Just this morning, Yamaha released a statement regarding their attendance at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan. According to the release, they are going to be there in full force, with a big old stand. I realise this isn?t relevant to most of us here in Blighty, 1,000 miles from Milan (give or take). But can we infer from it that big international bike shows are going to go ahead, and all the big manufacturers are going to be there"

Maybe I?m being a bit ambitious but I think we can. Our big bike show, Motorcycle Live at the NEC in Birmingham, was sorely missed last year. I know they did a few bits virtually, but it wasn?t the same was it" It was never going to be. But with people all over the world agreeing to have a dose of rushed-out-the-door, hastily-tested vaccine, we might be able to look forward to gathering in large numbers again after all.
Because by my reckoning, they must already have a fairly decent hold on the pandemic. If they didn?t, they wouldn?t have risked cramming 60,000 fans (probably more) into Wembley Stadium for a football game last week? would they" Maybe they would, it wouldn?t be the first unreasonable decision that?s been made during the last 18 months.

Virtual Reality

Anyway, before this serious news article turns into another rant, let me get back to the point. Bike shows. The NEC bike show (or ?Motorcycle Live?, as they like you to call it) is scheduled for the 4th-12th of December. That?s quite soon after th...