Category: Superbikes

1. Sky’s the Limit: MotoGP Riders Playing Poker in the S

   Posted on 11:58am Thursday 25th Jul 2013

   A different kind of high for bikers and card enthusiasts

   When put under the scrutiny of a sports analyst, both bike racing and the tactical game of poker share one key resemblance: being the sport of daredevils. Bike racing involves guts, skill, and strong focus so you can ride your bike easily through the track. It also helps to have a keen sense of the area to avoid possible collision with fellow riders. Alternately for card players, one must employ the same courageous approach but it should be coupled with a strong sense of logic and tactical thinking.

   See, these two sports are often fancied by the adrenaline junkies what with all the intensity that comes during the final lap of a race or with the thrill that comes from holding a powerful poker hand.

   Luckily fans of the iconic MotoGP racing, both sports have reached a new high. Last 2009, the fans of the biking world and the felt tables were given a treat with Bwin’s own poker in the sky. This MotoGP event in Jerez combined both sports by placing a poker platform up in the sky above the place’s race circuit. After the bikers finished the final laps in the race track, the riders were suspended up in the sky to play a round of poker where the racing legend Randy Mamola even graced the event. The event’s sponsor, Bwin, is also the operator of the online poker site partypoker.com, which makes the organization a credible host of both card players and bike riders. A year later, Bwin also sponsored another MotoGP event, but this time of a different approach—the seascapes. The event brought another thrill for the poker players and bike riders by taking the card competition aboard a luxury yacht.

   The future of biking and poker

   While we already have towering land-based casinos, floating casinos to add to the rich waterscapes, and even poker tables in luxury planes, there’s much too see when it comes to the future of the card industry. Similarly in the biking world, the limits of our imagination are constantly stretching.

   Just this June, hover bikes were introduced at a convention in Prague. Although the models are yet to be released, this prototype can pave the way to the future of the biking industry. Who knows, with this introduction of the electric bike, we may soon find hover bike circuits in a few years time. We may even witness airborne stadiums which are only seen in the movies. Although it may be a long shot, the futuristic and sci-fi movies and videogames often spark the imagination of today’s engineers and scientists. These prototypes are often built as a result of creativity and imagination.

   www.motogp.com

   www.partypoker.com

2. Honda duo aiming high in Moscow

   Posted on 10:43am Wednesday 17th Jul 2013

   The Pata Honda pairing of Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam are preparing for this weekend’s (19-21 July) eighth-round World Superbike championship races at Moscow Raceway in Russia.

   Following last season’s inaugural World Superbike event in Russia, this weekend marks the championship’s second visit to the tight 3.931km circuit which lies 80km to the west of Moscow, with Sunday’s opening 25-lap race marking the halfway point of the 2013 SBK season.

   Rea is in good form, having enjoyed podium finishes at each of the last two rounds in Portugal and Italy, but the 26-year-old did not enjoy good fortune during his last visit to Moscow Raceway. Rea crashed out of race one last season and came home seventh in the second outing after being taken out by another rider.

   Haslam, too, had his second race terminated by another rider last season and had only one sixth place finish to show for his efforts. However, the 30-year-old is feeling stronger in the left leg that is still recovering from an early-season fracture and he tested last week alongside his Pata Honda team-mate for the forthcoming Suzuka 8-hour race which takes place just one week after this weekend’s Moscow SBK event.

   Leon Haslam

   I was pretty sore after Imola and went straight into testing there on the Monday after the race, followed by the Suzuka test. But it all went well and Suzuka was actually a little easier and less physical with the lower power from the endurance bike. It was nice to get home though, and to enjoy some good weather. I’m really looking forward to Moscow despite disappointing results there last season with a couple of crashes. But we were at the sharp end and competitive and the circuit should be good for the Honda. Hopefully, I’ll be able to ride it a little more normally this weekend as I’m able to put some more weight through the pegs, even though it’s through my heel rather than the front of the foot. But it’ll definitely be better than at Imola.

   Jonathan Rea

   It’s been nice to have a few days relaxing in this good weather because it’s been pretty flat-out since Imola, with the test there and then a couple of days at Suzuka. Moscow’s a unique circuit – tight and twisty and not necessarily the favourite of many riders. But I think it could play to the strengths of the CBR, especially the first two sectors. We struggled a bit at the end of the lap last year, but I think we’ve got some ideas on how to deal with that. I’d be happy to continue the podium form we’ve had in the last couple of rounds but it’s important for us to string two good results together. At the last two races we’ve been strong in the first two days but then something’s gone wrong in one of the races. I’m confident that we’ve addressed problems that we faced earlier in the season, so I hope that will allow us two good results on Sunday.

