Diary dates

Please god, these events should happen this summer, but check before travelling

25-27 June

British Superbikes, Oulton Park, Cheshire The delayed start of the British Superbike series will, of course, feature fantastic racing. BSB has always dished up fairing bashing classics, but this year I’m also tuning in for the Supersport class to watch Peter Boast’s protégé, 16 year old Franco Bourne in action. We’ll keep up with Franco’s progress in the magazine too. 23-25 July

The Malle Mile, Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincs This is a kind of Glastonbury for motorcycles, a summer festival of entertainment in the English countryside – now relocated from Kent to Lincolnshire and a bigger, better venue. Off-road action and tarmac sprint (on the castle driveway) featuring classics, customs and other inappropriate machinery plus bike shows and other diversions. I’m fettling a bike together to take part in the fun. 31 July

Barbon Hill Climb, Sedburgh, Cumbria

The highlights of the British biking summer are often the smaller, low key events. They don’t get more grassroots than hill climbing. Think village fete on methanol. Barbon is a beautiful venue, surrounded by great riding roads. Take the twisty route to get there, and stop for an ice cream at Kirkby Lonsdale’s Devil’s Bridge too.

From May

British Speedway, at a venue near you There are British Speedway venues at Berwick, Armadale (West Lothian), Belle Vue, Sheffield, Kings Lynn, Wolverhampton, Kent (Sittingbourne), Poole, Leicester, Ipswich, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Scunthorpe, Eastbourne, Redcar, Newcastle and Peterborough. Four lap races lasting a minute, on bikes with no brakes. See it.