The stars of Revolution
Your favourite biking heroes went head-to-head in the all-new Revolution live action show. There was no holding back as the UK’s biggest stars battled to become the Revolution champion.
It was an incredible live show, with a mixture of 100cc motocross bikes, trials bikes and even bicycles taking two-wheeled antics to the extreme. The entertainment took place right in the middle of the show, so whatever else grabbed your attention - you didn't have far to go to get a piece of the live arena action.
Former World Superbike champion Neil Hodgson had scores to settle with his fellow Revolution rivals after last year's event. Hodgson, who was one of this year's Revolution team captains, proclaimed that now he is retired from racing he was willing to risk injury in his quest for glory.
Hodgson was joined by fellow ex-racer James Whitham, as well as TT Legends rider John McGuinness, former BSB champion Tommy Hill, 21-times trials champ Dougie Lampkin and BSB hero Chris Walker.
Eurosport racing commentator Whitham - who was the second team captain - was a Revolution virgin, and seemed worryingly keen to make sure that Hodgson didn't get a look-in for glory at this year's event.
Add one of the world's greatest road racers, the superb control of a multiple trials champ, and a couple of dogged BSB protagonists, the Revolution show was something not to be missed!
Plus, the Revolution zone also saw the announcement of the MCN Man of the Year competition, along with the winner of the Carole Nash Built in Britain custom-bike building competition.
IT'S ALL FREE!
Admission to Revolution was all part of the ticket price for 2013 - so once you were in the show, you could see as many of the features as you had time to soak up - all at no extra cost!
Between Revolution shows we did our bit to get children involved in riding with a series of two-wheeled tutorials conducted by qualified instructors aimed at teaching younger visitors basic bike skills and ramping up the fun factor. Activities included:
Kids from as young as three tried hand on our brilliant KTM balance bikes. With low seat heights and no pedals to complicate matters, balance bikes are an ideal way to get the youngest two-wheeled wannabes started.
They were able to learn Mountain Bike Trials from the UK's best pedal-powered practitioners Chris Doney and Andy P. One of the fastest growing bicycle sports in the country, Mountain Bike Trials at the highest level calls for supreme balance and bravery but our entry level course and expert tuition had even the rawest recruit picking up the skills in no time.
Plus, kids could ride trials over a super-easy course on user-friendly electric trials bikes. After watching the likes of 12-time world champ Dougie Lampkin showcase his skills on the pro course kids were inspired to emulate the feet-up legend on our fleet of battery-powered bikes.
The Revolution riders:
Neil Hodgson
One of the most experienced British riders in recent times, Hodgson has competed in BSB, AMA, WSB and Grand Prix championships, winning BSB and WSB championships in 2000 and 2003 respectively. In his 2003 WSB campaign, he stepped onto the podium an incredible twenty times from twenty four starts.
James Whitham
Twice voted MCN Man of the year in '91 and '96, Whit's career started in the mid-eighties riding in proddie championships before quickly moving up to BSB Supercup and TT Superbike classes. He rode the TT from '86 to '89 with three to six results. In '94 he raced in WSB with Ducati finishing 7th overall and then swapped between BSB, WSB, Supersport and a brief spell in GP's on the KR Modenas 500cc.
John McGuinness
19 time Isle of Man TT winner and current Mountain course lap record holder at 131.578mph (2009). Former brick layer and cockle fisherman, McGuinness has also raced at the NW200, Macau GP and British Superstock.
Tommy Hill
Tommy started his career in 2003 in the Yamaha R6 Cup championship before moving to BSB in 2004. At 19 years old, Hill became the youngest rider to start a race from the front row of the BSB grid. In 2008 he switched to the World Supersport championship before briefly stepping up to WSB in 2009. After returning to the BSB championships, he clinched the championship in 2011.
Dougie Lampkin
Few sportsmen on the planet will have more trophies in their cabinet. The list of achievements is living reinforcement of Dougie's domination of the sport of trials riding during the last decade .... 12 World individual titles - 5 indoors and 7 outdoors.
Chris Walker
After many years riding motocross, Walker took up road racing in 1995 and by the end of that year and into 1996, he rose through the ranks with ease and had ridden in Grand Prix and scored points. In 1997 he joined the BSB grid finishing runner up behind team mate Niall Mackenzie. In 2000 he came agonisingly close to clinching the BSB title, but an engine failure at the final round scuppered his chances. He has raced in WSB, Grand Prix and World Supersport, and is currently riding in BSB on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki.
