Introducing RaceBikeManager 2008

[falcon 269]

Hi guys,

This one's not just for the hardcore race fans (although I hope they'll love it) it might also be of interest to anyone who supports the goals of the the Riders for Health charity.

I've posted up in the Newbies section to introduce myself and with the kind permission of Cajun and your Admin team (thanks, guys!) I'm here to tell you about RaceBikeManager 2008.

I know that some of you played the game last year and I'm hoping that you'll just us again in 2008, for the fun of the game and also to help support our charitable causes.

RaceBikeManager 2008 is a fantasy league team management game for motorcycle race fans. Launched in 2007 as a free entry competition just for fun, word spread quickly via other bike forums and within weeks RaceBikeManager had attracted over 600 players.

Now, inspired by the success of our first season, we’re pleased to announce that RaceBikeManager is returning for 2008 better than before and with a new goal of raising funds for two organisations close to the hearts of all bikers; the Association of Air Ambulance Charities, and Riders for Health. Read about them here http://www.airambulancecharities.co.uk/ and http://www.riders.org/

The competition is still free to play. Donations to charity are voluntary but we're confident that RaceBikeManager 2008 players will give generously as a ‘thank you’ for the enjoyment they get out of the game. As a non profit-making organisation our operating overheads are low, so you can be assurred that virtually all the proceeds from sponsorship advertising income will go directly to our chosen charities.

Responding to player feedback from last year, we've increased the number of transfer windows to let you manage your team more effectively. There’s a host of other neat features to keep you up-to-date with everything that’s happening in the racing world and loads of stats available to help you decide who’s hot and who’s not. This will guarantee that the RaceBikeManager 2008 title chase goes down to the last races of the year.

RaceBikeManager 2008 is unique in covering MotoGP (including 250cc and 125cc classes), World Superbikes, British Superbikes and - new this year - the World Supersport championship, which will see several top British riders gunning for the championship.

The RaceBikeManager 2008 web site http://www.racebikemanager.co.uk is open now for player registration. Team selection will be activated in time for players to choose their riders before the first World Superbike race in Qatar on 23rd February. In the meantime, you can view rider valuations now and start thinking about choosing your starting team line-up with your budget of £30,000,000.

We’re delighted to announce that we’ve already secured a major headline prize of a weekend for 2 at the 2009 Jerez MotoGP round, which includes grandstand tickets, accommodation and transport to the circuit! This fabulous prize - worth £1000 - has been generously donated by Pole Position Travel http://www.polepositiontravel.com/ the top MotoGP VIP package travel specialists.

To generate the best possible results for our charities, we’re looking to at least double the number of players registering with RaceBikeManager 2008. To help achieve this the RaceBikeManager 2008 team is approaching loads of sponsors for prizes and - subject to the generosity of their response - we hope to have stage prizes on offer as well as the main end of season prizes. Keep an eye on RaceBikeManager 2008 News and your e-mail inbox for updates on our progress with sponsorship and prizes.

The more players who register and visit our site, the more attractive RaceBikeManager 2008 will be to sponsors, so please register today and help us in our quest for success. You'll be signing up for the fun and excitement of a season-long test of your bike racing knowledge, you could win one of the many prizes we hope to have on offer and best of all, you’ll be able to contribute to the ongoing success of two great bike-related charities.

Leon, Dom and Mike
RaceBikeManager 2008
http://www.racebikemanager.co.uk

PS. If you know of a business, race team or any other organisation which could benefit from associating itself with RaceBikeManager 2008, or if you would just like to donate a prize or funds to help us attain our goal of contributing to our chosen charities, we’d love to hear from you as soon as possible.

mike@racebikemanager.co.uk
or
info@racebikemanager.co.uk

[falcon 269]

A few additions anticipating questions on the above:

The competition is free to enter. However, to be eligible to win one of the prizes on offer, we will be asking players to make a minimum donation of £5 to our supported charities. Payment can be made online via Justgiving.com which accepts charitable donations for both our causes.

Since the Air Ambulance charities are UK-based, we would be happy to let non-UK residents pay all their donation direct to Riders for Health, which is international and the chosen charity of the MotoGP riders. Randy Mamola will thank you ... maybe not personally, but he will thank you

If you should be lucky and skillful enough to win the MotoGP weekend star prize, the company donating this prize have indicated that they are willing to flex the venue to one that best suits the winner. So, Phillip Island in 2009 sound good to you?

The other prizes will mostly be of a size and weight to permit shipping to New Zealand or elsewhere in the world. We will be asking, though, for a contribution towards overseas shipping costs. Don't want to rob the charity pot, you see.

