LE MANS 24 HOURS WEEKEND

LE MANS PICTURES - AND VIDEO LINKS - NOW UP HERE

ALL 24 hours - live streaming from Eurosport HERE ...and live on French TV HERE

WORLD MOTORCYCLE ENDURANCE - YOUR CHANCE TO GET INVOLVED!

If you have ever wanted to be part of a World Championship Pit Crew, to be part of a team that battles through 6 hour, 8 hour or 24 hour races, to be in the thick of the action when it happens, then this could be your opportunity. GO HERE!

STEVE PLATER AT A SNOWED-OFF BRANDS HATCH

Steve Plater endured an eventful weekend at Brands Hatch after rain, snow and a heavy crash put paid to racing at the Kent circuit. The Woodhall Spa ace experienced a dramatic third practise session on Saturday morning when he crashed in spectacular style at Stirling’s bend. The session was red-flagged while Plater was recovered and taken to the medical centre for assessment but thankfully his injuries gave no cause for concern and he was able to return to the track in time to complete his afternoon qualifying.

“The crash was caused by an electrical fault with the AIM Yamaha. I was quite badly beaten up but in all fairness I was able to get out on the spare bike and post a quick enough time to clinch 13th place on the grid.”

But it will all count for nothing as Plater will be unable to capitalise on his grid position because he will be absent from the rescheduled races as they clash with the World Endurance race at Albacete – a race that the county star won last year.

“I am relieved they called off Sunday’s races as even if the snow had subsided it would have been too dangerous to race as the grass verges were covered. It was the right call by the organisers – although I am frustrated by the date clash.” Steve will miss the next round of the series at Thruxton as he will be on World Endurance duties with GMT94 Yamaha contesting the Le Mans 24-hour race.

WARWICK'S OTHER TEAM - AT BRANDS HATCH...

GMT94 AT WSBK VALENCIA

David Checa got into Superpole and was in the points at Valencia...Sebastien Gimbert was not so lucky, being hit from behind by Sergio Fuertes...

FINAL TWEAKS BEFORE LE MANS 2008

Many teams were participating to the first two days of testing on the Bugatti race track, two weeks before the grand opening of the 2008 FIM Qtel Endurance World Championship. The first event of the six round championship will take place on 19th and 20th of April at Le Mans.

For World Champion Suzuki Endurance Racing Team, the purpose was to define a primary set up with chassis and tyres. On the motorcycle number 1, the trio of French riders Vincent Philippe, Matthieu Lagrive and Julien da Costa are the favorites for victory. The team has been looking for a rider to replace Max Neukirchner, last year winner on the machine number 2 and unavailable for the event. Finally, Guillaume Dietrich and William Costes will welcome Dutch rider Barry Veneman, Suzuki rider in the Supersport World Championship.

Some team were still hunting top riders at the last minute. Phase One Endurance had to reorganize its team after American riders Jason Pridmore and Dave Stanton left to join Australian Warwick Nowland at Maco Moto Racing Team. After a 22nd position at the 2007 Championship, the Slovakian team have now stronger ambitions this year. Phase One Endurance riders will be this year Australian Damian Cudlin, British Superbike rider James Haydon and French rider Stéphane Duterne.

Team Kawasaki France had to deal with Erwan Nigon injuries. The official French team then called Frédéric Moreira and Yoann Tiberio, Superstock rider for the team Kawasaki PSG-1, to join the forces.

BMW Motorrad had also to deal with Thomas Hinterreiter injuries as well. They will enter two HP2 Sport in the Open class. Experienced Endurance rider Stephan Mertens with Belgian fellow countryman Sébastien Le Grelle and German rider Rico Penzkofer will ride the bike number 17. British Richard Cooper, Spanish Jose Luis Nion and American Brian Parriott will ride the bike number 71.

Many teams will have to fight hard for the FIM Superstock World Cup this year. Permanent teams such as Team LTG 57 (Amaury Baratin, Michael Lalevée and Laury Fremy), Endurance Moto 45 (Nicolas Jaulneau, Alexandre Lagrive and Emmanuel Parisse) and Italian newcomer Runner Bike (Ivo Bellezza, Ivo Arnoldi and Stefano Cordara) will have to deal with the successful Junior Team Suzuki. The French team will enter with Emeric Jonchière (who made strong impression last week at the opening of the French Superbike championship) and brothers Kenny and Freddy Foray.

Midi Pyrénées Racing MV Agusta also made strong impression at the opening of the French Superbike season. Rider Patrick Piot is third in the championship, which is encouraging for the new permanent team in the FIM Qtel Endurance World Championship. Patrick Piot will ride the Midi Pyrénées Racing MV Agusta with French rider Sébastien Scarnato and Spanish rider Josep Monge.

The free practice will start at the Bugatti race track on Thursday 17th, at 11 am. The first qualifying session will take place in the afternoon and a night session will end up the day. On Friday, April 18th, the second qualifying session will start at 11 am. The average best lap of each rider will define the team’s position on the starting grid. From 5 to 8 pm on Friday, the pit lane will be traditionally open to the public: FIM Qtel World Endurance riders and machines will then meet their supporters.

DAMIAN CUDLIN FULLY EMPLOYED

Australian Damian Cudlin will be doing double duties this year, having agreed to a deal with the SKM Bike Promotion Yamaha Team to race in the complete 2008 IDM (German) Supersport Championship. Riding Yamaha’s all new YZF R6 in the four man squad alongside Petter Solli, Pascal Eckhardt and Rico Penzkofer, Cudlin believes the team possess all the tools required for a successful championship campaign.

