Category: Superbikes

1. KEVIN SCHWANTZ JOINS THE LIST OF LEGENDS‏

   Posted on 9:24am Thursday 29th Jan 2015

   1993 500cc World Champion to race at Jerez in June aboard his iconic Suzuki RGV500 XR84, while Graeme Crosby also adds his name to the impressive line-up
   
   Another true legend of grand prix motorcycle racing – Kevin Schwantz – is the latest confirmed rider at the upcoming World GP Bike Legends extravaganza. The 1993 500cc World Champion will be racing flat out alongside a host of fellow former titleholders at Jerez, Spain, on 19-21 June.
   
   The American ace will be reunited with the very Suzuki RGV500 XR84 that carried the #1 plate during his 1994 season as World Champion (see fact file below). Schwantz will be part of the ‘Race of Legends’ features taking place on all three days, in which he will clash fairings with a huge host of fellow racing icons. Kevin joins Freddie Spencer, Wayne Gardner and Christian Sarron who are all former champions already confirmed for World GP Bike Legends as well as multiple race winner Didier de Radiguès.
   
   Racing full time in the World Championship between 1988 and 1995, the Texan scored 25 race victories and won over a huge host of fans all around the world and will undoubtedly put on a spectacular show in June.
   
   “When I first heard about the event it sounded like it would be a great time,” said Schwantz. "It’s going to be some good fun to be back out there with the ‘ole boys on our 500’s! Spain has always been the most popular place for Grand Prix racing and I look forward to seeing the huge crowds and all the fans at the event!”

   As if the Legends needed another excuse to party, Friday night, the 19th June, is also Kevin's birthday so make sure you're there to celebrate it with him!

   What’s more, another front-running rider from the heyday of grand prix motorcycle racing has also just been confirmed – Graeme Crosby. The New Zealander rode his Yamaha YZR500 to the runner-up spot in the 1982 World Championship, beating the likes of Spencer, Kenny Roberts and Barry Sheene in the process. As well as his grand prix successes, Crosby has a wide following thanks to victories in the Daytona 200, the Imola 200, the Suzuka 8 Hours and the Isle of Man TT.
   
   “It’s going to be just like the good old days,” enthused Crosby. “We’ll be back out on the old two-stroke bikes which are themselves very special, but even better it’s going to be great to see and ride with everyone again. I can’t wait to get down to Jerez!”
   
   The groundbreaking event will not only bring together what will likely be the biggest ever grids of former World Champions to do battle on the circuit, but offers a full weekend of entertainment. With music legend Bonnie Tyler just announced to headline the Saturday evening’s main stage and more artists to be confirmed in the coming weeks, the fun won’t stop when the chequered flag drops. There will also be a shopping village offering a huge variety of motorcycle and racing paraphernalia along with loads of other entertainment and demonstrations.
   
   There are currently significant early bird discounts on weekend tickets – with the full weekend price fixed at €55 until 31 March 2015. Tickets provide bike fans will full access to grandstands, race paddocks, the trade village and the live music concerts. For more information go to www.worldgpbikelegends.com

   Keep updated with all the news as it happens by following World GP Bike Legends on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
   
   Photo caption: Kevin Schwantz (main above, below top row) and Graeme Crosby (below bottom row) have will race in the inaugural World GP Bike Legends at Jerez on 19-21 June.

2. R&G becomes a MCE British Superbikes Official Sponsor

   Posted on 10:07am Sunday 25th Jan 2015

   Official crash protection supplier to the 2015 BSB Championship

   • R&G becomes official crash protection supplier to BSB
   • Creation of R&G Newcomers Trophy across all classes
   • Paddock-based race service at each round
   • Increased retail presence throughout Championship
   • Amplified branding in and around circuits and TV coverage
   • Arrangement extends to MSV Track Days (MSVT)

   R&G has become the official crash protection supplier to the 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as part of multi-structured deal with MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR).

   Founded in 1999, Hampshire-based R&G quickly became the leading manufacturer of crash protection products for motorcycles, thanks to its innovative designs and model-bespoke fitments. During these 16 years, the Company has expanded into products that defend a motorcycle from damage caused from everyday riding, as well as offering a huge range of bike-related accessories.

   In addition to becoming the official crash protection supplier: R&G will have a massively increased presence within MCE BSB, supporting riders and teams with a race paddock service, ACU discount, amplified branding in and around the circuits, more televised coverage, and the introduction of the R&G Newcomers Trophy. Spectators will also be able to take advantage of a dedicated retail shop at each round.

