Category: Superbikes

1. TWO DAYS OF TESTING FOR THE APRILIA RACING TEAM AT ARAGON

   Posted on 11:21am Friday 15th Nov 2013

   MARCO MELANDRI CONTINUES HIS RUN-IN PERIOD ASTRIDE THE RSV4 WITH WHICH HE WILL TAKE ON THE 2014 WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP.

   Aragon, 15 November 2013 - Preparations continue for the Aprilia Racing Team, reigning Manufacturer Champions, in view of the 2014 Superbike season. The setting for two days of testing was the Spanish Aragon circuit where Marco Melandri, new arrival on the Aprilia Racing Team, and the Italian manufacturer's test rider Alex Hofmann were hard at work.

   The rider from Ravenna, former World Champion with Aprilia in the 250 class World Championship, continued his apprenticeship on the V4 from Veneto with which he will take on the World Superbike championship next season. This was the second test session for Marco Melandri after his first contact with the new bike at Jerez immediately following the last World Superbike race of the season. That was a test session which was nullified by less than mild weather conditions but where Melandri was left with a good feeling on the RSV4 anyway.

   This time at Aragon Melandri was able to ride more consistently, putting in a total of 102 laps over the two days and increasing the feeling. Despite the low temperatures which counselled caution Marco finished with a best time of 1'58.0.

   Melandri and the Aprilia Racing Team will also be busy on 25, 26 and 27 November at Jerez for the final testing session prior to the compulsory stoppage period.

   Marco Melandri: “It has been two very interesting days even if they were complicated by the low temperatures. We worked on riding position and I was able to test an RSV4 with the same configuration Guintoli uses, gathering a lot of useful information. Now we'll wait for a day when the weather is better so that we can compare material and decide which way to go. It has been a good test and I can't wait to get back on the track to try and improve my times on the fast lap”.

   Sylvain Guintoli was absent from Aragon after undergoing surgery last week to correct the right shoulder injury he suffered before the Moscow round that compromised his level of competitiveness during the last part of the 2013 season. The course and rehabilitation are proceeding according to schedule and he should be back on the track by the first months of next year.

2. John McGuinness helps to launch Honda's 2014 models‏

   Posted on 10:16am Thursday 7th Nov 2013

   Honda TT Legends rider John McGuinness has appeared with some of Honda's biggest racing stars in a presentation to launch the company's new model line-up for 2014.

   The 20-time Isle of Man TT winner joined Pata Honda World Superbike star Leon Haslam, 14-time World Trials Champion Toni Bou and 2013 FIM World Rally Champion Paulo Gonçalves in Milan in Italy on Monday night to ride the new models on to the stage in front of the world's motorcycle media.

   They were joined by three of Honda's racing stars of the future, European Junior Cup winner Jake Lewis, Honda 150 European champion Filippo Grigoletto and European Junior Cup rider Sabrina Paiuta.

   Honda's 2014 line-up includes six new models, with two 650cc machines featuring a new inline four-cyclinder engine, the new CTX1300 cruiser and the next evolution of the NC series.

   The range also features new directions for Honda's VFR800F and the CBR1000RR Fireblade which spearheads Honda's racing activities in World Superbike, the Isle of Man TT and World Endurance, including the famous Suzuka 8-Hour race in Japan.

   McGuinness rode an updated CBR1000RR Fireblade on to the Milan stage, while Haslam, who won this year's Suzuka 8-Hour race, brought on the new CBR1000RR Fireblade SP featuring Ohlins suspension and Brembo brakes.

3. Ducati announce 2014 World Superbike riders

   Posted on 8:44am Tuesday 29th Oct 2013

   Chaz Davies and Davide Giugliano destined to race in Ducati colours for 2014 World Superbike season

   Riders and technicians to immediately start pre-season testing 30-31 October at Jerez

   Borgo Panigale (Bologna, Italy), 28 October 2013 – Following the announcement of the mutual decision to conclude early the partnership with Team Alstare, Ducati today confirm its participation in the 2014 World Superbike Championship and its agreement with the riders who will compete aboard the Ducati 1199 Panigale motorcycles.

   Welsh rider, Chaz Davies, and the Italian, Davide Giugliano, are both now officially confirmed to compete for the Italian manufacturer during the 2014 and 2015 World Superbike seasons. This is an important decision for Ducati, determined to bounce back after a year of disappointing results for the 1199 Panigale, which failed to deliver the results expected in World Superbike despite its considerable success in many national championships and the highly-competitive FIM Superstock Cup.

   The new Ducati Superbike riders will immediately join technicians of the Ducati development team to start work 30-31 October at Jerez de la Frontera (Spain), carrying out the first of three test sessions planned for the winter break.

