Category: Superbikes

1. MOTOGP - APRILIA ARRIVES AT JEREZ FOR THE FIRST EUROPEAN ROUND

   Posted on 10:00am Wednesday 20th Apr 2016

   SPECIAL INCENTIVE FOR ALVARO BAUTISTA, STEFAN BRADL READY TO CAPITALISE ON HIS RS-GP'S AGILITY

   ROMANO ALBESIANO: "CHASSIS, ELECTRONIC AND AERODYNAMIC UPGRADES"
   
   After the overseas start to the season, MotoGP makes its début in Europe with the Spanish round at Jerez. This is a track that marks an important turning point for Aprilia, and not only in geographical terms. In fact, it has a layout with decidedly different characteristics than the tracks from the first three races. This is a layout that, on paper, could favour the peculiarities of the new Aprilia RS-GP.

   A scheduled development programme will also begin in Spain, the first fruits of which will be seen this weekend. There are chassis upgrades, developments with the electronics and aerodynamics born out of the experience gained during the first outings of the 2016 prototype. Therefore, after the encouraging results achieved in the first races, for the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini this promises to be a race with multiple incentives, where the primary goal is still to continue racking up kilometres and experience.
   
   
   ROMANO ALBESIANO - APRILIA RACING MANAGER
   "In the first three races of the season we were able to collect a lot of data that also highlight the areas where we need to improve the most right now. Building from there, we have laid out our development schedule for the European races, a programme that will begin already this weekend with the first, important steps in terms of the chassis, electronics and aerodynamics. Jerez is Alvaro's home race and he did very well here last year, whereas Stefan is enjoying a good trend, as his recent results demonstrate. I expect that both of them, also considering the characteristics of the track, will be able to take another step forward in terms of performance".
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI - TEAM MANAGER
   "The results are positive, thanks to the efforts of the Aprilia technicians and the entire team. We are preparing for a long series of races in Europe, with the Jerez round representing an important test bench. When a bike works well on this track it is generally effective almost everywhere. So we are anxiously awaiting this GP, knowing we can count on upgrades that can help us make progress".
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   “We're beginning the European races after a decidedly positive start to the season, given the fact that we were able to earn points in every race with a completely new bike. And we could have done even better if it hadn't been for a few things that were beyond our control. Jerez is a much shorter track and rather different from the ones where we've raced so far. It will be interesting to see how the RS-GP performs. I think that it will be a fundamental weekend for finding a good base. Until now we have taken on particular circuits with very specific setup needs. I also like it because a lot of fans and my friends will be there, so that will make for a special atmosphere. The goal is to keep going down the path we have already started, finishing the race and staying as close as possible to the top 10”.
   
   STEFAN BRADL
   “The first European race of the season is always long-awaited. Jerez is an interesting track because it has a completely different layout that the one on the tracks we've tackled so far. Overall it is a slow track, with short straight stretches where power doesn't count for too much, so the excellent agility of our bike could allow us to take a further step forward. I'm pumped up for the weekend since we will have the support of our European fans, who always make their presence and warmth felt, as well as some electronics upgrades that the guys at Aprilia have been working on nonstop”.

2. Fourth place on the grid for Jacobsen after Dutch WorldSSP Superpole

   Posted on 9:00am Sunday 17th Apr 2016

   that the 22-year-old has claimed the front slot of row 2, as he did the same both in Thailand and Spain.

   Like all the other riders who were automatically seeded to Superpole 2 after yesterday’s two free practice sessions, Jacobsen had to quickly adapt to the dry conditions of the 4.542km track, which he had not encountered before during this weekend. Lap after lap, the American built up great speed aboard his Honda CBR600RR and, in his final attempt before the chequered flag, he logged a 1’40.165 that allowed him to retake that fourth place he had lost moments before. Pole position and second were in fact taken by the two riders who had to make their way through the first Superpole session.

   The fourth race of the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship is scheduled to commence tomorrow at 11:20 local time (GMT+2).

3. WILSON CRAIG RACING CONFIRMS CAMERON DONALD RETURN

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 31st Mar 2016

   Northern Ireland based Wilson Craig Racing has confirmed that two time TT Race winner Cameron Donald will return to the team for the 2016 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   The popular Australian, who last raced for the team at the 2013 TT Races, will compete in the RST Superbike and PokerStars Senior TT on board the team’s CBR 1000cc Honda Superbike. He’ll also campaign a CBR Honda in the RL360 Quantum Superstock Race and a CBR 600RR Honda in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races.

   Wilson has supported teams at the TT since 2005 and backed Uel Duncan’s team in 2006, which saw Cameron achieve a memorable runner-up place to John McGuinness in that year’s Senior TT Race, a year after his Mountain Course debut.

