Thursday, May 31, 2012

25 Years of World Superbike: Roger Burnett

Roger Burnett

Recently inducted into the SBK Hall of Fame Roger Burnett was the first rider ever to score a pole position, at the opening round at his home circuit of Donington way back in 1988. He has, as rider, team consultant, rider manager and PR guru been part of SBK history almost every step of the way. With the memories of an epic Donington SBK weekend in 2012 permanently etched in the mind of all who were there to see it unfold, what better time to get the thoughts of an ‘old-time’ British ex-rider who still takes a keen interest in the modern day SBK paddock.

Q: How was the championship in the early years? Did you know it was going to be such a success?
A: I think there was a real excitement that global four-stroke racing was going to be on proper GP short circuits. Prior to SBK starting four-stroke racing was all about TT-F1, which took into consideration road tracks. So what we all got excited about was that and the fact that that it was going to be a full World championship of 12 rounds, with two races per event. That formula, back 25 years ago, was ahead of its day. Now MotoGP has had to go four-stroke so SBK was ahead. The formula of two races gives a fantastic day of entertainment, whether for the TV viewer of live spectator. Add in that the whole formula was production based, and therefore could be a real shop window or the manufacturers. That made it a brilliant, exciting, concept.

Q: How strong was the bond between racing and production machines?
A: The manufacturers joined in, with the first year of the Honda RC30 in 1988 a production-based model that we raced, then the Yamaha OW01 was in its infancy, so the manufacturers had models to promote and display – and hone into becoming better roadgoing products. I always understood in my racing career that I was privileged to be able to race bikes and the only reason I could do that I that people bought them for the road. So to be involved in the concept and initiation in a world championship that gave the roadbike audience something back was exciting and a real privilege. I absolutely love the Superbike World Championship and I love the people. There are people in there who have been there for 25 years. Racing is competition and with competition there can be a little bit of bitchiness from time-to-time, but generally speaking the camaraderie in the paddock and the atmosphere is so much better than the MotoGP paddock.

Q: Do you have any strong memories of those first races?
A: What was really surprising that Ducati wheeled out this bloody great big red thing in the first rounds; so noisy you could not believe it. Then Marco Lucchinelli jumps on it – and he was a god really. I do not know how old he is but in 1988 he was already pushing a decent age and he was a seasoned kind of racer. That Ducati was so good and it came from nowhere. Nobody anticipated that Ducati would have such a strong product for that championship from year one. And what has been proven is that they have had a strong, competitive product for the whole 25 years, which has been unbelievable.

Q: You did a lot of travelling in the early years, lots of fly-away rounds, so it must have been difficult to do all that even without the huge numbers of people in a modern-day SBK team?
A: We used to do a lot of it ourselves. Steve Parrish and I were always mates and when we did the back-to-back Canadian and American rounds we kind of shared travel together – because Steve was always good at organising and so on. We would freight the bikes over there, fly in from Europe, collect our bikes from the freight depot in a Ryder hire-truck, put our kit bikes into it at the other end – we did it ourselves with a forklift – and then drove to the first race. After that round we would re-pack the crate and drive down to America to the next round! In those days, across two teams, we had ten people – including the riders!

Go to Source

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/bhBYGrgJuAI/25+Years+World+Superbike+Roger+Burnett

Marcel Balsa Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla

Speiser out – Di Palma in

Richard Speiser is 2011 FIM World Long-Track Vice-Champion, but he won't have the opportunity to bri...

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1338387883-speiser-out-di-palma-in/

Walt Brown Warwick Brown Adolf Brudes Martin Brundle Gianmaria Bruni Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci

Alonso leads title chase with eye on third crown | 2012 F1 season

Alonso leads title chase with eye on third crown is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Ferrari have bounced back from a faltering start to the season to give Fernando Alonso another shot at a third drivers' championship title.

