Celebs

WHEN it comes to motorbikes our hottest stars just can’t get enough of sleek, powerful action. Fast, feisty and glamorous …and that’s just the motorbikes, celebrities’ love of the motorbike shows no sign of abating. This week Motorbike Insurance takes a look at some of the hottest celebrities behind the hottest wheels.

KATE MOSS
The motorbike gear supermodel and her lover - The Kills guitarist Jamie Hince are believed to have got engaged during the couple's recent trip to Amsterdam.

A grinning Moss reportedly emerged from a bar in the Dutch capital and revealed to fans: "I'm getting married!" "The pair were in a bar looking very loved-up, says a source: “ Kate was so excited it looked like she had just accepted his proposal there and then. She was very happy. "

PATRICK SWAYZE
Patrick Swayze is believed to be taking an experimental drug hoping to beat cancer. The 'Dirty Dancing' actor - who revealed he is suffering from pancreatic cancer last month - is on Vatalanib, a new treatment being developed in the ongoing fight against the terminal disease.

Dr. M. Wasif Saif, the Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Yale University's Gastrointestinal Program, is optimistic that Swayze, a big motorcycle fan, will respond well to the drug due to his high level of fitness he says: “"The drug that Patrick Swayze is taking, Vatalanib, is still in the experimental stage. But recent studies have shown promise for patients taking the drug who are in excellent physical shape."

SARAH HARDING
The Girls Aloud star is believed to have lost her contract as the body of Ultimo lingerie. The sexy singer signed up for a £100,000 12-month deal with the bra manufactuers last year but the contract has not been renewed.

Ultimo are reported to have signed the Pussycat Doll’s Nicole Scherzinger instead. “Sarah’s a bit upset but she is sure she won’t be short of modelling offers, says a source alluding to a possible contract with an upmarket motorbike gear company: “Plus she’s really busy with the group. She’s got more than enough going on.”

MADONNA
The superstar has revealed that she finds it tough combining a busy career with motherhood.. The Material Girl, whose 11th studio album ‘Hard Candy’ is due to be released soon, finds it hard juggling an international jet-set lifestyle with being mum to her three children, Lourdes, Rocco and David:

“I have to eke out the time, says the motorbike loving star: “One day I don’t see my kids much and the next day I make sure I do.” “You look at your calendar and you go, ‘OK, this day’s crazy. But OK, this day I’m going to take my daughter to ballet.”

“The next day I’m going to be gone all day. So the day after I’m going to make sure I’m around for dinner and bathtime’.” The star has also revealed why she got Justin Timberlake to drop his pants for a vitamin injection when the pair were collaborating on her new album, ‘Hard Candy’.

“The reason I gave him a B-12 [shot] is because we only had a certain amount of days in the studio and I didn’t want him to use that as a lame excuse not to come to work., says the star “Okay? It’s got nothing to do with butt. I promise you. Listen, I don’t need to give him a shot to see his butt. Duh.”

CHERYL COLE
Her marriage may have hit the rocks, but motorbike mad Cheryl Cole is reluctant to wash her dirty laundry in public. In fact, the sexy Girls Aloud star has revealed she’s won’t let anyone else at all wash her knickers.

“I can’t bear other people washing my undergarments. I find it quite violating. Even when my mam does the washing, I say, ‘Leave my bits.’”, says Cole.

GWYNETH PALTROW
The Shakespeare in Love star, may not share Angelina Jolie’s love of motorbikes but is keen to follow in the footsteps of her charitable works. Paltrow, who was recently named an ambassador for international children’s charity, Save The Children, will play an active role in raising the profile of the charity around the world.

The charity aims to improve the lives of children in developing countries around the world through education & economic opportunities, and also provides health care resources to help reduce the number of deaths from preventable diseases. “She’s been looking at getting involved with something for a while and now she’s got some time, she thinks this is ideal, says an insider. “She sees what Angelina Jolie does for the UN [as a Goodwill Ambassador] and wants to do her bit too.”

MATHEW MCCONAUGHEY
The Hollwyood hunk is putting his passion for motorbikes to one side in a bid to become a better dad. He is also reportedly turning to actress Jennifer Garner for parenting advice on the set of their new film, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past.

McConaughey, who is expecting his first child with partner, Camilla Alves, this summer, has dubbed Garner “Supermom” because she’s so organised:

“Matt calls her ‘Supermom’ and ‘Mary Poppins’, says an insider: “ “He’ll ask for something, and she’ll look in her bag and magically have it. One day he asked for duct tape! She said she didn’t have it but does like to be prepared for anything.” “He says he just wants to be prepared and is excited about being a dad for the first time.”

BRITNEY SPEARS
The troubled star is believed to be keen to improve her body’s physical health. The star has been spotted on the back of her boyfriend’s motorbike visiting several dental clinics this week and is also believed to be working on her digestive system, undergoing regular colon cleansing sessions at the clinic in Beverly Hills.

“Cleansing a few times a week gets rid of lingering stuff in the colon. Britney’s had the treatment before and says it makes her feel great, more upbeat and energetic, says a source.

BRAD PITT
The Hollywood actor has amazed the audience at American idol’s second annual fundraiser “Idol Gives Back” by simply turning up. While Pitt was billed to appear in the TV extravaganza, which also included performances, by Miley Cyrus, Snoop Dog and Carrie Underwood, the audience only expected to see him via video link. So, when he made his entrance on stage, they were driven into a frenzy.

The show was delayed until the cheering died down, leaving a grinning Pitt momentarily at a loss for words. The star used his appearance to raise awareness on the hurricane-devastated areas in and around New Orleans, Louisiana and the charity he has set up to help victims of the disaster. Event organisers aim to raise £50m for various charities from 2008’s Idol Gives Back telethon.

