Category: Superbikes

1. Double win for Jones at Brands Hatch

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 27th Apr 2011

   The Triumph Triple Challenge got off to a thrilling start at a sunny Brands Hatch with former BSB rider Luke Jones grabbing the first two wins of the season.

   Jones, on the KGD Racing Triumph, took the first pole position of the year too in the scorching conditions with a time of 49.245secs. Lining up next to Jones was Tom Ward riding the Stocks Garage machine, he was just 0.229secs behind. Tom Hayward riding the Daniel Weston Racing bike slotted into third place as he stepped up from the 125 class. And completing the front row of the grid was Tommy Dale on the Power2Connect/11KV bike.

   Phil Atkinson who finished second in the Championship last year had a tough time on track qualifying in a lowly 10^th position. The South African rider suffered from handling issues which he hoped to rectify before the race.

   Peter “Pesky” Ward, former BSB Superstock Cup Champion and current Triumph test rider, qualified in sixth place on the second row of the grid. This weekend is his first run out on the Peter Ward Racing Triumph so he was happy with the result and was feeling confident ahead of race one.

   Jones said: “We made some changes to the suspension from yesterday as the bike was squatting too much but it felt a lot better today in qualifying. The Triumph feels really agile having come from Superbike last year. I’m pleased with pole let’s hope I get a result in the race.”

   Race one got off to good start for Hayward who took the holeshot into Paddock Hill bend closely shadowed by Jones who didn’t waste any time slotting into the lead at Druids. 16-year old Tom Ward moved up into second place pushing Hayward back to third with Pesky running in fourth.

   Another former 125 rider, Tom Weeden was making his presence felt taking fourth place off the more experienced Peter Ward. Just two laps in and Jones was beginning to make a break with Tom Ward going with him. Weeden had now moved up another place and was running in an impressive third position.

   The top four had settled into the race until lap seven when Tom Ward crashed out of second place at Graham Hill bend. This promoted Weeden to second and Pesky to third, an out-of-the-seat moment for Weeden allowed Pesky to slide under him also at Graham Hill bend. He put his head down to try and reel in Jones who now had a 5 second lead.

   Weeden wasn’t settling for third place and whilst trying to pass Pesky on the run into Druids he crashed out of the race. His fall pushed Piers Hutchins wide allowing Ashley Beech to capitalise on the tumble and he nabbed third place in the race.

   Pesky took second place and Beech completed the podium.

   Jones said: “I got a reasonable start and was second into the first corner. I wanted to get clear and make a break so I got into the lead and put my head down for three laps to pull a gap. I watched my board and when I saw the gap I backed off a little and just brought it home.”

   Ward said: “I’ve not raced with these guys and girls before so I just wanted to settle in. The gearing isn’t quite right so I need to sort that out for race two. I’ve only had a few laps on the bike this weekend so it’s a good start.”

   Beech said: “I only got my bike on Friday so I’ve only managed one practice start. So when the race started the bike came off the line like a drag bike it! It wanted to wheelie so I ended up mid pack. I just went steady into the first turn and then started picking them off. I knew I was in the pack for the podium so I was going to have a go. Weeden crashing really helped me as he pushed Hutchins wide so I’m hoping for another good result tomorrow.”

    The grid for race two was set on lap times from race one leaving Jones in pole but promoting Beech to second, Tom Ward lined up in third place and Weeden completed the front row.

   Jones got the holeshot closely followed by Weeden, Beech and Pesky. Jim Lovell and Tom Ward both had short races with Lovell crashing out at Druids on the opening lap and Tom Ward going out with a technical issue.

   Jones tried to break away like he did in race one but Beech who had moved into second decided to go with him. The pair broke away from the chasing pack with Beech just a breath away from Jones the entire race. At one point he was just 0.049secs behind the hard charging Jones. He had hoped to out drag him to the line but his plan failed due to a big moment on the final lap.

   16-year old Weeden was doing his best to hold onto his third place in the race but the more experience Pesky had other ideas passing the youngster with just two laps to go.

   Jones took his second win of the weekend, Beech finished second and Pesky took the final podium place. Jones is now leading the championship on 50 points with Beech and Pesky in joint second with 36 points each leaving Hutchins in third with 22 points.

   Jones said: “It was hard leading from the start and it took me a while to get going. I knew Ash was close so I just did my best to make no mistakes and keep to my lines to take the win. I’m looking forward to Oulton Park as I can’t wait to get back out on the bike. I feel I’m learning it now so I’ll have a play with the suspension and see what happens.”

   Beech said:  “That was good as I caught him quickly. I thought I could slipstream him to the line but when it mattered I had a near high side and ended up out of the seat. The bike feels better and I’m getting faster and faster. By Oulton Park I should be able to give him a run for his money.”

