Sykes starts strongest on day one of private tests

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 10:53:00 +0000

Most of the top riders in the 2012 SBK championship took the chance to test a few days before the official IMS tests and of them all Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) was the fastest on the opening day. The British rider scored a blistering 1'33.0 lap time, riding on a soft race tyre.

In second place in the rankings - according to himself at least - Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) set a 1'33.3, but according to some sources in his team he was just as fast as Sykes, with a 1'33.0.

Many of the top names were in the top rankings as per normal, with new Aprilia boy Eugene Laverty setting a 1'33.3, just a tenth faster than his old team-mate and new BMW Motorrad Motorsport man, Marco Melandri.

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) and Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) set identical 1'33.7s, with Jakub Smrz (Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati) scoring a 1'34.0. Local rider Dave Johnson (BMW) set a 1'35.7 with more to come as he gets his bike dialled in for SBK racing.

Sykes, speaking of his good pace (having set over 20 laps inside the 1.33 bracket according to his team) said: "We were just working on bike balance, getting it all dialled into the circuit, just relaxing and enjoying it. I was happy that we were showing good consistency. I did not do a full race run but we did use the same tyres for a long time."

John Hopkins (Crescent Fixi Suzuki) had an early crash at the exit of turn two and suffered a suspected fracture of a bone in his hand, just behind the right ring finger. Hopkins was already recuperating from an operation in which he lost two knuckles from this finger. He is awaiting more tests to see the real extent of the damage, but he is not going to ride again at these tests at least.


Max Biaggi and Maxime Berger had a collision with each other earlier in the day, Davide Giugliano also fell from his Althea Ducati, all without significant injury.


Track conditions were good at PI, with the wind getting up a little in the afternoon, but the appearance of large waterfowl on the track caused a moment of real worry for Checa. He came along the main straight to find two ‘large animals' as he called them, and he had to pick a gap in the middle as he passed between them at around 300kmph. The tests have two more days to run.

Best Times Day One:

1. Tom Sykes 1'33.0; 2. Carlos Checa 1'33.3; 3. Eugene Laverty 1'33.3; 4. Marco Melandri 1'33.4; 5. Leon Haslam 1'33.7; 6. Max Biaggi 1'33.7; 7. Jakub Smrz 1'34.0; 8. Sylvain Guintoli 1'34.1; 9. Joan Lascorz 1'34.1; 10. Maxime Berger 1'34.3; 11. Michel Fabrizio: 1'34.4; 12. Leon Camier 1'34.5; 13. David Salom 1'34.9; 14. Ayrton Badovini 1'35.0; 15. David Johnson 1'35.7; 16. Davide Giugliano 1'35.8; 17. Lorenzo Zanetti: 1'37.1; John Hopkins No time given/crash

Barracuda official sponsor of Effenbert-Liberty Racing

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:25:43 +0000

The Effenbert-Liberty Racing Team, present in World Superbike with Jakub Smrz, Sylvain Guintoli and Maxime Berger, has signed a deal with special components firm Barracuda. The Italian company, managed by Alessandro Giardina, now becomes an official sponsor of the team for the entire 2012 season.

The partnership has brought together two bodies, whose passion for bikes is the reason for their existence. The alliance is therefore an expression of mutual willingness to join forces, grow and work in the same direction.

"Alessandro Giardina is my dear friend, to whom I pay deep respect", said Fabio Alberti, Effenbert-Liberty Racing Team manager. "The partnership between us and his company to me is a development of our professional aim to create a personal bond to which I hold a lot. Barracuda represents an important entity that has been able to stand on the market with great determination, ability and quality. We fully share their positive mood, and are grateful for the trust that they have given us. We are happy and confident that this cooperation will be a successful project".

Barberá raises expectations for 2012

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:17:04 +0000

The Valencian rider expects his third season in the premier class—in which he will ride for the Pramac Racing Team—to be a substantial step in his career. Barberá reveals his ambitions and says the improved Desmosedici 1000cc GP12 will help him achieve his goals.

