James Toseland
Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Setup Report: Silverstone
Source: Motourage - Tuesday, 27th July 2010, 17:22 GMTToseland and Crutchlow prepare for their home race at Silverstone Yamaha Sterilgarda riders James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow are geared up and determined to give it their all this weekend for their home race in front of the British fans at Silverstone for round 10 of the World Superbike Championship. The Silverstone circuit, which has gone [...] Read article
Biaggi & Co. make long-awaited Silverstone comeback
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Tuesday, 27th July 2010, 14:58 GMTRound ten of the 13-round HANNspree FIM Superbike World Championship will take place at the latest incarnation of the classic Silverstone circuit this weekend, between 30 July and 1 August. The championship has been to Silverstone on six previous occasions, the most recent being in 2007, when only one race took place due to incessant rain that flooded the track before race two could get underway. The Silverstone that WSB returns to this year is a very different venue from previous versions, with massive investment in both a heavily modified circuit layout and infrastructure improvements resulting in a 5.902 km circuit, which owes a lot to the ex-airfield circuit's original reputation as a fast and open racetrack, where speed is a key element. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) and his factory team have been almost immaculate in 2010, winning half the races on offer, finishing every race in the points and having no individual placing lower than eighth. Biaggi has been so consistent he has only had five non-podium finishes all season. No surprise to find that Max is a clear championship leader after round nine at Brno, now having a 68-point advantage approaching Silverstone. Biaggi has not got far to look to see the immediate threat at Silverstone, with the first of seven well-equipped local riders being second placed in the overall WSB rankings, Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare). Haslam could ask for no better current WSB venue to try to make big inroads into Biaggi's points lead, as he will have the crowd firmly on his side for the first time all year, and greater recent experience of at least some of the Silverstone layout than many of his rivals. There are no fewer than seven full time riders in the 2010 line-up who emanate from the UK, and all of them are on either official or well-supported machinery. For this reason alone Silverstone may well provide the best chance of a new name appearing on the 2010 winner's roster since Kyalami in May. So far we have had six different race-winning riders, the roll of honour led by Biaggi with nine victories. Next up, Haslam is tied on three wins with overall third placed rider Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda). Rea has been busy of late, winning the first race at Brno last time out before heading to Japan and a podium slot at the Suzuka 8 Hours last weekend. Carlos Checa (Althea Ducati) was a winner at round one in Australia and he is now fourth in the points, close to Rea and the following rider in fifth place, Noriyuki Haga (Ducati Xerox). Haga is another with a single win to his credit in 2010, and the most recent rider to enter the 2010 winners' club is Haga's own team-mate, Michel Fabrizio - eighth overall and twice a podium man in the past two rounds. The Ducati 1200cc Vee-twin riders will all arrive at Silverstone with the same regulation minimum weight of 162 kg as the other machines, after once more breaking through the lower threshold of the balancing regulations at the previous Brno round. The seven British regulars looking for hometown glory on Sunday include James Toseland (Yamaha Sterilgarda), a double WSBK champion but a rider still looking for his first win in his comeback season. He has already stated that a British 1-2-3 is very possible at Silverstone and for him the top step of the podium is his overriding motivation this weekend. James is sixth in the current rankings. Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was unlucky to injure himself at the previous round in Brno, missing raceday, but he is expecting great things from his S1000RR around the fast sweeps of Silverstone, if he comes through a test at Mugello in good condition. Troy is seventh now, two points ahead of a chasing Fabrizio, with the second official BMW rider, Ruben Xaus, 13th overall and improving all the time. One of the ‘magnificent seven' local riders is particularly well known to British crowds, 2009 BSB champion Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia). Already a podium placer on his vee-four Aprilia, Camier is having an intense learning year in WSB, tied on points with a Superpole expert in his first full season, Cal Crutchlow (Yamaha Sterilgarda). Briton Crutchlow has scored pole four times so far, and has four podium places to boot. He is tenth in the championship, but tied on the same 138 point total as Camier and British-domiciled Frenchman Sylvain Guintoli (Suzuki Alstare). Shane Byrne (Althea Ducati) sits 12th right now, looking forward to his latest return home to race and another chance to match his sheer speed over a single lap to a race result of equal prominence. