Category: Superbikes

1. Honda launches fresh assault on Endurance World Championship

   Posted on 8:16am Monday 2nd Dec 2013

   Honda has revealed that it will contest the 2014 FIM Endurance World Championship with an all-new rider line-up and the clear aim of securing the title victory. French endurance racing experts Julien Da Costa, Freddy Foray and Sebastien Gimbert will form a formidable three-man squad for the five-round series, competing aboard the 2014 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

   The three riders have an impressive collective track record in EWC with no fewer than seven championship titles between them. Da Costa is a three-time EWC champion – most recently in 2013 – and has placed first at the Le Mans 24-hour three times and the Bol d'Or 24-hour twice. The 32-year-old was also French Superbike Champion in 2012.

   Foray (29) meanwhile secured back-to-back Endurance World Championships in 2010 and 2011 and is no stranger to the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade, having competed in the 2013 German IDM series and the final two rounds of the 2013 British Superbike season aboard the machine. 

   Gimbert also has a history with Honda. He raced for official Honda teams from 1995-2001 and starting his endurance career with the manufacturer in 1999. The 36-year-old rider secured the EWC title in 2004 and has placed second overall in the championship in the last two years. He is also a double French Superbike Champion.

   Honda’s new direction in EWC supersedes the three-year Honda TT Legends project, which has seen road racing specialists compete in the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and World Endurance events under the same banner with the unifying link of the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

   The outfit secured some impressive results and in doing so successfully raised the profile of the Endurance World Championship and Honda’s involvement in the series. The 2014 team will continue to be run from the same UK base and will re-focus its strategy on challenging for the championship title. 

   Robert Watherston – Head of Motorsport, Honda Motor Europe

   We’re very pleased to reveal Honda’s 2014 plans for the Endurance World Championship and announce the new team with Julien, Freddy and Sebastien on board. Over the last three years we have developed a solid foundation and secured consistent results – it’s now time to up our game and sharpen our attack on the 2014 title. The level of competition in EWC is incredibly high and the new direction for the team ensures that we have all the right elements in place to increase our chances of success in the championship. With three proven endurance specialists in the line-up I’m confident that Honda can once again see its name on the Endurance World Championship trophy.

   Julien Da Costa

   I am very excited to be with Honda for 2014. It’s a new machine and a new team for me and I’m motivated like never before. I have never worked with Honda as a professional rider before, but I know we are aiming to win the world championship and I believe 100% that we can make that happen. I know Freddy really well, we are good friends and sometimes train together in the winter and we will definitely work well together. I’ve known Sebastien for a very long time but we’ve never been team-mates. He has been one of my best opponents over the years – we’ve battled on the track many times and fought for the French Superbike title together four times. I’m sure we will all do the job on track! I’m looking forward to getting to know the team and I’m ready to work hard to fight for the title.

   Freddy Foray

   It is a real pleasure to be working with Honda for 2014 and I’m looking forward to getting started. Julien is a very good friend of mine and this will be the second time we have worked together as team-mates. I know him very well, I know his mentality and it will be great to work with him again. It will be my first time on the same team as Sebastien but I have known him and raced against him for many years. Together with the Honda crew and the Fireblade I think we have a very strong team. I’m very happy to be a part of it and can’t wait to begin.

   Sebastien Gimbert

   I am very happy to be with Honda for 2014. It’s a very professional team and the Fireblade is a fast bike. I rode for Honda for many years in my early racing days, started my endurance career with them in 1999 and won the Le Mans 24-hour on the SP1 in 2000, so it feels like a second family to me. My new team-mates are both very fast, the crew has good experience and I am very motivated to begin this new challenge. I’m already training hard and looking forward to getting on the Fireblade to do my first laps. With this new team, I know that we have a very strong chance to fight for the 2014 championship title.

2. Pata Honda concludes 2013 programme

   Posted on 7:57am Sunday 1st Dec 2013

   The Pata Honda team has completed its riding programme for 2013, concluding with a three-day test at Jerez in Spain which finished yesterday evening.

   World Superbike riders Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam went to Jerez on the back of a successful test at Aragon two weeks ago and concentrated on refining the power delivery of their CBR1000RR Fireblade machines.

   They were joined for the first two days at Jerez by Pata Honda’s World Supersport riders Michael van der Mark and Lorenzo Zanetti, who declared themselves satisfied with further developments made to their CBR600RRs.

   A World Superbike and World Supersport testing ban comes into effect on 1 December and will remain in place until 14 January 2014, following which the team will test again at Portimao in Portugal.

   Jonathan Rea - Pata Honda World Superbike

   After a positive test at Aragon, I really struggled here at Jerez. It’s hard to put a finger on our problems but I feel that the character of our engine is quite aggressive and that makes the lap difficult here! We have a few new strategies to implement at our next test in January, which should help. I completed over 200 laps here so now I’m really looking forward to the winter break. I hope to come back in January to make some more progress with the CBR. Happy holidays, folks!!

