Diablo 666 Signs Up Estonian Marko Rohtlaan

January 25, 2006, London UK:
Diablo 666, one of World Endurance Superbike’s top teams, has signed up Estonian Marko Rohtlaan for the 2006 season which kicks starts in the Netherlands in April with the demanding Assen 500km Race.

A Shell Endurance Academy graduate, the 21-year-old Rohtlaan will ride for UK-based team Kawasaki Diablo 666 alongside fellow rider, James Hutchins, who has been riding for Diablo since its inception two years ago.

"Terry Rymer and I have watched Marko over the last two years and have always been very impressed by his quiet and highly focussed manner. We are at heart a young team and Marko fits exactly the kind of really talented young rider we have been looking for,“ commented Team Manager, Miles Hutchins, following the deal that was concluded in the Estonian capital of Tallin in December. "On the one hand, he will be highly compatible with Diablo's business-like approach to racing but at the same time will add a real strength and flair to the team. I am delighted that he is now going to ride with us."

Rohtlaan first rode in the Endurance World Championship in 2004 but really shone in 2005, consistently qualifying and lapping faster than his team-mates.

Involved with motorcyles since the age of six, Marko is Estonia’s most successful motorcycle rider and was placed sixth in last year’s World Endurance Rankings in the superbike class. "I am delighted to be joining the Diablo 666 Team,“ said Rohtlaan of the recent signing. "In just two years, the team has done extremely well and together we will be working towards regular podium spots with the ultimate aim of course to end the season as champions of the world!“

Teammate Hutchins also made an impact on last year's Championship, helping his team to a fifth place in the World Endurance Ranking, making Diablo 666 the second best team in England at the end of last year.
This weekend the Diablo 666 team heads to Jerez, Spain, for pre-season testing.

WOT ABOUT THE 600's, THEN?

Yamaha Motor Germany today completed their final test before next month's opening round of the Supersport World Championship. The team spent three days at the Phillip Island circuit in Australia, with riders Kevin Curtain and Broc Parkes both completing over 1000 trouble-free kilometres and lapping their home circuit at lap record pace.

Having given their machines a shakedown test in Valencia last month, the team travelled to Australia with updated machines fitted with a range of new Öhlins suspension parts.

Good weather greeted the riders present at the legendary circuit, with the strong winds that blighted Yamaha Motor France's test a few days earlier all but gone. Riding alongside Yamaha's Australian national superbike team, Curtain was the fastest of the Yamaha Motor Germany riders clocking a best of 1:35.6, Parkes was less than a second behind his experienced team-mate with a 1:36.4.
Having found a good base setting at Valencia, the team worked on fine-tuning the R6 package, experimenting with the bike's electronics and slipper clutch in a bid to improve corner speed. Tyre supplier Pirelli brought along a range of new rubber for the test, while the new suspension parts proved an improvement over the off-the-shelf components used at the Valencia test. Both riders declared themselves happy with developments and have found a satisfactory base setting for next month's opening race.

Kevin Curtain
"I'm really, really happy with how it's gone. The difference between this bike and the 2005 one is night and day. The energy it takes us to do the same lap times is just so much less and overall the package is far better. The weather has been good to us as well. There wasn't much wind and this morning (Wednesday) was the best I've ever seen Phillip Island. There was not a cloud in the sky and virtually no wind. The ocean looked beautiful and it was a magical experience riding around there."

Broc Parkes
"After hurting my ankle in Valencia it took me a day to get back into the swing of things but by the second day I felt comfortable again. Luciano Zaza (suspension technician) brought over so much stuff and although we've found a pretty good base there's still a bit more to come from the suspension. I'm not at my best riding around on my own so on the last day Kevin and I did a race simulation together. I was able to run right with him and run the same lap times. We had a bit of a battle, so that was good for my confidence. We've had three really good days and the lap times have been good. I don't want to get carried away though. We've done the times in perfect conditions but there was no one else here to compare ourselves to, so the proof will only come in Qatar. One thing is for sure though, we are much further ahead of where we were at this time last year."

Terrell Thien (Team Manager)
"We made a good decision to come to Phillip Island as we have found perfect testing conditions. The first day was maybe a little too hot, but better too hot than too cold, although and after that the temperatures were just right. We've tried four different (specification) of front forks internals and even more rear shocks. The team worked well together and I was happy to arrive and find both riders in really good shape. We came with a big test schedule and were able to get through everything we needed to get a good base setting."

TESTING AT A WINDY - THEN HOT - PHILIP ISLAND

Final times from Philip Island show one thing in particular...not just who is fast but that the Pirelli tyres are right up there with the best of the race Dunlops...

The fastest rider on day 3 was 2005 AMA Champion Mat Mladin who posted many laps in the 1m32s bracket and an unofficial best time of 1m32.2.