Alonso leads title chase with eye on third crown is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/XoxV1rYE1Uo/

George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford

New BMW S1000RR Roadbike Officially Revealed

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-bmw-s1000rr-roadbike-officially.html

Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich Philippe Adams Walt Ader

25 Years of World Superbike: Roger Burnett

Roger Burnett

Recently inducted into the SBK Hall of Fame Roger Burnett was the first rider ever to score a pole position, at the opening round at his home circuit of Donington way back in 1988. He has, as rider, team consultant, rider manager and PR guru been part of SBK history almost every step of the way. With the memories of an epic Donington SBK weekend in 2012 permanently etched in the mind of all who were there to see it unfold, what better time to get the thoughts of an ‘old-time’ British ex-rider who still takes a keen interest in the modern day SBK paddock.

Q: How was the championship in the early years? Did you know it was going to be such a success?
A: I think there was a real excitement that global four-stroke racing was going to be on proper GP short circuits. Prior to SBK starting four-stroke racing was all about TT-F1, which took into consideration road tracks. So what we all got excited about was that and the fact that that it was going to be a full World championship of 12 rounds, with two races per event. That formula, back 25 years ago, was ahead of its day. Now MotoGP has had to go four-stroke so SBK was ahead. The formula of two races gives a fantastic day of entertainment, whether for the TV viewer of live spectator. Add in that the whole formula was production based, and therefore could be a real shop window or the manufacturers. That made it a brilliant, exciting, concept.

Q: How strong was the bond between racing and production machines?
A: The manufacturers joined in, with the first year of the Honda RC30 in 1988 a production-based model that we raced, then the Yamaha OW01 was in its infancy, so the manufacturers had models to promote and display – and hone into becoming better roadgoing products. I always understood in my racing career that I was privileged to be able to race bikes and the only reason I could do that I that people bought them for the road. So to be involved in the concept and initiation in a world championship that gave the roadbike audience something back was exciting and a real privilege. I absolutely love the Superbike World Championship and I love the people. There are people in there who have been there for 25 years. Racing is competition and with competition there can be a little bit of bitchiness from time-to-time, but generally speaking the camaraderie in the paddock and the atmosphere is so much better than the MotoGP paddock.

Q: Do you have any strong memories of those first races?
A: What was really surprising that Ducati wheeled out this bloody great big red thing in the first rounds; so noisy you could not believe it. Then Marco Lucchinelli jumps on it – and he was a god really. I do not know how old he is but in 1988 he was already pushing a decent age and he was a seasoned kind of racer. That Ducati was so good and it came from nowhere. Nobody anticipated that Ducati would have such a strong product for that championship from year one. And what has been proven is that they have had a strong, competitive product for the whole 25 years, which has been unbelievable.

Q: You did a lot of travelling in the early years, lots of fly-away rounds, so it must have been difficult to do all that even without the huge numbers of people in a modern-day SBK team?
A: We used to do a lot of it ourselves. Steve Parrish and I were always mates and when we did the back-to-back Canadian and American rounds we kind of shared travel together – because Steve was always good at organising and so on. We would freight the bikes over there, fly in from Europe, collect our bikes from the freight depot in a Ryder hire-truck, put our kit bikes into it at the other end – we did it ourselves with a forklift – and then drove to the first race. After that round we would re-pack the crate and drive down to America to the next round! In those days, across two teams, we had ten people – including the riders!

Go to Source

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/Z5KBDlC_XRZ/25+Years+World+Superbike+Roger+Burnett

George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford

Three points separate the top three Moto2™ riders

With only three points separating the top three Moto2™ riders, the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya pr...

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1338283628-three-points-separate-the-top-three-moto2TM-riders/

Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen

Ben Spies 2009 World Superbike Champion

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/ben-spies-2009-world-superbike-champion.html

Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco Hans Binder Clemente Biondetti Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard

2012 Miller Motorsports Park World Superbikes Sunday Press Releases

Press releases from the World Superbike teams, organizer and track after qualifying on Sunday at Miller Motorsports Park:

Year: 
2012

read more


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/Fr-KKHrOB1A/2012_miller_motorsports_park_world_super.html

Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi Gino Bianco

WSBK Donnington

What a great race 2. I agree with Rossi, MotoGP is boring compared to WSBK and World SS this year. All though I do like Moto2/3 as they all tend to...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144750&goto=newpost

Anthony Davidson Jimmy Davies Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz