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) is the seventh Brit in regular WSB competition in 2010 and he more than anyone will see Silverstone as an opportunity to shine. With his regular team-mate Chris Vermeulen out for the rest of the year through injury, he will have the legendary figure of Akira Yanagawa alongside him at Silverstone, as the Japanese star stands-in for Chris for this race. Series regular Luca Scassa (Supersonic Ducati) who suffered a fracture at the Brno race weekend, has recovered well and will race in England. Jakub Smrz (Pata B&G Aprilia) will be on a vee-four for this round again, with Max Neukirchner (HANNspree Ten Kate Honda) and Honda privateer Broc Parkes (ECHO CRS) out for more points to move up the standings. Lorenzo Lanzi (DFX Corse Ducati) plus Pedercini Kawasaki team-mates Roger Lee Hayden and Matteo Baiocco are also privateers worth watching. Wildcards of the highest quality and equipment levels are set to join the Silverstone party in 2010, as Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari (both HM Plant Honda) combine forces to lever points and places from the hands of the regulars. Privateer rider Tommy Bridewell will also be made welcome in the WSB paddock on his Quay Garage Honda. SUPERSPORT: For the fifth time this year the championship lead has changed hands once again with three riders having taken turns to head up the standings even before the last round at Brno. After another win, his third of the year, Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) left Brno at the top of the reckoning and second place in the race gave Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki Motocard.com) second in the rankings also, some 15 points behind Sofuoglu. Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) no-scored for the first time last time and is now third, 22 points adrift but with four races to go - including Silverstone. ParkinGO Triumph BE-1's Chaz Davies is an increasingly impressive fourth, having scored three podium finishes so far. Almost a podium finisher last time out, Gino Rea (Intermoto Czech Honda) is looking forward to his first full Supersport World Championship race at Silverstone. Ronan Quarmby (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) will replace injured regular runner Michele Pirro at Silverstone and there are no fewer than 28 riders on the Silverstone grid, thanks to a wildcard rider influx. SUPERSTOCK 1000: Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) has remained untouchable at the top of the Superstock 1000 standings, winning six from six as his championship carries on relentlessly. He now has a 77-point advantage over Michele Magnoni (Bevilacqua Corse Honda), and a win at Silverstone would give Badovini the championship no matter what. Lesser results would also see him crowned champion, if all his four main rivals have poor weekends. Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Racing Junior Honda) is third overall, while Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini Honda) heads up the final top five runners, together with Davide Giugliano (Team06 Suzuki). SUPERSTOCK 600: Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) is overcoming all obstacles in his way this year in the 600 Superstock division, having won four races and been placed in the other two. He leads his French countryman Florian Marino (Ten Kate Junior Racing Honda) by 30 points after his last win in the Czech Republic. Italian rider Federico D'Annunzio (Martini Corse Yamaha) is still third but looking for his first win of the year. TRIUMPH PARKINGO SERIES: The monomarque Triumph ParkinGO European Series will be back at Silverstone, with riders on identical Triumph Street Triple R machines battling it out for glory in this thrilling class. Fabrizio Perotti is the leader with three rounds to go, 16 points ahead of Matteo Marzotto. THE CIRCUIT: The recent works at Silverstone have now created a multiple use circuit of truly international class, including several initiatives that have been specifically designed for motorcycle use. Riders and spectators have been well catered for in the layout to be used for World Superbike, with the track now shooting to the infield at one key section to allow spectators in that area a closer look at the action, while still meeting all the latest safety requirements. The work at Silverstone is still continuing, to make the classic British circuit even more user-friendly for all. High top speeds and fast average lap speeds will be much in evidence. Read article
Magnificent Seven line up for shoot-out
