Category: Superbikes

1. Fourth place on the grid for Jacobsen after Dutch WorldSSP Superpole

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 17th Apr 2016

   that the 22-year-old has claimed the front slot of row 2, as he did the same both in Thailand and Spain.

   Like all the other riders who were automatically seeded to Superpole 2 after yesterday’s two free practice sessions, Jacobsen had to quickly adapt to the dry conditions of the 4.542km track, which he had not encountered before during this weekend. Lap after lap, the American built up great speed aboard his Honda CBR600RR and, in his final attempt before the chequered flag, he logged a 1’40.165 that allowed him to retake that fourth place he had lost moments before. Pole position and second were in fact taken by the two riders who had to make their way through the first Superpole session.

   The fourth race of the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship is scheduled to commence tomorrow at 11:20 local time (GMT+2).

2. WILSON CRAIG RACING CONFIRMS CAMERON DONALD RETURN

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 31st Mar 2016

   Northern Ireland based Wilson Craig Racing has confirmed that two time TT Race winner Cameron Donald will return to the team for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   The popular Australian, who last raced for the team at the 2013 TT Races, will compete in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT on board the team’s CBR 1000cc Honda Superbike. He’ll also campaign a CBR Honda in the RL360 Quantum Superstock Race and a CBR 600RR Honda in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races.

   Wilson has supported teams at the TT since 2005 and backed Uel Duncan’s team in 2006, which saw Cameron achieve a memorable runner-up place to John McGuinness in that year’s Senior TT Race, a year after his Mountain Course debut.

   The pair were again reunited in 2011 when Cameron rode for Wilson's own team and enjoyed notable successes with the highlights undoubtedly Cameron’s second place in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Superbike TT Races and his runner-up slot to Bruce Anstey by less than a second in the 2012 Monster Energy Supersport Race 1, one of the closest margins of victory in TT history. He also finished runner up in the second Supersport Race in 2012.

   Commenting on signing Donald for a third time, Wilson Craig said:

   “It’s no secret that I’ve always wanted to win a Superbike Race at the Isle of Man TT and with Cameron Donald riding for the team we’ve undoubtedly got a chance to win one. We’ve got a real affinity with Cameron and he’s always been consistently challenging in every class when he’s raced for us.”

   Cameron Donald said:

   “I’ve signed with Wilson again to race at the front of the Superbike field. He’s always prepared great bikes for me and I’m really comfortable with the team and see Wilson as a friend. I know that I can still win races on the Isle of Man and riding for Wilson Craig Racing will give me every chance to have a go for the top spot in the big bike class as well as the other races.”

   Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2016 TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets are sold out but there are still TT Fan Zone Grandstand tickets available at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park during practice and race days. Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets. All tickets are available from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

3. MOTOGP – SECOND DAY OF PRACTICE IN QATAR

   Posted on 9:00pm Friday 18th Mar 2016

   THE APRILIA RS-GP MACHINES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEIR TIMES, SESSION AFTER SESSION
   
   Losail (Qatar), 18 March 2016 - On the Losail track, in preparation for the Qatar GP that will kick off the MotoGP World Championship on Sunday, the second day of practice was held with two sessions today, FP2 and FP3.
   Aprilia has the new RS-GP bikes on the grid for their maiden race weekend and they have continued to improve their times session after session. In the three sessions held yesterday and today, the Aprilia V4 machines demonstrated consistent progress on the clock both with Bautista (1’57.129 - 1’57.012 - 1’56.749), and with Bradl (1’57.989 - 1’57.541 - 1’57.069). This is good feedback for a project that is taking its first steps with margins for improvement that are still just waiting to be discovered.

   The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders put in a total of 77 laps today (34 for Alvaro and 33 for Stefan), confirming the increasing reliability of the RS-GP, a first step on which to set up development in terms of performance as well.
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   “We're working nonstop trying to find the best sensations in the saddle. The bike is so new that we discover something new on every lap. The results today are that, in terms of race pace I'm rather satisfied. The pace is good with a used tyre. When we tried to improve times with a new tyre we were lacking on the fast lap. Basically I had the same feeling that I had with the tyre that had done 22 laps. In any case, we are achieving our goal, which is to get in as many laps as possible to streamline development”.
   
