Category: Superbikes

1. Sheils remains with Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing for 2017 TT Campaign

   Posted on 10:00am Friday 18th Nov 2016

   Derek Sheils, the man who won two Irish and one Ulster road racing titles this year, has agreed to ride for John Burrows' Tyrone based road racing outfit again for the 2017 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and other road races. Another great fillip for the team is the confirmation that Cookstown will continue as title sponsor for an amazing seventh consecutive year.  

   John Burrows said:

   "I'm extremely happy to announce that Derek Sheils will be the lead rider for Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2017. I'm delighted to have him back as it gives us continuity that we didn't always have in the past. We know Derek, he know the team and the bikes so we are ready to go already.

   "Derek will have Superbike, Supersport 600, Superstock and Supertwins machinery at his disposal for the Isle of Man TT, Ulster GP and the Irish Championship meetings. It has yet to be decided if we will compete at the North West 200. We may field a second rider at certain events if the opportunity arises.

   "Derek won the Irish and Ulster Superbike titles in 2016 as well as the Irish Supertwins crown and also claimed his first International rostrum when he finished second in the UGP Supertwins race. Next year Derek and the team will focus on gaining more International success and we will have a crack at the Irish Superbike, Supersport and Supertwins championships - that would be a difficult hat-trick to achieve but it's a challenge we are up for.

   "Derek joined the 130 mph club at Dundrod this year and I'm confident he can rise to the same mark at the TT in 2017. At both International events Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing will be aiming to be at the top end of the result sheets.

   "Finally, it's marvellous to have Cookstown giving us their backing once again. Their continued support has helped us go from strength to strength during the last seven years. We will also have substantial support from Hagan Homes and NMT Shipping. Thanks to all the team's supporters without whom our successes would not be possible."

   Conor Cummins, William Dunlop, Steve Mercer and David Johnson rounded out the top ten, having missed out in the morning’s race.

   Hutchinson has now moved to the top of the race for the Joey Dunlop Championship with 70 points and with Dunlop retiring, Harrison movea up to second on 47 points with Dunlop remaining on 45 in third.

   Meanwhile, Dan Hegarty was again the top privateer in an excellent 11th place. Horst Saiger was the second privateer home in 13th overall with Jamie Coward third and 14th overall.

   Hegarty leads the overall privateers table on 50pts followed by Coward on 47 and Saiger 46.

   Dubliner Sheils commented:

   "I had a great year with Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing in 2016 and I'm delighted to be staying with the team for another campaign. John Burrows has assembled a great crew who are very professional and keep on top of things, when I go out on track I know I will have a great bike underneath me. Winning three titles last year was good but the most satisfying thing for me was my improved International performances and my 131 mph lap at the Ulster GP.

   "Next year my focus will be on getting near the sharp end in every International race I take part in. At the TT I'm aiming for top ten finishes but with the quality in every race I know that won't be easy. I know my package will be good enough but sometimes at the TT you need a bit of luck as well.

   "At home it would be nice to retain the titles I won in 2016 but I will just take each National meeting as it comes. If I win races every weekend then the championships will take care of themselves."

   Derek Sheils will ride the Cookstown Burrows Engineering Racing Suzuki GSXR 1000 Superbike in the 50th Macau GP on November 19th. It will be Sheils' first appearance at the famous Far East race.

    

2. BOTH APRILIA RIDERS IN THE POINTS AT VALENCIA AND BAUTISTA IN THE TOP TEN AGAIN

   Posted on 5:00pm Sunday 13th Nov 2016

   GROWTH OF THE RS-GP MACHINES - TODAY IN RED TO CELEBRATE (RED) - CONFIRMED IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SEASON

   ALBESIANO: “THE BIKE HAS GROWN. WE ARE CONSISTENTLY IN THE TOP TEN AND STILL IMPROVING"
   
   Alvaro Bautista (tenth) rode his Aprilia RS-GP to a top ten finish at the Valencia GP that close out the 2016 Grand Prix Motorcycle Racing season.
   Stefan Bradl (thirteenth) also finished in the points, bringing home a good team result worthy of the positive conclusion to a season that, especially in the second half, saw the RS-GP machines and the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders consistently battling for a spot in the top ten, the stated goal for Venetian V4's rookie season, sometimes doing even better with placements like the seventh place finishes achieved in Argentina (Bradl) and Japan (Bautista).

   Alvaro, in his last race with Aprilia Racing Team Gresini and penalized by his start from the eighteenth spot on the grid, came back little by little, confident with his pace and the overall good balance of the bike. After overtaking Miller, Redding and Petrucci, he fended off Barbera's final attempts and, with the six points earned, overtook Laverty in the overall championship standings, finishing the season with a nice twelfth place.
   Bradl (also in his last race with Aprilia), after a start that had relegated him to the back of the pack, skilfully came back, even overtaking Redding in the finale to finish thirteenth.