   Leon Haslam - Pata Honda World Superbike

   I’m actually quite glad that 2013 is over now and we can look forward to a fresh start in 2014. The last three days have been pretty hard but necessary, and while we haven’t progressed as much as we would have liked, we know what we need to do. I’m confident that when new parts arrive next year we can make the step that’s needed. I’m looking forward to a few weeks off now and getting back to full fitness so that I’m raring to go in January.

   Michael van der Mark - Pata Honda World Supersport

   We had a positive two days in Jerez and made some good improvements. In fact, we started them in Aragon and were able to continue to make progress here. We made a couple of really fast laps but also had a good race pace. For our next test we need to work on improving rear grip a little but before then I’ll be working on my fitness to be ready for the beginning of next season.

   Lorenzo Zanetti - Pata Honda World Supersport

   I’m very happy with our test in Jerez. We tried a lot of different settings and in the end I improved my qualifying time from the race here and I improved my rhythm for a good race simulation. For these reasons I’m really looking forward to a positive 2014!

   Pieter Breddels – technical co-ordinator
   
   We made some really good progress during our Aragon test recently but I have to say that we weren’t able to continue that here in Jerez. Something about the nature of the circuit – perhaps the fact that the bike is on the side of the tyre for so long – has created some issues with getting the power down. However, this is why we go testing: to test solutions to issues that we may have. Both our Superbike riders lapped in the 41s bracket and we’ve got plenty to work on during the testing ban. On the Supersport side of the garage, things went very well and the guys made a lot of progress with engine braking and suspension settings.

3. STEVE MERCER CONFIRMS 2014 TT RACES CAMPAIGN WITH KEITH FLINT'S TEAM TRACTION CONTROL

   Posted on 8:17am Saturday 30th Nov 2013

   Prodigy frontman Keith Flint's Team Traction Control has confirmed that Kent rider Steve Mercer will ride for the team at the 2014 Isle of Man TT Races fuelled by Monster Energy.

   The Maidstone based racer who finished 12th in the 2013 Dainese Superbike Race, has a fastest ever lap on the Mountain Course of 126.323mph (17:55.24), which he set in the 2012 Superbike Race. He achieved his highest placed TT finish - 8th - in this year's Royal London 360 Superstock TT Race.

   The thirty-one year old first competed on the Mountain Course in 2009 where he won the coveted Best Newcomers Trophy and also raced at this year's inaugural Classic TT when he retired on the fourth lap of the Motorsport Merchandise Formula 1 Race, having featured in the top three.

   Mercer will race in the Dainese Superbike, RL360 Superstock and PokerStars Senior TT aboard the team's TAS Racing supported Superbike and Superstock machines as well as riding a Suzuki GSX-R 600 in the two Monster Energy Supersport Races, which will be the first time that Mercer has raced in the class at the TT.

   He will also compete for Team Traction Control in the North-West 200, Ulster Grand Prix and Macau Grand Prix as well as selected Superstock rounds at BSB.

   Commenting on his 2014 campaign, Mercer said: "Although it's a fledgling outfit they have an experienced crew with the likes of Grant Bunting who worked with Shaun Muir's team last year and we've already got some races under our belts."

   He continued: "I think that this is my chance to kick on and get into the top ten in the Superbike races at the TT. I'm also really looking to get out on a 600 for the first time on the Mountain Course and I think that doing the extra races will help with my overall preparation."

   Keith Flint, Team Principal, Team Traction Control is looking forward to the team racing on the Isle of Man. He said: "After racing myself for several years I know what's needed to compete on two wheels but I think taking on the mountain course is something I couldn't dream of doing myself. I believe it's one of the biggest motorcycle races the world has to offer and I'll put the best team out there possible. Doing the TT is not just something I want to cross off my bucket list. We are going there to do a job with a very capable rider using some top notch bikes and I can't wait."

4. McGuinness and Cummins to compete on the roads for Honda

   Posted on 10:24am Saturday 23rd Nov 2013

   Honda Motor Europe today announced its rider line-up for the 2014 Isle of Man TT and North West 200 road racing events. Twenty-time TT winner John McGuinness will be joined by Manxman Conor Cummins to form a two-strong team competing aboard the 2014 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade in the Superbike and Senior races. Cummins will also ride for the team in the Superstock class.

   The new road racing squad was revealed as McGuinness and Cummins appeared as team-mates for the first time on the main stage at Motorcycle Live in the UK. The duo promises to pose a serious threat on the roads with the combination of McGuinness’s unrivalled experience and Cummins’s undeniable talent and ambition.

