Huge Success for Open day in Ulster

The Royal Ulster Constabulary Bikesafe initiative reached new heights on Friday 2nd and Saturday 3rd March 2001 at the open days at Allens Honda in Portadown. The weather may have been cold but it stayed dry and there was even some sunshine. The welcome at Allens was certainly warm enough to keep everyone happy and record crowds showed up for the event.

Honda UK pulled all the stops out and sent along the big display lorry (nicknamed The Mother Ship) together with the ever-popular motorcycle simulator and a huge fleet of demo bikes, including the new Fireblade, for visitors to take out and try for themselves.

Honda MAC were on hand to see that customers were properly trained in the use of big bikes and patrol riders of the RUC carried out no fewer than 107 assessment ride-outs for bikers from all over the province and several from elsewhere.

At Allens Honda, alongside the displays of Joey Dunlops TT winning Hondas were representatives from the Belfast branch of MAG, the Institute of Advanced Motorists, the Christian Motorcyclists Association and, of course, Motorcycle UK Ltd who host BikeSafe on the Internet. Another very welcome and popular exhibitor was Doctor Fred McSorley one of Ulsters leading paramedic doctors. His display of medical rescue equipment, essential for race meetings, attracted much attention.

With several more events planned for the 2001 season BikeSafe in Northern Ireland is certainly off to a great start.