Honda gears up for Bladeday2

Honda and motorcycle fans across the UK are gearing up for Bladeday2, a unique motorcycling event at Donington Park on Friday 23 May, to celebrate sixteen years of the Fireblade – the bike universally known to capture the very essence of sports motorcycling.

The anticipated 5,000 ’Blade and motorcycling enthusiast visitors to the event can expect an action packed day of entertainment for just £10 entry fee on the day (under 16s free), but remember to bring cash as no card payment facilities will be available at the event. Gates at the Melbourne Entrance open at 9.00am with the event, located on the Launch Pad site, ending at 5.00pm.

For an additional £10, the first 500 Fireblade riders who register once at the track can enjoy a Fireblade Experience to include a 15-minute track session with the Ron Haslam Race School, in groups of up to 50 riders. Places are limited so early arrival is recommended to secure a track place.

Bladeday2 follows similar lines to the inaugural event in 2000 which saw 2500 Fireblades assembled at Silverstone, and fans of the model that has sold over 32000 units in the UK since its launch in 1992 can look forward to a host of activities on the day.
This unique celebration of all things Fireblade will see Fireblade stars galore gathered from past and present including current Honda riders Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow and Steve Brogan, along with TT legends Phillip McCallen and Jim Moodie.

The ‘Father of the Fireblade’, Tadao Baba, will be attending as well as the Honda engineer responsible for the class-leading 2008 ’Blade, Kyoichi Yoshii. Autograph sessions have been scheduled throughout the day for autograph hunters to meet the Honda stars.

An amazing array of some of the most memorable Fireblades of the past 16 years, as well as an example from every year of production, will be on display.

Expert ‘Star Boyz’ riders will amaze visitors with Fireblade stunt shows, with four-wheel stunt action from Russ Swift in a Honda sponsored BTCC car.

Technical Clinics will be run throughout the day by the Honda Institute, Honda UK Racing will be hosting a wheel change challenge, with an array of motorcycle products and accessories on sale in the trade mall area. Other activities include the Arai Helmet Service truck, free oil checks from Castrol, live music and the Riders for Health unit offering a helmet storage service to event visitors for a small donation. Event visitors can also refresh themselves from a number of catering and refreshment outlets located around the event.

Proud owners can enter their own ’Blades in various competition categories to include Best ’92 ’Blade, Best Paint, Best Special, Best Trike, Best Works Rat ’Blade and Best Original Use of a ’Blade Engine. All competitions will be judged by Tadao Baba, Kyoichi Yoshii and Ron Haslam.

Bladeday2 commences a four-day festival of motorcycling at Donington, as round four of the 2008 British Superbike Championship roars into action on Saturday 24 May. With the BSB teams setting up on Friday 23 May, Bladeday2 visitors can access the BSB paddock to experience the racing environment, but can also benefit from an exclusive ticket discount to the 3-day BSB event for just £34 per adult, inclusive of camping – a £10 saving off the advance weekend/camping ticket price.

Steve Martindale, Honda (UK)’s General Manager for Motorcycles said, “The Fireblade is an amazing story, it really astonished the motorcycling world back in 1992 and is still doing so today. It holds the outright lap record at the TT and it’s the current British and World Superbike champion, so it’s still leading the way. Bladeday2 is another chance to celebrate this extraordinary bike and a great way for Honda to say thank you to the many thousands of customers who have owned one and all the engineers who have developed the ’Blade over the years.”

For more information about Bladeday2, including a full schedule of the day’s events, FAQs, and details concerning the track ride licence and clothing requirements, please visit honda.co.uk/bladeday2.