Brexit or no Brexit; we’re on our way to Europe

During those three decades, there have been some mighty battles and coming togethers around the 4.423km circuit. The infamous Turn 13 into the final straight almost on a yearly basis has provided us with pages of copy and air time. Doohan and Criville; Rossi and Gibernau; Marquez and Rossi and Lorenzo and Marquez to name but a few who have clashed, with the chequered flag in sight, round the corner now named after three times World Champion Jorge Lorenzo. Five times World Champion Mick Doohan’s career came to a sad end in 1999 when he crashed between Turn 3 and 4 during practice. Who will forget Casey Stoner’s answer to Valentino Rossi when the nine times World Champion apologised after bringing the Australian down at Turn 1.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Time schedule: Gran Premio Red Bull de España

Time will tell, but first, what are all the times you need to know ahead of the Spanish GP? Track action begins as usual with Moto3™ FP1 at 09:00 local time (GMT+2), with MotoGP™ getting underway at 09:55 and Moto2™ at 10:55. Friday honours will be decided in the FP2 sessions, with the premier class heading out for their second dose of track action in Jerez at 14:10.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Young guns lead the way as BSB heads to Oulton Park

2019 BSB
Round Two – Oulton Park


Young guns Josh Elliott and Tarran Mackenzie lead the pack in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship title standings ahead of Britain’s biggest motorsport battle reaching Cheshire’s Oulton Park this May Bank Holiday weekend (May 4/5/6) after the pair both secured debut race wins at the Silverstone opener.

SBK Josh Elliott
Josh Elliott

Josh Elliott – OMG Racing Suzuki

“It has been crazy since Silverstone; the phone hasn’t stopped! I am still on a high with the results we had but at the same time I have to stay level headed. The win was big; it was the first for me and the first for the team and it has been a real buzz in the garage. I wasn’t expecting the result at Silverstone; if someone had said before the weekend that would have been the result I would have said they were a bit crazy! I knew we had been working hard as a team and had a good pace but to win was an amazing feeling. I think the result hasn’t changed how we will look at the weekend; our aim still has to be the top six for the Showdown and to be up the front when it counts. We intend on taking the opportunities as they come and you can’t rest as it will only get tougher. Nobody expected us to be joint championship leaders after the first round so we want to come out fighting again next weekend and I think we can work hard and be there or thereabouts in the races again.”

BSB Rnd Race Elliott Buchan Linfoot
Josh Elliott, Danny Buchan and Dan Linfoot

Elliott and OMG Racing Suzuki celebrated the first victory in the series after drama between the McAMS Yamaha teammates as Mackenzie and Jason O’Halloran clashed in their battle for victory, whilst Scott Redding was a podium finisher on his first appearance after the switch from MotoGP to the Be Wiser Ducati team.

BSB Rnd Race Podium Mackenzie Elliott Redding
Tarran Mackenzie got to celebrate being on the top step of the podium before officials sanctioned him for the crash with O’Halloran, demoting him to second place.

Jason O’Halloran

“We had a few electronic issues with the bike this morning but it was feeling good and the lap times were great straight away. Unfortunately At the end of the session I ran on at Hizzy’s and as the grass was wet I slipped off. It was the slowest crash ever but I landed on my shoulder a bit funny. When I went back out for the next session my shoulder hurt a lot so I decided to play it safe and called it a day. Silverstone was obviously a let-down for me in the end after so much promise; to lead pretty much all the first race and to end up with nothing wasn’t what I went there for, then we had the problem in race two, but I feel that we have a good pace and I’m chilled about it. I want a podium and I want to be winning; that’s not me being cocky but we have had good pace all pre-season and into the first round. We know that it won’t be easy, because it never is in BSB, but I love Oulton Park and had a podium there last year, so I am hoping it can be good for us. I feel ready to go and I am looking forward to the weekend.”

BSB Rnd Race OHalloran Walk
Jason O’Halloran walking back to the pits

In the second race, Mackenzie bounced back to score his first race win in the Superbike class and now jointly leads the standings with Elliott ahead of the next two races of the season in Cheshire.


Tarran Mackenzie – McAMS Yamaha

“I think Silverstone probably went better than expected to be honest; to fight for both wins and then take my first BSB win was more than I had expected from the weekend and it was a bit of a dream come true. I think because pre-season testing hadn’t been the best for me and even the official test at Silverstone I was eighth. I wanted to get the first BSB win that weekend, I wanted to get that monkey off my back and that was my goal so to do it felt really good. Now that I have done it though I want to do it again! I want to be in the Showdown for the first time this season. At the test I think we found a good base setting that just needs refining, because we didn’t quite get the chance with the conditions changing but we are not far away it just needs some fine tuning. I had a good round when we went to Oulton Park for the second time last year so hopefully we can keep this momentum going! I’m looking forward to it!”

