Category: Superbikes

1. APRILIA RACING BUSY WITH FINAL TESTS BEFORE LEAVING FOR PHILLIP ISLAND

   Posted on 7:50am Friday 7th Feb 2014

   SYLVAIN GUINTOLI IS BACK IN THE SADDLE AFTER THE LONG RECOVERY FROM THE INJURY TO HIS RIGHT SHOULDER WHILE IN THE MEANTIME MARCO MELANDRI HAS COME INTO HIS OWN WITH HIS RSV4.

   Jerez, 6 February 2014 – The weather certainly did not help the Aprilia Racing Superbike Team during the preseason tests. As happened at Portimao, once again at Jerez the damp track affected progress on making some final tweaks before leaving for Phillip Island. Only on the second day were the riders able to take a few laps on a track that was dry, although still not perfect in terms of grip.

   In any case, the most important feedback wasn't expected to come from lap times. In fact, all eyes were on Sylvain Guintoli, back in the saddle after a long recovery from a double surgery on his right shoulder which was injured in mid 2013. The French rider hadn't ridden since the final race last season, right here at Jerez.

   First impressions were encouraging. After a cautious start to re-familiarise himself with the bike and hone his reflexes, Sylvain came back to the pit with a smile on his face: the shoulder reacted well. It still needs some toning but all the groundwork is there to begin the season in the best possible conditions. Toward the end of the second day Sylvain fell victim to a low speed crash, but without any physical consequences. Guintoli put in 68 laps, the best of which in 1’42.605.

   Sylvain Guintoli: “It's great to be back after such a long winter! Yesterday I rediscovered the RSV4 in the wet, whereas today it was nice to get out and take some laps in the dry. I found a good feeling straight away. It's a bit like riding a bike: it's hard to forget how. I'm quite pleased even if my shoulder is very tired now. I even crashed on my right side, so I suppose this can be considered a complete test! Let's keep our fingers crossed but there shouldn't be any big problems. Now I need to go back home and get ready for Phillip Island. I am very relieved now because before coming here I was very concerned. Actually, after almost four months without a bike I wasn't even sure I'd be able to ride, but now I know I'm ready for Australia.”

   On the other side of the garage Marco Melandri has by now finished his “apprenticeship”. By now feeling confident with the RSV4, he did not have an opportunity to push to the limit but both Marco and his team took best advantage of these two days of testing anyway. The rider from Ravenna also fell victim to a crash on the damp track in the fastest turn of the twisting Spanish circuit. He took a bad spill at 200 kph, fortunately without serious physical consequences but which kept him from going on with the tests. Melandri took 44 laps in all with a best time of 1’42.308.

   Marco Melandri: “We had two difficult days here again. The weather didn't help. Yesterday we tried a few things with the electronics in the wet and things were going well. Then I made a stupid mistake and crashed. Today we were able to lap on a dry track although there were still a lot of wet spots and it was quite windy. I think we're on the right path. Now all we can do is wait for Phillip Island and hope that we have two sunny days for the tests so we can fine tune the settings for the first race. I'm very confident and satisfied. We have definitely reached a good level.”

   The next appearance is set for Phillip Island where the first round of the 2014 World Superbike Championship will be held. Riders and teams will be busy with the usual tests on the Monday and Tuesday prior to the race weekend.

2. GP ace Danny Webb to make Isle of Man TT Races Debut with KMR Kawasakii

   Posted on 9:10am Thursday 23rd Jan 2014

   GP ace Danny Webb to make Isle of Man TT Races Debut with KMR Kawasaki

   Danny Webb, one of the UK’s leading 125cc Grand Prix and Moto 3 contenders, will make his real road racing debut at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy, riding for KMR Kawasaki.

   The Kent youngster will contest the Dainese Superbike, RL360º Superstock, bikesocial.co.uk Lightweight and PokerStars Senior TT Races and will benefit from the expert Mountain Course knowledge and support of KMR team manager and owner Ryan Farquhar.

   The 22-year old has long been considered one of the countries brightest prospects, a claim supported by his seven years of Grand Prix level competition. He achieved an impressive twenty top-ten finishes in the 125cc and Moto 3 divisions, arguably one of the most competitive classes in motorcycle racing.

   Riding for the highly experienced Molenaar/De Graaf, Andalucia Cajasol and Ambrogio Racing teams, Webb achieved a best finish of fifth at the 2008 Portuguese GP, with his best Championship standing coming in the 2010 season when he took 10th overall with 93 points.

   Having led races on a number of occasions, Webb was also chosen to spearhead the Indian manufacturer Mahindra’s first ever assault on the GP trail in 2011. Indeed, he gave them first ever pole position at the Valencia GP.

   The Tunbridge Wells rider hails from a racing family with father Jimmy enjoying a successful career as a sidecar passenger and his elder brother James was a front runner in both the Virgin Mobile R6 Cup and British Supersport Championships, competing in the latter as team-mate to 20-times TT winner John McGuinness at Padgetts Racing.

   Having left the Moto 3 arena midway through the 2013 season, Webb turned his attention to the World Supersport Championship, competing in a number of races for PTR Racing, who not only played an instrumental part in the success of Michael Dunlop at the 2013 TT Races but also took Eugene Laverty and Sam Lowes to numerous wins and podiums on the World stage. Webb soon proved his talent on the 600cc machine too, scoring a best position of 11th at the final round in Spain.