Capirossi on his new role and Bridgestones

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:07:21 +0000

Bridgestone’s collaboration with Safety Advisor to Dorna, Loris Capirossi, resumed at last week’s Sepang test, with the three-time World Champion providing input into the ongoing evaluation of Bridgestone’s 2012 specification MotoGP™ tyres.

New BMW man Dosoli gives his thoughts on 2012

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:40:04 +0000

Having joined the SBK Championship in 2011 and having had a great deal of success as team manager to the official Yamaha squad at that time, Andrea Dosoli starts 2012 as Head of Race Operations for the BMW Motorrad Motorsport squad. The 39-year-old Italian (left in the photo, with Bernhard Gobmeier and Stephan Fischer) is responsible for the race team at races and tests and has been in this position since the beginning of the year.

What do you consider to be the major attraction of your role as Head of Race Operations for BMW Motorrad Motorsport?
"This project is currently the most exciting and interesting project in the motorcycle motorsport environment because I can see that we have the potential to win, to become a winning team. We have a big company behind us, we have the chance to work with experienced and incredibly talented riders, and we are growing into a very strong team. To be part of this project is something I am really proud of, and the reason I decided to join BMW Motorrad Motorsport. I believe that together, step-by-step, we can achieve the results we deserve. Representing a company like BMW gives a big motivation to everyone, but simultaneously brings with it big responsibilities for everyone. I would like everybody in the team to be aware of this responsibility. If that happens, the results will arrive automatically. It is nice to wear a shirt with the BMW logo - but when you wear it, you represent the company worldwide. So in all areas you have huge responsibility. Everyone must be aware of this responsibility, and only then can we do all the work required to be successful. To be part of the leadership of this big project is something I am extremely proud of."

What have been your impressions of the team so far?
"My impression is that we have a lot of potential in many areas, but the glue required to bind all these areas is lacking. So I would like to do my part to put all this potential together, and to use this potential. I know it is not an easy job, but step-by-step, if we keep the motivation high, we can succeed. To achieve strong results in motorsport all the areas have to be strong. It has to be a coherent overall package. If only one area within a team is weak, you won't achieve results. So we need to grow as a team, as a group and use our potential to try to improve any weak areas."

How would you describe your main duties?
"I want to be that glue between all the areas by concentrating and to work on the improvement of our team, day-by-day. It could be that there is an issue at the racetrack, where we are facing a problem. Then, everyone has to help to try to fix this. We can achieve results if everything and everybody works well together, and every member of the team looks beyond his own responsibilities. I aim to be the glue which keeps all the areas together and to keep everybody motivated."

How would you describe yourself in three words?
"Honest, serious and motivated."

What would be your three wishes for the 2012 season if you were granted them?
"The first wish would be that every night every one of us goes to bed being proud of his work of that day and knowing that he has given the maximum. I wish that everybody is proud of being part of this project. Then I would like to give BMW and the riders the first win of this project. And my third wish would be that this is just the first step towards even more ambitious projects in future. So I would like to build up a strong team, one able to achieve these important targets."

Luca Marconi in Supersport with VFT Racing

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:45:50 +0000

Italian youngster Luca Marconi will get another bite of the cherry this year after signing with the rookie VFT Racing team for the FIM Supersport World Championship. The Rimini man, former European minibikes champion, has reached an agreement with the Italian team (based outside of Rome) just a few weeks away from the start of the season at Phillip Island.

"I am satisfied with this choice", declared Marconi. "The team is a rookie team internationally, but with the help of some technicians with experience at a world level and with the enthusiasm and the passion that the Menghi family has for this sport, I am sure that we will develop well together. I immediately found a good feeling with these guys, they are really special. Unfortunately we haven't been able to do any testing for a variety of reasons: the short time available and now the weather conditions, so decided to postpone everything until the month of March, immediately after the opening round at Phillip Island."

Marconi will race a Yamaha YZF-R6 prepared by VFT Racing but with several modifications from the standard-spec version: Bitubo suspension and Magneti Marelli electronics.

