Simon Lees has entered the 2007 Beach Race at Weston and is riding in aid of Leukaemia Research.

His sponsorship target is £1000 and he has created a website for people to view and keep up to date on his "race shirt diary". He hs designed a shirt which will hopefully be signed by the likes of Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, James Noble, Brad Anderson, some bands - and any other celebrity he can get hold of - which will then be auctioned off to raise some more money. Donate on his web page HERE.

In past years the Japanese Factory teams would have all their "big guns" at this event - after all, THIS is the race that people like Dani Pedrosa, Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, Troy Corser, Andrea Dovizioso, Noriyuki Haga, Ducati's Troy Bayliss, Casey Stoner, etc would, in the past, have been working up to all season.

But something has changed over the past few years. Ever since Rossi took his talent away from Honda, the Japanese giant, who owns the Suzuka track, seems to have lost a part of it's soul. It was the one race where the best riders from ALL classes could show us what they had and match their talent against the best of the world. But they're not there anymore. On top of this, has the premier class, MotoGP, lost it's own lustre? The 2T 500's were beasts to ride, the 990's were awesome - the 800's seem to be glorified 600's. Have World Superbike riders gained in stature somehow? Troy Bayliss took his end-of-season reward of a Ducati MotoGP ride and not only beat the supposed "best" in the World on a strange bike in the final round at Valencia last year - but was never headed from the race start. Even Neil Hodgson has recently turned down a Gresini Honda GP ride to concentrate on his Superbike career.

Conversely, the lauded GP riders in World Superbikes have performed at a much lower standard that had been expected. Max Biaggi has had 15 races but only one win; isn't this the rider who many thought was second only to Rossi in the GP paddock? The 'heavier, slower' Superbikes should be less of a struggle to ride, surely? Roberto Rolfo had 4th, 3rd and 2nd placed championship positions in 250 GP's...he's not yet been on the podium in WSB. Fonsi Nieto - 3 years in WSB and only one 3rd place podium finish. This is not the same as WSB riders going to MotoGP, these riders are in top teams - Alstare Suzuki for Biaggi, Ten Kate Honda for Rolfo and PSG-1 Kawasaki for Nieto. It's not that there is something different about going from MotoGP to WSB - Frankie Chili is an ex-250 GP rider and he showed what could be done.

So, maybe it's apt that Honda has called upon the services of WSB's points leader James Toseland and British Superbike points leader Ryuichi Kiyonari, whereas Carlos Checa rides the other factory Honda alongside new talent Jonathan Rea. It doesn't actually look a bad line-up when you consider the Yamaha factory have "Alas Poor Norick" Abe partnered with Australian SBK champion  Jamie Stauffer and a second hope of a decent place with JSB regulars Katsuyuki Nakasuga and Nobuyuki Ohsaki. With that kind of line-up, Yamaha Austria would probably once again be the first Yamaha home - former WSB star Steve Martin will want to beat fellow Aussie Jamie Stauffer on the Yamaha Racing 81.

Suzuki? Their Factory entry will be the official WEC entry of Vincent Philippe, Matthieu Lagrive and Julien Da Costa. You could say that this means that the WEC riders are finally being respected and that Suzuki now has the best possible riders on their factory entry...but...only one bike? John Hopkins and Chris Vermeulen too busy?...or too close in the fight for GP honours to dare race at Suzuka? World Superbike riders Biaggi and Kagayama too slow? AMA pilots Ben Spies and Matt Mladin too expensive?

And that leaves Kawasaki. No factory team at all. Not even the supposed 'permanent World Endurance team' of TKF, Team Kawasaki France run by Christian Bourgeois, no Steve Plater, Gwen Giabbani and Scott Smart...or was it Freddy Moreira? Furthermore, they're not on the official Oscherleben entry list, although I have been assured that they WILL be there.

Halfway through the season and we don't really know who actually rides for some teams. As an example, the Qatari Endurance Race Team with two Japanese riders that World Endurance doesn't know and the token Qatari rider who will just sit it out in front of a cooling fan in the pit box.

If you look down the list of teams entered, it's looking good for the permanent World Endurance teams, with more of them there than I can ever remember...

But look at the winners from the past and tell me that it hasn't all gone downhill since Rossi and Edwards won in 2001...Valentino Rossi, Colin Edwards, Aaron Slight, Scott Russell, Wayne Rainey, Mick Doohan, Wayne Gardner (four times!), Eddie Lawson, Fred Merkel...

