Speedfit Kawasaki has signed Leon Haslam in an exciting deal to race the brand new Ninja ZX-10R in the British Superbike Championship.

After a successful season finishing in fourth place in the 2015 World Superbike Championship, including nine podium finishes and with two race wins, Haslam will return to the hotly contested 12-round British Championship, where he’s enjoyed much success previously.

The JG Speedfit Kawasaki team will be entering their third season with Kawasaki UK and are looking to build on the success of last year with a plethora of podium finishes and race wins under their belt.

Partnering Haslam will be race winner and last year’s Showdown contender, James Ellison and team mate Peter Hickman – forming a trio of riders that the team hopes will be a formula for success in the 2016 season.

Returning to the British Superbike Championship with one goal, Leon Haslam said, “I’m super excited to be coming back to BSB! It’s one of the most competitive series in the world and has a huge fan base and following, so I’m really looking forward to getting back out there and racing in front of the British crowd.

“I made the decision that I wanted to come back a few months ago and began looking at different options. I’ve known Mark for quite a while and I’ve seen how quickly and professionally the team has grown so they were my first option really. I’ve seen first-hand how dominant the old ZX-10R still was, so with this new one already proving faster in testing I can’t wait to get out there next month and try the JG Speedfit Kawasaki for the first time. It will also be my first time competing in the Showdown format so I’m looking forward to that, but our goal from the start of the year is to come back and be challenging at the front from the start!”

JG Speedfit Kawasaki Team Principal, Mark Smith-Halvorsen, added, “Everyone in the team is excited to be welcoming Leon for 2016. He has proven to be one of the most successful riders within Superbike racing and we know that he won’t be returning to make up the numbers!

“Although behind the scenes the signing has been a very quick deal, we’re already in the process of building a third ZX-10R Superbike which Leon will get to experience when he joins James and Peter next month. With a combination of the new Kawasaki and three of the strongest riders on the grid, I truly believe we have the right package to win our debut MCE British Superbike Championship title. It’s up to us now, to turn that into a reality”

Ross Burridge, Kawasaki UK Senior Racing Co-ordinator, said: “The British Superbike Championship is certainly a tough one and you have to make sure everything aligns in order to even be in with a shout at success. I truly believe GBMoto have achieved this for the 2016 season. Their rider lineup is phenomenal, the factory support we’re providing is working wonders and the team’s sheer determination to win is second to none. I really believe that 2016 could be the year for them to bring home the British Superbike Championship. I wish them the best of luck and can’t wait for round one at Silverstone in April.”

To find out more about the JG Speedfit British Superbike team and all of Team Green, visit the all new website at www.teamgreenracing.co.uk or like the Facebook page - Kawasaki Team Green

Rising road racing star Dan Hegarty has confirmed that he will ride for RTR Motorcycles backed by Downshift Limited for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy as well as selected meetings at Oliver’s Mount including the prestigious Scarborough Gold Cup.

The team has yet to confirm machinery but is committed to competing in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock, Monster Energy Supersport and PokerStars Senor TT Races at next year’s TT which runs from 28th May to 10th June 2016.

Nottingham rider Dan, who made his TT Races debut in 2011, clearly made real progress in 2015, performing consistently at the TT, which resulted in a new highest placed finish of thirteenth which he achieved in the opening Superbike race. He followed that up with a top 20 position in the RL360 Superstock Race and eighteenth position in the prestigious PokerStars Senior TT, rounding off his most consistent TT to date. He also improved his fastest lap around the TT Course to 126.5mph on the last lap of this year’s Senior TT.

2015 also saw Hegarty make his debut at Oliver’s Mount in the Spring Cup National Road Races, finishing the meeting as leading newcomer, which included third place in second Junior A Race.

He finished the 2015 road race season in style at the Scarborough Gold Cup, piloting his Downshift Motorsport ZX10R Kawasaki to a superb fourth place finish in the Steve Henshaw International Gold Cup meeting which included taking an outstanding runner-up place in the Senior Race ahead of notable road racing luminaries including John McGuinness and Ivan Lintin.

Commenting on his 2016 season Dan said:

“I am glad of the way I have progressed over my years competing at the TT. There’s so much to take in when you’re learning the TT course but next year will be my sixth year on the Isle of Man and every year I get more confident round there. It’s great to have the deal with RTR Motorcycles/Downshift Ltd sorted well ahead of the new season which gives me loads of time to keep working hard towards my goals.”

Get your motor runnin’ and head out on the highway…

Motorbikes and rock and roll have gone together like helmets and leathers since the younger generation learned to love the freedom afforded by two wheels and the open road in the post-war era.