   The Aprilia RS-GP machines showed off an entirely red livery in the race, without any other sponsors or even the Aprilia logo, in order to celebrate (RED), the organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver that, with $360 million in assistance, has contributed to the fight against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria in African countries since 2006.
   
   
   ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
   "We finished a very important season for Aprilia. We brought our MotoGP bike to its début, taking it to the races straight away and developing it throughout the season. For the past few rounds our level has allowed us to stay consistently in the top ten, which was our goal. The bike has grown and the racing department with it. We are a strong and motivated team that still has potential for growth. In addition to everyone on the team, I particularly wish to thank our riders, who believed in our project and who have earned our respect. I wish Stefan and Alvaro all the best and now we will already begin thinking about next season, which will start in a few hours".
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
   "Analysing the season, the first goal was to get through all the races without any technical issues keeping us from finishing, which is not a given for such a fledgling project. We demonstrated our potential to our rivals, growing consistently. We have a long road ahead, but we are moving in the right direction. We are proud of the results achieved and my thanks go to everyone: to Aprilia who has always given 100%, as well as to the team at the track and the riders. After such strong emotions, it is already time to reset and restart, with an even stronger desire to show what we are capable of achieving".
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   "In the second half of the season, we began to reap the fruits of a lot of hard work, much of which done last year as well. We went in the right direction for development. Aprilia did a great job and the materials worked the way we expected them to. We improved a lot and now I wish all the best to Aprilia and the team with whom I experienced two years of hard work, but great satisfaction in the progress the bike has made. I always gave it my all, but I must thank my engineers and my mechanics, because they did an exceptional job, always seeking to provide me with the best solution. The race today was good, if you consider that, starting from behind, we went from almost six seconds from the race leader in the first lap to finishing with a dignified gap, especially considering that this is one of the most difficult tracks for the RS-GP".
   
   STEFAN BRADL
   "It was a very exciting race, especially in the second half when I was able to push and overtake Redding, besides the fact that it is my last MotoGP race. Speaking of the race, unfortunately, after the warm up we had to replace the clutch and I was unable to make a good start, which did not make things simple. We decided to start with the soft front tyre, which we had not used in the afternoon sessions, and that meant that I had to adapt a bit, especially in the first laps. From the mid-race point on things improved, but the gap was already too big to strive for a better position. In any case, we finished in the points and, on a track that is difficult for us, that result was not a given. I wish to thank all the guys and Aprilia. This experience has helped me to grow as a rider, taking on a new challenge made up of testing and developing a new project. We can be satisfied with the work we have done and I wish them the best of luck for the future".

3. Haslam stays in British Superbikes with Bournemouth Kawasaki

   Posted on 11:00am Thursday 10th Nov 2016

   Leon Haslam has signed a deal directly with Kawasaki Motors UK to ride in the British Superbike series with Bournemouth Kawasaki for the 2017 season. 

   The team’s title sponsor and machine livery will be unveiled for the first time on the Kawasaki Motors UK stand (Hall 2 Stand 2B15) at Motorcycle Live at 10:30am on Saturday 19 November.

   The Derbyshire rider has developed a strong relationship with the Japanese manufacturer, having competed in the prestigious Suzuka 8-hour race, and more recently the Japanese Superbike and World Superbike Championship final rounds, representing the brand.

   Runner-up in the 2016 series on the Ninja ZX-10R, Haslam will be partnered by 24-year-old Luke Mossey who achieved a strong position in the 2016 Showdown and who is aiming to improve on his sixth place finish in the Championship this year.

   Ross Burridge, Kawasaki Motors UK Senior Racing Coordinator, said: “2016 was a great season of racing and although we were disappointed that Leon narrowly missed out on the title win, he gave 100% throughout the year. We’re delighted to be continuing to work with him for the 2017 season – to be working with a rider of this calibre is very exciting. We’re confident that the Bournemouth Kawasaki team will be a great platform for Leon to strive for the Championship win in 2017.”

   Leon Haslam said: “I’m so happy to have a second year with Kawasaki as I believe the ZX-10R will be the bike to beat – I’m super confident that we can win the BSB title. I have a really close relationship with Kawasaki as a manufacturer and it will be great to work with them again. I can’t wait to get everything going again.”

   As well as the unveiling of the brand new race bike and 2017 BSB team sponsors, visitors to the stand over the course of the show (19-27 November) will also have the first chance to see the brand new 2017 Kawasaki machinery for the first time in the UK. #GetEvenCloser to the new race-ready Ninja ZX-10RR, the best-selling Z1000SX with advanced electronics and feast your eyes the stunning Ninja H2 Carbon. Also on display will be the brand new additions to the Z family – the Z900 and Z650 – in all their naked glory.

4. Double World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea heads up a whole host of racing stars at Motorcycle Live

   Posted on 10:52am Thursday 10th Nov 2016

   Double World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea heads up a whole host of racing stars at Motorcycle Live

   Recently-crowned double World Superbike Champion Jonathan Rea will be one of many racing stars to appear at the UK’s biggest bike show, Motorcycle Live, which opens at The NEC, Birmingham on 19 November.