Lorenzo: "We're still developing the bike"

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:30:14 +0000

Jorge Lorenzo is confident his new 1000ccc machine will undergo significant progress before the first GP of the year. After the first Test of 2012 at Sepang, the Spaniard said that "if we can improve, even 2%, we will do very well this year."

Cluzel joins PTR for 2012 World Supersport Championship

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:23:27 +0000

French ace Jules Cluzel will race a PTR Honda in the 13-round 2012 World Supersport Championship. A race winner in the Moto2 World Championship in 2010 when he finished seventh overall, 23-year-old Jules has proven talent and speed along with track knowledge and is expected to be a front runner right from the start when the racing commences at Phillip Island in Australia on February 26th.

The British based PTR squad has finished runner-up in the World Supersport Championship twice in 2009 and 2010 and scored eight podium finishes from 12 race start in 2011.

Jules will join the team for a two-day test at Phillip Island in Australia on 20th and 21st of February before the opening round of the Championship at the same track on 26thFebruary.

Jules: "I am very happy to have secured a seat with PTR Honda, one of the front running teams in the World Supersport Championship - there are not many bikes that can win the Championship but I have one of them. I cannot wait to get to know the team and bike better in the Australia test and then see what we can achieve in the first race. I cannot wait to get started."

Simon Buckmaster, PTR Honda Team Manager: "It is very late in the day but we are delighted to welcome Jules to the team and are sure with his pedigree and proven speed that he will be an addition to an already strong squad. We look forward to seeing what he can achieve in this Championship with the experience at the top level he has already had, it will be exciting."

CEV Buckler 2012 Technical Regulations released

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:18:53 +0000

The RFME has released the 2012 CEV Buckler Technical Regulations for the Moto3, Moto2, Stock Extreme and Kawasaki Ninja Cup categories.

Nicky Hayden back home following successful surgery

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:18:23 +0000

On Monday, February 5, Nicky Hayden underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on the left shoulder that he had injured in late December.

Crescent Fixi Suzuki unveils WSBK GSX-R1000

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:45:42 +0000

Crescent Suzuki has unveiled its new 2012 GSX-R and named bespoke Foreign Exchange Solutions company Fixi as co-title sponsor for John Hopkins and Leon Camier's 2012 World Superbike Championship title assault.

And, as the wraps came off the newly-liveried Yoshimura-powered GSX-R1000s at the company's Verwood Headquarters in Dorset this week, the squad - under the guidance of Team Manager Jack Valentine - was preparing to crate-up and ship to Australia next week for testing in the lead-up to the opening round of the 2012 World Superbike Championship at Phillip Island on February 26th.

Paul Denning, Team Principal: "The team has done a stunning job to prepare the new GSX-Rs for this level of competition; the attention to detail is faultless and I think that this will be the most-advanced GSX-R ever to grace a racetrack! Yoshimura's hard work and proactive attitude to engine development has also enabled us to be as well prepared for Phillip Island as we can be. John and Leon are ready, the team is very motivated; and we will put everything into competing at the best level we possibly can!

"I would like to thank Richard Wynn and his co-directors at Fixi for their continued and expanded support. I would also like to thank Ronald Kabella and the team at Motorex and all our partners for their commitment to Crescent Fixi Suzuki's assault on the World Superbike Championship. Finally, thanks to everyone at new team partner Sign Language for completing the graphic-wrapped livery so expertly and quickly."

Richard Wynn, CEO, Fixi Plc: "Fixi provides bespoke, state of the art foreign exchange services to the institutional and professional marketplace and we are no strangers to Crescent, having supported them in the British Superbike Championship last year. Having our brand exposed globally is extremely good timing for us - we have offices in London, Chicago and more recently Singapore and, through our innovative technology, we are able to reach out to clients and partnerships in all the leading global financial centres.

The World Superbike Championship offers us a wonderful opportunity not only to entertain our existing clients, but also to enhance our marketing strategy. Last year provided us with one of the most exciting finales any Superbike series has witnessed and we have no doubt that the Crescent Suzuki Team will do a sterling job in representing our brand in the World Superbike Championship."