Kawasakis Still Suck

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/kawasakis-still-suck.html

Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown Warwick Brown

Chris Vermeulen Anxious to Return to WSBK

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/chris-vermeulen-anxious-to-return-to.html

Art Cross Geoff Crossley Chuck Daigh Yannick Dalmas Derek Daly Christian Danner Jorge Daponte

Ducati Factory Closes After Second Earthquake Hits Bologna

Withstanding two earthquakes in just over a week’s time, Ducati has announced the closure of its Borgo Panigale factory, after today’s 5.8 magnitude shaker, whose epicenter was just 25 miles away from Bologna. Remaining open after Northern Italy’s 6.0 earthquake on May 20th, this latest quake has caused enough damage in the area to warrant the Italian motorcycle manufacturer giving its workforce time to address the damage caused, and to see to loved ones who ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/dmmDxZ69nc0/

Gerry Ashmore Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey

Timeless

I don't think I will ever become tired of watching this race:

http://www.wimp.com/incrediblelap/

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144763&goto=newpost

Karl Gunther Bechem Jean Behra Derek Bell Stefan Bellof Paul Belmondo Tom Belso JeanPierre Beltoise

"Formula 1 is getting old." Darren Heath

Formula 1 Photographs - Blog - F1 Photos - Darren Heath Photographer (http://www.darrenheath.com/season/2012/monaco-2012/blog/future-proof)

I'm...

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/f1/153169-formula-1-getting-old-darren-heath.html

Tom Bridger Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown Walt Brown

Earthquake leads Ferrari to suspend work | F1 Fanatic round-up

Earthquake leads Ferrari to suspend work is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

A second earthquake in the vicinity of Ferrari's factory led the team to send their staff home.

Earthquake leads Ferrari to suspend work is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/2-ySzYY5mFs/

Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler Birabongse Bhanubandh Lucien Bianchi

Williams capable of top five in Monaco, says Gillan | 2012 Monaco Grand Prix

Williams capable of top five in Monaco, says Gillan is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Williams chief operations engineer Mark Gillan says their car was capable of getting in the top five in Monaco and Maldonado's collision with Perez was "avoidable".

Williams capable of top five in Monaco, says Gillan is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/2K2D8knNHEU/

Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati George Amick Red Amick Chris Amon Bob Anderson

89-90 ZX7 H model engine needed

89/90 ZX7 H engine needed

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hey all,

I've been working on my...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144762&goto=newpost

Piers Courage Chris Craft Jim Crawford Ray Crawford Alberto Crespo Antonio Creus Larry Crockett

2012 Miller Motorsports Park World Superbikes QP2: Smrz Remains King Of Qualifying

This session started slowly, with a damp, patchy track. Riders were able to post fast times in the first sector, but the conditions meant the remaining sectors slowed them down to longer times than yesterday. Only towards the end of the session did riders start to put in faster laps than in the first timed session.

It was important to get data for settings and a top 16 time more than it was to get the outright fastest lap, but even then, Jakub Smrz worked hard to keep the provisional pole, even though Carlos Checa tried really hard to take it off him. Two tenths separated the only two men in the 1'48s.

The losers today were Ayrton Badovini, Leon Camier and David Salom, who were both pushed from the top 16, and therefore Superpole, by a resurgent John Hopkins, finally showing form with a provisional second-row place, Niccolo Canepa and Lorenzo Zanetti.

Results:

Race Details
Round Number: 
6
2012

read more


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/JaJWoyJfpAE/2012_miller_motorsports_park_world_super.html

Roberto Bonomi Juan Manuel Bordeu Slim Borgudd Luki Botha JeanChristophe Boullion Sebastien Bourdais Thierry Boutsen

World Superbike: Online WSBK Assen 2009 Videos

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/world-superbike-online-wsbk-assen-2009.html

Frank Dochnal Jose Dolhem Martin Donnelly Carlo Abate George Abecassis Kenny Acheson Andrea de Adamich

Nicky Hayden More Confident in Catalunya After the Mugello Test

Nicky Hayden Le Mans 2012

Nicky Hayden finished 8th on Catalunya last year. This weekend Hayden will race again with Ducati on Catalunya with a lot of confidence after they did a test on Mugello.