Day 3 WSB Riders Unofficial Times (race tyres)
1. Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki) 1:32.79
2. Steve Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:33.40
3. Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) 1:33.68
4. Norick Abe (Yamaha France) 1:34.5 (1:34.0 qualifying tyre)
5. Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha France) 1:34.6 (1:34.2 qualifying tyre)
6. Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha France) 1:35.1
7. Craig Jones (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:35.6

From the Foggy Petronas Team:

Steve Martin was again straight on the pace with his PETRONAS FP1 and finished the day second in the timesheet, with a time of 1:33.40 – an improvement of over half a second from his best time yesterday. A race simulation was planned for Steve during the afternoon, but a rising track temperature to in excess of fifty five degrees, resulted in his efforts being turned to further systems’ management evaluation.

Team-mate Craig Jones completed almost eighty laps over the course of the day as he worked on the set-up of his FP1, to include geometry, suspension and chassis adjustments in preparation for the race at Phillip Island in six weeks. The young Brit was also able to knock a further one second off his lap time to achieve a respectable 1:35.6.

Steve commented, “It’s been a good day and we were able to take another half a second off my lap time by using the new 2006 race tyre compounds which we evaluated this morning. We’ve also done a fair bit of work with the suspension settings, on older tyres, which has been useful, and tomorrow I’m hopefully going to do two long runs to test the different tyres that Pirelli are bringing to the race here. I feel really good in myself physically this evening, and that I’ve got my ‘bike fitness’ back which is great.”

Craig said, “I’ve spent a lot of the day working on the straight line stability and set-up of my bikes to suit this circuit and made good progress in both areas. I’ve learnt the track even more today and am now very confident with my racing line and braking points. We’ve got a good direction for tomorrow and I’m confident that we can come away from this test with a set-up for the race that I’m very happy with.”

OI!...YOU!...FP1!...PULL YOUR FINGER OUT OR YOU'LL ANSWER TO BOTH OF US!

ABE LETS A FRIENDLY FAN IN TO HIS PIT BOX
Photo by Sportsbike Tyre Warmers www.sportsbike.com.au

CORSER AVOIDS THE LOGIC PROBE
Photo by Sportsbike Tyre Warmers www.sportsbike.com.au

THE DREADED ALSTARE BEAST IS FINALLY CHAINED TO THE FLOOR
Photo by Sportsbike Tyre Warmers www.sportsbike.com.au

The slowest lap in testing was more than a second faster than last year's actual race and it look like Troy was 26 seconds faster over the race length.

Troy said "...we won that race, now for the real thing".

Day 2 WSB Riders Unofficial Times
1. Troy Corser (Alstare Suzuki) 1:32.81
2. Yukio Kagayama (Alstare Suzuki) 1:33.62
3. Steve Martin (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1.34.04
4. Norick Abe (Yamaha France) 1:34.88
5. Sebastien Gimbert (Yamaha France) 1:35.20
6. Shinichi Nakatomi (Yamaha France) 1:35.8
7. Craig Jones (Foggy PETRONAS Racing) 1:36.75

Strong winds at Phillip Island’s costal circuit proved a force to be reckoned with for FPR’s Steve Martin and Craig Jones, on the second day of the team’s four day test.

Both riders made good progress on their PETRONAS FP1 bikes at the outset of the day, with Craig becoming increasingly confident in his familiarity of the circuit and improving on his lap time from yesterday by over a second, to 1:36.75.

Steve was straight back on the pace and able to consistently lap in the low 1:34s on standard race tyres, to finish the day with a time of 1:34.04 – over one and a half seconds faster than his quickest lap time during the race at Phillip Island last March.

Steve and Craig both completed forty one laps each but, were forced to sit out much of the afternoon’s track session, along with other riders present at the test, as strong winds that swept across the costal circuit greatly affected the handling and stability of their bikes.

Craig said, “I’m happy with my progress in learning the track today and it’s a shame the winds were so strong this afternoon that it limited the amount of laps we could do. Hopefully it will die down for tomorrow as it’s too dangerous to ride at high speed as the wind just pushes you off line. I tested some different rear shock settings and have found a direction I’m happy with, so we’ve got a good game plan for tomorrow.”

Steve commented, “From straight out this morning I was back in the 34s and lapping there comfortably until the terrible wind came in this afternoon. So that we didn’t waste testing time I was able to do a few slow runs in the afternoon in order to gather data for some system developments, but tomorrow I’m looking forward to testing three new specification rear tyres which should give me more speed.”

From The Alstare Suzuki team:

World Superbike Champion Troy Corser and Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra team mate Yukio Kagayama will today finish their third day of testing the new 2006 GSX-R1000s at Phillip Island in Australia. Corser was unofficially the fastest rider on the circuit yesterday with a reported time of 1:33.6 seconds, two-tenths quicker than AMA Superbike Champion Mat Mladin aboard his Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000. Mladin suffered a high-speed crash in the afternoon session and suffered a cut arm that required stitches, but is expected to be fit for today’s sessions.