   Speaking about his TT debut, Danny commented: “I’m a big TT fan. I've already been to the event and I have always said that I wanted to do it one day. It’s something that has been going through my mind more and more of late, and the opportunity came along to work with Ryan Farquhar who puts out some of the best bikes on the grid, so I simply couldn’t say no.”

   He continued: “It’s going to be a big change for me after years in the Grand Prix paddock, but it is something I am really looking forward to. I don’t see this being a one off thing either and I know it will take me many years to really learn my way around but for now I just can’t wait to get out there and make my debut.”

3. The first 2014 Superbike test for the Aprilia Racing Team and Marco Melandrii

   Posted on 8:09am Tuesday 21st Jan 2014

   THE ALL-ITALIAN DUO THAT WILL TAKE ON WORLD SUPERBIKE ESTABLISHES ITSELF AT PORTIMAO 

   Portimao, 20 January 2014 - The Portuguese Portimao track was the setting for the first tests of the season held by Aprilia Racing, the reigning Manufacturer World Champion team, concentrated on three days of testing with newcomer Marco Melandri, working side by side with test rider Alex Hofmann.

   For the rider from Ravenna, the natural candidate for a key role in the World Championship that will start on 23 February in Australia, this was the first contact with his Aprilia RSV4 since the winter break. After regaining some familiarity with it, Marco focused on preparing for the first race of the season. Despite difficult weather conditions, with rain on the first two days and an average of low temperatures, the Italian team was able to take advantage of the session to fine tune the bike that is the reigning Manufacturer world champion.

   The intermittent rain on the first two days of testing forced the riders to lap in less than optimum conditions. The third and final day, on the other hand, allowed everyone to push hard, with the obvious limit of a track which was cold and not very rubberised.

   Over the three days Melandri put in 175 laps with a best time of 1'43.1.

   Sylvain Guintoli was absent from the Portimao tests, having just come through the second operation on his right shoulder which he injured last year. The return of the French rider, who is going through physical therapy, is expected for the first race at Phillip Island. The Superbike Test Team was also in the Aprilia garage with test rider Alex Hofmann (150 laps, best 1'45.0).

   Marco Melandri: "Considering the difficult weather conditions, the first two days were a bit wasted. The last day was a particular day. We made a lot of progress with the electronics but we had a few problems with the chassis set up. The track improved little by little and the settings had trouble coping. Toward the end of the test we began to figure out which direction to go for my riding style, but it's a shame that we lost the last half hour (due to oil on the track - editor's note) where we could have tried to put in a fast lap. I'm disappointed about that but the good thing is that we have a clearer idea now. I hope we can get back onto the track for some more testing before the first round at Phillip Island".

   Romano Albesiano, Aprilia Racing Manager: "During these three days first of all we decided on the 2014 suspension which was one of our goals. Melandri was also positive about the electronics updates, where the chassis set up is concerned there is still work to be done to adapt the RSV4 to the rider's needs. We're on the right path but we still need to take that final step to define a base set up that will allow us to take best advantage of the bike-rider package".

4. 2014 Pata Honda Team presentation

   Posted on 7:28am Friday 17th Jan 2014

   It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us for the presentation of the 2014 Pata Honda team at Motor Bike Expo to be held at the Verona Fiere in Italy on Saturday 25 January.

   Contesting the 2014 World Superbike and World Supersport championships, the Pata Honda team will compete with the same rider line-up as in 2013 with the clear aim of securing race victories in order to battle once more for two championship titles.

   Following a difficult 2013 season, in which they both sustained serious injuries, British riders Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam will climb aboard the new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP that was launched in Milan last September.

   Meanwhile, Dutch flyer Michael van der Mark will once again team up with Italian ace Lorenzo Zanetti on Honda’s CBR600RR machine to build on the experience and podiums gained in their World Supersport rookie seasons in 2013 when they finished in fourth and fifth places respectively.

   The 2014 Pata Honda team will be presented at 15.00 hrs on Saturday 25 January and the presentation will be followed by opportunities to interview the riders, team management and Honda personnel.

   Please let us know if you can join us by replying to [email protected], and we look forward to welcoming you to the Verona Motorbike Expo and a new championship season with Pata Honda.

   With best wishes

   The Pata Honda Team

5. Pata Honda riders test new Fireblade SP

   Posted on 8:06am Saturday 21st Dec 2013

   Pata Honda’s World Superbike pairing of Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea ended their riding year this week with a play on Honda’s new-for-2014 Fireblade SP at the Losail circuit in Qatar.

   The lastest and sharpest version of the bike that Haslam and Rea race for the Pata Honda team in the World Superbike championship was being presented by Honda Motor Europe to motorcycle journalists from all over the world.

   Boasting front and rear adjustable Öhlins suspension and Brembo monoblock brakes, the new Fireblade SP also features a blueprinted engine and a single seat unit to offer owners even greater focus on trackday action.

   For Haslam and Rea the launch also offered an opportunity to re-acquaint themselves with the Losail circuit which returns to the World Superbike championship calendar in 2014 for the first time since 2009.

   “What a week!”, said Haslam after returning from Qatar. “It was the best fun ever to ride around Losail with all the journalists on the Fireblade SP. It’s an awesome machine and the circuit lets you have a lot of fun, so I ended up doing about 300 laps, I think!”

   Rea, who flew in from Australia, where he is spending the winter, also enjoyed himself, saying: “It was like ‘a-smile-a-mile’ and I had great fun with Leon, his dad Ron and my TT legend mate, John McGuinness. Sometimes I just think to myself: ‘I have the best job in the world!’”