Celebs

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

JOHNNY KNOXVILLE
As the star of Jackass, a hit US TV show specialising in crazy stunts, Knoxville is used suffering for his art.

However, his latest stunt has left the American actor with tears in his eyes. An attempt to back-flip his motorcycle resulted in the actor crashing and almost ripping off his testicles.

"I've just got back from Oklahoma where I was shooting Mat Hoffman's tribute to Evel Knievel, says Knoxville: “I had a ball, too, even though I almost lost my own balls in the process!

"I did a back-flip on a motorcycle I should have learned how to ride one first.

"I have to go now. I have to empty the piss bag on my leg that I have to wear for the next two weeks until my torn urethra heals, he adds.”

OZZY OSBOURNE
Ozzy Osbourne says he is prepared for handbags at dawn if Heather Mills turns up at the Brit Awards to see Sir Paul McCartney pick up an award.

Sir Paul will collect the Outstanding Contribution To Music prize and his Ms Mills has said she will be there to witness it.

'I'm looking forward to seeing Paul McCartney - he's my hero,' says Osbourne, who once suffered a horrific quad bike accident: 'The body of work he's got is just unbelievable. But I really don't want to be there if Heather shows up. Never mind McCartney having a go - I think the audience will string her up.'

Wife Sharon, 55, who is co-hosting the event with Ozzy, says she’s not a fan of Heather Mills either.

'I think she's a miserable old cow,' she says.

DANIELLE LLOYD
The disgraced Big Brother star has insured her curves for a jaw-dropping £2 million. Lloyd is keen to protect her assets in the event of an accident.

'My figure is my fortune,' she says. 'So taking out the insurance seems like the sensible thing to do in case anything should happen.'

The glamour model has already paid out £7,000 on breast enlargements, increasing her breasts size to 32DD and has had work done to improve her teeth.

It comes after Danielle was axed from a campaign for motorbike insurance firm Bennetts.

NICOLE KIDMAN
Tom Cruise delivered 'a room full of flowers' to former wife Nicole Kidman to celebrate the birth of her new daughter. The Oscar winner and rocker husband Keith Urban welcomed Sunday Rose into the world in Nashville, Tennessee.

‘She has had hundreds of bouquets of flowers from well-wishers,’ says a source. ‘Tom was one of the first people to get in touch and he sent her enough flowers to fill a room. She's touched and amazed by it all.’ Cruise, a motorcycle fanatic, has a daughter, Suri, to actress Katie Holmes.

‘Nicole and Keith are besotted with their baby,’ adds the source: “'She wants to be a very hands-on mum and has shunned all offers of help. But her sister and a nanny will help out in future if need be.'

OLIVIA NEWTON JOHN
The Grease star has married partner John Esterling in a secret ceremony.

The songstress and the Australian entrepreneur have been as item since last year. Friends were gathered at Malibu home for a barbecue when news of their engagement was made. However, the ceremony was nearly cancelled when a bush fire broke out in a nearby canyon.

'John said they could wait a few days, or change the venue, but Olivia was determined that nothing was going to interfere with her special day,’ says a source.

The nuptials marks a change of fortune for Newton-John, who became a motorcycle leather clad icon after appearing alongside John Travolta in the Seventies classic Grease. Her boyfriend of nearly 10 years, Patrick McDermott, vanished under mysterious circumstances three years ago during an overnight fishing trip in California.

'Olivia cried for almost two years,' says a source. 'And then she started seeing John last year. He put the smile back on her face.'

HUGH LAURIE
The motorcycle mad actor has splashed out £2million on a lavish new mansion in the Hollywood Hills, described by locals as a 'magical garden paradise'.

The 3,242-sq ft gated English country house boasts a gym, a pool and a guest house. Sources say the 49-year-old, who plays grumpy TV character House, has been in isolation from his wife Jo and their three children throughout the entire summer while he films the hit show.

'Hugh's got England so deeply in his blood, spending time in LA when he's used to being with his family is a bit of a hell for him, says a source. 'The problem is, the more time he spends alone and away from his family, the grumpier and grouchier he gets.

'It helps the show and the character, but it makes him tough to work alongside. He's basically turned into a recluse.' Fellow actors on the hit TV show recently planned a surprise 49th birthday party for Laurie.

But the actor was so wiped out after a full day's filming, he refused to turn up at the celebration, which he believed was going to be a 'very serious one-on-one meeting with a TV executive'.

'When Hugh got finished with shooting for the day, he sulked into his trailed looking like he needed a good night's sleep or three, says an insider. 'The last thing he wanted to do was sit down with a suit. He just didn't want that kind of pressure on his birthday.'

Sources say it took one of the show's producers a half hour to convince Hugh that he would be making a huge mistake by cancelling dinner with his boss.

'Hugh was looking forward to going back to England for four weeks starting the first week of August, says a friend. 'He knows it's been a while since he's spent quality time with his family, and even though he's been looking in on them and making sure they're provided for, this is one of the longest stretches that he's had to endure away from them.

'I think it really broke his heart that they couldn't celebrate his birthday with him, but his contract forced him to stay put and complete all of his episodes after the writers' strike.'