“I’m really excited to be riding in the German Supersport series this year and equally happy to be riding for the SKM Bike Promotion Yamaha Team. I’ve been in contact with them for a while now and plans for this project were being made since the middle of last year, so I’m really glad it’s all come together. It’s a tight knit team with a professional crew all experienced in winning races.”

The SKM Bike Promotion Yamaha Team is the product of a joint venture between the SKM and Bike Promotion companies. SKM were the tuning force behind Jorg Teucherts mighty MV Augusta last season and are also involved with Yamaha Motor Deutschland’s Superbike program this season. SKM’s Frank Krekeler was also the man behind Kevin Curtain’s 2004 WSS season with Yamaha Deutschland. Bike Promotion are also no strangers to the racing scene, having had numerous success in the IDM series including 2nd in the 2006 Supersport Championship with Rigo Richter.

Cudlin first tested for the squad back in November and instantly impressed with scorching times at the Cartagena Circuit in Spain. Following another successful test in Valencia recently, Cudlin finalised a deal to compete in the full 2008 IDM series.

“This team are great to work with and understand what I need and what it takes to win races. Racing in both the World Endurance Championship and the German Supersport Championship means I’ll be on a bike a lot this year which can only be good for my riding. I’m really motivated this year and fitter than I’ve ever been, so I’m looking forward to the season ahead. I hope I can make my sponsors and supporters proud with strong results in both championships, one thing for sure is I’ll be giving it 100%”

Cudlin’s first race for the SKM Bike Promotion Yamaha Team will be at Lausitzring on 26-27th April, just one week after competing in the Le Mans 24hour for his Phase One Yamaha Team.

VALENCIA WORLD SUPERBIKES - JUST DROPPING IN...

HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Carlos Checa quite literally dropped into the Valencia Circuit as he made a parachute jump just before the scheduled Thursday press conference. The Spanish rider, who has completed almost 50 drops since beginning his passion in the mid-90s, took off from nearby Castellon Airport in a Cessna light aircraft and then jumped out at an altitude of 4000 metres together with three other colleagues. He made a perfect landing in the centre of the Ricardo Tormo circuit in front of an array of media and photographers.

Wearing a neat jump suit, specially prepared for the occasion by his regular leathers manufacturer, Checa was then whisked away to face questions from the domestic and international press. "Parachute jumps are certainly different to riding a Honda Superbike, that's for sure" said Checa. "The landing at least with the parachute is very soft! It's quite an experience, we've tried to do this many times around the world and I couldn't and this time here in Valencia it has been perfect".

STEVE PLATER STARTS GETTING BUSY

Steve is to ride for the French World Endurance team GMT94 Yamaha in the 24-hour Le Mans race on April 19/20 and also the Bol D’Or 24 hour race on September 13/14 and with Australian rider Damien Cudlin moving to Phase One Yamaha it has just been confirmed that Plater will replace him in the Yamaha Austria World Endurance team to contest the remainder of the World Endurance rounds in 2008. He will ride alongside Igor Jerman (Slo) and Steve Martin (Aus) with the reserve rider being Olivier Four (Fra). “The Snetterton test was a complete waste of time with the bad weather and temperature. I had planned on riding Sunday and Monday but both mornings when I looked out of the motorhome window all I saw was a snow covered paddock. It did clear by the afternoon and dry up but the temperature was too low for any form of testing! Consequently we have been unable to test the new 2008 R1 yet as we used the 2007 bikes at the Guadix test to find a base setting after switching from Dunlop to Pirelli tyres.”

Plater returned home to prepare for the long drive to Le Mans the following day. But the bad weather followed him across the channel, as although it was fine and sunny for the drive down to Le Mans, the forecast wasn’t looking good for the following day. In chilly temperatures coupled with high winds and driving rain, the prospect of any serious testing was again in doubt. “With the French Superbike championship starting over the weekend at Le Mans, Pirelli had only bought 17 inch wets with them leaving us with hardly any 16.5’s for the conditions. We circulated on some very hard compound wet tyres that just weren’t getting any temperature in them…. about 4-5 seconds a lap off the pace. So nothing was to be gained from further testing that day. Day two was damp but the track dried out just after lunch so all three of us went out on slicks. We all lapped very fast, with me lapping only one tenth of a second slower than in qualifying last year. But just as I exited the pit-lane with new tyres the heavens opened again leaving the track too wet for any constructive testing for the rest of the day.”

Final preparations are underway for the opening round of the British Superbike championship at Brands Hatch at the weekend and Plater is optimistic of a good result. “I feel very comfortable with the Brands Hatch GP circuit and tend to go well there. I have had numerous podium finishes in the past so am hoping I can bring two strong results home for AIM Yamaha."

British rider Damian ‘demon’ Rowley has confirmed he will ride in selected European rounds of the 2008 World Endurance Championship and the Barcelona 24hour. Damian will ride with Italian based team MCS Racing on their Pirelli shod Suzuki GSXR1000.

Demon said "I’ve been talking to several teams and I wasn’t sure whether I was going to stick with the World championship or return to the UK. After several months of uncertainty I’m really pleased to finally know what I’m going to be doing, in principal I’ve also agreed to ride one round of the Hottrax championship. I worked with MCS Racing and team manager Andrea Fanotto at last years Bol d’Or. I was very impressed at how professional, passionate and hard working the Italians are and I can’t wait to get started."

Damian’s team mates are yet to be confirmed. Unfortunately due to lack of funds the team will miss the first round at Le Mans in April, but are hopeful to be at the Albacete 8 hour in May. "I’m very disappointed not to be at Le Mans for the first race of the championship. This is where I competed in my first 24 hour and always has a fantastic atmosphere from the paddock to the campsites. It’s synonymous with 24 hour endurance racing and has to be one of the all time great races to compete in."