Northamptonshire Police out to turn a few petrolheads aboard two sparkling new Ducatis

Northamptonshire Police will be out to turn a few petrolheads while banging the drum for motorbike safety after taking delivery of two sparkling new Ducatis.

First to try them out was Chief Constable, Nick Adderley, who also doubles up as the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for motorcycling and BikeSafe.

BikeSafe is a national police run motorcycle initiative, aimed at working with motorcycle riders in a relaxed environment to raise awareness of the importance and value of progressing onto accredited post-test training in order to keep as safe as possible on the roads.

The new Dutcatis — a V2 Panigale and a Supersport S — delivered to Force HQ this week will be used solely for engagement rather than chasing bad guys with officers saddling up to deliver safety training at BikeSafe events and providing advice to motorcyclists about keeping as safe as possible when they’are riding their machines.

Superintendent Kev Mulligan admitted: “When we go to BikeSafe events, riders are much more likely to talk to us when we ride bikes that interest them as opposed to overt police-liveried motorcycles!"

Crash investigators are still looking into the cause of a horrific smash on the A428 Bedford Road near Northampton two weeks ago in which a 72-year-old biker died following a collision between his Yamaha FZS and a Jaguar F-Pace.

And in all of 2019, motorcyclists accounted for 17 per cent of the 42 fatalities on Northamptonshire's roads despite only accounting for one per cent of road traffic.

Supt Mullligan added: “Sadly, motorcyclists remain one of the most vulnerable road user groups in the UK and as a keen motorcyclist myself, I am very passionate about this issue and the need to educate motorcyclists and raise as much awareness as possible on how to be as safe as possible on the roads.

“We are very grateful to have Ducati UK as one of our partners as the engagement we are able to achieve through these bikes cannot be underestimated. They really do make a difference to the levels of engagement we get.”