BIAGGI - THE STORY DRAGS ON...

After many respected news sources reported on the signing of Biaggi with the Alstare Suzuki team...it seems that it's not a done deal after all. Although the reported deal is still on the table, Max's own site is reporting that he's still in the USA - he's certainly not at the Philip Island tests...

BIAGGI DEAL DONE - 2006 THE BEST SEASON EVER FOR WORLD SUPERBIKES!

The BBC and Eurosport's website is reporting that Max Biaggi signed a contract with Alstare Suzuki on Wednesday 11th January to race with the number 30. As usual, the official announcement from the Alstare probably will be the last press release about the move :)
He'll be testing with Troy Corser, Yukio Kagayama and Mat Mladin at the four-day test at Phillip Island from the 17th to the 20th before heading off to Losail for the two-day test ahead of the seasons first race on February 25th.

Peter Martin from www.sportsbike.com.au will be at the test (Troy Corser uses Sportsbike tyre warmers) and will be sending pictures to me as soon as he can.
The popular American website www.superbikeplanet.com has posed the question of which World Championship (GP's or WSB) would be the most exciting in 2006...out of over 5 thousand votes by today (13th January) the voting is running 70-30 in favour of World Superbikes.

NEW TEAMS IN WORLD ENDURANCE

No.9 Team SRU Racing Sangerhausen last year competed in the German Endurance Championship and also in the WEC at Oschersleben with 2 MZ100S machines, with the No.2 MZ finishing 22nd, the No.1 in 32nd place.

• It looks like the No.5 XZ Track Racing Team is the former Eurosport Benelux entry from 2005...

• RAFFIN MOTOS have been around forever...I seem to remember Wilfred Veille racing in the same team with William Costes and Eric Mizera at Le Mans in 1995 - Raffin were also one of the teams in the World Championship before the split with the French races. The same riders were together for the Bol d'Or last year. They  know their stuff and should be strong.

• No.11 Primo Racing Yamaha were Road Race Promotion in 2004, changing their name last year to Primo Racing team and racing the No.55 Suzuki, coming 24th in Assen.

• Team SRK is the Sarthe Racing Kart team which has also been a mainstay of the French races - Thomas Metro was one of the Junior Suzuki LMS team riders last year...another strong team.

• Another long-time endurance racing team that returns to the world stage is the No.99 and 199 Belgian Acroplolis Zone Rouge Team. The www.zonerouge.com website is currently offline, so we await more information from them.

• ...I'm still searching for info on the Monaco Moto Team...

Finally...WELCOME BACK JEAN-CLAUDE CLAPERON and MOTO 38!

PROVISIONAL ENTRY LISTS FOR WORLD SUPERBIKE/SUPERSPORT

NEW GERMAN WORLD ENDURANCE TEAM?

Rumour is that there's a new German team which will be running in the German endurance championship and is planning to run selected rounds of the World Endurance Championship. Using 2 Honda CBR1000RR Fireblades, the team will be developing Continental tyres. Continental have a brand-new development centre in Munich, allegedly using ex-Metzler/Pirelli people.

MOTO GP RIDERS vs WORLD SUPERBIKE RIDERS

Rolfo first test on the SC Caracchi Ducati at Valencia resulted in a 1:39.5 (admittedly on a crowded track) - that compares with Troy Corser's time of 1:36.44 in the first testing session at the same circuit in 2005. Troy did 1:36.7 when winning race one at Valencia in 2005.

To celebrate another Swede (Christer Miinin) joining the Phase One team, here's Race 24's tribute to
the one-and-only...
PETER LINDEN

PRESS RELEASE FROM DOWN-UNDER AN AUSSIE HAT (WITHOUT CORKS)...

DAMIAN AND WARWICK ON THE 2005 VALLELUNGA PODIUM

CUDLIN STAYS PUT FOR 2006
(DAMO'S NEW WEBSITE IS HERE)

Taree’s Damian Cudlin has confirmed he will stay with his current Phase One Yamaha team for the 2006 World Endurance Championship season. Damian will ride alongside fellow Aussie Warwick Nowland and Phase One's other confirmed signing, Sweden's Crister Minin, in the all-new 98 hour, 7 round series.

“I’m really happy to have signed with Phase One Yamaha again as it was really where I wanted to be.” Cudlin said. “It’s been a pleasure to ride for Russell and Phase One Yamaha, and 2005 has been the best year of my career.”

Finishing 4th in the World Championship standings in 2005, Cudlin believes he’s a real chance for 2006.