Hayden said, “Although I’ve struggled a bit at Catalunya the last few years, I do like the track, and it’s one of the calendar’s great GPs. It’s pretty wide, open and fast, and it’s really important to have good edge grip, especially in the last bit with all the long right-handers."

He continue, "Luckily we got some good weather in Mugello and were able to test a few things with setup, and I look forward to taking them to a race to see if we’ve really done any progress.”

You can give your opinion on our Facebook page here

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/r8hYEDElRyC/Nicky+Hayden+More+Confident+Catalunya+After

Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti George Connor George Constantine

Ostberg thrilled to be top Norwegian

Story from www.wrc.com

Ostberg, whose fourth place finish on the Acropolis Rally last week moved him ahead of countryman Petter Solberg into...

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/wrc-news/153176-ostberg-thrilled-top-norwegian.html

Allen Berg Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen

2002 750 Sport HP Increase?

Hi,

I have a 2002 750 Sport and I tried looking around online, but didn't find anything related to what I could do to this bike to increase the...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144767&goto=newpost

Don Branson Tom Bridger Tony Brise Chris Bristow Peter Broeker Tony Brooks Alan Brown

Timeless

I don't think I will ever become tired of watching this race:

http://www.wimp.com/incrediblelap/

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144763&goto=newpost

Erik Comas Franco Comotti George Connor George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Valentino Rossi Wants Ducati is Also Good on a Dry Track

Valentino Rossi Le Mans 2012

Valentino Rossi did a good race with Ducati on last wet race. This weekend, Rossi will race on Catalunya, which is usually dry and hot. Statistics say that ducati has not shown good performance in a dry track. Valentino Rossi hope that Ducati also good on the dry track.

Rossi said, “Two Sundays ago, we got a nice result because we took advantage of the wet track, a condition in which we know we can be competitive, but we’re aware that we must continue improving in normal, dry conditions."

He continue, "Some of the things we tried in the Mugello test last week seemed promising. It will be interesting to try them on a different track, and with must less time to set the bike up, to see if they’re really a small step forward."

"The Catalunya circuit has always been one of my favorites, and although it’s hard to imagine another podium, we must still do our best to finish with the front riders.”

You can give your opinion on our Facebook page here

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/DuNGWySSgld/Valentino+Rossi+Wants+Ducati+Good+Dry+Track

Michael Andretti Keith Andrews Elio de Angelis Marco Apicella Mário de Araújo Cabral Frank Armi Chuck Arnold

Ben Spies 2009 World Superbike Champion

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/12/ben-spies-2009-world-superbike-champion.html

Gino Bianco Hans Binder Clemente Biondetti Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen

WSBK Donnington

What a great race 2. I agree with Rossi, MotoGP is boring compared to WSBK and World SS this year. All though I do like Moto2/3 as they all tend to...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144750&goto=newpost

Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem Jean Behra Derek Bell Stefan Bellof

2012 European Literbike Shootout - Video

Image: http://www.motorcycle.com/gallery/gallery.php/d/334567-1/2012-european-literbike-shootout-street-img_6547.jpg
Recently, we teased you with a...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144760&goto=newpost

Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla Vittorio Brambilla Toni Branca Gianfranco Brancatelli Eric Brandon

Valentino Rossi Wants Ducati is Also Good on a Dry Track

Valentino Rossi Le Mans 2012

Valentino Rossi did a good race with Ducati on last wet race. This weekend, Rossi will race on Catalunya, which is usually dry and hot. Statistics say that ducati has not shown good performance in a dry track. Valentino Rossi hope that Ducati also good on the dry track.

Rossi said, “Two Sundays ago, we got a nice result because we took advantage of the wet track, a condition in which we know we can be competitive, but we’re aware that we must continue improving in normal, dry conditions."

He continue, "Some of the things we tried in the Mugello test last week seemed promising. It will be interesting to try them on a different track, and with must less time to set the bike up, to see if they’re really a small step forward."

"The Catalunya circuit has always been one of my favorites, and although it’s hard to imagine another podium, we must still do our best to finish with the front riders.”