Gino Borsoi on the Aspar CRT project

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:28:43 +0000

The former rider and current manager of the Valencia team presents the bike that Randy de Puniet and Aleix Espargaró will contest this year in the premier class.

Aprilia launches 2012 World Superbike campaign in Milan

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:50:07 +0000

The Aprilia Racing Team officially launched its 2012 World Superbike campaign today at the Spazio Broletto 13 Piaggio Group showroom in downtown Milan, Italy. The Italian team can count on five time world champion Max Biaggi, the only Italian in history to have won (in 2010 on his Aprilia RSV4) the WSBK championship wreath, accompanied by Eugene Laverty, the twenty-five year old rider from Northern Ireland who had an excellent 2011 season in his championship début.

"It doesn't matter how many seasons we have under our belts and how many titles we've won. At the beginning of a new season I am always motivated to the maximum - stated Max Biaggi - Besides that, I must say that for 2012 I am even more focused on the task ahead, after what happened last year. I'm sure we can still play an important part in this Championship but at the same time I am aware of the fact that the level of competition, with the many team changes among my rivals, has increased even more. We'll have to work hard and never stop growing, but I can assure you that this year once again, everyone will have to deal with us".

Eugene Laverty on the other hand, had this to say: "This is my second Superbike season - my first one with Aprilia - but during the tests in Portimao last Autumn I felt comfortable right from the start. From the very first laps astride the RSV4 I had a good feeling with the bike, the Team also made me feel like part of the family straight away. I still need to get a lot of laps in to really familiarise myself with my new Aprilia and I won't underestimate the difficulties that always arise when you change teams, but I definitely want to rack up as many podiums as possible and bring home some victories. Although the most important goal is to continue growing and getting faster.

Aprilia (Piaggio Group) is one of the most victorious sport motorcycle brands, having collected an astonishing 49 world titles in its brief history: 38 in MotoGP (where it also boasts a record of 294 GP wins), 2 very recent victories in Superbike and 9 in off-road disciplines.

Lorenzo practices for bike license test

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:14:14 +0000

After passing the theory exam last month for his motorcycle driver's license, the rider from Mallorca is now busy with riding lessons ahead of the applied test.

Team Effenbert Liberty Racing aiming higher and higher!

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:36:53 +0000

The Effenbert-Liberty Racing Team officially presented its 2012 team at the Italian ski resort town of Sestriere, in Piedmont, over the weekend. The whole team attended this special event to celebrate the upcoming season including SBK riders Sylvain Guintoli, Jakub Smrz and Maxime Berger as well as the new Superstock duo of Brett McCormick and Federico Sandi.

"I'm very satisfied with the enthusiastic cooperation of our team", said Fabio Alberti, the team manager of Effenbert Liberty, "this opportunity was enough to show the motivation of the team and the riders, who are going to have our full support". The optimism of the team manager reflected the overall attitude of team owner Mario Bertuccio, who declared during his speech on Saturday's night meet and greet: "We are here to win the championship! I can see already now that there's a great possibility to make this dream come true".

In the heart of the snow-covered town the team performed a mock grid procedure with the assistance of local police. Sylvain Guintoli, dressed in his leathers, was surrounded by the whole team and many curious fans and passers-by. When the sun went down, the team, sponsors and other special guests, including Giancarlo Falappa and Ernesto Marinelli of Ducati, gathered for dinner and the evening's entertainment.

"Everything's been great so far. This is my second year in world superbikes with even more experience and resources and it comes without saying that I'm going to do my best", commented Maxime Berger, the youngest rider of the team. Also Brett McCormick, who has expressed his overall satisfaction with the team, declared the event a success: "I got to do the test last October and the team is a great bunch of guys. Good chemistry, good people, I'm super satisfied. It's hard to be successful if you don't surround yourself with good people. It's hard to say what I expect coming in because it's my first full year over here, but I think I'm definitely capable of winning races and I've heard really good things about the new bike".