“Now with a year under my belt, a team that I know and a stronger package for 2006, I reckon I’ve got a real shot at this Championship.” said the Aussie.

Team Manager of Phase One, Russell Benney is also happy to have Cudlin on board again for 2006.

“I’m really pleased we were able to retain Damian’s services for 2006. He turned a lot of heads in 2005 and became one of the real players in the Championship by season’s end. I’m really glad he’s decided to stay on.”  Russell said. “With Warwick, Crister and Damo in our rider line up, our chances look good for 2006.”

Damian will begin testing February in readiness for the season’s start at Assen in April.

(Ed: I can reveal that Damian was also on the shopping list of at least one other top World Endurance Yamaha team...I'll try to find out what happened behind the scenes...)

...AND WARWICK NOWLAND STAYS PUT AS WELL...

After months of speculation, possibilities and organisation, I have finally reached an agreement with Phase One Yamaha to contest the ‘New look’ 2006 FIM Endurance World Championship.

Since the final race of 2005 Phase One team manager Russell Benney has been busy putting together a package that we discussed would help us win the 2006 title. With the support of Yamaha Europe, Dunlop Tyres and many hours of winter development at Phase One’s English workshop in Bridgewater, our 2006 Yamaha R1 will begin a rigorous testing schedule starting in February, continuing in March and into April. Returning to the circuit with the full support of Dunlop is vital. We are now part of Dunlop’s test team and will be very busy in the lead up to the first race as (our rivals) Pirelli are focused on regaining the World Endurance crown.

New for 2006 aboard our Yamaha will be a complete Data logging system that will be overseen by Belgian technical guru, Steven Casaer. This is one of my key issue’s and will help bridge the gap to the Factory Suzuki. I have known Steven for several years and I am sure we will achieve great things together. The Phase One team are almost like family and along with team mates, fellow Australian Damian Cudlin and Swedish star Christer Miinin, the environment within the Phase One garage will be charged with success.

The Endurance World Championship is just like being at home for me. And for 2006, the series will be bigger, faster and more furious than ever with 7 races in 6 countries. Most riders say they can’t wait to get started but a season with 98 hours of racing takes a lot of preparation and I’m glad I have the next 7 weeks to get ready after all that Christmas
food!

My other activities for 2006 are yet to be finalised but I am hoping to return to the Superbike World Championship paddock to be involved in the spectacle of SBK and commentate on the action packed adventures of what promises to be SBK’s most thrilling season ever! Personally, I am working towards winning another World title this year. I am hungrier than I have ever been. You have to be single minded and focused on what you have to do. And, to have the people around me that I have, my sponsors and my friends is more than enough motivation. I’d like to win for my team and those watching.

Stay tuned for all the testing dates.

...AND NOW - CHRISTER MIININ...

After the Isle of Man TT, Sweden's Christer Miinin (from the town of Karlskoga) has no problems coping with the rigors of World Endurance racing. His exploits on the Fagersjo-Ei.se No.12 Suzuki brought him to the attention of 3-time World Champions Phase One and this year he's secured one of the three positions in the Senior team. Christer has been Swedish Superbike Champion for the past 3 years and follows in the footsteps of the great Peter Linden (who, incidentally, was ALSO 3-times Swedish Superbike Champion) in carrying the Swedish flag for a British team.

WE ALL LIKE A FUNNY FRONT-END...

Team Ulteamatum, managed by Stéphane Vadé, will be back for selected rounds of the 2006 World Endurance Championship. You may remember this bike from Oschersleben in 2005 where it was able to brake harder and later than anything else on track, even in the wet...check out that 8-pot front brake set-up!. Well, the new prototype is almost ready to go. Last year it was raced by  Emmanuel Chéron ("Maxwell"), Emmanuel Thuret ("Manu"), Anthony Delhalle and Amaury Baratin. Anthony Delhalle has been snapped up by the Junior LMS Suzuki team for 2006. The JBB bike, sponsored by Missler Software, is named after the inventor of the unique front-end, Jean-Bertrand Bruneau - for more detailed technical information, check out Stéphane Meunier's (he's a full professor!) techno blog HERE

The Team Ulteamatum website is HERE

"TEAM NEPOTISM PMS YAMAHA" IN EARLY DEVELOPMENT STAGES...

In a shock move (echoing the Bolliger/Diablo Kawasaki collaboration), Gwen Giabbani has taken delivery of the first of two latest development Yamaha Austria PW50's from Manfred "Mandy" Kainz and and signed two up-and-coming hot riders.

Already there is controversy.

There is speculation that the new "Team Nepotism PMS Yamaha" riders may actually be RELATED to team boss Gwen...
At the start of a very tough training regime, the shadowy power behind the new team (rumoured to be the Amélie Group) has threatened ALL team members with early bed-time if they bring mud into the house...