SILVERSTONE WORLD SUPERBIKES - RACE 2 RAINED OFF

Troy Bayliss (Ducati Xerox) took the only win of the day at a rain-lashed Silverstone circuit as appalling weather conditions caused the second race to be called off. This was the third time a Superbike race has been cancelled due to bad weather, following previous events at Phillip Island in 2001 and Imola in 2005. Troy battled throughout the 28-lap race with the Yamaha pair of Noriyuki Haga and Troy Corser for his third win of the year, which enabled him to make up 17 points on leader James Toseland (Honda), who crashed but remounted to finish eighth.

Troy Corser (Santander Yamaha Motor Italia) made a good start to the 28-lapper and led for six laps in the early stages, before being passed by Bayliss and then team-mate Noriyuki Haga later on. Bayliss tried to pull away, but Troy and Haga stayed in his wheelspray until a couple of laps from the end. Bayliss splashed across the line first, with Haga second and Troy third. The rain poured down during the interval between the two races and was still teeming down when the field went out on their inspection lap. Corser nearly crashed twice on the inspection lap and by the time the riders returned to the grid the organisers had decided to delay proceedings by thirty minutes to assess the conditions. After thirty or so minutes there was still a lot of standing water on the track and a danger of aquaplaning, so the organisers had no choice but to cancel the second race.#

Troy Bayliss:
"Of course we're very happy for our team, Xerox, Shell and all of our sponsors because the first race went really well today. It's a shame about the second one, it looked as if it was easing off a bit but the track's got a lot of water in some of the corners, mud and everything. They pushed it off but the water keeps coming back and I'm sure there are going to be some disappointed people here today. We're sorry for everybody but that's racing sometimes. The first part had a lot of water and when you arrive at that chicane, it's in fifth gear and you're not in control when you arrive there aquaplaning. That's just silliness! Anyway now we move on and we're happy to have closed the gap down on James a little bit with the win. Also I'm disappointed because I feel very good and confident on the bike and it's possible I could have taken another win, who knows? Because sometimes it's days like this when the championship can turn around...."

Noriyuki Haga:
"I'm a bit disappointed the race has been cancelled because I have lost out on the chance to take away even more points. The conditions out there are bad but I still would've wanted to race - that's my job and I know the risks. At least no championship points have gone elsewhere. This morning I had a small high-side crash in the warm up session but it didn't put me off in the race. I was more concerned about my suspension setting which wasn't perfect. The twenty minute session this morning wasn't long enough for me to find the best wet set up so I had to work with what I had. I am surprised at my result and getting fastest lap considering this but it's a good result and I have even managed to reduce the points difference between myself and first place. I'm looking forward to Misano - at least it hardly ever rains there!"

Troy Corser:
"I'm disappointed that the second race was cancelled because I was going well in the wet today and reckon I could've got another podium. I am pleased with my race one result as it's the first time I have ridden the Yamaha in full wet conditions. I was running in first place but just couldn't maintain it because of the conditions and I made a small mistake - when you make a mistake in this weather it can really affect you. I'm happy with the bike and also now with both wet and dry set up. With regard to race two there was so much water on the track I nearly crashed twice on the sighting lap. But to not race is still disappointing."

WORLD SUPERSPORT:
The low temperatures and the heavy rain was not enough to put Anthony West off from taking his first race win for Yamaha today at Silverstone. In a dramatic race for the Yamaha World Supersport Team, Broc Parkes crashed out while in second place and West went from 16th to take the race win in appalling weather conditions

Anthony West:.
"This is a fantastic result especially when you consider my qualifying position. The rain helped in a way because I was finding it very difficult in the dry to find a decent set up. I need more time at tracks I don't know to get the right race setting but the rain leveled the playing field. I wasn't even too confident in my wet set up that we sorted in this morning's session because the session was stopped and re-started and we lost time. I went hard for the first few laps and I had some big moments which were scary. I had quite a few throughout the race actually so I am glad that the race was red flagged - it was too cold to keep going. I was out there long enough! I would like to dedicate this win to Kevin Curtain as without him I would not have had this chance to race in World Supersport. I really feel for him being out injured and I hope he gets well soon."