   STEFAN BRADL
   “In each session we are improving by almost half a second. I am feeling better and better on the RS-GP. Unfortunately the feeling yesterday was not as I had expected, so we got off to a bit of a slow start, but now we are making up ground. This makes me optimistic. We still have a long way to go, but if we can keep growing at this pace I'm sure we'll be able to get there quickly. Another positive factor is that we are able to solve every small problem that comes up quickly. Of course, we lose a few precious moments during the sessions but we are getting closer and closer to the ideal base set up”.

4. Hard-earned podium finish for Jacobsen in spectacular Thai WorldSSP race‏

   Posted on 5:00pm Sunday 13th Mar 2016

   PJ Jacobsen and the Honda WorldSSP Team have taken their maiden podium finish of the season at the end of an enthralling, 17-lap race at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand. With the second round of the season over, the 22-year-old American and Honda move up to second place in the riders’ and manufacturers’ standings, respectively.

   Jacobsen got the perfect start off fourth place on the grid aboard his Honda CBR600RR as he dived with great confidence into turn one to take the lead. He then pushed hard to maintain his position, despite some fierce competition from Cluzel. In the closing stages of the race, Jacobsen did his utmost to stay at the front of the field, eventually running slightly wide at turn five on the penultimate lap. He then found himself in the middle of the factory Kawasaki duo of Sofuoglu and Krummenacher, exchanging positions with the reigning Champion much to the crowd’s delight.

   The three riders crossed the line within four tenths of a second of each other, with Jacobsen claiming third place at the chequered flag.

   The next round of the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship takes place at MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain on April 1-3.

5. TENAX celebrates 60 years of activity and confirms its support to the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 10th Mar 2016

   TENAX, a World leading brand in the production and commercialization of products for processing and treatment of stone materials, will support the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini also in the 2016 MotoGP World Championship. Tenax Group, which is celebrating this year its sixtieth anniversary, has in fact renewed its partnership agreement with Gresini Racing: a successful collaboration that started back in 2008 in the premier class of motorcycle racing.
   
   The story of Tenax began in 1956 in the province of Verona from a small company called "Brothers Bombana Angelo and Guido", which was producing mastic for the local market. Since 1960 the company confirmed its presence on the market by introducing new products such as abrasives for marble and granite, cutting tools, diamond abrasives and epoxy resins.
   
   In 1998, as well as focusing on the wide range of products offered, Tenax started to develop its international branches. Currently it has eleven branches in the World, with exports to over 100 Countries and a number of employees close to 300 units.
   
   www.tenax.it

   
   GINO BOMBANA (Tenax Group President)
   “We are very pleased to renew the partnership with Team Gresini. Sharing the experience of MotoGP with Fausto and his team has already given us a lot of satisfactions in recent years, and I’m sure will continue in the future. The principles that join Tenax Group with Team Gresini, and generally with all the World of MotoGP, are the enthusiasm, the propensity for innovation, the attention to detail and the pursuit of higher technological value for the realization of our products. We are also proud to join our name with brands such as Aprilia and Gresini, which represent the excellence and quality of Made in Italy all over the World, another element that unites us. I wish to Fausto, to its riders and to the entire team a year of growth, full of successes and satisfactions, hoping that they can give us and all the motorcycling fans an exciting season”.
   
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI
   “It’s a great pleasure to be able to continue working with Tenax, being a valuable partner of our team for many years in MotoGP. 2016 is an important year for both: Tenax Group in fact is celebrating 60 years of activity, while for Gresini Racing this is the twentieth season in Grand Prix racing. Important milestones that demonstrate the great commitment at international level of two entities with a strong Italian tradition. I wish to thank the President Gino Bombana and all Tenax Group because they have always followed and follow us with great passion and enthusiasm”.