4 minute read
Suzuki apprentices graduate
Business news Seven Shows for ELK
THE BIKE SHOW AND autojumble world has had a torrid few years thanks to Covid, so it’s great to see South East show firm ELK Promotions has a full calendar of events for this year. The company has seven shows planned, running from March until October, at all its regular venues in Ardingly, Ashford and Romney Marsh.
“Seven events is a significant commitment for a small business like ours,” said show organiser Julie Diplock. “But people seem to like the fact that we run bike-only jumbles, combined with a classic motorcycle show. Our research shows that 80% of visitors return and we’re fortunate to have a loyal band of regular stallholders.” www.elk-promotions.co.uk
SHOW DETAILS
y South of England Classic Show & Bikejumble: 26 March. South of England Showground,
Ardingly, Near Gatwick, RH17 6TL y Ashford Classic Motorcycle Show &
Bikejumble : 10 April at Ashford Livestock
Market, Ashford, Kent TN24 0HB y Romney Marsh Classic Bikejumble with Ride-
In Show: 7 May at Hamstreet, near Ashford,
Kent TN26 2JD y Romney Marsh Classic Bikejumble with Ride-
In Show: 25 June at Hamstreet, near Ashford,
Kent TN26 2JD y South of England Classic Show & Bikejumble: 30 July. South of England Showground,
Ardingly, Near Gatwick, RH17 6TL y Romney Marsh Classic Bikejumble with Ride-
In Show: 17 September at Hamstreet, near
Ashford, Kent TN26 2JD y South of England Classic Show & Bikejumble: 29 October. South of England Showground,
Ardingly, Near Gatwick, RH17 6TL
Suzuki apprentice scheme graduates
Suzuki has a well-established apprentice training scheme in the UK, which covers the firm’s car, ATV, marine and bike businesses. And the latest scheme graduates have been celebrated at a recent ceremony at the British Motor Museum. Out of the 26 graduates, there were three new motorcycle specialists: Barnaby Ingham, Joe Phillips and Oliver Radley, who qualified as motorcycle technician, motorcycle aftersales parts consultant and motorcycle customer service advisor respectively.
The newly-qualified students received their certificates from Suzuki GB’s managing director, Nobuo Suyama, and director of aftersales, Denis Houston. Also in attendance were three other members from the Suzuki board of management as well as the apprentices’ families and their
employers. Each of the employees undertook a mix of practical learning and expert tuition at the Bosch-run Doncaster training centre in South Yorkshire.
Denis Houston, director of aftersales for Suzuki GB, said, “The graduation ceremony is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication. It is always a proud moment for not only the apprentices themselves, but also for their families and employers who have played a pivotal role in supporting each of the individuals. They should all be commended for the great lengths that they have gone to in order to enable the learning and development of these young trainees. We would like to congratulate the graduates on their achievement, and they are certainly destined for very bright futures as they continue their professional careers within our dealerships.”
Yamaha R1s for Whitham track school
LEGENDARY EX-RACER, COMMENTATOR AND ALLround good guy Jamie Whitham has signed a deal with Yamaha to supply instructor bikes for his Track Training events for 2023. Held at circuits across the UK and Spain, the James Whitham Motorcycle Track Training school provides top-class rider coaching from a stable of massively experienced ex- and current racers.
Kicking off at Guadix in Spain in March, there are dates throughout the season at Anglesey, Knockhill, Mallory Park, Croft, Cadwell Park and Snetterton.
Whitham said, “I rode Yamahas for half of my racing career so it’s a brand that means a lot to me. Yamaha have always had a track and racing mindset and the R1 is the best bike for the job. It’s got the power and speed, but it’s so rider friendly and the electronics package is brilliant. You see so many R1s on track days and there’s a reason for that, so it’s great to be using them as the official instructor bike on our days.”
Jeff Turner, marketing manager at Yamaha Motor UK said: “James has a long history with Yamaha in his race career and has been a valuable ambassador for the brand ever since. His Track Training days provide an intimate and relaxed environment to get on track with small rider numbers and he hires some of the most experienced riders to offer expert tuition. We’re delighted to be teaming up with him and his team, with James Whitham Track Training joining an extensive catalogue of Yamaha Experiences.” www.jameswhitham.com/track-training