You can give your opinion on our Facebook page here

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/DuNGWySSgld/Valentino+Rossi+Wants+Ducati+Good+Dry+Track

Johnny Cecotto Andrea de Cesaris Francois Cevert Eugene Chaboud Jay Chamberlain Karun Chandhok Alain de Changy

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R photos

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/2011-kawasaki-zx-10r-photos.html

Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell Raul Boesel Menato Boffa Bob Bondurant Felice Bonetto Jo Bonnier

2012 Miller Motorsports Park World Superbikes Race Two: A Game Of Two Halves

Race Two was stopped after three complete laps and restarted after a crash that left fluids on the track. 

Race Details
Round Number: 
6
2012

read more


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/HjsO12q3ILY/2012_miller_motorsports_park_world_super.html

Jim Clark† Kevin Cogan Peter Collins Bernard Collomb Alberto Colombo Erik Comas Franco Comotti

WSBK: Monza and Kyalami 2009 Highlights

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/wsbk-monza-and-kyalami-2009-highlights.html

Thierry Boutsen Johnny Boyd David Brabham Gary Brabham Jack Brabham† Bill Brack Ernesto Brambilla

Webber the sixth winner and fifth pole sitter of 2012 | 2012 Monaco Grand Prix stats and facts

Webber the sixth winner and fifth pole sitter of 2012 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

F1's record sixth winner in the first six races was Mark Webber - here's all the stats and facts from the Monaco Grand Prix.

Webber the sixth winner and fifth pole sitter of 2012 is an original article from F1 Fanatic. If this article has been published anywhere other than F1 Fanatic it is an infringement of copyright.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/f1fanatic/~3/WV9t8ECWVN4/

Franco Comotti George Connor George Constantine John Cordts David Coulthard Piers Courage Chris Craft

Philip Island World Superbike Results 2011

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/03/philip-island-world-superbike-results.html

Zsolt Baumgartner Elie Bayol Don Beauman Karl Gunther Bechem Jean Behra Derek Bell Stefan Bellof

So, who gets Stoner's seat next year?

Honda has already stated that Rossi isn't welcome back, and Marquez can't ride for a factory team even if he moves up next year--although it seems...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144754&goto=newpost

Antonio Creus Larry Crockett Tony Crook Art Cross Geoff Crossley Chuck Daigh Yannick Dalmas

Arthur Sissis Red Bull's Interview, Life on the Road

Arthur Sissis Le Mans 2012

An interview from Red Bull to Arthur Sissis, young Australian Moto3 rider. This interview was conducted after Le Mans race

Arthur, how has your introduction to the Moto3 World Championship gone so far?
It's been my dream since I was a kid to be here, so it has been amazing! When I was riding in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup at the World Championship circuits I would always watch the 125cc races, and the times we did in the Rookies Cup were not that far off the GP times. Then when I did that Malaysia race I knew it was going to be hard! But this year, in Moto3, I have a very good bike in the KTM and it's all going well so far.

Your background is quite interesting, as you were a late starter in road racing...
Yeah, I was racing speedway in Australia before. The first time I rode a road bike was in 2009, and that was my first year in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup. In fact, my first race was in the Rookies Cup! The speedway definitely gave me some good experience and a solid grounding.

What was your experience in the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup like?
It was really good. I didn't think it was going to be so hard, the first year I was in there, and it was great. To learn Grand Prix tracks and to get three years in the Rookies Cup was excellent, I learned so much about the circuits we went to and now there are only a few on the Moto3 calendar I haven't been to yet.
How have you found the Moto3 bikes?
Not that bad to adjust to, because in speedway I was racing on four-stroke bikes. Anyway, this is new for everybody so it has been quite a level playing field so far.

Were you expecting such good results so early on?
Probably not, especially in Qatar because I didn't know that track. I was expecting 15th, or something around that spot, but that first race went really well. I'm not going to complain about the race in Portugal (Sissis finished 13th) but I had a little bit of pain in my neck from the crash I had the week before at Jerez. At the start of the race I was going really well until the pain started to kick, then it was really sore. I think I can go with the front guys, for sure.