DIDIER VAN KEYMEULEN INJURY UPDATE

With a broken wrist, don't expect any press release direct from Didier anytime soon. More seriously, he's also broken the first lumbar vertebrae in his back (the T12 and L1 vertebrae are the ones most likely to be injured in a fall from height). No information yet from Didier on what happened (because he can't type!) but he does hope to get back on the bike soon. I REALLY wanted to see him stick it to Westy...but I was waterlogged and forgot they are separate championships...duh...thanks Thomas!

GMT94 WORLD SUPERSPORT RIDER DAVID CHECA

GMT94 rider David Checa was looking forward to having a great race at Silverstone. The French team, run by former French Superbike, World Endurance racer and rock star Christophe Guyot, have finally received updated electronics and have plans to do extensive tests to acquire the data needed to use it's full potential.

After steadily improving times in qualifying and 4th in the rain during the morning the warm-up,  gremlins hit the bike during the sighting lap - a problem with the gearbox was diagnosed but David's challenge for honours was cut short before it could begin. After the team had completed most of the weekend without problems, the team felt that this was a huge injustice.  No.194 Sébastien Gimbert was doing good times in the race and on to take 7th place - maybe higher - before he crashed and remounted, climbing back up the order to finish 12th. The GMT94 team remain in 10th in the World Championship.

SUZUKA 300km...FCC AND EWC BENELUX?

 

鈴鹿 300km 耐久レース エントリーリスト【６８台】
ゼッケン	クラス	第1ライダー	第2ライダー	車両形式名	年式	タイヤ	チーム名
	JSB	亀谷　長純		ホンダ CBR1000RR	07	MI	Team 桜井ホンダ
	JSB	徳留　和樹		ホンダ CBR1000RR	06	BS	Honda DREAM Racing Team
	JSB	鶴田　竜二	江口　謙	カワサキ ZX-10R	07	BS	TRICK☆STAR
	SBK	岩田　悟	須貝　義行	ホンダ CBR1000RR	06	BS	FCC TSR EUROSPORT BENELUX
	JSB	苅田　庄平	清水　直樹	カワサキ ZX-10R	06	PI	RS-ITOH&KAZE
	JSB	清成　龍一	手島　雄介	ホンダ CBR1000RR	07	MI	TEAM HRC

Just a snapshot of a couple of the entries in the pre-8 hour Suzuka race on the 10th of June- and what's going on with FCC-TSR and Rob van Eijs and the Eurosport Benelux team?
I put the question to Rob, using all my guile but he was unmoved and I was unable to get anything out of him other than "...wait for the Press Release..."

Among the top teams, there are two HRC Hondas, HM Plant's Jonathan Rea partnering the 40 year-old Tadayuki Okada, with the other HM Plant rider Ryuichi Kiyonari riding with Yusuke Teshima...more news when I get it. Check out the Motor Racing Japan site for more.

REMEMBER ANOTHER HERO

For those who wish to pay a final homage to Jack FINDLAY, his cremation is being held on Thursday May 24 2007 at 14H30, at the Crématorium de Cannes, Chemin de La Plaine de Laval, 06150 Cannes La Bocca.

Former Australian Grand Prix rider Jack Findlay passed away on the evening of the 19th May. He was 72 years old.

Jack Findlay was born on February 5, 1935 in Shepparton in the Mooroopna area of the Goulburn Valley, 190km north of Melbourne (Australia). He came to Europe at the end of the 50s, and started in Grand Prix competition. He scored his first points in 1961 in the 500cc class riding a Norton. He then rode a Matchless; his best results in the Championship were a 7th place in 1965, a third place in 1966, a 5th place in 1967 and a second place in1968 behind Giacomo Agostini. He also raced in the 250cc and 350cc classes, and later in the 750cc. He won 3 Grand Prix races in his career in the 500cc class: the Ulster Grand Prix in 1971 (first win for Suzuki and first win with a two-stroke engine in the 500cc class), the Tourist Trophy in 1972 and the Austrian Grand Prix in 1977. He won the Formula 750 FIM Prize in 1975 on a Yamaha. He was also the first rider to use Michelin tyres. He was one of the riders with the longest Grand Prix career. The movie “Continental Circus” (1971) shows the history of his 1968 season, the life of a private rider, when he finished runner-up of the 500cc class.