   The pair were again reunited in 2011 when Cameron rode for Wilson's own team and enjoyed notable successes with the highlights undoubtedly Cameron’s second place in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Superbike TT Races and his runner-up slot to Bruce Anstey by less than a second in the 2012 Monster Energy Supersport Race 1, one of the closest margins of victory in TT history. He also finished runner up in the second Supersport Race in 2012.

   Commenting on signing Donald for a third time, Wilson Craig said:

   “It’s no secret that I’ve always wanted to win a Superbike Race at the Isle of Man TT and with Cameron Donald riding for the team we’ve undoubtedly got a chance to win one. We’ve got a real affinity with Cameron and he’s always been consistently challenging in every class when he’s raced for us.”

   Cameron Donald said:

   “I’ve signed with Wilson again to race at the front of the Superbike field. He’s always prepared great bikes for me and I’m really comfortable with the team and see Wilson as a friend. I know that I can still win races on the Isle of Man and riding for Wilson Craig Racing will give me every chance to have a go for the top spot in the big bike class as well as the other races.”

   Tickets are now on sale and selling fast for the 2016 TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy. Glencrutchery Road Grandstand race day tickets are sold out but there are still TT Fan Zone Grandstand tickets available at Ballacrye, Creg Ny Baa and Nobles Park during practice and race days. Grandstand tickets are also available by purchasing VIP or Platinum Hospitality tickets. All tickets are available from www.iomtt.com or by phoning 00 44 (0)1624 640000.

4. MOTOGP – SECOND DAY OF PRACTICE IN QATAR

   Posted on 9:00pm Friday 18th Mar 2016

   THE APRILIA RS-GP MACHINES CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THEIR TIMES, SESSION AFTER SESSION
   
   Losail (Qatar), 18 March 2016 - On the Losail track, in preparation for the Qatar GP that will kick off the MotoGP World Championship on Sunday, the second day of practice was held with two sessions today, FP2 and FP3.
   Aprilia has the new RS-GP bikes on the grid for their maiden race weekend and they have continued to improve their times session after session. In the three sessions held yesterday and today, the Aprilia V4 machines demonstrated consistent progress on the clock both with Bautista (1’57.129 - 1’57.012 - 1’56.749), and with Bradl (1’57.989 - 1’57.541 - 1’57.069). This is good feedback for a project that is taking its first steps with margins for improvement that are still just waiting to be discovered.

   The Aprilia Racing Team Gresini riders put in a total of 77 laps today (34 for Alvaro and 33 for Stefan), confirming the increasing reliability of the RS-GP, a first step on which to set up development in terms of performance as well.
   
   ALVARO BAUTISTA
   “We're working nonstop trying to find the best sensations in the saddle. The bike is so new that we discover something new on every lap. The results today are that, in terms of race pace I'm rather satisfied. The pace is good with a used tyre. When we tried to improve times with a new tyre we were lacking on the fast lap. Basically I had the same feeling that I had with the tyre that had done 22 laps. In any case, we are achieving our goal, which is to get in as many laps as possible to streamline development”.
   
   STEFAN BRADL
   “In each session we are improving by almost half a second. I am feeling better and better on the RS-GP. Unfortunately the feeling yesterday was not as I had expected, so we got off to a bit of a slow start, but now we are making up ground. This makes me optimistic. We still have a long way to go, but if we can keep growing at this pace I'm sure we'll be able to get there quickly. Another positive factor is that we are able to solve every small problem that comes up quickly. Of course, we lose a few precious moments during the sessions but we are getting closer and closer to the ideal base set up”.

5. Hard-earned podium finish for Jacobsen in spectacular Thai WorldSSP race‏

   Posted on 5:00pm Sunday 13th Mar 2016

   PJ Jacobsen and the Honda WorldSSP Team have taken their maiden podium finish of the season at the end of an enthralling, 17-lap race at the Chang International Circuit in Thailand. With the second round of the season over, the 22-year-old American and Honda move up to second place in the riders’ and manufacturers’ standings, respectively.

   Jacobsen got the perfect start off fourth place on the grid aboard his Honda CBR600RR as he dived with great confidence into turn one to take the lead. He then pushed hard to maintain his position, despite some fierce competition from Cluzel. In the closing stages of the race, Jacobsen did his utmost to stay at the front of the field, eventually running slightly wide at turn five on the penultimate lap. He then found himself in the middle of the factory Kawasaki duo of Sofuoglu and Krummenacher, exchanging positions with the reigning Champion much to the crowd’s delight.

   The three riders crossed the line within four tenths of a second of each other, with Jacobsen claiming third place at the chequered flag.

   The next round of the 2016 FIM Supersport World Championship takes place at MotorLand Aragón circuit in Spain on April 1-3.