Category: Superbikes

1. TEAM CLASSIC SUZUKI CONFIRMS TIE UP WITH SUZUKI GB VINTAGE PARTS PROGRAMME FOR 2016

   Posted on 12:00pm Monday 4th Jan 2016

   Team Classic Suzuki has announced its tie up with Suzuki GB’s Vintage Parts programme for 2016, and confirm that it will officially represent the Japanese manufacturer in high profile classic racing events next season.

   The team will contest a number of events throughout the year, including the Classic TT on the Isle of Man, and unveiled the Suzuki XR69s that riders Michael Dunlop and Lee Johnston will campaign in 2016 at Motorcycle Live.

   Team Classic Suzuki Owner, Steve Wheatman, said of the tie up,

   “We’re delighted to have agreed terms with Suzuki GB for increased support in 2016, and are proud to be officially representing the brand next season. It’s a mutually beneficial partnership, with the team able to benefit from Suzuki’s parts knowledge and input, while the spectators at many of the events we will be racing at in 2016 are enthusiasts and owners of older bikes, who could benefit from Suzuki GB’s parts programme for more classic machines.

   “In 2015 Michael Dunlop raced our XR69 to victory at the Classic TT; his second win in three years on our bike, and we’ll be aiming for the top step again at every event we enter in 2016 with both Michael and Lee Johnston.”

   Suzuki GB Aftersales Marketing Co-ordinator, Tim Davies, said,

   “Being involved with Steve and Team Classic Suzuki is a perfect fit for us. Racing is a hugely important part of Suzuki’s heritage, and even though bikes and technology are always moving forward, we don’t forget about the bikes that got us to where we are. It’s the same with our road bikes too, which is why we’re so committed to supporting the team next season, and we’re sure we’ll be celebrating some good results together in 2016.”

2. Kawasaki UK re-launch Team Green for the 2016 race season‏

   Posted on 12:00pm Tuesday 29th Dec 2015

   

   After a record breaking season for Kawasaki, which includes winning the World Superbike Championship, the Manufacturer’s Championship at British and World level and being top of the table in Superstock 1000 and 600, Kawasaki UK has today launched Team Green – a banner to cover both the on-road and off-road racing efforts at all levels.

   Originally launched back in the 1980s by Alec Wright – Racing Manager at Kawasaki Motors UK Ltd – Team Green represented the pinnacle of racing. Back in the day, Team Green became the name on everyone’s lips and something everyone wanted to be part of, both on the dirt and tarmac, and success followed with John Reynolds winning one 600 Championship and two 750 titles and other riders sweeping the board winning all the UK schoolboy championships plus the AMCA 125 and 250 titles in 1985.

   In 2013, Team Green Youth MX Team was launched and represented Kawasaki UK at all major British Youth Championships. There was success on track with the team winning the Small Wheel 85 Championship in 2013 and the Big Wheel 85 Championship in 2014.

   Mark Spiller, Kawasaki UK Marketing and Brand Development Manager, said: “Racing has always been an indulgence and the personal pleasure of many and that is certainly very true of all at Kawasaki Motors UK. However, the KMUK Team Green approach to racing includes more than the action on the track. We have reinstated the values of the past and this means we operate in a true working partnership with all our officially supported teams at every level.”

   “2015 saw the re-launch of Team Green in the UK, an umbrella brand supporting all UK off-road race activities from Youth to GP’s. Team Green is a community that introduces the Kawasaki brand to the youngsters at club level, providing the “ladder of opportunity” to help achieve aspirations and remain with the family at every level of the sport.”

   For the 2016 season, all on-road and off-road teams will be under the Team Green umbrella, a term that also covers the Team Green Sport partners, including: stunt performer Lee Bowers and Freestyle MX rider Jamie Squibb as well as Team Green Kids Ambassador seven-year-old, Lottie Trenchard.

   Ross Burridge, Senior Racing Co-ordinator, said: “We’ve created a team that’s very much akin to how Team Green was in the 80s and 90s in that the riders – despite some being young – operate in a very professional manner. This has helped, not only our success on track, but also created a desire for many other riders to want to be a part of it. For 2016, I’m personally very excited to see Team Green feature in the road racing scene too with GBMoto and I feel that the ethos of Team Green will be replicated at the highest level of road racing in the UK. Roll on 2016.”

