My Passion with Chris Hall: Health and safety – and the thrills of the open road

Chris Hall, partner of Lighthouse Risk Services in Guiseley, talks about his passion for motorbikes.

MY passion for bikes, and motorcycles in particular, started over 10 years ago but I have been in love with their noise, smell and inherent excitement since I was small.

I now ride whenever I can, especially since purchasing a Aprilia Tuono 1000cc V-twin, which I think has few rivals. At the weekends I take to the roads, going up the Dales and over the North York Moors.

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I have had many bikes since I started my love affair but the Aprilia Tuono is my favourite so far. The Tuono is a 1000cc superbike – only the fairing has been removed and the handlebars raised for maximum control. It has proved unbeatable as a road bike, and the Factory version has been invincible on the racetrack, achieving prestige in epic races like the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy. The Isle of Man TT Races are one of the highlights of my year and I have now clocked up four visits to see the experts in action. For sheer anticipation and excitement the lead-up to the TT is unique, and with the FIFA World Cup kicking off on the last day of this year's TT Races, the biking community did not give much more than a nod to the soccer fest. I can even say I have completed a few laps of the mountain circuit myself and, of course, with no speed limits, enjoyed the freedom of the open road to the full.

Some people find it a bit strange that I choose what they perceive to be a somewhat risk-laden hobby, as my job is totally devoted to advising and preparing clients on every aspect of health and safety compliance and employment law legislation.

If you believe some of the stories you hear, health and safety is all about stopping any activity that might possibly lead to harm. No one, least of all me, would want to live like that.

Safety procedure is all about managing risks and so I never overlook the obvious and vital checks on tyres, and brakes. I wear the correct gear and don't ride when it is wet or windy. The skill required to control and handle a motorcycle comes with experience and so I try to do several "trackdays" a year.

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By far the biggest highlight to date has been the epic trip I undertook in 2008. A group of us rode down to Dover, took a ferry crossing to France, rode though France and Belgium and into Germany for a week's stay at the legendary Nurburgring Circuit. This is a special racecourse consisting of 13 miles of open road with no speed limit. You get everything from sleek sports cars to old bangers – and me, of course, on my Aprilia Tuono.

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