BSB Rnd Race Mackenzie Elliott Buchan
2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Round One – Silverstone – Race Two
Tarran MACKENZIE – McAMS Yamaha 30:43.837
Josh ELLIOTT – OMG Racing Suzuki +0.635
Danny BUCHAN – FS-3 Racing Kawasaki +1.004

Tommy Bridewell proved he was a force to be reckoned with on board the Oxford Racing Ducati. He arrives at Oulton Park third in the standings and confident following last week’s official test, just one point ahead of Luke Mossey on the second OMG Racing Suzuki.

SBK Tommy Bridewell
Tommy Bridewell

Danny Buchan is joint fourth overall following his impressive opening round podium and Luke Stapleford and the Buildbase Suzuki team currently make it five teams inside the top six ahead of the second round.

BSB Test Oulton Park Danny Buchan
Danny Buchan

Honda Racing’s Andrew Irwin and Xavi Forés had a strong start to the season but the former World Superbike contender has to rapidly get to grips with the undulations of the challenging Cheshire circuit, as will Redding after the pair had their initial taste of the track at the official test.

BSB Test Silverstone Tue Andrew Irwin at work DyeomansImage
Andrew Irwin

Dan Linfoot had a promising start to his season at Silverstone with the Santander Salt TAG Yamaha team and he is looking for another strong performance at Oulton, whilst the title-winning Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki team will be eager to fight back at the front with Glenn Irwin and new recruit Ben Currie.

BSB Test Oulton Park Ben Currie
Ben Currie

However at last week’s official test 2015 champion Josh Brookes fired his Be Wiser Ducati to the top of the times as the Australian bids to make amends for a double non-point score at the opening round after being hampered with technical issues.

BSB Test Oulton Park Josh Brookes
Josh Brookes

Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Oulton Park BSB Official Test
  1. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m:34.929s
  2. Danny Buchan (FS3-Racing Kawasaki) +1.067s
  3. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) +1.081s
  4. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +1.086s
  5. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +1.142s
  6. Luke Stapleford (Buildbase Suzuki) +1.195s
  7. Luke Mossey (OMG Racing Suzuki) +1.313s
  8. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +1.396s
  9. Glenn Irwin (Quattro Plant – JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +1.757s
  10. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +2.002s

2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Points
  1. Josh ELLIOTT (Suzuki) 45
  2. Tarran MACKENZIE (Yamaha) 45
  3. Tommy BRIDEWELL (Ducati) 24
  4. Luke MOSSEY (Suzuki) 23
  5. Danny BUCHAN (Kawasaki) 23
  6. Luke STAPLEFORD (Suzuki) 20
  7. Andrew IRWIN (Honda) 19
  8. Scott REDDING (Ducati) 16
  9. Xavi FORÉS (Honda) 14
  10. Dan LINFOOT (Yamaha) 10
  11. Claudio CORTI (Kawasaki) 8
  12. Bradley RAY (Suzuki) 6
  13. Christian IDDON (BMW) 5
  14. Glann IRWIN (Kawasaki) 5
  15. Ryan VICKERS (Kawasaki) 5
  16. Keith FARMER (BMW) 5
  17. Peter HICKMAN (BMW) 4
  18. Ben CURRIE (Kawasaki) 3
Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Standings
  1. Richard COOPER 46
  2. Taylor MACKENZIE 43
  3. Alex OLSEN 42
  4. Lee JACKSON 26
  5. Eemeli LAHTI 21.5
  6. Tom NEAVE 18
  7. Lewis ROLLO 16
  8. Luke HEDGER 14.5
  9. Billy McCONNELL 10.5
  10. Leon JEACOCK 9
  11. Michael RUTTER 8
  12. Levi DAY 8
  13. Chrissy ROUSE 4.5
  14. Paul McLUNG 4.5
  15. Andrew REID 4
  16. Benjamin GODFREY 3.5
  17. Tom WARD 3
  18. Barry TEASDALE 3
  19. Joe COLLIER 2
  20. Tim NEAVE 1
  21. Aaron CLARKE 0.5
  22. Craig NEVE 0.5
Dickies British Supersport Championship Standings
  1. Jack KENNEDY 50
  2. Alastair SEELEY 40
  3. Brad JONES 32
  4. Lee JOHNSTON 26
  5. Tom OLIVER 21
  6. Harry TRUELOVE 19
  7. Kurt WIGLEY 17
  8. Richard KERR 17
  9. Ben WILSON 11
  10. Tatsuya YAMAGUCHI 10
  11. Bradley PERIE 9
  12. Rory SKINNER 7
  13. Eugene McMANUS 5
  14. Charlie NESBITT 4
  15. Ryan DIXON 3
  16. Ross TWYMAN 3
  17. Ross PATTERSON 2
  18. Matt WIGLEY 2
  19. Jason LYNN 1
  20. Phil WAKEFIELD 1