   The agreement with MSVR also extends to MSV Trackdays (MSVT), with R&G products being used on the instructors’ bikes and promoted at the events.

   MCE BSB Series Director, Stuart Higgs, said: “R&G is a recognised and award-winning brand, focused on protecting motorcycles, ultimately saving riders money, and I’m really excited that we’ve been able to increase our working relationship within the MCE British Superbike Championship and also to cover MSV Trackdays.
   “The cost of racing is never likely to drastically reduce, but we’ve seen many times that fitting top quality, strategically-placed protection can make a huge difference to a bike in a crash and reduce delays caused by oil spillages, particularly on track days.”

   R&G Managing Director, Simon Hughes, said: “I’m delighted to reach this deal with MSVR and for R&G to become more closely aligned with such a prestigious championship that reflects the same values as our brand. Racing is at the core of R&G and a large part of how we develop our expanding product ranges. We’ve always invested back into the sport and this agreement with MSVR should only help to reinforce that.

   Secondary engine covers are a mandatory product at MCE BSB, to help prevent oil contaminating the track from a crashed bike, potentially causing further incidents. R&G’s Engine Case Covers were approved for use in all classes within the Championship in 2014 and were exclusively used by every bike competing the 2014 TriStar R&G Triple Challenge, as well as being trusted by Team WD-40 and Gearlink Kawasaki, among many others.

   R&G will also be announcing its sponsored teams and riders for the 2015 season in both national and worldwide championships in due course.

3. Ducati and Aruba together in the Superbike World Championship‏

   Posted on 9:38am Saturday 10th Jan 2015

   • The agreement between Ducati and the important Italian web company will last three years

   • A new version of the Ducati Panigale and new regulations closer to production models for the 2015 Superbike World Championship

   • "Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team" is the name of the team, the only official Ducati outfit to compete in the Superbike World Championship

   Borgo Panigale/Arezzo (Italy), 8 January 2015: Ducati and Aruba confirm the signing of a three-year agreement that will see their joint participation in the 2015 Superbike World Championship with the “Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team”. This is a partnership agreement that sees Aruba directly involved in the management of the official Ducati team as well as in the role of title sponsor.

   Aruba, based in Arezzo, is Italy’s leading web hosting and cloud services company and has consolidated its activities in Europe with a network of Data Centres in France, Germany, the UK and the Czech Republic. The Tuscan firm has decided to take on this new challenge in collaboration with Ducati as it shares a significant number of values with the Bologna-based manufacturer, ranging from the technological avant-garde in their respective sectors, to the ability to offer the excellence of “Made in Italy”, operating with passion and competence to guarantee the satisfaction of their users and clients across the world. Important affinities that, combined with Ducati’s long-time experience and success in Superbike and the passion that Aruba has for sport, have contributed to the birth of this prestigious partnership.

   Ducati Corse will continue to be responsible for the development and preparation of the Ducati Panigale R bikes with which the team will compete in the upcoming championship. Ducati and Aruba have made the decision to continue collaboration with Feel Racing, the technical and logistical structure that has long been linked to Ducati. Aruba will be responsible for certain organizational aspects of the team and also, together with Ducati, for team communication and marketing activities.

   Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano will continue as official riders for the second consecutive year, with Serafino Foti confirmed in the role of Team Manager. Ernesto Marinelli will continue to be the Ducati Corse Superbike Project Director and Technical Director of the team. Aruba will be represented at the tracks by Luca Scassa. The 31-year old rider, who hails from Arezzo and has sixty Superbike races under his belt, will also be one of the team’s official test riders.

   Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A, stated: “It’s with great pleasure that we can announce this important agreement with Aruba that guarantees a solid work platform for Ducati in the Superbike World Championship over the next three years. While fully respecting our philosophy of using racing to test and continuously improve the product that we offer to our fans, the new “Aruba.it Racing – Ducati Superbike Team” will be able to count on a profoundly evolved version of the Panigale in 2015, which will also be available to our fans and be even more powerful, lightweight and electronically cutting-edge. For Ducati, races have strategic importance, and the Superbike World Championship allows us to demonstrate, on track, just how high-performing and fast a twin-cylinder can be. With the new 2015 regulations, which stipulate that the bikes competing must be even closer to production models, we believe we have everything we need to be very competitive. With its 14 Riders’ titles and 17 Manufacturers’ titles, Ducati has an extraordinary history of successes and victories in the Superbike World Championship and, with this agreement, we think that we have laid the foundations from which to build on this unique record of achievement. I therefore wish Chaz and Davide lots of luck and extend a warm welcome to Aruba.”

