The Honda TT Legends will today become the first team to run electronically controlled Combined ABS at World Championship level. The World Endurance contenders will use an ABS-equipped CBR1000RR Fireblade for the Le Mans 24-hour race, which begins today at 3pm (Central European Time). 
 
The team has carried out extensive testing of the system over the past few months with a view to introducing it to the race bike in 2012. The results have been so successful however that the decision has been made to run Combined ABS at the penultimate round of the 2011 EWC season at Le Mans, France.
 
Honda pioneered the introduction of ABS on road-going motorcycles and the manufacturer has already experienced racing success at national level when a Combined ABS-equipped Fireblade ridden by Karl Muggeridge won the 2010 German Superbike Championship. This is the first time that Honda has used the system during a World championship. 
 
Neil Tuxworth – Honda TT Legends team manager
 
Our plan was always to develop ABS during the season and we’ve done a lot of work at various tests. We are now very confident that we are ready to go out and race it. All the riders are happy with the system, we’ve encountered no problems whatsoever during our test period and in fact the riders have lapped quicker here in Le Mans on the ABS bike than on the non-ABS bike. It’s certainly our plan for next season to run ABS continually. We have to make that move at a certain point and this seems the ideal event to introduce ABS. The fact that it is a 24-hour race means it will be an extra long test for the system and Honda has a long history of proving its technology in the ultimate competitive environment. I have no real worries from a racing point of view – the system has more parts so it might take a bit longer in the pits in the event of crash damage – but I think that is a small price to pay for the fact that the ABS system is very, very good.

James McBride from Kettering had productive weekend (15th-18th September) of testing and then racing with TANC Racing Endurance team, finishing in third place at Oulton Park Hottrax Endurance race.
 
The on track action started in Almeria where he tested the PB Racing BMW in readiness for the Macau GP, which will take place on the 19th November on the Guia street circuit.
 
He racked up 47 laps in five sessions on Friday getting used to the Michelin slicks which worked extremely well. He gradually reduced his lap time to 1min 44secs, a personal best for the well-known road racer.
 
McBride made a mad dash back to the UK to compete in the Hottrax Endurance event on the ex-Riba MSS ZX600R. As well as finishing with a podium position the fast Kettering man also took the fastest 600 lap of the race in the soaking wet conditions, fending off others on larger machinery.
 
Team-mate Chris Mason is now in a comfortable second place in the National 1000 Championship with the help of James with just one event to go at the end of October at Snetterton 300. McBride needs to borrow a bike again for this as the BMW will be en-route to Hong Kong, and the 600 would be punished at the uber-fast two-mile race circuit.
 
McBride said: “It has been busy but very worthwhile. The BMW is working well and I can’t wait to take it to Macau and try for another top ten finish. As for the endurance event, it was great fun and once again we took the fight to the big boys! I’ve got to thank Jez Murray for the use of the ZX6R at Oulton, it performed brilliantly. I also need to thank Pete Bleackley for the BMW for Macau, it’s going to be a great event and I now can’t wait to get out there.”
 
Thanks also to Michelin tyres, Spidi UK, GB Racing, Jez Murray and PBMotorsport.
 
The 58th Macau Grand Prix will take place on the 17th-20th November for further information visit.
 
If anyone can help McBride with a bike for the Snetterton 300 Endurance please contact him on 07917 175963.

The IAM is supporting calls to make anti-lock braking systems (ABS) compulsory on all new large motorcycles by 2015.  

MEPs will shortly debate proposals that would force manufacturers to introduce ABS as standard on all new motorcycles over 125cc. The proposals set a deadline of 2017 for this, although the IAM and the FIA would like to see this brought forward by two years so that the safety benefits can be seen as soon as possible.  

In 2010, the number of motorcyclists involved in fatal accidents in the UK came to 403* – 21 per cent of all road deaths. Yet motorcyclists make up just four per cent of road users. The risk of being killed or injured is 50 times greater for motorcyclists than for car drivers, over the same distance.  

Based on recent research by the FIA and from experience in Italy, where nearly a quarter of all new large bikes already have ABS, the IAM estimates that compulsory introduction would save 1500 lives a year across Europe. In the UK three quarters of all bikers killed are riding the biggest bikes so this technology has huge potential to save lives here. The IAM’s report Licensed to Skill also shows that 'sudden braking' and 'slippery road' are in the top 10 causation factors for motorcycle casualties.  

IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig said: “ABS is available now on many new bikes and the evidence is clear from across Europe that it is delivering fewer deaths. Carefully crafted legislation making ABS mandatory for all large road motorcycles would make motorcyclists safer, although we do still have concerns about the long term reliability of some ABS systems. On motorcycles ABS is still prone to faults because it is more open to the elements and repairs can be very expensive. Compulsory fitment will bring down unit costs and allow all riders to enjoy the safety benefits.”  

www.iam.org.uk

The Dunlop Tyres Motorcycle division is pleased to welcome Mark Sears to the team as Product Support Manager as of 1st October 2011.

The position has been filled internally by Mark who has 23 years of experience with Dunlop. Mark directly replaces Bryn Phillips.

Mark began as an apprentice with Dunlop in 1988 and after three years with the company moved into the motorsport division. Over the space of 20 years Mark has worked with a number of winning teams at some of the largest championships around the world including WSB, World Endurance/GP, AMA, BSB and IDM.

Most recently Mark sat in the position of Chief Design Engineer for Dunlop Motorcycle Motorsport and his expertise in tyre design and technology are second to none. Mark has patents for the D208 and D208A and was the co designer on Dunlop’s first 16.5 inch rear slick tyre.

As a rider himself Mark has a wide range of experience with both race and road products and currently rides a Ducati Monster.

Mark comments: “I am really pleased to join the ever improving Dunlop motorcycle marketing team. The entire motorcycle product range is the youngest and strongest we have ever had. We also have new products on the horizon and I can’t wait to increase my involvement with our consumers & dealers via our ‘Race to Road’ program. As a motorcyclist myself, I know the importance of high performing tyres and how they can instill confidence in a rider. I look forward to working with the team soon.”

Mark will report directly to Andy Marfleet, Dunlop Brand Manager, as well as having a close working relationship with Dunlop Motorcycle SBU Manager Dominic Clifford and the Dunlop Motorcycle Sales team.

Andy comments: “We are pleased to welcome Mark to the Dunlop Marketing team. Mark’s motorsport background and extensive knowledge of motorcycle tyres will help us to communicate our ‘Race to Road’ philosophy to end users and dealers. Mark will be the key technical contact for the Dunlop motorcycle range as well as training dealers and internal associates. I wish Mark all the very best in his new role with us.”

Humber Bridge motorcycle toll to be scrapped!

Tell your friends but just as important tell them that it was MAG that got it.