   2013 World Superbike championship, round eight

   Moscow Raceway, Russia – weekend schedule (local times – GMT+4)

3. Husqvarna Enduro Team by Monster Energy CH Racing on top form for GP of Greece

   Posted on 10:49am Friday 21st Jun 2013

   Hot on the heels of the Enduro World Championship GP of Romania, the Husqvarna Enduro Team by Monster Energy CH Racing heads to Kastoria, Greece for the penultimate round of the 2013 EWC series.

   With the GP of Romania serving up another batch of podium results for the squad, all four riders are eager to build on that momentum in Kastoria.   With his strong showing in Buzau, Finland’s Juha Salminen on his TE250R leads the charge of Husqvarna riders to Greece. Delivering a determined performance at round five, Salminen came agonisingly close to winning both days in the Enduro 1 class in Romania. Fighting for the victory with championship leader Antoine Meo, the duo swapped the lead on numerous occasions. Unable to hold his rival at bay, the TE250R rider missed out on victory by the narrowest of margins. Knowing that he has the pace to battle for victory Juha will be going all-out to do just that in Greece.  

   Getting his GP of Romania off to a perfect start by setting the outright fastest time during the Friday SuperTest, Matti Seistola hoped to join Salminen and Meo in the battle for the win. Unfortunately, the Finn suffered a bad dose of food poisoning and then broke his toe midway through day one. Catching his foot on a tree stump resulted in the TE250R rider badly breaking his toe. Determined to finish the race, he soldiered on to end day one in fifth position. Undeterred by the pain, Seistola produced a heroic performance on day two and improved to fourth position, successfully limiting the damage to his championship aspirations.  

   For Lorenzo Santolino on his TE310R the GP of Romania marked the best performance of his 2013 season to date. Placing sixth on day one in the highly competitive Enduro 2 class Santolino claimed fifth on day two. With confidence in his own abilities growing strong, the Spaniard knows he has the speed to run with the best E2 class riders in the world.  

   The GP of Romania might have brought an end to Australian Matt Phillips’ winning streak in the Enduro Junior class, but the TE310R rider was able to extend his advantage in the championship to 28 points. Placing second on day one, Phillips capped his weekend off with a win on day two. With more dry, dusty and hot conditions expected in Greece the 19-year old Aussie will be hungry to end the GP of Greece with two more podium visits.  

   The Enduro World Championship’s GP of Greece takes place in Kastoria on June 22/23.  

   Championship Standings (After Round 5)   Enduro 1 1. Antoine Meo (KTM) 191 pts 2. Juha Salminen (Husqvarna) 150 pts 3. Matti Seistola (Husqvarna) 141 pts   Enduro 2 1. Alex Salvini (Honda) 186 pts 2. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) 160 pts 3. Pela Renet (Husaberg) 153 pts… 7. Lorenzo Santolino (Husqvarna) 85 pts   Enduro Junior 1. Matt Phillips (Husqvarna) 180 pts 2. Giacomo Redondi (KTM) 152 pts 3. Mario Roman (Husaberg) 128 pts

4. Dunlop takes first Honda TT win as McGuinness sets new lap record

   Posted on 12:56pm Sunday 2nd Jun 2013

   Honda TT Legends’ Michael Dunlop stormed to victory in today’s Isle of Man TT Superbike race to bring home his first TT win for Honda, 30 years after his uncle Joey Dunlop achieved the same feat.

   Team-mate John McGuinness – who ran a tribute Joey livery in the race to celebrate the anniversary – took third place and in doing so set a new outright lap record of 131.67mph. Third Honda TT Legends rider Michael Rutter placed sixth.      

   The race got away at 3pm this afternoon with Dunlop taking the lead on the first lap. He proceeded to hold his position on the timesheets for the entire race, widening the gap lap-by-lap to eventually cross the line with a 40-second advantage over Cameron Donald (Wilson Craig Honda) in second. The victory is Dunlop’s fourth at the TT but his first in the Superbike class and his first for Honda.      

   McGuinness had a more eventful race, climbing from fourth to second and leading on the roads by the four-lap mark. The 19-time TT winner unfortunately broke the pit lane speed limit during the second pit stop, picking up a 60-second penalty that dropped him back to fourth behind Guy Martin.

   The Morecambe Missile came back fighting, putting in a stunning final lap that saw him catch Martin and set the new outright record, claiming third place and completing an all-Honda podium.      

   Rutter meanwhile put in an impressive performance aboard the Honda TT Legends CBR1000RR Fireblade, chipping away with every lap to climb from 11th to sixth by the chequered flag. The three riders will convene again for the team on Friday 7 June for the Senior race.

