HM Plant Honda Score a Win and Move into Championship Lead
The HM Plant Honda team enjoyed success over the weekend as the team took a double podium finish in both races of the ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. Racers Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari led the HM Plant Honda team to the 24th podium finish of the 2010 season.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
Josh Brookes narrowly missed the win in race number one, but by putting out some extra effort in the second race, Brookes was able to make an impressive move that propelled him past Tommy Hill and fellow HM racer Kiyo to take the lead. Brookes went on to win the second race that was a red-flagged contest. Brookes’ teammate Kiyo was able to take third place in both of the races, which places him a joint championship leader as the Championship moves toward the Showdown over the last three rounds. Kiyo has 526 points, as does Tommy Hill of Worx Crescent Suzuki; while Brookes is just one point away and is in third place overall.
The HM Plant Honda team manager, Havier Beltron, said that it was a fantastic weekend for the HM Plant Honda team, having both HM Plant Honda racers make the podium is always the goal and Brookes and Kiyo both reached that goal. Beltron also pointed out that Kiyo was a little disappointed at not winning but that he holds the title lead with Tommy Hill heading into the Showdown, so the podium finishes were important.
Indianapolis Next Target for Lorenzo
Even though Jorge Lorenzo has won the most recent two races in the States, he keeps insisting that he is not necessarily looking for win number eight of the season at Indianapolis this weekend, but just looking to finish and rack up some more points to his impressive championship points cache.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
Having heard Jorge make a similar statement at Brno before dominating and taking win number seven of the season, fellow riders Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, Nicky Hayden, and Hiroshi Aoyama who were present when Jorge made the remark understandably looked a sceptical.
Jorge took the win last year in Indianapolis, topped with Captain America helmet, in spite of his protests to the contrary, not many would bet against Jorge winning this year as well. The Fiat Yamaha rider won’t be Captain America this year, but will be wearing a new Iron Man helmet as he tries to extend his 77 point lead in the Championship standings that he currently holds over Dani Pedrosa.
Nicky Hayden, who is sixth in the championship standings will be the highest placed American racer challenging Jorge at the Indianapolis MotoGP event. Nicky, who makes his home in Kentucky, is only a few hours away from the Indianapolis circuit, a circuit that has been good for the Ducati rider in years prior. Back in 2008, Nicky took second place at Indianapolis, and took third in 2009. However, Nicky will be entering this years event with a wrist injury that he sustained from a crash during qualifying at Brno two weeks ago.
The Bikeinsurer sponsors coverage of the MotoGP Championship on Eurosport.
Relentless by TAS Suzuki Readies Seeley for the Title Fighter’s Shootout
After having the last three weekends off, the Relentless by TAS Suzuki British Superbike team is preparing for a weekend of racing at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire. Michael Laverty has already met qualifications for the Title Fighter Shootout with six podium finishes and one win at press time; at Cadwell Park Laverty will be looking to up his Podium Credits. On the other hand, Alastair Seeley, who has only three podium finishes and one win thus far, will be trying to secure his top six position before the cut-off time that will be on Monday.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
Laverty when commenting on his status of having already secured a Shootout slot going into the Cadwell Park round said that it was a strange feeling with his Shootout slot secured and just six points up for grabs if he should make a double win Monday. He went on to say that this means no pressure on his shoulders this weekend, which should make the weekend quite enjoyable.
Seeley’s outlook was a little different as he related that it was an important weekend for him if he wanted to remain in the top six for the shootout. Seeley said that his main goal was to score enough points to keep his top six position and that he would be working with the Relentless by TAS Suzuki team on a strategy.
Perfect Conditions Again at Isle of Man for Manx Grand Prix Practice as Dunlop Comes Slightly Short of 120mph Lap
The conditions on the Isle of Man were once more reported as perfect for the sixth practice for the 2010 Manx Grand Prix, with dry track conditions and only a light wind blowing across the mountain course. The racers were once more cautioned about the excessive glare that they would face between Union Mills and Ballacraine and also as they exited to the Gooseneck.