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Monday, 26th July 2010, 12:46 GMTBritain's ‘Magnificent Seven' World Superbike riders will ride into Silverstone this week for the UK's only round of the FIM Superbike World Championship. Rather than protecting the Silverstone crowd from marauding Mexican bandits, the Magnificent Seven will be searching for glory of a different kind; going all out to clinch race wins and podium finishes aboard their trusty two-wheeled steeds. The seven British regular World Superbike riders got together at the last round of the series in Brno, Czech Republic, to pay homage to the classic John Sturges film, The Magnificent Seven, that celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Donning cowboy hats, they lined up in their current championship positions to publicize their imminent arrival at their home circuit - the new 3.666 mile Silverstone track. Pictured from left to right are Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea, James Toseland, Leon Camier, Cal Crutchlow, Shane Byrne and Tom Sykes. Cast as the ‘bandit' in the scenario is veteran Italian rider Max Biaggi. Biaggi is a four-time 250cc World Champion and former MotoGP front-runner. He currently heads the championship standings with Haslam and Rea, second and third, in hot pursuit. Read article
Toseland sees all-British podium at Silverstone
Source: WORLDSBK.COM | NEWS - Friday, 23rd July 2010, 10:41 GMTJames Toseland can arguably be considered to be the senior member of the Brit-pack, in terms of achievement rather than age, as he was Superbike World Champion in 2004 and 2007 before switching to the MotoGP class for two seasons. Having returned to 1000cc production-based action this year, the Yamaha Sterilgarda man currently sits sixth in the Championship and is hoping for a boost as the season's end approaches. "I've always had good support over the years and every British rider wants to do well at home. Hopefully we all have a great weekend and get some British riders on the podium. That's what it's all about - it's about getting a British rider on the podium at the British race," said Toseland, who was at Silverstone on Tuesday 20 July. Speaking about the new circuit layout, Toseland added: "It seems a great layout. I watched MotoGP and they had a great race. There's a good five or six overtaking points for a bike. I'm looking forward to World Superbikes, especially with seven British riders. I think we've had five British riders on the podium this year. There's every chance that there will be three British riders on the podium at Silverstone, just like in Assen. I've always had good results at Silverstone. I won on the Ducati here in ‘05 and was on the podium in '06. It's been a track I've done well on, so I'm looking forward to coming back here. With MotoGP, Formula 1 and British Superbikes, Silverstone has got all the major events now - it's nice to be on this kind of stage." Read article
Yamaha Riders Get To Grips With Brno In 1st Qualifying
Source: The Latest Motorcycle News - Tuesday, 13th July 2010, 8:28 GMTYamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike riders Cal Crutchlow and James Toseland ended the first qualifying session at Brno today satisfied with a good base set up. Despite suffering earlier in the day with a severe lack of grip on the track, the afternoon's qualifying saw both improve their times as they fine tuned the set up. Starting qualifying with a set up that didn't suit the track so well, Crutchlow spent some time in the session waiting in the pit while it was changed. Despite the lack of track time he came out in the dying minutes to take second fastest on the board, less than three tenths off the lead. Read article
Valentino Rossi to decide on comeback today
Source: | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP - Monday, 12th July 2010, 11:34 GMTReigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will decide later on today whether he will make a dramatic return to racing this weekend at the Sachsenring. The 31-year-old will test James Toseland’s factory R1 World Superbike machine at the Brno circuit... Read article
Valentino Rossi to decide on comeback today
Source: | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP - Monday, 12th July 2010, 11:34 GMTReigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will decide later on today whether he will make a dramatic return to racing this weekend at the Sachsenring. The 31-year-old will test James Toseland’s factory R1 World Superbike machine at the Brno circuit... Read article
Valentino Rossi set to test James Toseland’s R1 in Brno?
Source: | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP - Sunday, 11th July 2010, 18:56 GMTSpeculation is increasing at the Czech Republic World Superbike round that reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will test James Toseland’s factory R1 machine on Monday. Rossi is desperate to return from injury at next weekend’s German MotoGP clash at... Read article
Valentino Rossi set to test James Toseland’s R1 in Brno?