   Ward said: “I changed the gearing for warm-up and it still didn’t feel quite right so I changed it again for the race. I got stuck behind Weeden for too long but I got a podium and more points so it’s all good.”

   The Triumph Triple Challenge will hit the track again for round two at Oulton Park in Cheshire on 30^th April – 2^nd May.

2. Second row for Rea at Donington

   Posted on 12:00am Saturday 26th Mar 2011

   Castrol Honda rider Jonathan Rea will start tomorrow’s two second-round World Superbike championship races at Donington Park in the UK from the second row of the grid after setting the eighth fastest time in this afternoon’s Superpole qualifying sessions.
   
   Rea’s Spanish team-mate, Ruben Xaus, was unable to progress beyond the first stage of Superpole and will start from the fourth row as his compatriot, Carlos Checa, took his second pole position of the season.
   
   Rea improved the setting of his CBR1000RR after yesterday’s tyre problems and was fastest in this morning’s second free practice session. However, he and his crew opted to use one of his two qualifying tyres in Superpole 1, which meant he was left with no qualifier in the final shoot-out with which to improve his time.
   
   In seeking to improve his own set up for Donington’s sweeping curves and stop-start hairpins, Xaus went the wrong way and the 33-year-old was unable to improve on his best time from yesterday.
   
   The first of tomorrow’s two 23-lap races around the re-invigorated 4.023km (2.5 mile) Donington Park circuit will start at 12.00 local time, with the second outing at 15.30.
   
   Jonathan Rea – P8
   
   Today was not so bad really, although I guess we could have gone a bit faster in Superpole 1 on the race tyre so that we didn’t have to use a qualifier. But we wanted to make sure of getting into the last eight and I then had to go out on a second-hand qualifying tyre which ran out of grip pretty quickly. We’ve worked hard all day trying to cover all the bases for tyre options. With the temperature changing, we need to know which of the three combinations works best in all conditions but the track temperature tomorrow will really dictate which one we use. We still need to find some time in the final corner – I need a little bit more en gine braking at the end of the turn and a bit more punch to get out. I feel OK in the first three sectors though but it’s going to be a very tactical race. The ones who’ve worked hardest over the weekend will be the ones who choose the right tyre for the race conditions. Hopefully we’ve done our homework.
   
   Ruben Xaus – P16
   
   For me, this weekend is like another pre-season test. We tested during the race in Phillip Island in 30 degrees and now the conditions are much colder so we must test some more things here at Donington! The way the bike behaves is completely different here to Australia. Yesterday we were OK and had some problems in the final section of the track. We tried to improve that today, when it was much colder, and we went the wrong way and I couldn’t improve. We had grip and braking problems. As the crew said: “We know the bike, but we don’t know you so well yet.” Of course, I know myself, but I don’t know the bike so well yet! I’m much happier than I was in Phillip Island though, because there we were lost. I hope tomorrow we can make two good races and get some good top ten points and go to Assen with even more good information.
   
   Ronald ten Kate – team-manager
   
   We’re definitely in better shape than we were 24 hours ago. It seems we have quite some pace, but tomorrow will be all about tyres so we won’t really know how much pace until the races are done. I believe we have found ourselves a race tyre so considering yesterday’s set back I’m quite satisfied with Jonathan’s second row start. On Ruben’s side, we went in the wrong direction today. Luckily we realised that and we’ll turn things around for tomorrow when the aim will still be for him to finish inside the top ten.
   
   2011 World Superbike championship, round two – Donington Park, UK
   Final qualifying results:
   1 Carlos Checa (ESP) Ducati 1m28.099s
   2 Leon Haslam (GBR) BMW 1m28.365s
   3 Tom Sykes (GBR) Kawasaki) 1m28.556s
   4 Jakub Smrz (CZE) Ducati) 1m28.561s
   8 Jonathan Rea (GBR) Castrol Honda 1m29.438s
   16 Ruben Xaus (ESP) Castrol Honda 1m29.613s

3. I, Superbiker" - In Cinemas across the UK for one night only on Monday 14th March 2011

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 2nd Mar 2011

   "I, Superbiker", the new no-holds barred full length motorcycling documentary film, will be presented in a special screening event across the UK, for one night only on Monday 14th March and Ace Cafe London has a pair of tickets to attend the evening screening at the Apollo Cinema, Piccadilly. The winner of this pair of tickets being chosen at the cafe on the evening of Friday 5th March, monthly Streetfighter night at the Ace.

    

   DVD's of "I, Superbiker" are also up for grabs as raffle prizes at the cafe on each of the five Friday evenings through April, being the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th with a pair of VIP tickets to attend the Easter BSB race weekend at Brands Hatch being the top prize at the cafe on Streetfighter night, Friday 1st April, no fooling!