Steppenwolf’s much-covered Born to be Wild was not the first true motorcycle song, but possibly the most famous thanks to its appearance on the film soundtrack of Easy Rider.

Specialist insurance broker Bikesure, which numbers many true bike devotees among its staff, set them a challenge to come up with 10 of the best true biker songs of all time.

From the Shangri-La’s teen tragedy Leader of the Pack to Brian Wilson’s typically harmony-drenched paean to the Honda Super Cub, the team came up with some legendary rock numbers and one or two more little-known gems.

Read about and listen to the full 10 tracks. You can also put forward your own suggestions. 

Ace Cafe London is delighted to be able to confirm attendance, with stand and display at the prestigious annual Motor Bike Expo show, Verona, held from 22nd – 24th January 2016.

In addition to combining factory production, race, off-road and adventure bikes, motocross, streetfighters, tourers, trikes, cruisers, classics and the best of bespoke and custom built machines, the show features an all new area and competition for 2016, “Il Ferro dell’anno” (Iron of the Year), organised by the monthly magazine “Ferro – Moto Speciali, Uomini Speciali”, entirely dedicated not to the professional builders, but instead to the emerging, next generation, and their bikes!

Cafe racers, to include through to modern builds, based on the styles, legends and icons of the 1960s and 1970s, will be amongst the myriad of special and custom built bikes displayed in four of the shows many halls.

Celebrated special guests attending Verona Motor Bike Expo 2016 includes, with his unique urban inspired art, Nicolai Sclater, together with Bonneville Speed Week’s fastest women on an American V-Twin, Jody Perewitz as well as renowned builders to include Mike Ribideau, Danny Schneider, Kirk Taylor from custom Design Studios, El Solitario- David Borras and Internationally renowned photographer Michael Lichter, along with Dave and Jody Perewitz hosting the “Perewitz Paint Show” in Hall 1.

Attracting over 150K visitors in 2015, there is something on display at the show to suit every rider and anyone interested in riding – the world’s leading manufacturers, specialist brands, famous “biking” faces and stars from racing and competitions, as well as guest celebrities from the world’s two-wheeler TV shows – see you in Verona!

Ace Cafe London:

Hall - 4
Stand – 24T

www.motorbikeexpo.it

For more information about what's on at the Ace, check out the scrolling calendar at www.ace-cafe-london.com

Devitt RC Express Racing have confirmed that they will be expanding their team to a two-strong line-up for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other International road races, with Eire’s Alan Bonner joining 2015 Lightweight TT race winner Ivan Lintin.

The Bristol-based team, led by father and son Roy and Ben Constable, has risen through the road racing ranks since their debut mid-way through the 2012 season, becoming one of the most successful teams in the paddock firstly with Dean Harrison and more recently with Lintin.

The team took their first podium at the Isle of Man TT in 2014 when Harrison took second in the Superstock TT before going one better a few days later with a superb victory in the Lightweight TT. Lintin then gave the team further success in 2015 as they regained their Lightweight TT title.

With Lintin already confirmed for 2016, Strathmullen’s Bonner joins the team on the back of a highly successful 2015 TT campaign which saw him become the fastest ever rider from Southern Ireland to lap the Mountain Course, breaking the late Martin Finnegan’s long-standing mark.

Having made his TT debut in 2014, winning two bronze replicas in the Supersport races, Bonner excelled in his second year on the Island, lapping at 127.090mph on his way to finishing an excellent 15th place in the PokerStars Senior. That gave him his second silver replica in the process after finishing 18th earlier in the week in the Superstock race. He also finished 16th and won a bronze replica in the opening Superbike race

Now fully recovered from injuries sustained in a qualifying accident at the Ulster Grand Prix, the Stamullen rider will campaign a Kawasaki ZX-10R Superstock machine in all of the 1000cc races.

Alan Bonner said:
“I'm delighted to be joining Devitt RC Express Racing for 2016. I've admired the team for years and have seen the commitment they have to their riders. They have a very professional set up and some of the best technical people in the sport working within their team. I can't thank them enough or their sponsors for this opportunity especially Mann Camping. I'd also like to thank all my personal sponsors for supporting me and am looking forward to getting out to Spain with them in early March to start testing.”

Ben Constable, Team Co-owner added:
“I’m really pleased to have Alan on board for the internationals in 2016. Alan has shown great pace this year at the TT becoming the fastest Southern Irishman ever to lap the Mountain Course and was running inside the top 10 in qualifying at the Ulster GP in Superstock, just before his accident. With more of a team infrastructure behind him we firmly believe there is a lot more to come from him. His first outing on the ZX10R will be in Spain in March and we can’t wait to get going.”