The dream was ignited in 1945 when the 10-year-old Mooroopna boy saw a picture of a motorcycle race and decided right then that his destiny was linked to that image – but 40 years would pass before the man whose helmet was always adorned by the flying kangaroo held the world championship trophy aloft.

Jack, who took on his dad's name as he felt Cyril John Findlay was not quite right for a motorcycle racer, was largely a privateer and unlike today's professional riders who have every need taken care of, he lived a hand-to-mouth life, preparing his own machines, driving around Europe in his own van and organizing his own accommodation.

It was in 1973 that he completed every motorcycles racer's dream when he won the Senior Tourist Trophy at the famous Isle of Man circuit...the first time Michelin Tyres had taken a win at the Island.

Jack had retired to live in Paris and our condolences go out to his wife Dominique and all his family.

• He used his father's road licence to obtain a competition licence at 15 years of age and adopted his dad's name to get his licence and the name “Jack” has stuck ever since.
• In 1983 when Wayne Gardner enjoyed some success on his way to becoming World Champion, Jack Findlay was at that time the only other Australian to win more than one race in the 500cc category.
• He won three 500cc Grand Prix – Austria , Ulster , Northern Island and the Isle of Man.
• Twice won the coveted unofficial title of Best Privateer in the world 500 championship – 1966 and 1968.
• He was also the leading 250cc Best Placed Privateer in 1966.
• Won the Isle of Man Senior TT in 1973.
• Won the British Guild of Motoring Writers “Rider of the Year” in 1975.
• Defeated Barry Sheene by one point to win the FIM Formula 750 prize in 1975.
• In 1963 had a win on the full LeMans circuit in an international event on his McIntyre Matchless and went on to record 11 international race wins that year.
• Finished third in the world 500cc championship in 1966.
• Finished second in the world 500cc championship in 1968.
• Finished fourth in the world 500c championship in 1970 and 1971.
• Finished fifth five times in the world 500cc championship.
• The movie “Continental Circus” by Jerome Laperrousaz featured Jack Findlay as himself in a film about the extremes of Grand Prix racing – the movie opened simultaneously in eight cinemas in Paris in 1972.
• Was the top privateer rider in the world for a staggering 15 years – a truly great achievement.
• Jack was the test rider for Michelin and as such played a key role in the development of that company's radial tyre.
• Jack was the FIM road racing world championship director and in that capacity attended grand prix meetings around the world and in that role was responsible for all technical aspects of modern grand prix motorcycle racing and its development.

A life-size bronze statue of Jack and full speed on his Isle of Man winning Suzuki now stands in Shepparton's main road, McLennan St, only about 80 metres from where he lived as a boy in Northgate Street.

KRT RIDER STEVE PLATER IN BRITISH SUPERBIKE ACTION

Fresh from his triumph at the Albacete 6 Hours World Endurance race and the North West 200 in Ireland where he won the main NW200 Superbike race for the second year in succession, Steve Plater returned to domestic action to contest round five of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike championship at Snetterton, riding to a points finish in the opening race on Sunday.

Steve completed his qualifying to make a start from a fifth row grid position and, as the first race got underway he made a good start to progress through the field to 16th where he stayed for the majority of the 22 laps. With three laps remaining, Plater overtook Ollie Bridewell and repeated the move on Aaron Zanotti two laps later to claim 15th place at the chequered flag.

Race two saw Plater again get away to a good start and move up into 14th position on lap seven. He was right on the tail of the group of riders ahead and after overtaking Cal Crutchlow was all set to make further progress. But his race came to an early end when the AIM Yamaha developed a clutch problem and Plater reluctantly retired back into pit lane.

“I was looking at a top eight finishing position in that last race,” said Steve. “I was catching Scott Smart who eventually finished eighth but the bike developed a problem with the clutch and I thought it wiser to come in rather than maybe end up on the tarmac. The bike will now go back to base and be stripped down and prepared for the TT next week. We have to find out what caused the problem today and rectify it. It’s a shame really but we are not too bothered as we have proved the bike can now run within the top ten and as long as we know we can be there its half the battle and we are quite happy with the way things are progressing.”

