Love it, live it at Motorcycle Live

Every year, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham, UK opens its doors to thousands of motorcycle fans for the biggest bike show in the UK - Motorcycle Live. https://www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/

Fresh from their unveiling at EICMA in Milan, the bikes make their way over to the middle of the UK for the show to be drooled over by young and old alike. Along with the manufacturers come trade stands, live features and dozens of opportunities to get on and ride.

The event runs over eight days, from the 18th to the 26th November and includes two regular live events. The FMX Live Arenacross tour stops off at the NEC to perform for the adoring public, who watch as riders perform badass stunts to insanely loud music for thirty minutes. The show within a show runs twice a day throughout the week and three times at the weekend. http://www.arenacrossuk.com/

The Blackhorse Stage hosts regular panels with famous riders everyday throughout the event, including 'A Question of Bikes', Motorcycle Live's own take on popular BBC sports panel show A Question of Sport. Biking celebrities take to the stage in two teams for half an hour of hilarity, with some questions thrown in. Stars this year included 3x World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea, his team mate Tom Sykes, 23x TT winner John McGuinness and Monster Yamaha Tech 3 MotoGP rider Johann Zarco, who performed his famous backflip off the stage. The picture evidence: https://twitter.com/niallmackenzie1/status/933747300928819200

But the biggest draw was the new machinery. You were lucky if you could even get close to the new Ducati Panigale V4, but with a little pushing and shoving, I managed to capture a shot of the full bike. The Yamaha Niken drew a crowd too, but there was little drooling surrounding the stand. It was met with a mixture of confusion with hints of sadness and outrage, but nonetheless it was great to see the odd bike in person.