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GEORGE WHITE SUPERBIKES LIFT OFF

The innovative motorcycle, accessory and clothing retailer George White Superbikes,
chalked up another incredible first last week by test flying their very own hot-air balloon.

The hot air balloon, built by Chester-based specialists Lindstrand Balloons, will fly, weather permitting, at all rounds of the British Superbike Championship and other selected events in the UK and Europe.

The first official appearance was at round two of the BSB series at Thruxton, Hants, home round to George White's Swindon Head Quarters. (April 17 18)

The 37m high x 47m wide balloon was one of the most complex ever made by Linstrand Hot Air Balloons, founded by Per Lindstand over 25 years ago. It is a bike and rider scaled up 23 times and takes about twice as long to prepare and inflate than a 'conventional' balloon.

The pilot Chris Sanger-Davies says, "as one of the biggest shapes in the world you have to be aware of the size and scale of what is above you - but essentially it is still a hot air balloon and has the same characteristics as standard round balloons of similar lifting capacity, although it is much more weather susceptible."

The balloon will also be in action for day one (Saturday) of the George White Open Weekend held at its Swindon HQ over the weekend of April 24 and 25. One lucky visitor to the showroom will win a ride in the balloon over the store that will be visited by most of the BSB front runners over the course of the weekend.

On Sunday 25th April it will fly over the start to the annual London marathon - putting motorcycling in front of 46,000 runners and with BBC images fed to over 150 countries world-wide.