Brands Hatch
Metzeler impressed with new tyre after Brands test
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » BSB - Sunday, 21st March 2010, 0:39 GMTThe bosses at Metzeler were celebrating this week as their new Interact tyres proved their worth, beating the Brands Hatch short circuit lap record by half a second. Steve Plater took his HM Plant Honda Fireblade to an impressive unofficial time of 47.2 seconds, half a second below the lap record of 47.83. He also ran consistent mid 47’s during a long, race simulation test, one which left him extremely encouraged by the potential of the new Superstock tyre. “Very encouraging times today especially with the race duration test but it’s also very easy to get carried away by times, especially around the Brands short circuit,” he claimed. “Other tracks may fare differently for me. “I didn’t race Superstock last year so I have no reference point but the tyres were spot on today, no worries. I can’t wait to get back down here for the racing proper in a couple of weeks.” Steve will line-up against a strong list of ex-British Champions for the super competitive Metzeler National Superstock Championship in 2010, which will once again run alongside the British Superbike series. The class includes three ex-British Supersport Champions; Plater, Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda) and three-time champ Karl Harris (GR Aprilia). Other top riders include Isle of Man hero John McGuinness (Padgetts Honda) and Richard Cooper debuting the high-powered Jentin Racing BMW S1000RR. Reigning Metzeler Superstock Champion Alastair Seeley has moved up to the British Superbike Championship leaving his Relentless by TAS Suzuki ride to Dennis Hobbs. Scott Smart returns on the Moto Rapido Ducati whilst Howie Mainwaring (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) lines up with a chasing pack showing strength in depth. The Metzeler National Superstock Championship will also have two high profile races at the Silverstone MotoGP giving an exciting showcase for the series, tyres and riders. Read article
BSB: Successful test at Brands Hatch for Quay Garage Racing
Source: bikeracenews.com - Saturday, 20th March 2010, 13:34 GMTBridewell on the pace at Brands Hatch Quay Garage Racing’s Tommy Bridewell was in action at Brands Hatch yesterday for the official test prior to the opening round of the 2010 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship over Easter and reported a satisfactory day at the Kent track. The 21 year old from Etchilhampton near Devizes tested the [...] Read article
BSS: Testing times for Team Green Junior Superstock riders
Source: bikeracenews.com - Saturday, 20th March 2010, 11:27 GMTThe three Team Green Metzeler Junior Superstock riders for the 2010 season tested together on UK soil for the first time in mid March Appropriately enough, the trio spent the day at Brands Hatch, the venue for the opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship taking place over the upcoming Easter bank holiday. With encouraging [...] Read article
BSS: GNS Racing conclude positive test at Brands Hatch
Source: bikeracenews.com - Saturday, 20th March 2010, 9:52 GMTGNS Racing has concluded their hectic pre-season testing schedule with both Sam Lowes and Paul Jordan taking part in the official BSB test at Brands Hatch Following extensive testing in Spain over the past couple of weeks, 19-year-old Lincoln rider Lowes was again amongst the fastest riders on track aboard his CBR600 Honda whilst 18-year-old Paul [...] Read article
Bridewell on the Pace at Brands Practice
Source: The Latest Motorcycle News - Thursday, 18th March 2010, 19:18 GMTQuay Garage Racing's Tommy Bridewell was in action at Brands Hatch yesterday for the official test prior to the opening round of the 2010 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship over Easter and reported a satisfactory day at the Kent track. Read article
BSS: Lap record for Lowes at Guadix
Source: British Superbikes 2009 - BSB Blog - Mirror.co.uk - Monday, 15th March 2010, 16:13 GMTFuchs Silkolene British Supersport Championship Team GNS Racing has concluded their pre-season Spanish testing schedule on a high with an impressive performance at Guadix. Despite the first day being affected by snow and temperatures remaining cool on day two, 19-year-old Sam Lowes managed to better the existing lap record on his Honda CBR600 whilst 18-year-old team-mate Paul Jordan continued his progress in getting acquainted with the bike at the track near Granada. Lowes, from Lincoln, managed a best time of 1:15.9 which was half a second inside Eugene Laverty's lap record with Jordan, from Magherafelt in Northern Ireland, getting down to the low 1:20s as the pair completed over 100 laps each during the two days for the Southampton-based team. Sam Lowes said, "I didn't expect to wake up to snow but once it cleared, we set about our work and I have to admit I'm pleased with how everything went. The bike is working brilliantly and all the time I'm getting more confident, which was reflected in our lap times. We have one more test at Brands Hatch to do and then the season can't come fast enough for me. These tests in Spain have been great for us as a team and we have learned a lot which will hopefully stand us in good stead for the season ahead." Lowes' teammate Paul Jordan, said, "This has been an important week for me as following the test at Cartagena, I needed as much time on the bike as possible at Guadix and despite the weather, we have achieved much of what we set out for. I got my times down and it's starting to feel like my bike now, we're just chipping away and I know where I'm at with everything now. We'll have a better idea after Brands Hatch next week and I'm confident we can find the extra pace needed." Owner of Team GNS Racing, Gary Stubbington, said, "I'm pleased with how everything went and for Sam to dip under the lap record is particularly impressive, especially given the low temperatures. Paul's plugging away and working hard and realises he has some work to do but I'm delighted with how the whole team is operating." The final pre-season test takes place with the official BSB test day at Brands Hatch this Wednesday, 17th March, as the teams make their final preparations ahead of the first race at Brands Hatch over Easter (April 3rd to 5th). Read article