Steve sets off for the Isle of Man on Tuesday to prepare for practise week, which begins on Saturday 26th May. He is making his debut around the 37.7-mile mountain road course.

SUZUKA 8-HOUR NEWS

It's reached RaceCorp Chateau that the fabled Noriyuki Haga/Colin Edwards entry for Yamaha at Suzuka is off.It's the 30th Anniversary 8 Hour race and Honda are throwing EVERYTHING they have at this one...for example:

Marco MELANDRI/Carlos CHECA
Dani PEDROSA/Nicky HAYDEN
James TOSELAND/Ryuichi KIYONARI

. A full entry list should be available from the 1st June.

EUROSPORT BENELUX TEAM IN THE NEWS

Rob van Eijs, team manager of the No.5 Eurosport Benelux team, has send us just some of the coverage that his boys generate in the Dutch national press. We can't read it - but it was fun trying. "...the World is orange..." (George Harrison).

FROM MOTO-RACING JAPAN - SAD NEWS FOR FCC-TSR RIDER TAKESHI TSUJIMURA

The race by the FCC-TSR Team at Albacete was overshadowed by the sad news that Takeshi Tsujimura's mother had passed away just before the race. TSR team manager Fujii said after race. "Takeshi's mother passed away this morning. She was sick and under medical treatment. Takeshi was told her serious condition by the telephone from a Japanese hospital yesterday. However, he finished the race, without saying to nobody. Please offer a silent prayer together for his mother."

That we all do.

YAMAHA AUSTRIA - SEBASTIEN SCARNATO INJURY UPDATE

It looks like Sebastien's injuries from Albacete are worse than expected - no details on what's going on with his injuries but the news is that he maybe won't be fit for Suzuka - and Mandy Kainz is already talking to a number of top-flight riders to replace him for the gruelling 8 Hours. Some good news for Yamaha Austria, though...Yamaha Motor Japan have already announced that the team will be getting official support...that's just GOT to mean a works engine...

Hey...Aussie Steve Martin might be free (well, not "free", but you know what I mean...)...

AUSSIE STEVE MARTIN FINALLY GIVES UP ON WORLD SUPERBIKE DFX HONDA TEAM DEBACLE

He was out of the DFX Team in March...then back in again...but finally, it's all over.

STEVE MARTIN'S PRESS RELEASE:
Hard charger Steve Martin experienced an unjust race weekend at Monza in Italy, with a 16th place finish in race one and retirement in race two unreflective of his and his bike crew's outstanding efforts over the three days.

Steve commented, "I'm obviously just very disappointed with the way the weekend has gone, but it's what you've got to expect when the bikes only get worked on at the track and are not prepared before hand, you've only got a bike crew of two mechanics instead of six to do everything and there are no resources coming your way from the team."

As financial difficulties with the DFX Honda team continue, Steve's bike crew were left with no choice other than to leave to Italian squad the week before the Monza race, leaving the Aussie facing a difficult weekend before it even started.

"We've had a number of technical issues over the weekend which haven't helped progress," continued Steve. "But Baz, my crew chief, and Gary, a former FPR mechanic who stood in for this race, both did a totally amazing job and worked harder than I ever could have asked for. But 2 people just can't be expected, or even try to, do 4 weeks worth of work of 6 guys, in just 3 days!"

(The bike started running out of fuel in Race 1 while he was over-taking Ruben Xaus, then, to add insult to injury, the gear lever fell off on Lap 10 in Race 2. That was the final straw, it seems. It wasn't long before we got another press release from Steve...)

Following further discussions with DFX Honda team boss Daniele Carli yesterday (14th May), Steve Martin has decided it is not possible to find a workable solution to continue racing with the Italian squad for the remainder of the season.

"I've based my decision on the fact that this whole situation has now become unworkable," Steve explained. "I want to race competitively and safely, and you can't do that when the plans change continually with which races you'll be riding at, at every race weekend you have different people working on your bikes - some qualified to do so and some not - totally different set-ups, components and systems on each bike, different engines in each bike, different swing arms, no money, development or pre-race preparations going into your bikes and just continually starting from scratch every Friday of a race weekend, with a lottery of how the bikes and team are going to be."

