Record breaking motorcycle test numbers

Business news Rev’It! takes on Italian leathers

DUTCH KIT MAKER REV’IT! HAS announced the purchase of the Italian custom leather specialist Vircos. The two companies have had a partnership since 2007, focusing on race and track protective gear, but have now merged. The deal should help Rev’It! expand its expertise from the textile and touring kit sphere into more sporty protection – particularly custom-made suits, which Vircos has specialised in for more than 30 years.

“We see Rev’It! as the perfect partner,” said Aldo De Agnoi, founder of Vircos. “That is why a merger between the two companies has been agreed. We are sure this decision will be proven to be the right choice.”

“Vircos has been a loyal and trusted partner over the years,” said Rev’It! MD Ivan Vos. “Securing a bright future for the company for many years to come is important for both Rev’It! and Vircos. In this new configuration, the strength of the Rev’It! brand and the skills and expertise of the Vircos team will complement one another.”

Record-breaking test numbers

Arecord-breaking number of motorcycle tests were taken at UK test centres between 2021 and 2022, according to the most recent Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures.

A total of 67,511 took the Module 2 motorcycle test between April 2021 and March 2022, which the British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) reports is an increase of more than 2000 over the previous record, which was set ten years ago.

Of the 67,511 tests taken, 48,583 were passed, meaning a success rate of 72%. In comparison, fewer than 50% of those who took practical car driving tests passed.

As the BMF says, this recordbreaking period for motorcycle tests is partly down to testing centres having to get through the backlogs created during Covid lockdowns, when test centres were open only to essential workers.

INCREASING MINORITY

The DVSA data also shows that women are still a minority within the motorcycling community, with the test statistics split between genders.

Men took 60,745 Module 1 tests between April 2021 and March 2022, and 76.4% passed. However, just 6600 women took a Module 1 test, with a lower 57.1% pass rate. For Module 2, the split was 62,364 tests with 44,929 passes (a 72% success rate) for the men, and 5133 tests with 3643 passes (a 71% success rate) for women.

This means that women make up 9.8% of those who took a Module 1 test and 7.6% of the people who took a Module 2 test.

“It’s great news, the increase in female riders particularly. It may not sound like much, but compared to a couple of decades ago, it looks like real progress. Anything which breaks down barriers is a good thing,” said BMF chair Jim Freeman.

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