WHEN it comes to motorcycles our hottest stars just can’t get enough of sleek, powerful action. Fast, feisty and glamorous …and that’s just the motorcycles, celebrities’ love of the motorcycle shows no sign of abating.

This week Motorcycle Insurance takes a look at some of hottest celebrities behind the hottest wheels

MATT DAMON
The motorcycle mad star has dubbed the selection of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin as a "disaster".

The nomination of the Alaska governor as John McCain's running partner for the US presidency has caused much controversy and Damon has expressed fear that, should Mr McCain win the election, Ms Palin could become president, because of the Arizona senator's age and history of health problems.

"I think there's a really good chance Sarah Palin could be president, and that's a really scary thing," says Damon.

"In terms of governance, it's a disaster. You do the actuary tables, there's a one out of three chance McCain doesn't survive his first term and it'll be President Palin," he continued.

"It's like a really bad Disney Movie. The hockey mom, 'I'm a just a hockey mom from Alaska', and then she's the president and facing down Vladimir Putin and using the folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. It's totally absurd.

"I don't understand why more people aren't talking about it. It's a really terrifying possibility and we're that close to this being a reality is crazy."

"I need to know if she really thinks dinosaurs were here 4,000 years ago, because she's going to have the nuclear codes. I want to know that, or if she banned books, or if she tried to. We can't have that."

LI NDSAY LOHAN
The Freaky Friday star has been taken to hospital after being struck by a motorbike. Lohan was out on a night on the town with her lesbian partner DJ Samantha Ronson when she was hit by the motorbike. "She's not hurt. That's all I really care about, says her father Michael Lohan.

A source at the Beth Israel Medical Centre in Manhattan confirmed she was treated and left the hospital at 4am. The troubled star is no stranger to car accidents.

In May 2007, Lindsay was arrested for drinking under the influence of alcohol after she crashed her black Mercedes in Beverly Hills. She was arrested two months later after police stopped her pursuing her former assistant's mother.

Lohan was sentenced to a day in prison for both charges, but was released after just 84 minutes at Lynwood jail.

TOMMY LEE
Pamela Anderson’s ex husband was forced to step in to separate his ex and his girlfriend when Erin Naas and Kimberly Stewart argued in a night club earlier this month Sources say the rock star had to separate the two women after Stewart took exception to what appeared to be Haas' interest in her man.

"Kimberly freaked out because Tommy walked right over to Erin, says a source: “She started making faces and then threw a lollipop at Erin’s head! Lee stepped in to calm the women down, and forced Stewart to apologise. Meanwhile, Lee has been spotted on his motorcycle, a Harley Softtail Custom.

"It feels amazing, your hair's blowing in the wind, the sun's starting to set, you're like, 'Oh, this is fucking amazing, says Lee on his passion for motorcycles.

PINK
The pop princess has allegedly split with her motor crosser husband Carey Hart, according to sources. "Pink and Carey Hart have separated," says a source: "This decision was made by best friends with a huge amount of love and respect for one another. While the marriage is over, their friendship has never been stronger."

Rumours abound last summer that the marriage was in serious trouble, but Hart told the press, "It's just a nasty rumour. Everything's fine." He also called the stories "just a bunch of trash talk".

Pink and Hart met in 2001 at the X Games. At a 2005 race in Mammoth Lakes, California, Pink proposed to Hart by holding up a "Will you marry me?" sign in the middle of his race -- which almost made him cause an accident. They married in Costa Rica.

CAMERON DIAZ
The sexy star has revealed she has a long list of demands a potential partner needs to live up to before she will call him her boyfriend.

Diaz who is currently stepping out with model Paul Sculfor - insists there are hoops of fire to be jumped before she will let a man become a permanent fixture in her life.

"My list is all about balance, she says: “You can have smart but not funny. You can have funny but not very smart. You can have intellectual but not social. But I want it all!

"I love big brains, I love to eat, I love to be outdoors, I love to have conversations, I love to make love. I don't do anything half-a**ed and I want someone who can keep up with all that."

Diaz also dated Harley Davidson mad pop singer Justin Timberlake, before splitting up last year.

RUSSELL CROWE
The Oscar winner and motorcycle enthusiast reveals he will follow in the footsteps of fellow actors Will Smith and Bill Murray when he leathers up to work with the stars of US reality TV series, American Chopper.

The world-famous custom bike-building family of Paul Senior, Paulie and Mikey Teutul, have teamed up with Crowe to spend two weeks travelling across Australia to gather inspiration for an Australian-themed bike, which will eventually be sold at a charity auction.

"It's going to be cool to hang out with Russell, I am definitely a fan ... I do like his movies," says Paulie: "He is probably Australia’s biggest celebrity, so to be able to hang out with him and appreciate what he does, because it turns out he enjoys our show as well, it's a mutual thing. "We will go out, have dinner with him and kind of shoot the breeze. It will be great to get his input."

Broadcast on the Discovery Channel, American Chopper chronicles the raw drama of the Teutul family. More than 300 million household’s worldwide tune into the weekly episodes, which are shown in over 160 countries.