    

   The high octane documentary intimately follows the great British hope Tommy Hill, whose parents have sacrificed their home, holidays and finances to support his burning ambition to be Britain's number one superbike racer.  Tommy commented, "British Superbikes is motorcycle racing at its very best and this film shows that brilliantly.  It's amazing to see BSB on the cinema screen.  Its a massive sport with a great following - now hopefully people who don't know it that well can see what an incredible event it is."

    

   Alongside Tommy Hill, "I, Superbiker" is a revealing portrait of the highs and lows of fellow racers, James Ellison, Josh Brookes and Gary Mason, riding through tortuous conditions and risking life and limb at every race meeting.  Motorcycle fans and thrill seekers alike will be able to experience the gladiatorial speed, strength and tenacity of the riders as they battle their way through the dramatic 2010 BSB season.

    

   The film's writer, producer and director Mark Sloper of 400TV commented "I wanted to capture the emotion and passion of motorcycle racing - a classic motorcycle racing film that might be set in the 2010 season but can still be fresh in years to come."  He added, "I also wanted it to appeal to people outside of the motorcycle industry and fan-base. And I wanted to try an change outsiders perceptions of motorcycling."

    

   www.isuperbiker.com
   

4. Carl Fogarty to be Figurehead for the Ducati 848 Challenge

   Posted on 12:00am Monday 14th Feb 2011

   Four times World Superbike Champion Carl Fogarty will take on an ambassadorial role with Ducati to promote and support the Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge.

   Carl became a supporter of the 848 Challenge last year when he rode an 848 on a parade lap at the Oulton Park British Superbikes round to help promote the series. Since then Carl has taken a keen interest in the 848 Challenge and is honoured to become an ambassador for the series.

   Fogarty will make a number of appearances at British Superbike rounds as well as possibly one or two at the overseas rounds at Assen and Monza. He will be on hand to give advice and mentoring to the 848 Challenge riders and pass on his knowledge of the seven circuits that the series will visit. As well as sharing his experience with the 848 Challenge riders Carl will also be available to present trophies, media interviews and personal appearances.

   Carl commented on his new ambassadorial role with Ducati and the 848 Challenge ’I am very pleased to be asked to be involved with the 848 Challenge and pass on my experience to the riders and also hopefully help some of the young and up and coming guys. The 848 Evo is a fantastic bike and the Challenge should produce a great spectacle at every one of the eight rounds.’ 

   The 848 Challenge starts at Brands Hatch on the 23,24,25 April where Carl Fogarty will be on hand to calm early season nerves, pass on commiserations and congratulations and present trophies to the winners.

   The full 2011 Rapid Solicitors Ducati 848 Challenge calendar is:

   Round 1    23,24,25 April    Brands Hatch    BSB
   Round 2    13,14,15 May    Assen, NL
   Round 3    28,29,30 May    Thruxton    BSB
   Round 4    9,10 July        Monza, IT
   Round 5    5,6,7 August        Brands Hatch    BSB
   Round 6    27,28,29 August    Cadwell Park    BSB
   Round 7    3 September        Castle Combe    New Era
   Round 8    23,24,25 September    Silverstone    BSB
      
   For further information regarding the Ducati 848 Challenge and series entries please contact: Jason Boswell, Series Coordinator: [email protected]

5. Dramatic end to season for SGR Racing

   Posted on 12:00am Wednesday 13th Oct 2010

   Dan Moreton aboard his SGR Racing Honda salvaged a 20^th place finish during the final round of the Speedyretail.com 125GP British Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire. 

    

   The team worked hard over the weekend to set the Morpeth based SGR Racing Honda up for the undulating circuit. The changes in gradient were causing some concerns compared to the flat nature of Silverstone last time out.  

   Qualifying in 28^th place left Moreton with a lot of work to do once the lights went out. He made a cracking start but unfortunately a first lap crash unfolded in front of him and he had to take to the escape road. This left him right at the very back of the pack of 35 riders. 

   Moreton settled into his race and picked off as many riders as he could during the 10 lap race, coming home in 20^th place thanks to his efforts. 

    

   Moreton said:“After scoring points at Silverstone I wanted to do the same again but after the first lap incident it was going to be a tall order. I’m pleased with the progress we made this weekend; we learned a lot which we can take forward to 2011. I think we’ve done a good job considering we have only been working together for the final three rounds.” 

   Team Manager Steve Kinghorn said:“It’s been a good weekend and has helped get us set-up for next year. We are thrilled to have product supportagain from Power Bar; we are pleased to have their assistance. Dan worked really hard all weekend giving us great feedback so we could improve the bike even further. I’d like to thank everyone for their support this season; we really appreciate it and are looking forward to our 2011 season.”