But while Pitt is happy to court publicity to promote his good causes, he is famously shy when it comes to his personal life. The star, a self-confessed motorbike nerd, owns several motorbikes, which he uses to escape the paparazzi. “I am a motorbike nerd, says Pitt: “I wanted to get out on the road. So I bought a helmet and am able to ride around quite peacefully, incognito.”

KATE HUDSON
The sexy Hollywood star was so repulsed by her Fool’s Gold co-star Matthew McConaughey’s body odour that she pleaded with him to use deodorant for romantic scenes.

The actor famously refuses to wear scents – a decision that failed to please his leading lady. "Hudson always brings a salt rock, which is some natural deodorant, and says, 'Would you please put this on?' "I just never wore it. No cologne, no deodorant, says McConaughey, who says Hudson is his only woman who has ever complained about his natural body odour, pointing out that a healthy diet and regular showers help him stay fresh.

Motorbike loving Mconaughey makes no secret of the fact he is a man’s man: "Men need male friends, whether it's rising bikes, card night, going to the game, going for a run, says McConaughey: “I have great male friends and I need their friendship.

"When I get together with my guy friends, we end up talking about how we can be the best men possible... It's crucial for men to fraternise like that."

MICHAEL JACKSON
A Californian judge has thrown out a lawsuit brought against the Thriller star by the relatives of a lady who died at a hospital after being moved to make way for Jackson, who arrived in an ambulance flanked by motorbikes.

Maniela Gomez Ruiz’s family sued Jackson and the hospital in Santa Maria, California, for inflicting emotional and mental distress. The lawsuit claimed Ruiz was on a life-support machine as a result of a massive heart attack and died after she was moved out of her room to make way for Jackson who was suffering from flu-like symptoms.

The Lawsuit described it as an "outrageous, circus-like atmosphere" in the last hours of her life. The Judge has now removed Jackson from the lawsuit in response to a challenge from the star's legal team.

SHAKIRA
Publicists are dismissing as a hoax, a steamy video featuring the South American pop princess Shakira and Latin actor Alejandro Sanze. According to bogus Internet reports the stars enjoyed a sexy threesome romp with Shakira's boyfriend, Antonio de la Rua.

"It's been said there is a private video recorded on a yacht, one that could implicate Alejandro Sanz, Shakira and Antonio de la Rua, says their agent: “This is a false rumour. This is totally absurd any way you look at it. There is no possibility that such a video exists. It is a baseless and malicious rumour."

Sanz and Shakira, who share a love of motorbikes, collaborated on the song La Tortura, and appeared in it its raunchy video together.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS
The Angels star is set to caddy for golfing legend Nick Dougherty when he takes part in the U.S. Masters.

"Rob is glued to the TV when golf's on. He thought it would be a giggle to offer to caddy for Nick." Says a source. No stranger to life in the fast lane, Williams also has a passion for motorbikes.

"Robbie is a huge motorbike fan and loves the thrill of track racing, says a friend: "He goes up there with a group of guys who share his passion for bikes. He is a bit of a thrill-seeker and loves pushing himself and the bike to the limits.

"Robbie may not be able to drive on the road yet but he tears the track up when he gets let loose on a bike. Once he has the helmet on he's not a superstar - he becomes one of the boys."

COLIN FARRELL
The Hollywood hunk has revealed the problems involved with raising his son James, who suffers from a rare form of cerebral palsy called Angelman Syndrome

Farrell says his 4 year old son to ex-girlfriend, model Kim Bordenave – shows "amazing courage", despite the rare neurogenetic disease. "The only time I'm reminded that there is something different about him - that he has some deviation of what is perceived to be normal - is when I see him with other four-year-olds, says Farrell.

"Then I go, 'Oh yeah,' and it comes back to me. But from day one I felt that he's the way he's meant to be." “I’m incredibly blessed to have him in my life. He took his first steps about six weeks ago, and it was four years in the making. It was incredibly emotional. There wasn't a dry eye in the house."

The 31-year-old actor says he has also given up his passion for motorbikes, Farrell bought a high-speed motor in 2005 and took it for a ride through Death Valley, California and the Grand Canyon in Arizona - but didn’t come up to scratch as a mean motor loving biker. "I just bought one because I thought I'd be a motorbike guy and I don't think I really am, he says.

DANIEL RADCLIFFE
Radcliffe has revealed details of his first major role after years of starring as legendary wizard Harry Potter. The teenage star has beaten off competition from Orlando Bloom and Joaquin Phoenix to star in Journey as Daniel Eldon, a photographic journalist who was killed by a mob in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993.

"There's a lot of stuff flying around about this at the moment," says Radcliffe: "I am absolutely attached to it and it would be amazing to play that part. But people are making assumptions about when it's going to happen and it won't happen – if indeed it does happen – for a while yet. “

Eldon's photographs of civil war atrocities in Somalia helped draw international attention to the region and the international community's effort to end the regime of warlord General Farah Aideed.

So keen is Radcliffe to perfect the role, that he has met with the late photographer's family to prepare for the part. "They showed me some of his diaries, which the film will be based on mostly. They're incredible, says Radcliffe: "There have got to be twenty books they're all inches thick, with things sell taped into them and with wires coming out and everything."

"He was someone who died very young, but seemed to live as full a life as much as anyone who lived to be a ripe old age. It'll be incredible to play him".

Meanwhile, Radcliffe is hoping to take advantage of the motorbiking skills he acquired while filming the TV period drama, My Son Jack. The star, who played the part of Rudyard Kipling’s son, was forced to take lessons after film chiefs discovered he didn’t have a driving licence. "We're all ready to go and then he tells us he hadn't a driving licence and can't ride a motorbike! Says an insider: “We had to get a stuntman double while Radcliffe took lessons.”