   More detailed information concerning the organisation and management of the team will be available in the coming weeks.

   Rider profiles:

   Chaz Davies  was born 10 February, 1987 in Knighton, Wales (UK) and first started racing in minimoto in 1995, winning the championship title in this rookie category the following year and retaining it until 1998. From 2002-2006 he competed at World Championship level in the 125GP category, moving up to 250GP soon after. After additional experience in the AMA championship he was selected to take part in the World Supersport Championship and in 2011 became World Supersport Champion. The following year he moved up to World Superbike, a category in which he scored his first victory in 2012 and three more in 2013.

   Davide Giugliano was born in Rome on 28 October, 1989 and started his racing career in 2005 by competing in the European Superstock 600 championship, finishing third in the championship the following year. After a year in the World Supersport Championship he switched to FIM Superstock 1000 Cup and in 2011 rode the Ducati 1098 R to championship victory competing for the Althea Racing team. Giugliano made his Superbike debut in 2011, riding as a wildcard at Portimão immediately after clinching the Superstock Cup title. In 2012 he became an official rider for the Genesio Bevilacqua team alongside Carlos Checa, taking two podiums and closing the season 10th overall. In 2013, he achieved one pole position and two more podiums in the World Superbike series, finishing the championship in 6th position.

    

      

4. Quattro Plant Kawasaki confirmed as official Kawasaki roads team at 2014 Isle of Man TT Races

   Posted on 9:41am Monday 28th Oct 2013

   The Bournemouth based Quattro Plant Kawasaki team are mounting a concerted effort to gain more road racing podiums and wins in 2014 with the news that BikeSocial.co.uk Lightweight TT winner James Hillier will again ride for the team.

   Announcing the renewal of the successful relationship, the team has also secured the endorsement of Kawasaki Motors UK as their Official entry for The TT Races as well as the North West 200.

   Having climbed to the top step of the TT podium by winning the 2013 Lightweight TT on his ER-6f based machine, Hillier has declared his intention to pursue other classes including the Senior TT on the awesome Ninja ZX-10R with equal vigour and determination.

   Already the Ringwood based 28 year old has become a member of the elite “131mph average lap” club at the TT and, in doing so, became one of the names that many teams had on their wish list for the coming season.

   Quattro Plant Kawasaki Team Manager Pete Extance explained the importance of having James leading the team assault in next year's campaign: "To keep James for our roads assault was always the number one priority for us. I am pleased to say that he is really happy where he is and we have already started work on plans to step up our approach yet another gear in 2014. We are also delighted to retain our loyal sponsor Quattro Plant who’ve been fantastic in their support for us."

   For KMUK, Racing Coordinator, Ross Burridge explained what the deal meant to Kawasaki. - "It's great news that the team have signed James for 2014. They really are coming of age as a roads team and I have no doubt that they will achieve more podium success with such a popular and proven winner next year."

   Paul Phillips, TT and Motorsport Co-ordinator, Isle of Man Government, commented: "James really came of age last year, not only with his win in the Lightweight TT but also his performance in the Senior TT when he lapped at an impressive 131mph and followed John McGuinness. He is now firmly established as one of the leading TT riders and I expect him to build on his success last year and challenge for a race win in the Superbike class next year."

5. Smith ends Superstock 600 season in style

   Posted on 11:18am Thursday 24th Oct 2013

   Former Moto2 rider Kyle Smith ended his season on the ultimate high-note by taking his Honda CBR600RR to victory in last weekend’s final round of the 2013 FIM Superstock 600 European championship at Jerez in Spain.

   It was almost a home race for the UK-born Smith, who has lived in Spain since the age of seven and who joined the Agro-On Racedays Honda team as a guest rider after splitting with the Avinta Blusens Moto2 team mid-season. After qualifying in fourth place at Jerez, Smith got a superb start in Saturday’s race, leading into the first right-hander. He was never headed and crossed the line 0.3s ahead of second-placed Franco Morbidelli, who secured the series title that was won a year ago by Pata Honda World Supersport rider Michael van der Mark.

   Smith’s Agro-On Racedays Honda team-mate, Lukas Wimmer, finished in 18th place on his first visit to the 4.423km Jerez circuit in southern Spain.

   “It was the perfect way to finish what’s been quite a difficult season,” said Smith afterwards. “I rode at Nurburgring as a guest rider for the Agro-On Racedays Honda team, who have been fantastic to work with. I managed to finish that race in sixth place,” continued the 22-year-old, “and then got seventh at Magny-Cours, but to win the last race of the year in Spain is just a dream for me.”