   Rea will be joined at the show on opening day by racing legend Freddie Spencer, MotoGP rider Eugene Laverty, World Superbike's Josh Brookes, British Superbike star Leon Haslam and Isle of Man TT record-breaker Michael Dunlop.

   The stars will keep on coming throughout the week with appearances from the likes of MotoGP riders Scott Redding and Bradley Smith, World Superbike legends Carl Fogarty and Troy Corser, SBK’s Alex Lowes, the championship-winning MacKenzie family and racing commentators Toby Moody and Julian Ryder.

   The Isle of Man TT riders will be out in force on TT Day (Sunday 27 November), as well as every day of the week, with John McGuinness, Conor Cummins, Dean Harrison, Ian Hutchinson, Bruce Anstey, Michael Rutter and many more all appearing.

   For a full list of riders, updated as and when more are confirmed, visit www.motorcyclelive.co.uk/racers-and-vips

5. Manx Racing Legend Conor Cummins to Compete in 50th Annual Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix

   Posted on 12:00pm Thursday 27th Oct 2016

   When the 28-man field lines up for the 2016 Macau Motorcyle Grand Prix this November, Manx road racer Conor Cummins will be representing the Honda Racing Team alongside John McGuinness. The race’s qualifying stage takes place on Friday, 18th November at Guia Circuit, and the race itself will be held the following day.

   Cummins joins Stuart Easton, Michael Rutter, Martin Jessopp, Ben Wylie, his teammate McGuinness, and the race’s defending champion Peter Hickman among the U.K.’s well-represented contingent of world-class road racers heading to Macau.

   The 30-year old favourite of his fellow Manx, along with motorcycle racing fans everywhere, Cummins’ legend is steeped in the history of his homeland’s most famous contest: the Isle of Man TT. A grueling 37-mile journey through the hilly Manx countryside’s Snaefell Mountain Course, which was once dubbed “37 miles of stone walls and telegraph poles” by former world champion racer Barry Sheene. The Isle of Man TT blends pure road racing with jaunts through local landmarks like Alpine Cottage to create one of the world’s most highly competitive, and highly anticipated, motorcycle races.     

   Conor’s father William “Billy” Cummins raced in the Tourist Trophy in his day, and Conor himself was born during TT week back in 1986. Both of the Cummins lads are still racing today, but for Connor, the road didn't always run so smoothly.

   In 2009 the younger Cummins sibling found himself on top of the racing world. He claimed the crown of Fastest Man on Earth that year, winning the Dundrod 150 Superbike race during Ulster Grand Prix Bike week by posting a final lap speed of 133.284 mph aboard his McAdoo Kawasaki, while also securing his first Isle of Man TT podium finish as runner up in the Senior TT. But on the second lap of very same race one year later, he fell victim to a horrific crash that went viral around the world. He broke five vertebrae, his left arm was completely shattered, and to top off the laundry list of injuries, Cummins suffered dislocation and ligament damage in his knee. The crash was featured in the 2011 documentary Closer to the Edge, which chronicled the 2010 Isle of Man TT through the eyes of Cummins, McGuinness, and fellow U.K. racers Guy Martin and Ian Hutchinson.

   Cummins isn’t shy in talking about the impact that the crash played on his career, and his life. Befitting his family’s long road racing lineage, he returned to the sport just one year later to begin a comeback from what many believed would be career-ending injuries. He finished third in the Lightweight TT in 2013, but from there the hunt for podium finishes has been fruitless. Nonetheless, in light of a recent change from Preston-based sponsor Jackson Racing to the Padgetts team out of Batley, ahead of this year’s Isle of Man TT, Cummins will be looking to ensure a Manx presence on the podium in Macau.

   Along with Cummins, the U.K. will be represented well by a stellar cast of former Macau Grand Prix champions.

   Peter Hickman of Burton-upon-Trent conquered the Guia Circuit, a 6.2km street course, last year.

   Michael Rutter of Wordsley is an eight-time champion renowned as the “Two Wheel King of Macau”, and he’s searching for a ninth checkered flag after winning the race in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003 2004, 2005, 2011, and 2012.

   Stuart Easton of Hawick, Scotland was the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix champion in 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2014.

   Ian Hutchinson of Bingley was the winner in 2013, and Isle of Man TT legend John McGuinness – Cummins’ Honda Racing teammate – took top honors in Macau in 2001.

   With such a stacked field for this year’s Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix, an appearance of the podium would be a surprise for Cummins, especially considering his three-year drought.

   He wasn’t expected to race again though, so to see Cummins’ name among the 28-racer field in November represents a win in its own right. And this is motorcycle road racing after all, so a superb run coupled with a little luck could very well see Cummins enjoy the kind of improbable finish that makes this sport so special.

    

    

    

   article supplied