Steve was initially informed two months ago that the DFX Honda team was experiencing financial difficulties and was unable to run two riders for the remainder of the season. As team-mate Michel Fabrizio is a Honda Europe funded rider, this meant it would be Steve's ride in the 2007 World Superbike Championship in jeopardy.

Further discussions then revealed that sufficient funds could be made available to run Steve at the third round of the WSBK Championship at Donington, and also the following three races at Valencia, Assen and Monza, on a race by race basis.

Whilst this solution was not ideal, it at least provided the experienced and gutsy Aussie rider with consistency until the season's mid point and also allowed time for additional team funding to be secured.

"But the goalposts were then changed again three weeks after that when the team notified me that they now didn't want to allocate money to running me at Assen, but only at the three remaining Italian rounds at Monza, Misano and Vallelunga," Steve continued.

"This left me with a difficult decision as to the best way forward - either stay with DFX for the spread-out three Italian races and compromise a potential full time ride for the rest of the season, or leave and chance not riding at all. When Kev (Curtain) asked me to stand in for him on the Yamaha in the World Supersport Championship at Assen it was a good and timely opportunity. I could have continued on the Yamaha at the following round at Monza, but thought I should try and do the right thing by everyone - my chief mechanic as the last remaining member of my bike crew, the DFX team and also to continue to fulfil my contractual obligations and agreements that I had made with the team - and get back on the DFX Honda again at Monza."

Despite having made some good progress with system and component development on the Honda CBR1000 machine during recent testing, these improvements have never come to fruition with being installed in Steve's race bikes due to lack of funds.

This, coupled with Steve not being favoured with attending all of the team's testing days, has understandably created both frustration and ongoing bike performance challenges for the Aussie. And further demonstrating that the team are not serious about running Steve competitively, is him having to sit out a two day test this week at the new and revised Misano circuit - a round where DFX expected Steve to race the Honda.

Steve explained, "My contract states that both riders in the team must be provided with exactly the same machinery, parts, systems and technical treatment. But this hasn't been the case by a long way for the most part of the season to date, so I've been fighting an uphill battle going into every race to even try and make the bike competitive against my team-mate, let alone the rest of the field. As a rider, and to be competitive, you need to be able to concentrate and focus on training, riding and developing a bike and I've done my best to do this with DFX in what has been a difficult and unsettling situation over the last few months. But to continue riding the Honda with DFX for the two remaining Italian rounds would just be making up numbers on the grid and there's no point or benefit in that for anyone. Doing one race here and one race there, and on an undeveloped bike won't enable me to compete competitively to the best of may ability or, allow me the opportunity to look at other options of an alternative ride for the remainder of the season, which is what I now intend to do," Steve concluded.

What's a disaster for Steve personally looks like being a heaven-sent opportunity for other teams desperate to sign a top rider from the highest echelons of motorcycle sport. Remember, he went from 17th in the World Superbike Championship in 2001 to 7th in 2004, always on the way up. Considered to be a damned fine development rider as well as a race winner, I expect Steve to be much in demand.

And, if there was any justice in the world, Carl Fogarty would be on the phone trying to sign him up to ride the MV Agusta next year.

STEVE PLATER TAKES A WIN AT THE NORTHWEST 200

PHOTO BY DOUBLE RED

HELEN PASK REPORTS:
Steve Plater overcame the disruption of a red flag situation to secure his third Superbike race win at the North West 200 races on Saturday 13th May. After finishing third in the first Superbike race he went on to take second in the Supersport event before securing the win in the big race of the day, the Black Horse International North West 200 Superbike race. Following that came the most exciting and close run race of the day, the Ballymoney Council Supersport race where Steve rode through to finish in fourth place.

The first race was halted after less than a lap because of a start-line incident and, after a lengthy delay it was decided to run a complete new race over three laps instead of the planned six.  At the start Steve moved straight into third place behind Bruce Anstey, with John McGuiness ahead in the lead. Steve remained in third place, lurking just behind Anstey waiting for a chance to overtake but on the final lap Anstey went down after hitting a kerb promoting Steve to second place. Unfortunately the red flag then brought the race to an early end and a result subsequently called at positions on lap two, with Steve being awarded third place.

“I had to swerve to avoid hitting Anstey when he crashed and lost loads of time,” said Steve. “It is a shame the race was stopped as I was just getting into my stride and felt I could have won.”

