Category: Superbikes

1. Quattro Plant Kawasaki confirmed as official Kawasaki roads team at 2014 Isle of Man TT Races

   Posted on 9:41am Monday 28th Oct 2013

   The Bournemouth based Quattro Plant Kawasaki team are mounting a concerted effort to gain more road racing podiums and wins in 2014 with the news that BikeSocial.co.uk Lightweight TT winner James Hillier will again ride for the team.

   Announcing the renewal of the successful relationship, the team has also secured the endorsement of Kawasaki Motors UK as their Official entry for The TT Races as well as the North West 200.

   Having climbed to the top step of the TT podium by winning the 2013 Lightweight TT on his ER-6f based machine, Hillier has declared his intention to pursue other classes including the Senior TT on the awesome Ninja ZX-10R with equal vigour and determination.

   Already the Ringwood based 28 year old has become a member of the elite “131mph average lap” club at the TT and, in doing so, became one of the names that many teams had on their wish list for the coming season.

   Quattro Plant Kawasaki Team Manager Pete Extance explained the importance of having James leading the team assault in next year's campaign: "To keep James for our roads assault was always the number one priority for us. I am pleased to say that he is really happy where he is and we have already started work on plans to step up our approach yet another gear in 2014. We are also delighted to retain our loyal sponsor Quattro Plant who’ve been fantastic in their support for us."

   For KMUK, Racing Coordinator, Ross Burridge explained what the deal meant to Kawasaki. - "It's great news that the team have signed James for 2014. They really are coming of age as a roads team and I have no doubt that they will achieve more podium success with such a popular and proven winner next year."

   Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Co-ordinator, Isle of Man Government, commented: "James really came of age last year, not only with his win in the Lightweight TT but also his performance in the Senior TT when he lapped at an impressive 131mph and followed John McGuinness. He is now firmly established as one of the leading TT riders and I expect him to build on his success last year and challenge for a race win in the Superbike class next year."

2. Smith ends Superstock 600 season in style

   Posted on 11:18am Thursday 24th Oct 2013

   Former Moto2 rider Kyle Smith ended his season on the ultimate high-note by taking his Honda CBR600RR to victory in last weekend’s final round of the 2013 FIM Superstock 600 European championship at Jerez in Spain.

   It was almost a home race for the UK-born Smith, who has lived in Spain since the age of seven and who joined the Agro-On Racedays Honda team as a guest rider after splitting with the Avinta Blusens Moto2 team mid-season. After qualifying in fourth place at Jerez, Smith got a superb start in Saturday’s race, leading into the first right-hander. He was never headed and crossed the line 0.3s ahead of second-placed Franco Morbidelli, who secured the series title that was won a year ago by Pata Honda World Supersport rider Michael van der Mark.

   Smith’s Agro-On Racedays Honda team-mate, Lukas Wimmer, finished in 18th place on his first visit to the 4.423km Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

   “It was the perfect way to finish what’s been quite a difficult season,” said Smith afterwards. “I rode at Nurburgring as a guest rider for the Agro-On Racedays Honda team, who have been fantastic to work with. I managed to finish that race in sixth place,” continued the 22-year-old, “and then got seventh at Magny-Cours, but to win the last race of the year in Spain is just a dream for me.”

3. Carl Fogarty takes to the track for 899 Panigale debut

   Posted on 8:19am Monday 21st Oct 2013

   Four-time World Superbike champion wows Brands Hatch crowds in exciting on-track display

   World Superbike star and Ducati ambassador Carl Fogarty led the first ever UK laps for Ducati’s brand new ‘supermid’ 899 Panigale. The bike, which was unveiled for the first time just two weeks ago in Imola, took to the iconic Brands Hatch GP circuit for it’s first demonstration on British soil, with Fogarty leading round the 2013 Ducati TriOptions 848 Challenge champion Marty Nutt and runner up Jonathan Railton.

   Adding to the drama of the BSB Showdown finale, the trio of new machines was chased around the track by a police-liveried 1199 Panigale.  Despite its extra power, there was nothing the bigger bike could do to catch the agile 899 on the damp circuit, and several riders have already confirmed they will make the step up to 899 machinery for the Ducati TriOptions Cup in 2014.

   The 899 Panigale will be available in UK Ducati dealerships from next week. For further information and to find your nearest dealer visit www.ducatiuk.com

4. Lewis wins European Junior Cup

   Posted on 8:18am Monday 21st Oct 2013

   The 2013 Pata European Junior Cup delivered a fittingly close and nail-biting finale in today’s last round at the spectacular Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

   The race - and with it, the title - was won by New Zealand’s Jake Lewis, who took victory after eight laps of the 4.423km Jerez circuit by just 0.036s over his closest championship rival Augusto Fernandez of Spain.

   The first eight riders across the line were covered by less than 0.8s, maintaining the European Junior Cup’s reputation for remarkably close and utterly compelling racing on evenly matched Honda CBR500R machines.

   It was an impressive ride from Lewis, who had to work his way up from 14th place on the grid after qualifying problems yesterday. His third win of the season secured his championship victory by 10 points over Fernandez.

   British rider Josh Harland took the final podium place in third, but Robin Anne from France, who was also in the running for the championship title, could do no better than 20th place today.

   “I can’t believe it!” said 18-year-old Lewis after today’s race. “I knew I had to give it my all from the word go and that’s what I did. I’d like to thank everyone that helped me this year, especially my Dad, as I wouldn’t be here without him!”

   It was announced over the Jerez weekend that the Pata European Junior Cup will return with another eight-round series in 2014 supporting the World Superbike championship on Honda’s impressive CBR500R machine.

    

5. Van der Mark fourth in Spanish finale

   Posted on 8:21am Sunday 20th Oct 2013

   Michael van der Mark finished fourth in today’s final round of the 2013 World Supersport championship season, securing fourth place in the overall standings in his rookie year.

   His Pata Honda team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti had a relatively lonely ride to fifth place, and fifth in the points table, as world champion Sam Lowes took the final race win of the year.

   Dutch flyer van der Mark took three podium finishes in his debut World Supersport campaign, while Zanetti finished on the rostrum at Monza in May. Both are enthusiastic about the forthcoming 2014 championship year which begins with a private test at Jerez on Tuesday.

   Michael van der Mark - 4th

   It was quite difficult today because it took us a while to find the right set-up for Jerez. My start wasn’t that great and I had to pass some other guys but my pace was OK. I had to catch Rolfo but he was doing really good lap times and we were quite similar. Three laps from the end I was on his rear wheel and tried to push to get even closer but I pushed a little too much and lost the front a few times. I’m happy with fourth place in the race and in the championship. The season has gone really quickly and I can’t wait for the next one to begin!

   Lorenzo Zanetti - 5th

   Fifth place is not bad but I lost a lot of time in the first three laps trying to get past Russo. When I did that, the group with Michael had gone and I needed to be there to fight for the podium. Also, towards the end of the race my rear grip dropped off and this has been a problem. I spent the rest of the race alone, which wasn’t positive. However, the season has been positive and my feeling with the bike has improved so I think we can look forward to the next season with a lot of confidence.

   Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator

   Michael had a race-long battle for third but the grip dropped in the last few laps which prevented him attacking for the podium. Fourth was good, though, and he finished fourth in the series in his rookie season, so we’re happy with that. He was 10 points short of third overall but I’m sure he can fight for that and more next year. Lorenzo couldn’t quite get to the pace of Michael and couldn’t get better than fifth. But he has also had a good rookie season and I think we can be satisfied with both our riders’ performances this year.