Category: Superbikes

1. World GP Bike Legends Roar into the Silverstone Classic‏

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 19th Jul 2016

   Star-studded line-up of World Champions, Grand Prix heroes and awe-inspiring 500cc machines is announced  

   It’s the final countdown: there are now less than two weeks until the star-studded World GP Bike Legends make their eagerly-anticipated UK debut at the Silverstone Classic at the end of this month (29-31 July).
    
   Already firmly established as the world’s biggest classic motor racing festival, the magical event features an unrivalled line-up of races featuring the full spectrum of four-wheeled motor sport history. Now the addition of two-wheeled action will add yet another notable dimension to what’s already an incredible event. 
    
   Even more so as the illustrious line-up of two-wheeler heroes is topped by no fewer than six World Champions – Troy Corser, Wayne Gardner, Jim Redman, Phil Read, Christian Sarron and Freddie Spencer – all riding iconic 500cc two-strokes bikes from the golden age of Grand Prix motorcycle racing.
    
   Described as the biggest, baddest and most evil racing motorcycles ever to see a track, these much-missed 200+mph monsters dominated the premier league of bike World Championships for almost three glorious decades. Back in the eighties both Gardner and Spencer won the British Motorcycle Grand Prix at Silverstone aboard these 500cc beasts and both champions will be reliving those victories on their return to the superfast Northamptonshire venue at the Classic.
    
   Visitors to Silverstone not only will be treated to the evocative sights and sounds of these legendry riders and bikes roaring around the full Grand Prix circuit on both Saturday and Sunday but they will also be able to meet their idols during what are certain to be massively popular autograph sessions over the weekend.
    
   The riders entered for the World GP Bike Legends showcase at the Silverstone Classic are:
    
   Troy Corser (AUS) 1981 Kawasaki KR500
   Competed in seven 500cc GPs in 1997 also 377 Superbike World Championship starts from 1992 to 2011 with 33 wins, 130 podiums and 43 pole positions. Superbike World Champion in 1996 and 2005.
    
   Simon Crafar (NZL) 1989 Cagiva V589
   Competed in 32 250cc/500cc GPs from 1993-1999 winning the British 500cc GP at Donington in 1998.
    
   Didier de Radigues (BEL) 1998 Suzuki RGV500 XR88
   Competed in 82 500cc GPs between 1983-1991 with two podium finishes. Four wins in 250cc & 350cc GPs with 12 pole positions.
    
   Wayne Gardner (AUS) 1999 Suzuki RGV500 XR89
   500cc World Champion in 1987, runner up in 1986 & 1988. Scored 18 500cc GP wins with 51 podiums, 19 pole positions and 19 fastest laps.
    
   Phil Read (UK) 1976 Suzuki RG500 Mk1
   500cc World Champion in 1973 & 1974 with 10 500cc GP wins from 1973-1975. 250cc World Champion in 1964, 1965, 1968 & 1971. 125cc World Champion in 1968. Scored 52 GP wins.
    
   Jim Redman (UK) 1980 Suzuki RG500
   250cc and 350cc double World Champion in 1962 & 1963. 350cc World Champion in 1964 & 1965. Scored 45 GP wins, 98 podiums and 35 fastest laps.
    
   Christian Sarron (FRA) 1995 Yamaha YZR500
   Competed in 148 250cc/350cc/500cc GPs from 1976-1990 scoring seven wins, 37 podium and 11 pole positions. Won the 250cc World Championship in 1984.
    
   Niggi Schmassmann (SUI) 1996 Yamaha YZR500
   Competed in 57 500cc GPs from 1988-1996. Four-time German 500cc Champion.
    
   Freddie Spencer (USA) 1984 Honda NS500
   500cc World Champion in 1983 and 500cc/250cc double World Champion in 1985. Scored 27 GP wins, 39 podiums, 33 pole positions and 24 fastest laps.
    
   With so many renowned champions and such an awesome selection of 500cc bikes, it’s no surprise that World GP Bike Legends rider and ambassador, Wayne Gardner is excited by what’s planned for the Silverstone Classic.
    
   “It’s an absolute honour for us to be invited to such an unbelievably successful event,” enthused the Australian. “The two previous events we have been part of in Spain and Germany proved huge successes with the riders and fans, and I have absolutely no doubt that Silverstone will be every bit as special. It’s a daunting circuit that has some fantastic memories for many of us who were lucky enough to race in the epic 500cc era.
    
   “I’m sure those lucky enough to have experienced the racing back then will be really excited now to have the chance to relive those glory days. For others who were perhaps too young back in the eighties and nineties, this will be a wonderful opportunity for them to understand just why so many people are still raving about these phenomenal two-strokes.
    
   “We have put together a fabulous collection of spine-chilling bikes representing all the top manufacturers: Cagiva, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha. The gathering of legendary riders is pretty impressive, too. Believe me, it will be an absolutely fantastic show.”
    