The second race out was the Club SOL five-lap Supersport race, which Steve began from a front row grid position. He was second into the first corner and led briefly on the opening lap before being overhauled by Bruce Anstey. By lap three Anstey and Plater had stretched out a massive lead over the chasing pack and after pulling out of his slipstream, Steve again hit the front and tried to make a break. He put in the fastest lap of the race on lap five and both he and Anstey were running very close to lap record pace. The pair exchanged places throughout the final lap but with three corners to go Anstey retook the lead and crossed the finish line just a fraction ahead leaving Steve to claim the runner up spot.

The big race of the day was the Black Horse Superbike race, scheduled for six laps but again unfortunate to be run over three laps after a red flag situation. From the off Steve moved straight into third place at York Hairpin and up to second on the brakes at Metropole. He took the lead on lap two and managed to hold off the attention of McGuinness, Guy Martin and Michael Rutter, who were all challenging for his position. As McGuinness ran wide Steve made the break and shot away from Martin and Rutter to head towards the chequered flag and take the win, his second in the big race and the first for AIM Yamaha.

PHOTO BY ALAN ARMSTRONG

“I am over the moon with that result,” said Steve. “I came to the North West 200 this weekend with the intention winning this race and have done it. It was a hard-fought affair but it all came together and I set the fastest lap of the race, just a fraction of a second away from the lap record I set here in the same race last year.”

The final outing for Steve was the Ballymoney Council Supersport race, which was undoubtedly the closest and most exciting race on Saturday’s programme. Run over five breath taking laps Steve slotted straight into second place behind Anstey with McGuinness on his back wheel. The lead was exchanged between the three riders all the way around the nine mile public road course until, with just three corners left to race, Steve took the outside line and went for the lead. He overcooked it and was forced to run off down the escape road leaving Anstey to take the win from McGuinness with Rutter inheriting third place and the unlucky Steve Plater taking fourth.

“I wasn’t going to settle for second place,” said Steve. “I made that last effort but it didn’t work out so I ended up in fourth. All this considered we have had a good weekend, a win, and two more podiums and then fourth – I can’t complain at that!”
 

WORLD ENDURANCE RIDERS At THE 2007 ISLE OF MAN TT

Most definitely the highest-profile newcomer entry at this year's 100th Anniversary Isle of Man TT races comes in the shape of former World Endurance Champion Jehan D’Orgeix, who can also count the famous Le Mans and Bol d’Or 24 Hour World Endurance races amongst his victories. D’Orgeix was the World Endurance champion in 1999, alongside Britain’s Terry Rymer, and won numerous races for the official Kawasaki and Suzuki teams throughout the 1990’s, riding with riders like Gregorio Lavilla, James Whitham and Brian Morrison. As well as being a multiple French national champion, he has also scored numerous top ten finishes in World Superbike and World Supersport races. Without doubt, he is one of France’s finest riders in recent times and he lines up for the Martin Bullock Raceteam.

Multiple Swedish champion Christer Miinin is not strictly a TT Newcomer having previously entered in 2005 - but his first TT was extremely short lived. Miinin lapped at 111mph on his very first lap of the Mountain Course but that would prove to be his only lap as he withdrew from the event after the loss of team mate Joakim Karlsson. He finished 3^rd overall in the 2006 World Endurance Championship riding for the illustrious Phase One team and scored two podiums and five top six finishes in the seven rounds. Miinin’s full debut is eagerly awaited and he also lines up with the ultra-professional Martin Bullock squad.

Steve Plater is, unsurprisingly, the highest placed newcomer and he carries the number 31 plate. Although he was without a full time ride in 2006, it proved to be one of his most successful years with a superb double at the North West 200 and victory at the prestigious Macau Grand Prix. Plater lines up for the official AIM Racing Yamaha team whilst he will also be competing in the World Endurance Championship for the works Kawasaki team.

Eire’s Roger Maher has based himself on the continent, primarily in Germany, for much of his career and has been a regular competitor in the World Endurance Championship, most recently with the Projecteam Honda in 2006 and this year competing at the Le Mans 24hr race with the Back Racing/Specials Ireland team.  In the last few seasons he has competed in more pure road races at home and has recorded podium finishes in the Superbike class, sharing the rostrum with the likes of Martin Finnegan and Raymond Porter. He has also impressed at the North West 200 and Ulster GP and is sure to do similar at the TT.