   Michael Dunlop

   The Superbike was the main goal for me. It’s been a dream of mine and it honestly hasn’t sunk in yet that I’ve won it. I never got to ride with Joey so when I caught John on the road in the tribute livery it was kind of weird and I had to think twice that it wasn’t Joey. John was so smooth and he’s taken over the title of King of the Mountain, so to sit behind him and follow those lines was just fantastic. It was a very special moment. The Superbike was just unbelievable, it handled lovely and I can’t thank Honda and the team enough.      

   John McGuinness  

   I can’t win them all. I don’t know what happened in that second pit stop. Obviously it’s my fault and I’ll take it  on the chin because they’re the rules. I’d ridden hard for five laps and on that last lap I just pushed and pushed, giving it everything I could and I’m just pleased I was able to nick the podium back. I’m so proud to wear the Joey Dunlop colours from 2000. I was in the same position on the podium with him in the Superbike race that year, and now here I am next to another Dunlop. I wanted to win but it wasn’t be. I’m on the podium and the consolation is the lap record.

   Michael Rutter  

   That was good overall. We had a bit of a problem on the first pit stop with the rear wheel and with the front tyre in the first stint, but once we got that out of the way I started to enjoy it and got myself back up to sixth. I’m well happy with that as top six was my aim. Hopefully we can gain a couple of places on Friday.

5. Motor sport legend John Surtees OBE roars through Edenbridge High Street

   Posted on 9:53am Sunday 2nd Jun 2013

   Edenbridge, Kent came to a standstill yesterday, as thousands of spectators lined the streets to cheer on motor sport legend, John Surtees OBE, McLaren test driver Oliver Turvey and ex Formula 3 Champion Robbie Kerr in Surtees Edenbridge built Formula 1 and 2 cars. 

   The racing drivers were joined by noted motoring journalist Steve Cropley driving a McLaren Supercar, and John’s daughter Edwina driving a Gullwing 300 SL Mercedes-Benz, plus two Grand Prix motorcycles from John’s past. 

   Leading the way was an Aston Martin Course Car driven by David Barzilay. The vehicles roared through Edenbridge High Street on Monday 27th May 2013 for 2 laps. The event in Surtees' home town was organized by the Eden Valley Chamber of Commerce as an attraction to the town to showcase what it has to offer. 

   The two motor cavalcades formed part of the Edenbridge Fun Day, which also had an objective of raising awareness of the activities of the Henry Surtees Foundation. Speaking at the event John Surtees said: “It’s not often people get to see Formula 1 cars up close and it was amazing to have the High Street closed on a busy Bank Holiday weekend so we could give them a blast. It was a great turn out, and everybody looked like they thoroughly enjoyed it, I certainly did. I hope that it helps to put Edenbridge on the map.”

   Peter Kingham, Chairman of The Eden Valley Chamber of Commerce said: “The whole event was a huge success and it has always been our intention to make this an annual event centring on the town's racing construction heritage. The day surpassed all our expectations and we were thrilled to see the town packed out with so many happy smiling faces. This event will help us to put Edenbridge on the map to attract inward investment into the town. Personally, I would like to thank John for all the help and effort he, his staff and friends put into making it such a great day. I hope that this will further promote the work of The Henry Surtees Foundation.”

   The Team Surtees and John Surtees related vehicles that took part in the parade included:

   ·       A TS7 Formula 1 car which John Surtees raced at the British Grand Prix in Brands Hatch in 1970 driven by John Surtees.

   ·       The TS15 2-litre Formula 2 car which won the prestigious Interlagos race in Brazil in 1973. Driven by past Formula 3 British Champion and A1 Grand Prix runner-up Robbie Kerr.

   ·       The TS14 Formula 1 car which Mike Hailwood drove to second place in the 1972 Italian Grand Prix was displayed statically.

   Engineers associated with John Surtees’ career on two wheels rode the motorcycles including:

   ·       A 1960 MV Agusta four-cylinder GP motorcycle – John Surtees won seven motorcycle championships riding for MV Agusta.

   ·       A 1954 BMW Rennsport twin-cylinder motorcycle – John Surtees raced for the factory team at the Nurburgring in 1955.

   The vehicles were displayed throughout the day outside the Bradford shop, Station Road, where they were built and designed by predominantly local residents.

   The special event featured static displays and a parade of rarely seen race cars and bikes as well as veteran and classic vehicles. Road cars and motorcycles in the parade ranged from two TVR sports cars to several Lambretta and Vespa scooters. There was also a 1968 Jaguar S Type Police car in its original black livery and complete with radio, bell, klaxons and two 'uniformed officers' (mannequins) in the back! The 1932 Alvis Firefly was one of the first to be built and displayed on the company's stand at the Motor Show of that year – where it was sold for £495 (more than four times the price of a new Austin 7). A 1995 Reliant Scimitar Sabre Mk2 is one of just 30 still in use – only about 60 of them were made. Even rarer was the 1938 Scott Prototype Clubman Special, of which only four were built.