When GI met Marc Marquez

As a full-time freelance journalist, I (Gary Inman, Sideburn's editor) have a very varied life. A deadline every day too. The job has taken me all over the world and Sideburn fits in around this day job and family life (though Sideburn muscles into every single day). 

Last August I was sent an email from Italy asking me to interview Marc Marquez in London. Then it was cancelled. A few weeks later it was back on, but in Italy. All a bit last minute, but I could fit it in, so I drove to London for the flight to Milan. I was picked up in a minibus by a big crew and driven to Rimini on the far coast of Italy. We pulled into the car park of the Grand Hotel Rimini at nearly midnight. 

It wasn't long since I'd watched the brilliant Grand Hotel Budapest and there were a lot of visual comparisons. No lift boys though.

The next morning, after breakfast on my own, I went to a pair of adjoining suites where the photoshoot was underway. The room was crowded with: 

• The husband and wife photography team - VanMossevelde+N
• Their two assistants
• The wardrobe man and his assistant
• The magazine's art director
• Hairdresser
• Marquez's agent (above in 93 shirt)
• Marc Marquez (through the crowd in the suit and tie)

Ten people in total, plus me. I sat and waited my turn.

 About a third of the clothing options the magazine brought.

 Marquez hair trimmings. I should've collected them for eBay...

I interviewed the world champion, on the cusp of securing his second world title, for nearly an hour, a good slot. At the end, having run out questions, I asked him the old cliche - what was better, winning races or sex? He said, winning races leads to more sex with a laugh.
The assignment was for Icon in Italy, but their Spanish version picked up the interview and photos. Then the national paper, El Pais (who own the Spanish version of Icon), took the quote and made it a front page headline, in this quite traditional and Catholic country. Obviously to try sell more magazines.
When I saw Marquez's manager at the Superprestigio he gave me the dead eye and told me about the El Pais situation, that I didn't know about until that time. Whoops.
Marquez is a nice young fella, I hope I didn't cause problems for him. I doubt it.
I was told, the week before the Superprestigio, the rider was on TV crying because he'd caught a lot of very public grief for moving from Spain to Andorra to avoid paying Spanish tax. The Spaniards, in the depths of a very rough recession, didn't like this super-rich young sportsman avoiding tax so publicly. As I understand it, he made a U-turn and moved back to Spain, or decided not to move to Andorra at all.

Sideburn - the choice of world champions.

 This is the coverage in Italy's Icon. I write for them regularly if any Italians out there are bothered. G

£114.68 (plus post)

We're making more of these. We weren't going to, but so many Guy Martin fans are asking it seems daft not to. We're waiting for the quote from the UK manufacturer, but they'll be between £15 and £20 (a saving of at least £94.68). G

WTF?

Sideburn hat, that we sold for £15 plus post for the last seven months, now on UK eBay for £95, just because Guy Martin wore one on TV a few times.
Don't bother bidding, we're making some more.
Form an orderly queue. G

Thanks to Pete The Rich for the tip-off

Riders Garage, Malaysia

We are happy to announce Riders Garage as our first stockist in Malaysia.

If you'd like to stock Sideburn, email us at dirt @ sideburnmagazine.com and we'll make it very easy for you.

Sideburn 4 - NOS

We found half a box of these in Italy when we were out there for the Verona show.
This is a long sold out issue.
We haven't put a premium on them, just £4.50 plus post like they were when we made it back in 2009.
One per order ONLY!
Please don't buy them to try make a quick buck on eBay, it's cooler to leave them for enthusiasts who have been after one for a while.
Go to the Sideburn shop.

We are sold out of:
1
2
3
4 (except these handful)
5
6
12
13
15 (cover 2)

So perhaps get a few of the other back issues still available before they're gone. G

UPDATE - This small stock of issue 4 is now sold out.

Wonderland

From Dan Bouchard down a rabbit hole...

When Alice turned around and cast her eyes on a couple of bad ass street trackers. She rode in to a wonderland beyond imagination. 

Deep Space Deviants

INCOMING TRANSMISSION:
As we speak, Dirt Quake anchor-man DAVROS, is travelling across the galaxy from the planet Skaro for a rare visit to our puny planet Earth. Ably assisted by his backing band THE DEEP-SPACE DEVIANTS he is plotting audio terror strikes on the unsuspecting people of London and Liverpool.
Unimpressed with what passes for ‘entertainment’ here on earth...the leader of the Daleks is threatening to destroy our culture and show us how it should be done...ENJOY IT OR BE EXTERMINATED!!!
Any willing Davros disciples should present themselves on Sat 31st Jan at WEIRDSVILLE, The Fiddlers Elbow, 1 Malden Rd, London NW5 3HS Doors open 8pm and tickets are £5.50 in advance HERE or £7 on the door.
There will be a second strike 7 days later on Sat 7th Feb at THE GOGO CAGE, the Cabin Club, Wood Street, Liverpool, L1 4DH Doors open 9.30pm. £3 entry
Dave Skooter Farm

Survivor Customs Exhaust

Nice short film showing Mike of Survivor Customs making an exhaust for a DTRA Vintage Class Triumph.
Mike is based up in the North East (Newcastle, Middlesbrough way) and is converting a lot of Rotax and Honda single road bikes into DTRA racers.
He's also a ace hot rod builder, BMX jump king and a favourite to win this year's 2015 DTRA Rookie Championship (unless you know better). G

Braaap and Sparky back in stock

Don't hang around. These sell out quickly.
Sideburn webshop.

OEM Lightning Video

We shared the photos of Old Empire's latest custom build, the OEM Lightning, named after the Cold War jet of the same name, now there's this fun little film.

In the video Alec and Rafe, the two chaps behind Old Empire Motorcycles remind me the band Public Service Broadcasting, another Great British duo. G