LIAM NEESON
The Hollywood actor has been treated for a broken pelvis after his Harley collided with a deer near his home outside New York City.

A truck driver found the star lying by the road, he says: “He wanted me to drive him back to his house right up the road, but I could tell his hips were bothering him.”

Neeson's publicist said that the actor is now resting comfortably.

WHEN it comes to motorcycles our hottest stars just can’t get enough of sleek, powerful action.

Fast, feisty and glamorous …and that’s just the motorcycles, celebrities’ love of the motorcycle shows no sign of abating. This week Motorcycle Insurance takes a look at some of hottest celebrities behind the hottest wheels.

LEEHAM NEESON
The Hollywood actor is recovering from a broken pelvis after his Harley Davidson smashed into a deer near his home outside New York City. Neeson was discovered lying on the side of the road by a truck driver, he says: ''He wanted me to drive him back to his house right up the road, but I could tell his hips were bothering him.”

Neeson publicist says the actor is now resting comfortably.

LARS ULRICH
The Metallica drummer fears ill health will eventually lead to the end of his career in heavy rock. While Ulrich insists he is still in tip-top condition he is worried that a time will come when he won't be able to tour or perform his high-energy routines.

Says motorcycle fanatic Ulrich: "The Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, I have nothing but respect for their longevity but (Stones drummer) Charlie Watts isn't playing Damage, Inc. three times a week or playing Whiplash every night.

"This (Metallica) has the potential to go on for a long time. But if somebody's arm, back or neck just says, 'F**k this,' and quits, I don't know..."

GEORGE CLOONEY
The Hollywood hunk is reportedly giving up his Harley Davidson in favour of riding a horse.

Motorcycle fanatic, Clooney is believed to be the new star in The Lone Ranger. The Oscar winner will join Johnny Depp in the big screen adaptation of the long-running 1950s TV show.

"George is very keen - he's been trying to do a movie with Johnny for a long time, says a source: “He thinks they'll make the perfect on-screen partnership."

Depp's involvement, as sidekick Tonto, was recently confirmed by Disney Studios bosses. The screenplay will be penned by Pirates of the Caribbean writers Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio.

HUGH LAURIE
The House star, who drives a vintage Triumph motorcycle, has been left "unnerved" after a robbery at his lavish £2.2m home in the Hollywood Hills.

The sexy House star had his laptop and a number of other personal items taken in the raid, while he and his wife Jo slept on News of the burglary came to light after arriving late for a U.S. TV interview to promote the forthcoming series of House.

"We were in bed when it (the burglary) happened, says Laurie: “I came down this morning and said, 'Where's the laptop?' Then we realised."

SCARLETT JOHANSSON
The actress has pulled in a few show business contacts to collaborate on her new album of Tom Watts covers.

David Bowie is set to make a guest appearance on two of the tracks - Anywhere I lay my head tracks, Falling Down and Fannin Street. According to sources the Hollywood starlet met Bowie at a party shortly before she began recording and asked him to get involved.

Johansson is a great fan of Waits saying "his melodies are so beautiful and his voice is so distinct", and says he has given her album his seal of approval.

"I sent him some of the early, early recordings, and he said, 'Go ahead, says the actress: "I've heard he's very pleased." Meanwhile, the sexy star has been spotted with partner Ryan Reynolds cruising away from a Hotel Café on his Triumph motorcycle, fetchingly dressed in helmets and riding gloves.

MATTHEW MCCONAUGHEY
The Hollywood star has sold his commemorative Texas Longhorn National Championship Tribute motorcycle, designed and custom-built by Ralph Randolph’s Knockout Motorcycle Company.

“When Ralph and I started the project I was originally going to keep the bike,” McConaughey said on the eBay listing. “But he and I decided it could get more use and raise money … Let the biddin’ begin, hook’em horns – and now and always, just keep livin’.”

The starting bid for the “Bobber” Sport Bike was $25,000. All proceeds go to McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin’ Foundation and the Texas Exes Scholarship Fund.

BRAD PITT
The Hollywood hunk was spotted dressed head to toe in his all-black biker garb, speeding away from the paparazzi in New York last week. Pitt has recently spoken to the press about his plan to build homes in the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans through “Make It Right”.

“These are people who did everything right, according to the American dream, says Pitt: “They got jobs and they saved their money. They bought homes. They raised their kids in these communities. And it’s all been wiped out, wiped out, and they are in this state of limbo and it is dismal.

“The pink houses, the art installation, right now symbolically represent the destruction and the chaos after the storm and which continues today. ... We chose pink because it screams loud. We want to get attention and to say that we can actually turn this around.

“And we’re asking people to join in with us on this “Adopt a House” campaign. We’re asking foundations, corporations. I would love to see church groups, individuals, come in and adopt a house, adopt 10 houses, adopt 100 houses, adopt a corner of a house, adopt a solar panel, adopt a tree—whatever you’re comfortable with.”

For every $150,000 that comes in, I guarantee a family will be returning to their home, and not just any affordable home, but a home that’s intelligent, that respects your hard-earned money, that respects your health and respects the health of the environment.”