The UK's largest biking show!

With only FIVE weeks until MCL26, in association with Bikesure, opens to the public, this week we have an exciting announcement bringing you news of the next batch of exciting visitors to grace the halls of the NEC.

We have the greatest pleasure in announcing that MotoGP Legend and six time World Champion Max Biaggi will be officially opening MCL26, on Saturday 21 November.

Known as The Roman Emperor, Biaggi is an iconic racer. During his extraordinary career, he was crowned 250cc World Champion four times and twice won the coveted World Superbike title. His appearance at the show is a huge highlight for race fans across the UK.

Max is appearing as an exclusive guest of Aprilia, the brand with which he shared some of his most memorable racing triumphs. Throughout opening day, he will take to the Super Stage to share behind the scenes stories from his legendary career as he chats with hosts James Whitham and Grace Webb. There will also be a chance to meet Max at dedicated autograph and photograph sessions on the Aprilia stand.

Over the first three days of the show, factory Suzuki racer Dan Linfoot will be recounting tales from his third season with the Yoshimura SERT team in the Endurance World Championship. A former world champion, Dan, along with his teammates, finished third in 2026 and will no doubt have plenty of stories to share from this year’s racing season. He will also be talking about his exhilarating Superpole PillionXperience, where he takes willing participants for three laps around some of the UK’s top circuits on his specially modified Suzuki GSX-R1000R

On Tuesday 24 November we welcome adventurer and ambassador for Two Wheels for Life Vanessa Ruck AKA The Girl on a Bike. Following a life changing accident, Vanessa has become a motivational speaker, AER race winner and a mum. She will be talking about the extensive work undertaken by Two Wheels for Life in Gambia, where they are providing vital healthcare, teaching much needed skills and changing lives, along with sharing details of her latest challenge. She’s switching from petrol power to pedal power, when, along with a friend and both their toddlers, she takes on a challenge to cycle 1000km in 25 days through Turkey, climbing the equivalent of over twice the height of Mount Everest.

Our final reveal for this week is the visit on Thursday 26 November of road racing giants Gary Thompson MBE and Mervyn Whyte MBE, who will be fresh from a trip to the Macau Grand Prix. Both of these legendary characters are formidable forces in the world of road racing. Gary is the Clerk of the Course for both the Isle of Man TT and the Classic TT, while Mervyn is the Event Director for the North West 200. Chatting with former road racer Whit, there is bound to be plenty of great banter, stories from the past and present, and a chance to hear plans for the coming season.