THINK!, the Department for Transport’s (DfT) road safety initiative, has signed up for a fifth consecutive year as a sponsor of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike (BSB) Championship. The season, which kicks off at Brands Hatch on the 5th April will see a re-launched, interactive THINK! Motorcycle Academy, on-site at every BSB race to inform and entertain fans.
The sponsorship - supported by on-site activity in the form of the THINK! Motorcycle Academy Unit - has been welcomed by BSB riders and fans who see the campaign as a positive and effective way of educating and informing motorcyclists about road safety. To maximise the campaign’s effectiveness the 2008 THINK! Motorcycle Academy will be more interactive than ever, combining important safety messages with fun and entertaining features such as top rider interviews, all the latest 2008 Superbikes on display, interactive computer pods, a Honda rider simulator and a BSB photo studio.
The THINK! Motorcycle Academy will focus on communicating its core campaign messages - ‘Give your bike the skills it deserves’ and ‘Save racing for the track’ - as well as encouraging visitors to register for further training to try to reduce the number of motorcycle road accidents. Free one-to-one advice from Bikesafe officers along with regular rider interviews will offer visitors to the THINK! Motorcycle Academy a unique and invaluable perspective on road safety.
Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick said:“I am delighted that THINK! is sponsoring the BSB Championship again this year. With each race attracting a crowd of more than 30,000 spectators as well as reaching a mass TV audience, BSB helps us get important safety messages across to some of the UK’s most vulnerable road users.”
"The re-launched THINK! Motorcycle Academy will play a vital role as we try to reduce the numbers of motorcyclists killed and injured on our roads.”
Former BSB Champion and THINK! ambassador, John Reynolds said:"We are all concerned about the number of road fatalities involving bikers and the THINK! Motorcycle Academy does a great job of engaging with motorcyclists in an entertaining and positive way have been the face of the THINK! motorcycle safety campaign for a number of years now and along with many others in the paddock, I passionately believe in its messages.”
Jonathan Palmer, Chief Executive of MotorSport Vision said: “I am delighted that THINK! will continue to be a partner of BSB. The benefits of motorcycle use in reducing congestion and emissions have never been more important and of course bike riding is such an enjoyable means of transport. We are also well aware of the importance of promoting safe riding to minimise casualties and I applaud the government’s initiative in using Britain’s biggest motorcycle events as a platform to raise awareness further with the Think! programme.”
Facts About THINK!!!- THINK! Road Safety is an official sponsor of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship
- The THINK! Motorcycle Academy is an interactive unit that visits every British Superbike round; promoting safer riding and further training
- The THINK! Motorcycle Academy is part of the Department for Transport’s road safety campaign THINK!
- THINK! encourages motorcyclists to GIVE THEIR BIKE THE SKILLS IT DESERVES with information, advice, training and safety tips
- The THINK! Motorcycle Academy will be at every round of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, hosting live rider interviews, signings and interactive features.
British Superbikes Calendar 2008: Round 1: Brands Hatch - 04, 05, 06 April
Round 2: Thruxton - 18, 19, 20 April
Round 3: Oulton Park - 03, 04, 05 May
Round 4: Donington - 24, 25, 26 May
Round 5: Snetterton - 13, 14 15, June
Round 6: Mallory Park - 27, 28, 29 June
Round 7: Oulton Park - 18, 19, 20 July
Round 8: Knockhill - 08, 09, 10 August
Round 9: Cadwell Park - 23, 24, 25 August
Round 10: Croft - 12, 13, 14 September
Round 11: Silverstone - 26, 27, 28 September
Round 12: Brands Hatch Indy - 10, 11, 12 October
