Category: Superbikes

1. SAG TUBI and Gresini Racing celebrate five-year partnership

   Posted on 11:16am Thursday 28th May 2015

   Gresini Racing: the collaboration, started back in 2011, sees the Italian group, a European leader in the field of tube manipulation and its components, supporting the team led by Fausto Gresini both in MotoGP and in Moto3, the ambitious project dedicated to young talents in the smaller class of the World Championship.
   
   Making use of highly qualified personnel and advanced equipment, and thanks to over 40 years of experience, SAG TUBI is today capable to produce any kind of rigid tube or flexible hose combination for any application. High quality competitive products, accompanied by an extraordinary service, which led SAG TUBI to become a partner of the most important manufacturers of engines, agricultural machinery, earthmoving equipment, forklifts, passenger and freight transport.
   
   WALTER ZINI (CEO SAG Group)
   “I’m very pleased to continue the partnership with Gresini Racing, now in its fifth year: the 2015 season is proving to be one of the most interesting from a technical and sporting point of view, with the return of Aprilia in MotoGP and the great performances that the young Moto3 riders have been showing so far. For a big fan of the sport like me, being able to live first hand this experience, through the great reception that Fausto Gresini and all the people at Gresini Racing have always given to us, it’s a great privilege. We hope to live many beautiful moments during the season, starting with the home Grand Prix at Mugello, which is just around the corner!”.
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI
   “The 2015 represents a new chapter in Gresini Racing’s history, having reached an agreement with Aprilia in MotoGP and having made a lot of changes in the Moto3 program: SAG TUBI embraced with great enthusiasm this breath of fresh air, thus renewing a collaboration which continues uninterrupted since 2011. Therefore I would like to thank Walter Zini, a great lover of the sport, for having believed and continue to believe in our projects”.

2. Donington Superpole

   Posted on 4:42pm Saturday 23rd May 2015

   JORDI TORRES FORCED TO THE FIFTH ROW

   Donington, 23 May 2015 – The World Superbike Saturday at Donington started off well for Leon Haslam who rode his RSV4 RF to the top of the list in the last practice session before Superpole. The English Aprilia Racing - Red Devils riders confirmed his improvement despite the fact that the extremely tight gaps preclude any predictions.

   In Superpole the English rider managed the available 15 minutes well, taking two flying laps on a race tyre and then throwing himself into an attempt on the softer tyre. The final, exciting minutes of Superople had many of the riders improving on their times, with the final standings under the chequered flag placing Haslam fourth, which translates into the first spot on the second row of the grid. Leon is pleased with the work done today, whereas the races promise to be close, especially in the final laps.

   Leon Haslam: “After being fastest in FP4 I'm pleased with the fourth best time in Superpole, especially considering a few mistakes I made in the first sector. Looking at the last few sessions it's clear that the races will be close tomorrow as there are a lot of riders with very similar pace. A good start and staying in the lead pack will be important. Here at Donington the last two tight turns have always shuffled the deck in the last few laps of the race. My ribs are still hurting a bit, maybe more than I expected, but it shouldn't be a problem tomorrow.”

   Hard luck for Jordi Torres who, after putting the eighth best time on the sheets this morning with a good feeling astride his RSV4 RF, took on Superpole 1 in the best possible way. Putting in the best time with a race tyre, Jordi was slowed down on his flying lap by a few uncertainties in the braking sections, having to settle for the thirteenth best time in the end. Starting from the fifth row won't be easy, although the progress he demonstrated in the final session makes the Spanish rookie cautiously optimistic.

   Jordi Torres: “This morning we took a big step forward, even bigger than the times show because the different tyre we tried was lacking a bit of grip at the rear. This is the positive aspect of the day, because for me it is always important to improve from one day to the next on a new track. I went through to Superpole 1 confidently. I felt like I was doing well but after a good lap on the race tyre the bike was a bit twitchy in the braking sections so I wasn't able to exploit the qualifier tyre well. These things happen, and unfortunately starting from the thirteenth spot is less than ideal, but we'll need to be focused to take on the races, trying to get off the line well and overtaking as many riders as possible in the early phases of the race.”