   The 2013 Isle of Man TT proved that at 41 years old, McGuinness is still the man to beat on the mountain course as he set a new outright lap record during the Superbike race and took an epic Senior victory to rack up his 20th win and 41st podium. The Morecambe Missile also has six NW200 wins under his belt and shows no signs of slowing down.

   Cummins – who will make his debut for Honda – was fastest newcomer at the TT and the NW200 in 2006. He secured the first of four TT podiums in 2009 and is the third fastest rider in the history of the event, as well as holding the record for the fastest lap from a standing start at 131.5mph. A career-threatening crash during the 2010 TT has done nothing to dampen the 27-year-old’s ambition as he aims to come back fighting with the Honda team.

   Honda Europe’s revised commitment to road racing represents a new direction following the successful three-year Honda TT Legends project, which has seen the manufacturer compete in both road racing and the Endurance World Championship under the same banner. The 2014 road-racing team will continue to be run from Louth in Lincolnshire and managed by Neil Tuxworth. Honda’s plans for the 2014 EWC season will be announced shortly. 

   Neil Tuxworth

   We’re pleased to announce our 2014 line-up for the roads and very happy to welcome Conor Cummins to the team. He’s an Isle of Man lad whose father and uncle have raced on the island so the TT in is in his blood. He has a great work ethic and a determination to succeed and I have a lot of admiration for him. He’s back to full fighting fitness following his 2010 crash and as one of the fastest men ever around the mountain course, he definitely has the ability to win races. The relationship between John and Honda is well-established and proven to bring results. He is by far the most successful current TT rider in terms of wins and podiums and he showed at this year’s event that he is still the quickest rider around the Isle of Man. We are of course very happy to have him with us again. With John and Conor on board, I believe we are in a very strong position for the 2014 road racing events.

   John McGuinness

   I’m really glad to be staying with Honda to continue the strong relationship we’ve built up in road racing over the years. The team is like family to me and it’s important that I have support that I know I can rely on 100%. It’s great news that Conor will be joining the team. I have a lot of respect for him – he’s young, he’s hungry for it and he has so much passion for racing. It will be a pleasure to be his team-mate. This year proved that there’s life in the old dog yet, so I can’t wait to get back on the Fireblade and see what we can do.

   Conor Cummins

   I am thrilled to bits to be with Honda in 2014. In my eyes this is the absolute pinnacle of road racing. Riding for a team like Honda has been something I’ve been aiming for my whole career so for me this is a huge deal. The team has so much experience and I just want to make the most of the opportunity I’ve been given. I’m really looking forward to racing the new Honda Fireblade and hopefully bringing home some good results.

5. TT Stars Head to NEC for Motorcycle Live to promote Isle of Man's 2014 Motorcycling events

   Posted on 11:19am Tuesday 19th Nov 2013

   Leading TT stars are heading to Motorcycle Live to promote the Isle of Man's 2014 motorcycling events calendar including the TT Races, the Isle of Man Festival of Motorcycling and the Southern 100.

   20-times Isle of Man TT winner John McGuinness and 2013’s big winner Michael Dunlop will be leading a star-studded line-up which also includes Manxman Conor Cummins, fan favourite Bruce Anstey, SES TT Zero winner Michael Rutter and rising star James Hillier, who won his first TT race this year.

   John Holden and Andy Winkle, Ben and Tom Birchall, Tim Reeves and Dan Sayle and sixteen-time TT champion Dave Molyneux along with his passenger Patrick Farrance will be representing the Sidecars.

   The riders will be signing autographs and meeting fans on the high profile TT Paddock Experience stand and taking part in daily Q&As with TT commentator James Whitham on the Black Horse Stage in the British Eurosport Entertainment Zone. On Sunday 1 December, the TT will take over the stage, with four Q&A sessions and a special TT-themed edition of Fast Bikes Question of Bikes hosted by Steve Parrish.

   The Department of Economic Development has again developed the TT paddock themed stand which will feature a display of fabulous racing machines from the TT and Classic TT including Michael Dunlop’s Dainese Superbike Race winning Honda Superbike and his Motorsport merchandise Formula 1 Classic TT Race winning Suzuki. The stand will also have the iconic Senior TT Trophy and will show 2013 race highlights on a large screen.

   Members of the Department of Economic Development Motorsport team, representatives of the Isle of Man TT Marshals Association and official TT Travel Agency Regency Travel who will be promoting travel and accommodation, grandstand and VIP hospitality packages, will be manning the stand.

   This year's Motorcycle Live features two days dedicated to the Isle of Man’s flagship road racing festivals. Sunday 24 November will celebrate heritage event the Classic TT, while Sunday 1 December - 'Mad Sunday – TT Day' - will be devoted to the world’s most famous road race, the Isle of Man TT.