Images by Dave Yeomans

Source: MCNews.com.au

Larger tyre allocation available due to Jerez resurfacing

Four front and four rear tyres are available this weekend, with the front range available in soft, medium and two hard compounds – all in a symmetric design. The same compounds are available for the rear but in an asymmetric finish, with a harder right-hand-side to cope with the eight right turns compared to just five left corners.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Viñales joins Qatar Motorsports Academy

“I really like working with young riders, I sponsor a junior team in the Spanish Championship,” began Viñales. “I have enjoyed my first meeting with the kids of the Academy. It’s great to see their enthusiasm and interest. And I have to say that I am surprised by the organizational structure and facilities available to the kids attending the Academy.

Source: MotoGP.comRead Full Article Here

Managing emotions tough for Webb in East Rutherford encounter

News 30 Apr 2019

Managing emotions tough for Webb in East Rutherford encounter

Factory KTM pilot in line to take out first premier class crown.

Image: Supplied.

Points leader Cooper Webb admits Saturday’s Monster Energy AMA Supercross Championship encounter at East Rutherford was tough to manage as he charged to victory with the title on the table.

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing contender’s point situation offered him a slim chance of clinching the title, and he was able to capitalise on mistakes from his rivals to take out the win, stretching his advantage in the rankings to 23.

“It was tough and the track was difficult, so you want to charge forward, but you also want to ride in your comfort zone a little bit,” Webb said in response to managing his emotions with the victory and championship in mind.

“It was good to battle Eli in the beginning, he kind of broke away a little bit and made a few mistakes, so it was a good opportunity for me, then Zach and I, he got around me and also made a mistake, so I definitely got two gifts there.

“It was tough, you want to stay consistent and put in your laps, and I felt they were faster and catching me, so I knew somewhere on the track they were doing something better, but you just don’t what. It’s crazy how it all played out, and to get another win in the season is unreal.”

The AMA Supercross series will wrap up this weekend in Las Vegas, while the Lucas Oil AMA Pro Motocross Championship will kick off on 19 May at Hangtown.


Source: MotoOnline.com.au

The Bend podium reinforces Jones’ decision on full-time ASBK return

News 30 Apr 2019

The Bend podium reinforces Jones’ decision on full-time ASBK return

Newly-signed DesmoSport Ducati rider moves in on championship lead.

Image: Russell Colvin.

A podium at The Bend Motorsport Parks’ third round of the 2019 Motul Pirelli Australian Superbike Championship has reinforced Mike Jones’ decision to contest the series remainder with DesmoSport Ducati.

Jones was a surprise entrant at Phillip Island’s opener aboard Kawasaki machinery, however despite winding up fourth, he still expressed intentions to race overseas before accepting a guest ride with the DesmoSport squad for Wakefield Park, impressing once again as he moved closer to the points lead, and later signing with the Ducati outfit in place of Troy Bayliss.

Claiming pole position in South Australia at the weekend, the 2015 ASBK champion went onto lodge a 2-2-5 scorecard for second overall, moving him to within just 10 points of championship leader Bryan Staring (Kawasaki BCperformance).

“100 percent, I was confident of [the decision] after round two at Wakefield Park, and the result from the weekend is proof that we’re good a team, we’re working together and capable of challenging for the championship,” Jones explained to CycleOnline.com.au.

“We moved forward in the championship on the weekend, and that’s always the goal. Obviously, we’re looking to take race wins and be strong for the championship, but at the same time, you have to be careful and stay on the motorbike as consistency is key.

“We’ll have to play each round as it comes – if we’re strong and feel able to win races, then I’ll certainly do that. And if it’s not possible, I’ll consolidate and take the best possible points I can to give it the best chance in the championship.”

Jones raced internationally in 2017 and 2018 , contesting the European Superstock 1000 Championship before transitioning to the Spanish Superstock 1000 Championship with Speed Racing Team Kawasaki, while he also made a guest MotoGP appearance at the Island in 2018 with Angel Nieto Team.

Source: CycleOnline.com.au