While I'd would be delighted to have loads of Kiwi Biker members sign up and contribute to the Riders for Health charity, I will understand if some prefer to steer clear of the 'contribute for prizes' clause and just want to play the game for the fun of it. You will be more than welcome to do just that!

Our success in attracting sponsors and advertising is directly linked to the number of player registrations we achieve - put simply, they want to see that their generosity has some commercial benefit and site hits are important to them and us.

So, play for fun or play for prizes - your choice but please sign up today.

I should acknowledge that the British Superbikes championship is possibly one that Kiwi riders don't know so well but I can provide loads of links to sites with reports and information on the teams and riders. It is generally accepted (well, outside of the USA ... ) that BSB is the most competitive of the national-level superbike series, evidenced by the number of BSB riders who've won riding as wild cards when the WSB races have come to UK circuits.

I will be available (at reasonable rates ) to provide inside track knowledge on British Superbike riders and teams. Seriously, the rider's valuation gives you plenty of clues to his standing and potential, so picking that element of your team won't be difficult.

How about someone organises a Kiwi Bikers mini league, too? Maybe run your own prize awards and charity donations from within the board members? Challenge the Aussies! They think they're going to win everything on two wheels this year, so let's see if they're as good as they think!

Mike

[falcon 269]

Are you ready, race fans?

RaceBikeManager 2008 team selection is now ‘live’ so log on immediately to begin choosing your riders. Check out the RBM Racing News for the latest on rider form during the final pre-season tests and start the season-long race to be the winner of our fabulous first prize of a weekend for two at the 2009 MotoGP in Jerez, courtesy of PolePositionTravel.

Remember, you can make unlimited changes to your line up over the next couple of weeks but your team selection will be frozen at midnight on Thursday 21st February ready for first WSB race of the year that weekend in Qatar.

The first transfer window opens on 1st April and closes at midnight on Thursday 3rd April. We will be sending out reminders by Private Message and e-mail, so make sure your account is set to receive them.

Before you reach the Team Selection pages, you will be given the opportunity to make a voluntary donation to our supported charities. We hope you’ll take a few minutes to read about the great work they do and give generously to both.

Riders for Health are saving lives daily in regions where motorcycles offer the only means to get speedy medical care to those who need it.

The Air Ambulance trusts need little introduction but need constant financial support to keep them airborne. The next life they save could be yours.

If you’re running a Mini League, now’s the time to chase up your players. Get them to sign up and pick their teams soon!

[Cajun]

kiwibiker league started.

if wanting to join the league password is kiwibiker, league is called kiwibiker

[Smokin]

Cool, I'll have another go this year. Cheers.

[falcon 269]

Nice one

May I suggest that it you would like to donate to one of our chosen charities, the Riders for Health would be very grateful for your support.

Cheers

Mike

[gav]

I'm in, anyone else?

[falcon 269]

Hi guys,

Looks like you have 4 players registered so far in your mini league. We've found that it often needs a little push from the mini league manager to get more forum members to play.

Maybe post about this elsewhere to generate greater visibility? Lay down a challenge or two, perhaps? Or even persuade the board admins to put up a prize incentive for the mini league?

There's no max or min limit on how many players you can have in your league, but if you fancy a challenge the number to beat currently is 27.

Cheers

Mike

[Gubb]

Had a quick look, far too complicated/involved for my tiny brain though.....

[madmal64]

Im back in to kick some butts again this year!
Didnt do too bad last season

[falcon 269]

Had a quick look, far too complicated/involved for my tiny brain though.....

What's complicated? Serious question.

If there's something you're finding difficult with the sign-up and team selection mechanics, please let me know and we'll look at ways to improve the user interface.

If it's the actual process of selecting your riders, well, that's a different thing ...

You could, though, just pick likely-looking rider names at random until you've used up your budget.

Cheers

Mike

[Cajun]

only 5 people in the kiwibike mini league any more takers

less than 2 weeks before the first superbike race, so get signed up and picking

[falcon 269]

First race of the year is on 23 February and it's the WSB round in Qatar.

Moto GP starts in Qatar, too, but not until 9th March

All the race details are on our website:

http://www.racebikemanager.co.uk/calendar.php

Cheers

Mike

[gav]

So who on here is in the KB league?
Why, I do believe thats me leading!
http://www.racebikemanager.co.uk/tables.php

[Cajun]

you can change your picks at the moment, if you made a bit of a mistake in your picks and wanting to change