   Stefano Cecconi, CEO of Aruba S.p.A, commented: “We are very proud of this partnership in which we have great faith, and that will allow us to manage, together with Ducati, an official team with two very competitive riders. We have taken the decision to enter the world of racing because it links in many ways to our world and shares some of the same fundamental pillars, such as the continuous quest for maximum performance and ever increasing reliability, and a constant focus on safety. We will take on this new challenge with the same commitment and with the same passion that we show our clients each day. This is why we have chosen our Data Centre IT1 in Arezzo, the symbol and heart of technological development for our group, as the setting for the official presentation of the team.”

   The new team will be officially presented to the press in early February, with a dedicated event that will take place at the Aruba Data Centre in Arezzo. Further details will follow in the coming days.

   Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A.

   Founded in 1926, Ducati has been producing sport-inspired motorcycles since 1946. Today, their motorcycles are characterized by performance engines with Desmodromic valve actuation, innovative design and avant-garde technology. Covering several market segments, Ducati's range of motorcycles is divided into model families which include: Diavel, Hypermotard, Monster, Multistrada, Scrambler, Streetfighter and Superbike. These authentic icons of “made in Italy”, together with an extensive range of associated accessories and technical and lifestyle apparel, are distributed in over 80 countries around the world, with concentration on the European, North American and Asia-Pacific markets. In addition to the Bologna factory located in the Borgo Panigale area, Ducati has a plant in Thailand, which opened in 2011 and assembles motorcycles for the Asian market, and, since 2012, another in Brazil that assembles motorcycles for South America. In 2013 Ducati delivered 44,287 motorcycles to customers, an all-time company record.

   Ducati competes in both the World Superbike and MotoGP World Championships. In Superbike Ducati has won 17 Manufacturers' titles and 14 Riders' titles and in 2011 passed the historic milestone of 300 race victories. Ducati has participated in MotoGP since 2003, winning both the Manufacturers' and Riders' titles in 2007.

   www.ducati.com

   ARUBA S.p.A.

   Aruba S.p.A, founded in 1994, is the Italian market leader for data center, webhosting, email and domains. The company manages 2 million domains, over 6 million email accounts and a total of more than 2 million customers. The company is present in the main European markets such as France, England, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland and Hungary. Aruba has also gained massive experience in dedicated servers, housing and collocation, managed services, security services and smart cards. Since 2011, it has been expanding its product portfolio with fast-growing Cloud services and in 2014 Aruba became the official Registry of the domain ".cloud".

   www.arubacloud.com

4. Jamie Hamilton joins Burrows Engineering Racing for 2015 campaign

   Posted on 10:00am Sunday 28th Dec 2014

   Northern Ireland based road racing team owner John Burrows has moved quickly to replace Dan Kneen who moved to pastures new after spearheading the team's 2014 Irish Superbike title winning efforts.

   Burrows has confirmed that Ulsterman Jamie Hamilton, who has a wealth of experience despite only being 23-years-old, will be his rider for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and other international as well as a full Irish championship campaign. He will race the team's Superbike, Supersport and Supertwin machines.

   Hamilton will bring an impressive CV with him to Burrows Engineering Racing. His initial successes came in the short circuit arena where he captured the 2009 British Superstock 600 title. Ironically, the man who finished fourth in that championship tussle was Manxman Kneen and the two men are destined to lock horns again next year on a regular basis.

   Since Hamilton vacated the short circuit world for a road-racing career he has left his mark at both national and international level. In 2012 he won the prestigious Best Newcomer award at the Isle of Man TT and has been on the rostrum at both the North West 200 and Ulster Grand Prix meetings thanks to his Supertwins efforts. In 2013 Hamilton completed a fine Irish title double, finishing top of the Supersport 600 and Supertwins points tables.

   Burrows spoke about his new arrival:
   "I'm delighted to have found a rider of Jamie Hamilton's calibre to lead Burrows Engineering Racing's national and international road campaigns in 2015. He's the ideal man for the job and it's a bonus that he's a local man too. He's a proven race and title winner and although 2014 didn't work out particularly well for him he showed what he is capable of on a number of occasions, especially at Bush where he scored four wins and denied my team two Superbike wins. Burrows Engineering Racing was at the forefront of road racing in 2014 and with Jamie onboard some very competitive machinery I'm confident we can again be a top privateer team and give the factory boys something to worry about in 2015. It's great to have all the team's 2015 plans sorted this far ahead of next year, everyone can get focused and have a happy Christmas. All our sponsors will be announced in due course, there will be some loyal and familiar names on the side of the bike as well as some exciting new ones."