3. Riders for Health to auction Kawasaki Experience at WSBK

   Posted on 12:36pm Wednesday 20th May 2015

   Riders for Health are offering World Superbike fans a unique chance to go behind-the-scenes of the sport with a Kawasaki Team Experience at Donington Park this weekend.

   The experience will be up-for-grabs in the Riders for Health auction, which will take place on Thursday 21st May from 2-3pm as part of the WSBK Paddock Show at Donington Park.

   This unique prize includes a meet and greet with Kawasaki riders, a tour of the garage and full factory hospitality including lunch and merchandise. Also included will be dinner for two with the Kawasaki team and riders including Tom Sykes, Jonathan Rea and New Zealand rider Avalon Biddle as well as a private garage tour from Jonathan Rea.

   The prize has been kindly donated by the Kawasaki Racing Team and Pole Position Travel, and all of the money raised from the auction will support the life-saving work of Riders for Health. The charity ensures health workers across Africa have access to reliable, well maintained motorcycles and ambulances so that they can continue to transform health care for 14 million people.

4. Honda Racing takes positives from the North West 200‏

   Posted on 9:19am Wednesday 20th May 2015

   It’s been a positive outing for Honda Racing in challenging conditions at the North West 200 this week. Practice, qualifying and racing at the 8.9-mile Northern Ireland circuit has been plagued with tricky weather conditions, delays and cancellations to the schedule throughout.

   John McGuinness and Conor Cummins had good runs on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP in all Superbike sessions, qualifying third and ninth respectively on the grid. Due to the different weather conditions in both practice and qualifying the original starting positions were amended and decided on an alternate grid pattern, which saw McGuinness move back to fifth and Cummins 11th.

   The first Superbike race of the day was red flagged on the first lap and the restart took place just after 4pm, which saw the race shortened from seven to five laps. On the restart McGuinness got a good start off the line and was running in sixth place after the first lap, which is the position he held for most of the race and crossed the line in.

   Meanwhile team-mate Cummins was running in eighth place when on the third lap he had a moment and wasn’t sure if it was to do with the high winds or a mechanical issue so returned to the pits, where the mechanics had a look over the bike. With no problems found the Manxman returned to the track and completed the final lap of the race, after being in the pits for one lap.

   The second Superbike race of the day was called off by the organisers due to high winds around the circuit and the concern for all riders’ safety.

   The Honda Racing squad will now turn its full focus to the Isle of Man TT races, which begin on Monday 1 June where both McGuinness and Cummins will compete in the two Superbike races for Honda Racing. 

5. Peter Hickman targets Isle of Man TT Races after pulling out of North West 200

   Posted on 9:37am Monday 11th May 2015

   Peter Hickman and the Briggs Equipment BMW team are targeting the Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy after withdrawing from the North West 200 as a result of his injuries sustained in a crash at Oulton Park on Saturday.

   Having sustained two broken ribs in the 150mph spill on the approach to Druids, the 27-year old has subsequently been diagnosed with two breaks of the C4 vertebrae in his neck meaning both he and the team will be unable to participate in the first International road race of the season, which gets underway on Tuesday 12th May.

   The Louth-based rider enjoyed an excellent debut at the event 12 months ago, comfortably being the best performing newcomer and also recording the fastest ever lap by a circuit debutante and both he and the team are bitterly disappointed at being unable to return. However, the nature of his injuries mean it simply isn't possible to ride and the aim now is to be fully fit for the Isle of Man TT Races which commence on Saturday May 30th.

   Lee Hardy, Team Owner:
   "It's deeply disappointing for Peter and everyone connected with the team that we'll be unable to take part in the North West 200 but his injuries from the crash on Saturday are a little bit worse than we first thought."

   "The goal now is to support Peter as best as we can and ensure he gets the best possible medical support with the aim of being ready for the TT. He needs to get as much rest and recuperation as he can and the final decision will ultimately lie with his surgeon but we're very hopeful of being ready for practice week at the Isle of Man. I'd also like to publicly thank the on-site medical team at Oulton Park for all their excellent treatment and support given to Peter after his accident."

   Hickman enjoyed a sensational debut at the TT in 2014, finishing as the fastest ever newcomer in the event's history beating Josh Brookes outright fastest lap by a newcomer with 129.104 in the last lap of the 2014 PokerStars Senior TT which saw him finish in 11th place.