If you’ve got a passion for bikes and an ambition to be a motorcycle journalist – or you want to be equipped to write about bikes as well as cars – the Kevin Ash Scholarship is for you.

Kevin Ash was a renowned motorcycle journalist who wrote for MCN and the Daily Telegraph, who died in a road accident in South Africa in 2013 during a motorcycle test ride. The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) established a scholarship in Kevin’s name by way of a lasting memorial and tribute to his contribution to motorcycle journalism.

The memorial scholarship is open to anyone who has been offered a place on Coventry University’s Automotive Journalism MA course or is in the process of applying for the course. It provides a £1500 bursary and a programme of motorcycle-related work experience opportunities.

Candidates interested in the Scholarship will be asked, by way of application to write and present a short article on motorcycling or the motorcycle industry to an expert panel.

On the strength of the article written and the interview, the expert panel will be authorised to award the scholarship.

If awarded the successful candidate will:

  • Be entitled to refer to being the recipient of the “Kevin Ash Memorial Scholarship”.
  • Receive a £1500 contribution towards the cost of gaining an A2 or full A motorcycle licence (depending on age) plus full protective clothing, or £1500 towards fees if the recipient already has a motorcycle licence.
  • Spend up to four weeks on work experience within the motorcycle industry during their course with (for example) the MCIA, a manufacturer, a dealer, a trainer and an accessories distributor, plus time at Bauer Media's motorcycle titles and working on bike stories at The Telegraph.
  • Receive the accolade of having won the scholarship at the Coventry University graduation ceremony.

To register your interest in the Coventry course and the Kevin Ash Scholarship contact Coventry University’s senior lecturer in automotive journalism Andrew Noakes at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Picture: 2017/18 Kevin Ash Scholarship recipient Emily Macbeth interviewing 2018 British Superbike Championship riders Dan Linfoot and Jason O'Halloran.