   Jamie Hamilton said:
   "I'm very happy that I have secured a ride with one of the most professional teams in the sport of road racing. I was very impressed with what John and his team achieved in 2014 and I hope my efforts will bring more success for the team in the coming season. The bikes will definitely be ultra competitive and I'm confident that I'm capable of taking them to top results. Roll on Cookstown."

5. TAS RACING LAUNCH TYCO BMW FOR 2015 SEASON

   Posted on 7:03am Thursday 18th Dec 2014

   TAS Racing along with title partner Tyco Security Products will join forces with BMW Motorrad for the 2015 road racing season, becoming the German manufacturer's official representatives for the 2015 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy and the other international road races.

   Guy Martin and William Dunlop have been retained and will spearhead Tyco BMW's assault at the 'big three' international road racing events as well as selected national races. The team will campaign the BMW S1000RR in the RST Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT.

   Guy Martin achieved two podiums in the 2014 TT Races, finishing second in the Superbike race and following it up with a third place finish in the PokerStars SeniorTT while William Dunlop was running in a podium place in the Senior before crashing on the third lap.

   William Dunlop:

   "Moving to BMW Motorrad is an exciting change and one I'm looking forward to. We all saw what the BMW S 1000 RR was capable of achieving this season, so with the expertise of the guys at TAS Racing, I'm pretty sure we can do a good job in 2015. I got my first international Superbike win last year and I'd really like more next year as it's the class to do it in. We have a top team and I'm happy to be working with Guy again at the TT, where I think together we can be even stronger with this exciting new package."

   Guy Martin:

   "Moving to BMW Motorrad machinery is the reason I'm still racing next year and not retiring. I'll always give it my all and to be with a quality manufacturer like BMW is mega. I'm looking forward to getting on the bikes as soon as possible. It's a new bike and I've never ridden it before, but we all know its pedigree. TAS are the best team I've ever ridden for; they get me and I get them and we meet in the middle, which is why we've been successful and this new venture with BMW is just what we need going into next season."

   Philip Neill - Team Manager:

   "It really is a great honour for TAS Racing to be chosen by BMW Motorrad to spearhead their official racing efforts in 2015, and everyone involved has been very supportive in helping us put the correct package together. Although our agreement is with BMW Motorrad in the UK, the support we have received from BMW in Germany is already very encouraging. We will have full support from the factory both technically and personnel-wise next season to help us achieve our goals. On the rider line-up for 2015 TT Races, the Tyco BMW team manager added: "We put a lot of thought into our rider line up for 2015 and as always the goal is to win races both in British championship and also at International level on the roads. We fully expect to be championship contenders in British Superbike and the National Superstock class next season racing BMW's S 1000 RR, and on the roads I've every confidence that William and Guy will also benefit from riding top class Tyco BMW machinery."

   "The TT is extremely important to BMW, TAS Racing and all our sponsors, and of course we want to be successful on the Island. It has been a few years now since we have had a rider on that coveted top step of the podium and as you might expect that will be our goal in June with William and Guy. I don't want to build all our expectations around Guy and a TT win, although it is fair to say 2015 will give him a great chance of achieving his goal on the Tyco BMW. TT races are not easily won these days so I know Guy will be applying a one-hundred percent effort just as he does every year. Fingers crossed 2015 will be his year. On the other hand William has come of age on a Superbike and I wouldn't bet against him either at the TT next June."

   Lee Nicholls, BMW Motorrad Marketing and PR Manager, said:

   "It is with great pleasure that we can finally announce BMW Motorrad's support of the TAS Racing team for the 2015 Road Racing season. In 2014, BMW Motorrad had its most successful season of racing ever in the UK, which has enabled us to increase our support to both the British Superbike and Road Racing paddocks for 2015. The TAS Racing team will spearhead our assault on track, and on the roads, and will receive the full technical support from BMW Motorrad Motorsports in Munich within the framework of the BMW Customer Racing Strategy. As a company we are very much looking forward to working with Hector and Philip and his team and we are confident that together with the all-new S 1000 RR we will challenge for podiums and wins next year."