WARWICK NOWLAND JOINS BRITISH SUPERSTOCK CHAMPIONSHIP - WITH MV AGUSTA

PRESS RELEASE FROM WARWICK
If racing around for 6 hours, 8 hours and 24 hours is not enough, Warwick has just agreed to race the exquisite MV Augusta F4 312 in the British Championship.

Warwick received a phone call on the evening he arrived at Le Mans for Round 1 of the QMMF Endurance World Championship and since then negotiations have resulted in a new challenge for the 2 times Endurance World Champion. The team behind Warwick and the mighty MV Augusta are a relatively new name to racing. STP Racing are based near the Mallory Park circuit in the British Midlands and at barely 3 years young, team owner Jon Strike has big plans for his professional outfit. Jon has close ties with the MV Augusta Factory in Italy where a new F4 is being prepared for Warwick. The team will contest the remaining 8 rounds of the British Superstock Championship and have already started plans for 2008 and 2009.

“It’s a great opportunity and perfectly timed. 6 Rounds of the Endurance World Championship is not really enough racing even though we have testing to do as well. Now, I have testing and development with STP Racing and the link to the Factory is great. This is a long term project for all of us and we plan to succeed. I have to admit, the MV Augusta is a big attraction for me. It’s a work of art, simply beautiful. I’m really looking forward to developing the bike even though at this stage, we are only using it in the Superstock class. I’m fortunate to have been called by my friend, Bob Cooley who is involved with Jon. They are passionate about racing and incredibly positive, we fit together well”.

The first race for Warwick and his new machine will be at Round 5 of the British Championship to be held at Snetterton in just under 2 weeks time. With the new bike still being prepared in Italy, time will be short however the team will test before Snetterton. It will give Warwick time to get a feeling for the bike and of course the Metzeler tyres. The British Superstock Championship runs a control tyre rule similar to the Superbike World Championship.

This new venture brings Phase One Yamaha team mate Glen Richards to the other side of the ring as he currently dominates the British Superstock series aboard his Yamaha R1.

“Glen is the man at the moment and I am hoping to be alongside him and then in front of him as soon as possible!” I will have to be very strong. This class is the closest and most competitive anywhere in the World. I’ve looked at qualifying times and the first 25 riders are covered by 1 second!”

7 years have past since Warwick last raced in the British Championship, does the Aussie have un-finished business in Britain?

“I just want to work with a good team and win races. It’s as simple as that. I had an opportunity to race for a Factory team in the British Superbike Championship and it was taken away from me without even riding the bike. What happened in the past is just that, the past. Now I am starting a new project and next year I could be on a Factory bike in the British Superbike Championship, I like that idea”.

The three men behind STP Racing are all MD's of some sort...Jon Strike is the Managing Director (how come we always capitalize that?) of Smiths Building Supplies in Abergavenny (gateway to South Wales and the incomparable Brecon Beacons National Park), Mark Smith is the Managing Director (there it is again!) of Thomas Smith Roofing Centres (based in Hereford on the Welsh border) and Mark Adcocks (who has his own printing business - no, not money...)...there now follows a short lecture on the history of parentheses...

...they're all bikers and could possibly be as fast as Wokka himself...on the right day...with a following wind...if their tyres weren't knackered from the run down to the track...and if they could JUST ONCE not hit the brakes, only change down one cog while throwing it into Gerrards...

ALBACETE 6 HOUR PAGE HERE - UPDATED

FOGGY...YUP, HE'S BACK!

Two iconic names in motorcycle racing, MV Agusta and Carl Fogarty, are to join forces for an assault on the Superbike World Championship. The Italian manufacturer is set to enter the championship in the 2008 season with Fogarty’s British-based team as their factory-supported outfit.
“We are happy to race with Carl Fogarty’s team in 2008 and see this as a long-term relationship,” says MV Agusta President Claudio Castiglioni. “We always targeted 2008 as our debut year in the World Superbike series, when we will have sufficient resources to fully support such a challenge."