Motorbike insurance from The Bike Insurer
It proved to be a night of record making laps with both classic and modern bikes getting in on the record setting. Michael Dunlop was again the rider with the unofficial fastest lap in the Post Classic Class, with Dan Sayle, two-time TT 2010 sidecar champion shattering the record lap set by Richard Quayle in 1999. Sayle’s lap is the unofficial record lap by a MGP Lightweight, clocking a lap at 116.500 in the second session of the evening. . In the Junior Post Classic Class, Chris Palmer was also able to post a new fastest lap along with the other riders. With all the new record laps being recorded, the thought of John McGuinness’s Lightweight lap record set back in 2004 with slick tyres at a TT event being broken was passed around in the paddock, a record lap at 118.29mph
Aprilia Records 276th GP Win
Aprilia has become the Italian and European brand that has recorded the most wins in the history of World MotoGP. Aprilia achieved this feat as Nico Terol won in the 125 class Czech Republic GP, which brought Aprilia’s wins in MotoGP up to 276. Nico took this win at the Brno track to put Aprilia ahead in the most GP wins.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
As Aprilia takes the top spot in GP wins, they have one more win than MV Augusta. Aprilia’s winning record includes 133 races in the 125 class and 143 in the 250 class where they have also won 36 world Championships.
Aprilia began racing in the 250 class Moto GP back in 1985, achieving their first victory with Loris Reggiani in 1987. Aprilia started racing in the 125 Moto GP class in 1988 and achieved their first victory with Alex Gramigni in 1991. Aprilia’s first Championship wreath in the 125 class was when Gramigni won in 1992; the first 250 title was won by Max Biaggi in 1994.
A good number of today’s motorcycle racing stars have got their start racing and have won races with Aprilia. Some of the names that have started with Aprilia include Max Biaggi, Loris Capirossi, Casey Stoner, Valentino Rossi, Jorge Lorenzo, Marco Simoncelli and Marco Melandri.
The Bikeinsurer sponsors coverage of the MotoGP World Championship on Eurosport.
Don’t Assume Female Riders want a Pink Bike
The assumption that women motorcyclists want feminine looking riding gear is a mistaken assumption that could possibly knock the motorcycling industry out of the opportunity to bring in new customers; this is according to CAP, pre-owned motorcycle pricing experts.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
In a year that has seen new motorcycle sales decrease by almost seven percent, it is as crucial ever to bring in new customers and women comprise a large portion of a market yet to be tapped into. However, research consistently implies that treating female customers different than their male counterparts is not a wise decision. Treating female customers different could hamper any attempt to grow the female motorcycle market past its current status of 10 to 15 percent of the biking market.
Alan Elsworth, the editor of the CAP Green Book says in the latest edition of the book, which is the industries standard trade guide to used motorcycle values, that an example of women wanting to be treated equally happened to a dealer who was making a sell to a married couple who were both getting started as riders. Ellsworth pointed out that when the dealer offered ladies gear for the lady rider, she asked if they had any gear that was not pink. Elsworth noted that this dealer was not by himself in realizing that female motorcyclists want to be treated not as female motorcyclists but just as motorcyclists.
Riders Take First Laps at the 2010 Manx Grand Prix
The 2010 Manx Grand Prix got underway after being delayed briefly due to the weather. The event, which is sponsored by visitisleofman.com, witnessed roads closing at 5:20pm, with mountains shrouded in mists and a dousing of rain causing the first racers to leave the stating line at 6:30pm in an un-timed practice session.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
41 riders who were new to the mountain course, stunning in their orange bibs were the first riders to hit the track. The newcomers rode a speed controlled sighting lap that was overseen by Dick Cassidy, Tony Duncan and Dean Harrison who are serving as Travelling Marshals for the isle event. In addition to the Travelling Marshals, also out on the course were Johnny Barton rider liaison officer, Chris Palmer, who has won numerous TT races, Carolyn Sells who was the first female racer to win on the Isle of Man mountain course, and Mark Parrett and Nigel Beattie, who are seasoned TT riders and MGP racers.
Including the 41 newcomers, all in all, there were a total of 265 motorcycles out on the tracks. The racers included 41 newcomers, 22 in the Post Classic class, 27 in the Senior Classic class, 26 in the Junior Classic class, 64 in the Junior class, 18 in the Senior class, with 67 bikes competing in the Lightweight and Ultra Lightweight class. The un-timed practice session was flagged a short time prior to the scheduled ending time of 8:05pm.