   With the Ninja 300 Cup run by the British Motorcycle Racing Club entering its fifth season, now known as ‘The Team Green Junior Cup’, and with Team Green being represented in a number of British Championships – including: Superbike, Superstock 1000 and 600 and Supersport – and across a number of off-road disciplines, Kawasaki is the team on track to watch out for in 2016.

   Keep up to date with the latest Team Green news on the website at: www.kawasaki.co.uk

3. Leon Haslam joins Team Green and signs for official Kawasaki BSB team, JG Speedfit Kawasaki‏

   Posted on 9:00am Tuesday 22nd Dec 2015

   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
   

4. Enea Bastianini awarded with Motosprint's "Casco Tricolore"

   Posted on 3:51pm Wednesday 16th Dec 2015

   Gresini Racing Team Moto3 racer Enea Bastianini was one of the stars of the 2015 edition of weekly Italian magazine Motosprint’s “Caschi d’Oro” awards ceremony, held on the evening of Monday, December 14th at the Checco Costa Museum, inside the Imola Circuit. The 17-year-old from Rimini, third overall and first Italian rider in the final standings of the 2015 Moto3 World Championship, was awarded with the “Casco Tricolore”.

   Fausto Gresini was also attending the ceremony, marking the 40th anniversary of the event, whose first edition was held back in 1976: as team manager of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini, Fausto took to the stage to deliver the “Casco Tricolore” to Aprilia Racing manager Romano Albesiano, as a reward for the efforts made by the Italian manufacturer in his return season in MotoGP in partnership with Gresini Racing.
   
   FAUSTO GRESINI
   “I’m really proud that one of our riders has been awarded with the Casco Tricolore: Gresini Racing has always invested in the growth of young Italian talents and the results we are getting in the Moto3 World Championship are proving it. I believe that Italy is coming really close to win again the World Title in the smaller category: there are so many strong riders now, and Bastianini is one of them. Enea is still very young, but he has learned many things during this season and now I think that he can really fight for the title. With regard to MotoGP, it was nice to deliver the Casco Tricolore to Romano Albesiano: we quickly established a good cooperation with Aprilia Racing, and we were able to collect a lot of data ahead of the 2016 season, in which we will be on track with a completely new bike. For this reason we are grateful to Albesiano and all the staff at Noale for their great effort”.

5. McGuinness and Cummins with Honda Racing for 2016‏

   Posted on 10:00am Thursday 10th Dec 2015

   
   
   

   2016 road racing campaign. The announcement was made on the main stage in front of a large and enthusiastic crowd on ‘TT Day’ at the Motorcycle Live exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham.

   The ‘Morecambe Missile’ and the ‘Ramsey Rocket’ will contest the Superbike classes at the North West 200 and also the Superbike and Senior races at the Isle of Man TT aboard the proven Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP. Cummins will also take part in the 2016 Ulster GP and both riders are scheduled to race at Macau later in the year.

   With 23 TT wins to his name, McGuinness proved he was still the man to beat in 2015, storming to victory in the blue riband Senior race and smashing the outright lap record around the 37.73-mile Mountain Course with a 132.701mph lap.

   Isle of Man native Cummins, 29, took two podium places in tricky conditions at the 2015 Ulster GP aboard the Honda CBR, finishing second in the Dundrod 150 Superbike race and the final Superbike race of the day. Both riders competed in last month’s 12-lap Macau Grand Prix where they took fourth and seventh places respectively on their Honda machines.

   In addition to their commitments with the official Honda Racing squad, McGuinness and Cummins will race with the private Jackson Racing team on Honda’s CBR600RR in the Supersport class at the NW200 and TT. The duo will also compete in the 2016 Endurance World Championship Superstock class aboard the Fireblade SP and Cummins will compete for Jackson Racing in the Superstock class on the roads.

   Motorcycle Live has been a successful show for Honda who showcased its new range of 2016 motorcycles, including the all-new Africa Twin and the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP, McGuinness and Cummins will hopefully ride to victory on in 2016.

   For all the latest news from the Honda Racing team, follow @HondaRacingCBR.