Isle of Man road racer Conor Cummins has signed with Jackson Racing for his 2014 Supersport campaign. The Manxman will compete in the two '600' Races at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well as the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix. Solway Slate & Tile, W.A. Corless, CMS and Motul Oil are backing the team for their 2014 campaign.

Jackson Racing has been a continuous presence in motorcycling paddocks since the 1970's when Alan Jackson Senior won three consecutive World Formula Two Championships between 1977 and 1979, also taking four victories at the Isle of Man TT during that period.

Sons Alan Junior and Andy continued the racing dynasty with Alan setting the Manx Grand Prix outright lap record, 122.208mph, in 2005 - a record that still stands today.

Cummins has the fastest ever 'standing start' Mountain Course lap at 131.511mph, which he set in the 2010 Dainese Superbike TT, which is also the third fastest lap of all time. His four TT podiums include third place in last year's bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT. He also has third placed finishes in the 2009 Supersport Race, his highest finish in the class, and the 2010 Superstock Race while his highest placed TT finish remains the runner up spot he took in the 2009 PokerStars Senior TT.

Alan Jackson commented: "Conor is a talented rider who has shown incredible determination to put himself back at the front of the field. He will be one of the frontrunners in every class he competes in and we are delighted to have him on board for the Supersport races where I think he can give a good account of himself. "

"I'm really looking forward to representing Jackson Racing in the 2014 season," said Conor Cummins. "What the Jackson family don't know about road racing isn't worth knowing. I've always enjoyed racing the 600's and I'm confident that we can challenge for honours in the class."

The IAM (Institute of Advanced Motorists) is urging motorists to beware of the perils of driving on autopilot following research which shows that one in ten drivers are often unable to remember their entire car journey.

The poll of almost 1500 drivers, carried out by Vision Critical on behalf of the IAM, also revealed that fifty-four per cent of drivers admitted to missing a turning because they were distracted. A further 14 per cent of drivers are quite often unable to recall any part of their journey in the car.

Younger drivers (18-25 year olds) are the most likely to be in danger of distraction. Thirty-five per cent stating they couldn’t recall any part of their journey, often or quite often. In comparison only five per cent of older drivers (65+) admitted to not remembering their journey.

Driving on autopilot appears to differ by region too. Twenty-two per cent of Londoners are less likely to recall any part of their journey, compared to only 11 per cent of Scottish drivers, and 10 per cent of drivers in the South West.

The survey also found that this behaviour had a significant impact on performance:
•Fifty-four per cent of drivers admitted to missing turnings because of it.

IAM chief executive Simon Best said: “It’s all too easy to get behind the wheel and zone out completely. Being distracted enough that you miss a turning is a sign that driving is a task that has fallen too low in your brain’s priorities. While we all have other concerns and stresses in our lives which can take precedence in our minds, the act of driving should remain your biggest priority when behind the wheel.”

“The fact is it takes too long to react appropriately if you are not concentrating on driving. Being distracted can have serious consequences, it could mean that you’re less likely to see that cyclist or child running out until it’s too late.”

The IAM offers the following advice to keep you alert on the roads:

· Keep your eyes moving

· Make concentrating on the road ahead your main priority

· Roll down the windows for some fresh air

For longer trips:

•Plan your journey to include a stop at least once every two hours.
•If you feel drowsy, stop at the next service area and stretch your legs
•For longer journeys, where possible, share the driving with another driver
•Make sure you drink enough fluids.

iam.org.uk

The sixth and penultimate round of Arenacross UK at The Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield proved successful for Dave Thorpe Off-Road Centre rider Angelo Pellegrini, who took a well-deserved second place in the Main Event race aboard his Honda machine with Michelin’s Starcross MS3 tyres fitted front and rear.

The Sheffield round saw a change of line-up in the Michelin team with two riders deciding to sit out – Elliott Banks-Browne due to injury and Brad Anderson to concentrate on preparation to the forthcoming outdoor season. Frenchman Thomas Ramette was drafted in as a replacement on the Michelin squad, while Angelo Pellegrini and Luke Arbon continued to represent the Dave Thorpe Off-Road Centre.

All three riders performed well in the heats and made it through the Main Event, with Pellegrini also succeeding in picking up two bonus championship points in the head-to-head races. Come the main event, Pellegrini made a great start in second place behind series leader Fabien Izoird and set about matching the Frenchman's pace in the early laps. He maintained his position for the remainder of the race to take a comfortable second place.

Ramette and Arbon both got off to bad starts with Arbon being pushed wide into the tuffblocks and crashing out of the race. Ramette managed to fight his way up to eighth place by mid-race, but dropped one place by the end to finish in ninth.

Three of the four Michelin riders remain inside the top ten in the championship standings, with Pellegrini in eighth, Banks-Browne in ninth and Arbon in tenth. Anderson sits in 11th place. The final round of Arenacross UK will take place at Wembley Arena in London on Saturday 1 March.

Dave Thorpe, team manager
“Saturday was a good night for the team, all three riders made it straight into the main event. Angelo Pellegrini finally produced the form and speed, that as a team we all knew he had, to take second place in the main. We now have a week-long break before the final round of the tour and hopefully we can continue on from here.”

Angelo Pellegrini
“This was the best round of the whole tour so far. I really liked the track because it was more technical than the others. I produced good laps all day during qualifying and the heat races. Then in the main event I started second behind Izoird and tried to run at the front with him, but he didn't make any mistakes. Now we go to London for the final round of the tour and I hope to get on the podium once again.”