You're in a team which has won two titles in the past four seasons, and have two more experienced team-mates in Sandro Cortese and Danny Kent in the same garage. How has that all helped?
It's great because they're all so experienced, they can teach me a lot. If I'm at a new track I can look at their data and they're completely fine with that. Everyone helps out in the team and it's really good. Sometimes I'll say [to Cortese or Kent] 'Take me out for a few laps!' and they'll say 'No problem', so that's helped with learning some of the new tracks.

And finally, what do you think about life in the paddock?
I love it here! When I go back home, that's when it gets boring!

source: RedBull

You can give your opinion on our Facebook page here

Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/ZOrY--lRZ82/Arthur+Sissis+Red+Bull+Interview+Life+Road

Pablo Birger Art Bisch Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell

2012 Miller Motorsports Park World Superbikes Race One: Cool Heads Prevailed

On a dry race, nobody claimed the 200mph (320kmh) prize offered by the circuit, but not for a lack of trying: Three riders managed a 319.2kmh.

Race Details
Round Number: 
6
2012

read more


Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MotoGPMatters/~3/hCVg1etvpZw/2012_miller_motorsports_park_world_super.html_0

Alex Caffi John CampbellJones Adrián Campos John Cannon Eitel Cantoni Bill Cantrell Ivan Capelli

Redux: AMA Superbike vs. World Superbike at MMP

Last year we combined the QP2 times from World Superbike with the Qualifying times from AMA Superbike, to see how America’s finest motorcycle racers stack up on against the international championship of a similar name. Of course there are different regulations in each series (not to mention a variety of other factors), which vary a bit on how teams are allowed to modify their race bikes, so there isn’t an exact comparison between the two ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/aiAhCz7NwX8/

Bill Aston Richard Attwood Manny Ayulo Luca Badoer Giancarlo Baghetti Julian Bailey Mauro Baldi

Three points separate the top three Moto2™ riders

With only three points separating the top three Moto2™ riders, the Gran Premi Aperol de Catalunya pr...

Source: http://www.fim-live.com/en/media/news/news-detail/article/1338283628-three-points-separate-the-top-three-moto2TM-riders/

Red Amick Chris Amon Bob Anderson Conny Andersson Mario Andretti Michael Andretti Keith Andrews

WSBK Donnington

What a great race 2. I agree with Rossi, MotoGP is boring compared to WSBK and World SS this year. All though I do like Moto2/3 as they all tend to...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144750&goto=newpost

Jimmy Bryan Clemar Bucci Ronnie Bucknum Ivor Bueb Sebastien Buemi Luiz Bueno Ian Burgess

World Superbike Monza 2010 Highlight Videos

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2010/05/world-superbike-monza-2010-highlight.html

Anthony Davidson Jimmy Davies Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz Patrick Depailler Pedro Diniz

Chris Vermeulen Anxious to Return to WSBK

Source: http://sportbikeblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/chris-vermeulen-anxious-to-return-to.html

Georges Berger Gerhard Berger Eric Bernard Enrique Bernoldi Enrico Bertaggia Tony Bettenhausen Mike Beuttler

Memorial weekend 3 track day event at Willow Springs with Motoyard

All of us at Motoyard invite you to our 3- track day MEMORIAL WEEKEND ULTIMATE WILLOW SPRINGS EXPERIENCE:ridin, which includes the following track...

Source: http://www.esportbike.com/forums/showthread.php?t=144749&goto=newpost

Marcel Balsa Lorenzo Bandini Henry Banks Fabrizio Barbazza John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla

IOMTT: McGuinness Sends a Message at First Practice Night

Monday night marked the first practice session for the returning riders to the Isle of Man TT, and John McGuinness got things started off on the right foot. While most riders at the TT spent the evening shaking off the cobwebs, sorting out new bikes, and generally getting a feel for thing, the 17-time Isle of Man TT race winner McGuinness went out onto the Mountain Course, dropped a 128.267 mph lap on his third ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AsphaltandRubber/~3/JaydWByjsY8/

John Barber Skip Barber Paolo Barilla Rubens Barrichello Michael Bartels Edgar Barth Giorgio Bassi

Perfect start for Gronholm

Story from www.wrc.com

Gronholm, who swept to world title glory in 2000 and 2002, was competing in the opening round of the 2012 Global...