Monday will see the first timed practice of Manx Grand Prix; this practice is on schedule to start at 6:20pm for the Senior, Junior and Lightweight classes, while the Post Classic and Ultra Lightweight practice session is scheduled for 7:05.
A Line-Up of Strong Racers are Confirmed for this Year’s Manx GP
The entries for the 2010 Manx Grand Prix are in, and the line-up of world class races has made a clear case that the 2010 Manx Grand Prix as the globe’s premier Classic road race. The practice sessions for the event are scheduled to be from Saturday, August 21 with the racing week beginning on Monday, August 30 and running through Friday, September 3.
Motorbike insurance from The Bike Insurer
There are some strong entrants for all the classes, especially for the Senior, Junior, and Lightweight Classic races will see a number of previous winners making their return to the event. 2009’s decision to involve events for Post Classic bikes has proven to be a wise move as there has been a notable increase in the quality and quantity as well in 2010.
The strongest entry of any of the races in 2010 is in the Senior Post Classic class, since it will include five Suzuki XR69 997cc bikes, with three of theses machines being ridden by Ryan Farquhar and Michael Dunlop and Guy Martin, who is very popular with the fans. These three racers are also TT winners, Ryan took the inaugural event in 2009 under tough conditions and is thought to be one of the pre-race favourites, while Guy is anticipated to challenge dependent upon his recovery from injuries sustained in the TT event. Michael is probably the most highly anticipated racer, considering the performance he gave at the 2010 TT; he very well may be the one who takes the race.
As the Manx Grand Prix gets underway, these three racers may be the ones for the fans to keep their eyes upon.
Suzuki to Sponsor the Manx Grand Prix Festival
It is confirmed, Suzuki will be the official motorcycle partner for the 2010 Manx Grand Prix Festival that will be held at the Isle of Man from August 21 to September 3. The legendary Japanese motorcycle manufacturer is also celebrating 50 years of international racing this year.
Motorcycle insurance from The Bike Insurer
Having just recently returned from backing the TT event on the Isle of Man in June, Suzuki will provide the most recent editions of their GSX-R1000 for the travelling marshals to ride. The Suzuki GSX-R1000’s will enable the marshals to reach incidents quickly and also help them in managing the 37.73 mile circuit.
As Suzuki celebrates this huge racing anniversary, likewise, the GSX-R range is also celebrating its anniversary as well this year; 2010 marks 25 years of GSX-R production. In 1985, the first GSX-R750 rolled off the assembly line, now the Manx travelling marshals will be mounted upon the latest editions of the range, bikes that provide 182BHP and variable engine modes. The new GSX-R1000 also come equipped with Showa Big Piston Forks that makes these bikes class leaders when it comes to agility.
George Cheeseman of Suzuki GB when commenting on Suzuki’s part in the Manx Grand Prix Festival remarked that after celebrating our 50 year anniversary of international racing on the Isle in June, it is great to come back and support this historical event.
Anstey on His GSX-R1000 Superbike - Fastest Road Racing Combo
Kiwi Bruce Anstey made his mark on Superbike history today, as he powered his Relentless by TAS Suzuki GSX-R1000 to an average speed of 133.977mph at the Ulster Grand Prix held at the Dundrod Circuit in Northern Ireland.
Motorbike insurance from The Bike Insurer
Anstey made his record shattering lap during the last race of the day; he also was the winner of this race. Anstey’s victory took the Relentless by TAS racing team’s first place finishes to 12 at Ulster. The crowds reaction to Anstey, showed him to be the fans favourite winner at the Superbike event.
Even though Anstey won the final race, he did not fare as well in the opening Superbike contest, a thrilling race that included up to six racers. In a radio interview afterwards he commented that the backmarkers could have hampered him at the Lindsey Hairpin in the final circuit, but that he was happy with second place.
Racer Cameron Donald who was afflicted with a viral infection earlier in the week battled courageously in all of today’s contests. Getting off to a mediocre beginning in the Superstock contest, taking 11th place, Donald got right into the middle of the action in each of the Superbike events. Donald barely missed the podium in the first Superbike race as he overshot at Cochranestown, and finished the day with a fourth place finish in the second Superbike race.
The Bike Insurer sponsors coverage of the World Superbike Championship on Eurosport.
« Previous entries
