Motorcycle Live 2022 has announced some of the VIP guests that will be attending the 2022 event, with motorcycling stars from across the spectrum.
Motorcycle Live 2022 will take place at the end of November between the 19th and 28th. As well as a whole host of motorcycles - from dirt to street to race - to take a look at, there will also be a number of special guests.
It is nothing new, of course. In the past, racers from all manner of disciplines have been in attendance, and the ‘BSB day’ has become a regular thing for the show.
As part of BSB day (Sunday 20th November) this year, 2021 champion Tarran Mackenzie will be in attendance, as well as fellow current riders Lee Jackson and Peter Hickman. James Whitham will also be present throughout the nine days, as will Steve Parrish.
Hickman is of course not only known for his circuit racing exploits but also for his TT expertise. A nine-time winner, Hickman has become the dominant force at the Isle of Man TT in recent years, and at Motorcycle Live he will not be the only rider present who mixes short circuits with roads. Glenn Irwin, for example, will be in attendance, having made his TT debut in 2022 and finished as runner-up in this year's British Superbike Championship.
Hickman's FHO Racing Team team principal Faye Ho will also be in attendance. In 2022, the FHO team has given opportunities to several young female racers, suchas Holly Harris, Scarlet Robinson and Jamie Hanks-Elliot, who will also be present.
Additionally, John McGuinness will be there having made his return to the TT in 2022 with Honda; and Ben and Tom Birchall - the TT's most successful sidecar pairing - will be there with McGuinness on Monday 21 November.
Adding further to the road racing representation at Motorcycle Live 2022, Lee Johnston and Michael Russell will both make the trip to the NEC for the event, as well as Maria Costello MBE. Johnston has become a road racing star in recent years, as well as finding success in the British Supersport Championship, and is a one-time TT winner. Russell, on the other hand, has been racing on the Isle of Man in the Manx GP, Isle of Man TT, and Classic TT since the beginning of the 2010s, while Costello has become one of the women to be most synonymous with the TT since making her debut in 2002.
Danny Webb - the ex-Grand Prix rider who has also turned his hand to World Supersport, World Endurance and road racing - will be at the show for a couple of days, too, as well as prominent MotoGP journalist and TT race winner Mat Oxley.
More Grand Prix talent will be at the NEC for Motorcycle Live 2022, also, with 13-time GP race winner Randy Mamola, and multiple-time Moto2 podium finisher Jake Dixon, having been announced for Monday 21 and Saturday 26 November, respectively.
Away from circuit racing, trials legend Dougie Lampkin will be there on both Saturdays and both Sundays. Lampkin won 12 World Trials Championships, with seven successive outdoor titles, and five successive indoor titles. He also has 12 Scottish Six Day Trial wins.
Staying away from the circuits and we find that Dave Thorpe will be a part of the event. Thorpe won three 500cc World Motocross Championships in 1985, 1986 and 1989, and 22 Grands Prix. Regarded as the greatest British motocross racer of all-time, he has also been a winning team manager for Team GB at the Motocross of Nations, and now runs the Crendon Fastrack Honda team in the British Motocross Championship (which recently wrapped up the 2022 MX1 crown with Tommy Searle). His autobiography, No Regrets, released earlier this year.
From the world of stunt riding, British and Scottish Stunt Champion and Guinness World Record holder, Johnny Davies, will make his first appearance at Motorcycle live this year.
Nick Sanders has ridden around the world seven times, and he will bring his knowledge of long distance riding to the main stage on a number of days throughout the event's duration.
On a relatively similar note, Vanessa Ruck (The Girl on A Bike) will be at Motorcycle Live, fresh from becoming the first woman to complete the 1000 Dunas rally at the end of October.
Motorcycle Live will continue to reveal more guests as the 2022 event draws closer.
The full to-date list of VIP guests for Motorcycle Live 2022 is below.
Saturday 19th November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Peter Hickman
- Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
- Dougie Lampkin MBE (CCM)
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Leona Graham (Honda)
- Steve Plater (Eurosport)
- Nick Sanders (Yamaha)
Sunday 20th November - BSB Day
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Peter Hickman
- Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
- Dougie Lampkin MBE (CCM)
- Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
- Lee Johnston (TT)
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Leona Graham (Honda)
- Steve Plater (BMW)
Monday 21st November - Press and Trade Day
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Peter Hickman
- Mike Russell (TT)
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Mat Oxley
- John McGuinness (TT)
- Glen Irwin (TT)
- Ben and Tom Birchall (TT)
Tuesday 22nd November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Peter Hickman
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Gary Thompson MBE
- Nick Sanders (Yamaha)
- Danny Webb
Wednesday 23rd November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Niall Mackenzie (Mackenzie / Hodgson Insurance)
- Peter Hickman
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Danny Webb
- Jonny Davies
Thursday 24th November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Niall Mackenzie (Mackenzie / Hodgson Insurance)
- Peter Hickman
- Julian Ryder
- Keith Huewen
- Simon Hargreaves - Front End Chatter
- Martin Fitz Gibbons - Front End Chatter
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
Friday 25th November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Niall Mackenzie (Mackenzie / Hodgson Insurance)
- Peter Hickman
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Gary Thompson MBE
- Nick Sanders (Yamaha)
Saturday 26th November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Niall Mackenzie (Mackenzie / Hodgson Insurance)
- Peter Hickman
- Carl Fogarty MBE (Bikesure)
- Dougie Lampkin MBE (CCM)
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
- Nick Sanders (Yamaha)
Sunday 27th November
- Steve Parrish
- James Whitham
- Niall Mackenzie (Mackenzie / Hodgson Insurance)
- Peter Hickman
- Carl Fogarty MBE (Bikesure)
- Dougie Lampkin MBE (CCM)
- Dave Thorpe (Honda)
Grab your tickets for Motorcycle Live 2022 on their website.
More information about Motorcycle Live 2022 can be found here