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/wrc-news/153160-perfect-start-gronholm.html

Philippe Alliot Cliff Allison Fernando Alonso Giovanna Amati George Amick Red Amick Chris Amon

"Formula 1 is getting old." Darren Heath

Formula 1 Photographs - Blog - F1 Photos - Darren Heath Photographer (http://www.darrenheath.com/season/2012/monaco-2012/blog/future-proof)

I'm...

Source: http://www.motorsportforums.com/f1/153169-formula-1-getting-old-darren-heath.html

Art Bisch Harry Blanchard Michael Bleekemolen Alex Blignaut Trevor Blokdyk Mark Blundell Raul Boesel

25 Years of World Superbike: Roger Burnett

Roger Burnett

Recently inducted into the SBK Hall of Fame Roger Burnett was the first rider ever to score a pole position, at the opening round at his home circuit of Donington way back in 1988. He has, as rider, team consultant, rider manager and PR guru been part of SBK history almost every step of the way. With the memories of an epic Donington SBK weekend in 2012 permanently etched in the mind of all who were there to see it unfold, what better time to get the thoughts of an ‘old-time’ British ex-rider who still takes a keen interest in the modern day SBK paddock.

Q: How was the championship in the early years? Did you know it was going to be such a success?
A: I think there was a real excitement that global four-stroke racing was going to be on proper GP short circuits. Prior to SBK starting four-stroke racing was all about TT-F1, which took into consideration road tracks. So what we all got excited about was that and the fact that that it was going to be a full World championship of 12 rounds, with two races per event. That formula, back 25 years ago, was ahead of its day. Now MotoGP has had to go four-stroke so SBK was ahead. The formula of two races gives a fantastic day of entertainment, whether for the TV viewer of live spectator. Add in that the whole formula was production based, and therefore could be a real shop window or the manufacturers. That made it a brilliant, exciting, concept.

Q: How strong was the bond between racing and production machines?
A: The manufacturers joined in, with the first year of the Honda RC30 in 1988 a production-based model that we raced, then the Yamaha OW01 was in its infancy, so the manufacturers had models to promote and display – and hone into becoming better roadgoing products. I always understood in my racing career that I was privileged to be able to race bikes and the only reason I could do that I that people bought them for the road. So to be involved in the concept and initiation in a world championship that gave the roadbike audience something back was exciting and a real privilege. I absolutely love the Superbike World Championship and I love the people. There are people in there who have been there for 25 years. Racing is competition and with competition there can be a little bit of bitchiness from time-to-time, but generally speaking the camaraderie in the paddock and the atmosphere is so much better than the MotoGP paddock.

Q: Do you have any strong memories of those first races?
A: What was really surprising that Ducati wheeled out this bloody great big red thing in the first rounds; so noisy you could not believe it. Then Marco Lucchinelli jumps on it – and he was a god really. I do not know how old he is but in 1988 he was already pushing a decent age and he was a seasoned kind of racer. That Ducati was so good and it came from nowhere. Nobody anticipated that Ducati would have such a strong product for that championship from year one. And what has been proven is that they have had a strong, competitive product for the whole 25 years, which has been unbelievable.

Q: You did a lot of travelling in the early years, lots of fly-away rounds, so it must have been difficult to do all that even without the huge numbers of people in a modern-day SBK team?
A: We used to do a lot of it ourselves. Steve Parrish and I were always mates and when we did the back-to-back Canadian and American rounds we kind of shared travel together – because Steve was always good at organising and so on. We would freight the bikes over there, fly in from Europe, collect our bikes from the freight depot in a Ryder hire-truck, put our kit bikes into it at the other end – we did it ourselves with a forklift – and then drove to the first race. After that round we would re-pack the crate and drive down to America to the next round! In those days, across two teams, we had ten people – including the riders!

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Source: http://www.zimbio.com/MotoGP/articles/DJvNpBYwsOL/25+Years+World+Superbike+Roger+Burnett

Christian Danner Jorge Daponte Anthony Davidson Jimmy Davies Colin Davis Jimmy Daywalt JeanDenis Deletraz