Source: | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP - Sunday, 11th July 2010, 18:56 GMTSpeculation is increasing at the Czech Republic World Superbike round that reigning MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi will test James Toseland’s factory R1 machine on Monday. Rossi is desperate to return from injury at next weekend’s German MotoGP clash at... Read article
Rea and Biaggi soar at Brno
Source: Insidebikes | Carole Nash » Bike News - Sunday, 11th July 2010, 17:44 GMTJonathan Rea and Max Biaggi shared the top step of the podium at Brno this afternoon, each proving dominant in the World Superbike Championship. As race one got underway, a fast starting Biaggi made full use of his quick Aprilia Alitalia machine to automatically steal the lead for pole sitter Cal Crutchlow. Rea also enjoyed a quick getaway, joining Biaggi up at the front as his 2010 championship campaign resumed with a bang. As the field weaved around the first corner chaos struck as Max Neukirchner, Chris Vermeulen and Jakub Smrz were caught up in a crash. All three riders were immediately out of the race, however seemingly uninjured. Further along the opening lap Rea made a bid for the lead, when he swept around the outside of Biaggi. Luckily for him the brave move came off and he was soon in control of the race. Whilst Biaggi chased down his rival at the front, Noriyuki Haga had worked his way up to sixth, where he was right in the thick of the action. After a slow start, Crutchlow had soon fought his way back through the field, and it wasn’t long before he wrestled second place away from Biaggi. From here Biaggi was the target, as Ruben Xaus then tried to follow Crutchlow through. Despite running side by side with Biaggi for the better part of a lap, it was the Italian who kept his foot in to stake his claim to the third place. With sixteen laps to go the drama came once more, as Luca Scassa was the next crash victim, followed by a retirement from Leon Camier. Some way down the line, Michel Fabrizio was the next retirement, as he rode into the pits and straight into his garage. As the closing stages approached, the final three laps saw the battle for second really hot up. After losing ground earlier on Biaggi was right on the tail of Crutchlow, determined to regain his second spot, however the Yamaha rider wasn’t keen on handing over the position. After swapping places for a short while, it was Biaggi who held the position, leaving Crutchlow to follow him home. All of the action behind allowed Rea to extend his lead, when he swept passed the chequered flag a few seconds ahead. Biaggi followed, with Crutchlow completing the podium in third. Sylvain Guintoli was next in fourth, just ahead of Xaus, Haga and James Toseland. The remainder of the top ten saw Leon Haslam, Carlos Checa and Lorenzo Lanzi all make an appearance. Race two got underway with a Biaggi resurgence, as he tried for the second time today to take the top step of the podium. Holding the advantage at the front saw Biaggi come under pressure from Rea, as the roles were reversed. Not too far adrift Fabrizio and Xaus were engaged in a fierce battle for third and fourth, with the latter finally getting the better of the Italian at the half way stage. Despite being so close to securing a podium finish, Xaus crashed with six laps to go, ending his Brno dream. After struggling with the rear tyre during the weekend, Crutchlow was forced to pit during this second race, seemingly to retire. Whilst examining the rear tyre it was thought the tyre pressures might be low, and so after some minor work from his Yamaha Sterilgarda team, he rejoined the race to get a few sample laps in. The final incident of the race came with three laps to go, when Smrz crashed out for the second time today. Regardless of the many incidents through the weekend, Biaggi managed to come away unscaithed, riding to his tenth victory at his favourite circuit. This time it was Rea who played second fiddle, while Fabrizio finished third. James Toseland quietly fought his way through the pack, picking off riders one by one to finish a stunning fourth place by the chequered flag. Haga followed just behind in fifth, with Checa sixth and Guintoli seventh. Camier fought back from a race one defeat to take the flag in eighth, ahead of Shane Byrne and Leon Haslam in ninth and tenth, respectively. Biaggi told the WSB website: “Knowing the track quite well here and the passion of the fans in the Czech Republic, we tried something really special and made some changes on the bike, weight distribution and gearbox and the result was very good so I’m happy. For me it’s the tenth victory here, and this is my second home country. I love this place!” Biaggi still holds his advantage at the top of the championship table. The next round at the newly refurbished Silverstone circuit takes place on 30th July-1st August, where Biaggi will be hoping to expand upon his sixty-eight point lead. Read article