   All tickets for the Silverstone Classic must be purchased in advance. Adult admission starts at £42, with £6 admission for accompanied children aged between six and 16 years old. A wide range of weekend, camping, VIP hospitality and Family Tickets are also available. Adding to the festival’s immense appeal, tickets include free entrance to both racing paddocks and pit complexes, trackside grandstands, the World GP Bike Legend autograph sessions plus the live music concerts on Friday and Saturday evenings. Full details can be found on the official www.silverstoneclassic.com website.  

2. Podium for Nicky Hayden at Laguna with van der Mark a close fourth

   Posted on 10:00am Monday 11th Jul 2016

   Nicky Hayden has crossed the line in third place at the end of a hard-fought, 25-lap opening World Superbike race in front of his home crowd at Laguna Seca. In doing so, the experienced American rider has claimed the third podium of his rookie WorldSBK season. Michael van der Mark was right behind his Honda WorldSBK team mate in fourth, after a great recovery from eleventh place on the grid.

   Hayden got a great launch from row two and was fifth at the exit of turn one; while keeping a solid pace, he was promoted first to fourth and then to third as the two Ducati riders Davies and Giugliano crashed out of contention on lap five and thirteen, respectively. The 34-year-old from Owensboro, Kentucky, brilliantly held on to the final step of the podium despite the pressure from Alex Lowes and, in the final two laps of the race, by a resurgent van der Mark.

   The young Dutchman was able to make up several positions in the early stages despite a small mistake on lap one and, as the race entered its second half, he joined the battle for third place. With a spectacular overtake on Lowes at turn two at the start of the penultimate lap, van der Mark moved up to fourth and set his sights on his team mate; he then dived on the inside of Hayden at the last hairpin, eventually running wide.

   The second and last World Superbike race of the US round will get underway tomorrow at 14:30 local time (GMT -7), after the traditional 15-minute warm up scheduled at 11:00.

    

   

3. ALEIX ESPARGARÓ TO JOIN APRILIA

   Posted on 12:22pm Monday 27th Jun 2016

   Aleix Espargaró, Spanish rider born in Granollers on 30 July 1989, will ride an Aprilia RS-GP in the MotoGP World Championship. The agreement signed with Aprilia Racing is for two years, covering the 2017 and 2018 seasons.
   
   Bringing Espargaró on board is part of Aprilia's development plan - which aims for an increase in competitiveness, in line with the progress already demonstrated this year - and it reaffirms the Piaggio Group's commitment to an excellent technological and sport project aimed at making the Aprilia brand a protagonist on the track and on the road.
   
   Aleix Espargaró was the Spanish champion in the 125 category in 2004. After a series of placements in the 125 and 250 categories, in 2009 he made his début in the top class where he drew attention during the 2012 season astride the ART (the CRT bike developed by Aprilia Racing), finishing the season as the best rider in the category. This excellent result was repeated the next season as well, again on the ART - Aprilia Racing bike. Overall, in MotoGP, he has taken two pole positions and a podium finish, as well as seventh place in the rider standings (his personal best) for the 2014 championship season.

   

4. Jacobsen wraps up Misano round with podium finish

   Posted on 9:00am Monday 20th Jun 2016

   A third-place finish was the result of today’s eighth-round World Supersport race for Patrick ‘PJ’ Jacobsen, who put together a fighting performance in front of the Italian crowd at the Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’. The race was won by Kenan Sofuoglu ahead of pole-sitter Federico Caricasulo (Bardahl Evan Bros. Honda Racing).

   The young American rider had a good launch from third place on the grid and maintained his position into turn one. The following lap, Jacobsen made a successful move on Sofuoglu at the super-fast Turn 11, while on lap seven he overtook Caricasulo to move into the lead.

   Jacobsen held in front until the penultimate lap, when he began experiencing a loss of grip that hindered his pace and then he was unable to defend his position. He was eventually overtaken by race winner Sofuoglu on the penultimate lap and then by Caricasulo before the chequered flag to round out the podium of today’s race, the last before the long summer break for World Supersport.

   PJ will return to the track before mid September, though, as he will take part in this year’s edition of the Suzuka 8 Hours race, which takes place at the end of July.

   

5. Podium for van der Mark as Hayden crashes out of opening race at Misano

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 19th Jun 2016

   Michael van der Mark has returned to podium ways by taking third place at the end of the 21-lap opening race of the weekend at Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’ in Italy, where the eighth round of the 2016 FIM Superbike World Championship is currently underway. His Honda WorldSBK Team mate Nicky Hayden crashed out of third place in the early stages of the race.

   In what was an ultra-close Superpole 2, Nicky Hayden claimed sixth place on the grid despite being only 0.084secs away from third place. Michael van der Mark impoved on his FP2 lap time by half a second to take the tenth slot on the grid.

   Both Hayden and van der Mark enjoyed a great start to the race and were running fourth and fifth on the opening lap. They were promoted to third and fourth when Giugliano crashed out but shortly afterwards, it was Hayden who low-sided at the last turn before the completion of lap two. Once in third place, van der Mark rode a superb race and maintained a competitive pace up to the chequered flag, claiming his fifth podium of the season despite a strong comeback by fourth-placed Chaz Davies.

   Race two will be contested tomorrow from 13:00 local time (GMT +2) and will be preceded by the traditional 15-minute morning warm-up at 9:25.