Countdown to opening of British Superbike Championship after final test at Guadix
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » BSB - Friday, 12th March 2010, 11:49 GMTThe final day of testing took place at Guadix in Spain yesterday, and the countdown is now definitely on to the first round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, which takes place over the upcoming Easter weekend. The pre-season testing ended with some fantastic lap times, with the remaining teams upping the pace to beat the record time set by HM Plant Honda’s Josh Brookes, with the fastest lap time of 1m 13:6s on the second day. After initial problems with snow on the track, the conditions were much improved by the afternoon and the Swan Honda team saw James Ellison and Stuart Easton targeting longer runs and were consistently hitting the min to low 1m 13s lap times. Easton said: “It has been a successful test for us and I am really pleased with the work we have done both here at Guadix and from last week at Cartagena. We have refined the settings and we are now in a really good position before we start testing again later in the month. We have improved the bike so much from when we were here last year and my lap times were consistently coming. I did a good run of laps in the low 1m: 13s so we have seen a big improvement. We have another test coming up at Cadwell Park and after doing some longer stints today I think we should be ready for a strong start at the first round at Brands Hatch.” “We have really made some good progress out here in Spain and today we have managed to test so many different settings; we definitely are leaving here feeling happy. The Swan Honda seems to really fit me and I am feeling comfortable on track. We have been able to get some consistent laps together and the times have just been coming. It has been great working with the team again and they have done a fantastic job, we are now looking forward to getting back out on track again in the next few weeks.”Ellison added. After some initial problems on the final day, the Worx Cresent Suzuki team worked through some electronical changes and saw Tommy Hill and Yukio Kagayama formation flying and pushing through for some of their best laps on the day towards the end of the test. Simon Andrews upped his pace to dramatically improve his lap time after his second full day on the circuit and Gary Mason spent the day getting to grips with the Kawasaki. The MSS Colchester Kawasaki team are now busy preparing for the next testing round at Brands Hatch next Wednesday. Read article
BSB: Strong finish for Worx Crescent Suzuki in Spanish tests
Source: bikeracenews.com - Friday, 12th March 2010, 8:53 GMTJack Valentine: “Still work to do but confident that we’ll be well prepared for Brands Hatch” The Worx Crescent Suzuki team concluded seven days of testing in Spain today reporting excellent progress made in preparing the 2010 Suzuki GSX-R1000’s for the upcoming British Superbikes Championship. Having set fastest and second fastest times at last weekend’s tests at [...] Read article
Josh Brookes quickest at Guadix
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » BSB - Thursday, 11th March 2010, 15:17 GMTJosh Brookes is top of the unofficial timesheets, ahead of Tommy Hill, on the second day of the Guadix British Superbike pre-season tests. The Australian, who won points at last week’s Phillip Island Word Superbike event, finished around three tenths faster than Hill with a time of 13.6 seconds as he practised on the Spanish circuit. There were some problems on the opening days of the test, with snow interfering with the riders being able to start the test. Brookes put the time to good use however and spent it working on Honda’s new Motec ECU control system and Ohlins suspension. Brookes said: “We did lose out yesterday unfortunately due to the weather but we have made some really steady progress today and I am now definitely feeling more confident about the first round at Brands Hatch.” “We still have a few areas that we can work on when we are back testing in the UK, like the suspension and fuelling but we are leaving here happy with the work we have done.” Hill was in second position followed by Swan’s James Ellison, who was also last season’s runner-up and who has spent time getting reacquainted with the machinery of Honda and managed to beat former champion Ryuichi Kiyonari as well as team mate Stuart Easton. In sixth position was Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama who was narrowly behind Stuart Easton, while bringing up the rear were Simon Andrews in seventh and Gary Mason in eighth. There is still one more day left of testing of the Guadix testing in Spain, however, HM Plant will reportedly not be participating in the test. Read article
Michael Laverty aims for Relentless Suzuki title glory
Source: British Superbikes 2009 - BSB Blog - Mirror.co.uk - Wednesday, 10th March 2010, 12:08 GMTMichael Laverty will be back on the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship grid in the familiar colours of Relentless Suzuki after sealing a deal to return to the team this year. The news of Laverty's arrival boosts the team's line-up with the 2007 British Supersport champion joining reigning National Superstock 1000 champion Alastair Seeley as the pair vie for Suzuki's first BSB crown since 2004. Laverty said: "I am really happy to be back in BSB with the Relentless Suzuki team and I really think we can have a great season. "I have raced all of the boys before apart from Yukio (Kagayama) and Josh (Brookes) and I honestly believe that there is no clear favourite for the title and we have the chance to shine. "I know that the team have made some real steps forward over last year and I come back to familiar territory, knowing the tracks and the whole of the TAS team. "I believe that the Relentless Suzuki has stepped up a notch from when I last raced it in BSB in 2008 and with factory parts we have a really strong package to fight for the title." The 2010 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season kicks off at Brands Hatch on Easter weekend (3/4/5 April). Read article
