a credit to them all.”

In addition to the two-day Moto1 battle to discover Britain’s best, an incredible festival of motorcycle sport has been compiled. The final round of the World Stunt Riding Championship takes place over the two days, with the final at 12:30pm on Sunday; there are two days of Classic road races, a motocross, a trial, the Purple Helmets display team, a classic parade and a World Long Jump record attempt by Flyin’ Ryan Griffiths.

Allan added: “We’ve always been confident that the package we were putting together would be a real crowd-puller and, judging by the advance tickets sales, we’re in for a tremendous weekend.”

The action will run from 9am to 4.30pm each day. Additional attractions also include a paddock display, Moto1 rider autograph sessions, trade exhibitions, freestyle motocross jumping, and a chance for fans to try their hand at trials riding.

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Moto1 - News in brief - four days to go!!

Mad cap stunt stars, the ‘World Famous’ Purple Helmets, are planning an extensive repertoire for Moto1 as the Isle of Man-based ‘secret society’ perform three times a day, before closing each day’s proceedings with a lap of the Donington Park circuit.

Winner of the Moto1 event will collect £6000 for their efforts over the four demanding disciplines each day; road race, motocross, trials and supermoto.

The Moto1 action will be screened on SKY Sports on 17 November at 5pm.

Advance tickets for Moto1 are still available, all details are on the Moto1 website at: www.moto1.org

Moto1’s motocross and trials will both offer serious competition aside from the twenty-four Moto1 stars doing battle. The trial has more than forty riders entered for two routes, expert and clubman.

Multi Isle of Man TT winner Jim Moodie and former 250cc, 350cc and 500cc Grand Prix star Donnie McLeod are part of the organisational team at Moto1.

Former World Champions John Kidson (350 Moto Guzzi) and Bill Smith (four-cylinder 250 Honda) are included in a Classic Parade each day. The pair are joined by ex-250 Grand Prix rider Frank Perris (TR250 Suzuki), former Honda works rider Tommy Robb (RC163 250 Honda) and ex-Suzuki factory rider Stan Woods (RG500 Suzuki).