Thomas Ramette
“Tonight was the first time I've raced in the Arenacross Tour in the UK. I was really happy with the bike and the team, but I suffered with arm pump and I need to work on that before the last round at Wembley where I hope to repay the team’s hard work.”

Luke Arbon
“Sheffield ended really badly for me. I started to really enjoy the track during the day and the heats. I got some good starts, including a holeshot in one of the heats and transferred to the main event. Then I lined up a bit wide and hit the tuffblocks and went down and that was the race over. I'm really looking forward to the last round and hopefully finally getting onto the box in the final.”

Main Event Results
1 Fabien Izoird
2 Angelo Pellegrini
3 Loic Rombaut
4 Cyrille Coulon
5 Daniel McCoy
6 Nev Bradshaw
7 Chris Bayliss
8 Kristian Whatley
9 Thomas Ramette
10 Romain Biela
DNF Luke Arbon

Championship standings
1) Fabien Izoird 121, 2) Daniel McCoy 97, 3) Cyrille Coulon 93, 4) Loic Rombaut 84, 5) Steven Clarke 76, 6) Nev Bradshaw 75, 7) Kristian Whatley 70, 8) Angelo Pellegrini 64 (HON), 9) Elliott Banks-Browne 53 (HON), 10) Luke Arbon 44 (HON), 11) Brad Anderson (HON)

Exciting youngster Jamie Hamilton has confirmed his participation at the 2014 Isle of Man TT races fuelled by Monster Energy, and will ride for Wilson Craig Racing in the 600cc and 1000cc Races.

The Northern Ireland based businessman will run 23-year old Hamilton in five of the six solo races with the Ballymena rider contesting the Dainese Superbike, PokerStars Senior, RL360º Superstock and Monster Energy Supersport Races on Honda machinery. He will again contest the Bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT on board a 650cc ER6 Kawasaki for Stewart Smith Racing.

Hamilton, a former British Junior Superstock Champion, is a prodigious talent and, like his fellow countryman Lee Johnston, has the potential to become a major TT star. Indeed, since he made his debut on the roads for Ryan Farquhar’s KMR Kawasaki team towards the end of the 2011 season, he has been a revelation.

After a strong debut year at the TT in 2012, which saw him win the Newcomers Trophy for tenth place in the Lightweight Race, he made great progress around the Mountain Course in 2013. The highlight was fifth place in the Lightweight, only 12 seconds off the podium, but he also impressed in the other classes, taking a brace of 12th’s in the two Supersport races and lapping at almost 124mph on his way to 16th in the Superbike Race.

He also proved his road racing credentials at the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix with podiums at both and winning the Irish National Road Race Supersport and Supertwin Championships, dominating both classes by winning all the races he competed in. He also enjoyed considerable success at the Southern 100 and Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough.

Having parted amicably with Farquhar over the winter months, Hamilton had been scheduled to ride for John Duggan in the Supersport class but the new tie-up will see him ride for Wilson Craig Racing throughout the season although John Duggan will continue to support his 600 campaign. Wilson Craig has enjoyed great success at the TT, backing numerous well-known riders including Keith Amor, Guy Martin, Cameron Donald and William Dunlop.

Speaking about the news, Jamie Hamilton said: "For me it is a dream come true riding for Wilson Craig Racing. When I was a kid starting racing I would look at teams like Wilson Craig’s’ and think that I would love to be a part of that that setup and can now proudly say I am. I have on my helmet a logo DBA, dream it, believe it and achieve it and so far it seems to be working for me."

He continued: "You can see over recent years Wilson has put out fast reliable bikes capable of winning, it’s great to have the opportunity and his support following the likes of Cameron Donald, William Dunlop and Guy Martin. I cannot thank Wilson and his team enough for giving me this opportunity and I hope for a very successful 2014."

Isle of Man road racer Conor Cummins has signed with Jackson Racing for his 2014 Supersport campaign. The Manxman will compete in the two '600' Races at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well as the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix. Solway Slate & Tile, W.A. Corless, CMS and Motul Oil are backing the team for their 2014 campaign.

Jackson Racing has been a continuous presence in motorcycling paddocks since the 1970's when Alan Jackson Senior won three consecutive World Formula Two Championships between 1977 and 1979, also taking four victories at the Isle of Man TT during that period.

Sons Alan Junior and Andy continued the racing dynasty with Alan setting the Manx Grand Prix outright lap record, 122.208mph, in 2005 - a record that still stands today.

Cummins has the fastest ever 'standing start' Mountain Course lap at 131.511mph, which he set in the 2010 Dainese Superbike TT, which is also the third fastest lap of all time. His four TT podiums include third place in last year's bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight TT. He also has third placed finishes in the 2009 Supersport Race, his highest finish in the class, and the 2010 Superstock Race while his highest placed TT finish remains the runner up spot he took in the 2009 PokerStars Senior TT.

Alan Jackson commented: "Conor is a talented rider who has shown incredible determination to put himself back at the front of the field. He will be one of the frontrunners in every class he competes in and we are delighted to have him on board for the Supersport races where I think he can give a good account of himself. "

"I'm really looking forward to representing Jackson Racing in the 2014 season," said Conor Cummins. "What the Jackson family don't know about road racing isn't worth knowing. I've always enjoyed racing the 600's and I'm confident that we can challenge for honours in the class."