Yes, Honda will win this one again, mainly because they have more bikes in the race than anyone else - and it could even  be the FCC-TSR team again, this time with a chance of a one-two. Realistically, Mr. Platacis...you also won't get to ride.

Get your commemorative die-cast model today.

STEVE MARTIN MODE DURCH YAMAHA ÖSTERREICH...SCHTREWTH, MATE!

You've obviously all seen the entry list for the Coca-Cola Zero Suzuka 8 Hour race and seen the name "Jamie Stauffer" alongside Norifume Abe on the JSB-spec factory Yamaha...yup, another blazing Australian megastar. I say that because he took both the Australian Superbike AND Supersport Championships in 2006...along with taking EVERY pole position in the Superbike category. Jamie's no stranger to the longer races, either - he teamed up with Warwick Nowland and Mark Willis in 2000 to win the Two Wheels 6 Hour Endurance at Eastern Creek.

Well, he's already won the Australian Superbike Championship again in 2007...and he goes into the final Supersport race 6 points ahead of team-mate Jason O'Halloran.

It looks like he's just far too big for the national pond...and he's now been rewarded with the chance to make a big international splash. His website is HERE.

Just days after arriving back to his UK base, Warwick Nowland met with British Superstock MV Agusta team owners Jon Strike and Simon Woods to discuss their future. Warwick left the meeting not only looking forward to a future with the Italian influenced team but as newly appointed team manager of STP Racing.

“I was honored when Jon and Simon asked me to do the job. It’s more than I expected but again, it’s something I want to succeed at. Being a rider, I will always want to win and that won’t be any different as a team manager. The relationship between everyone in the STP team and the enthusiasm about our future already creates a positive environment. Having such strong people in key areas adds motivation to our group and that makes my job a lot easier. My plan is to be very decisive and not carry on with all the nonsense that goes on in many teams. I am in this role to succeed, to make our team, our partners and our supporters enjoy the journey, through highs and lows. My view is that we are in the business of entertainment and success. Yesterday was the first day as ‘Team Manager’ and the phone didn’t stop ringing all day however I still managed to do all the things I do as a rider”.

This weekend’s Oulton Park round of the British Championship will be Warwick’s first ‘hands on’ race meeting as the new team manager. The STP Racing team currently field four motorcycles in the British Superstock Championship. The team now look forward to the changes Warwick can bring through his experience and determination. The two times World Endurance Champion will have the challenge of not only structuring and managing the team toward a new level but developing the MV Agusta F4 312 as the team aim toward the 2008 British Superbike Championship.

“We are well aware of the task ahead and that is why we are working on this right now. MV Agusta want to win. Taking on teams like HM Plant Honda and GSE Racing will be tough but there is no point sitting at home watching on TV, that would be easy! With new rule changes to the British Superbike class in 2008, we expect the strength of the MV's engine to be an advantage. Additionally, we are plannig with people in Europe, America and Japan to supply components and products that will form a strong starting point".

For the remainder of the season Warwick will have the experienced ex-MotoGP racer Chris Burns as his team mate aboard the teams F4 1000’s.

TEAM MANAGER RUSSELL BENNEY - Following an excellent test at Oschersleben last month the team have signed German 3-times superbike champion Stefan Nebel for both the Suzuka 8hrs and the Oschersleben 24hrs. Nebel will replace the still-injured Didier Van Keymeulen, who aims to be back with the team for the Bol d’Or in September. The test showed Nebel’s undoubted speed and expertise, confirming machine set-up and suspension settings. Glen Richards was also at Oschersleben, but Warwick, due to injury sustained in another championship was not. Glen familiarised himself with the circuit and quickly found, with Stefan’s assistance, the fast lines. Stefan has circulated around the circuit in the 1min 28 sec bracket, 1 second faster than the team has ever achieved….so it should be a good Osch.! Technically, the test was used to test both the Oschersleben bike and the Suzuka rolling chassis. Both were good.

STEFAN NEBEL - "NEBEL" TRANSLATES INTO "FOG"...NOT ANOTHER "FOGGY"!

The plan was that these new Yamaha Austria T-shirts would be available after Suzuka - but it looks like the flood of requests for these exclusive designer garments may force a rethink and an earlier release. Marginally cheaper than a boob job. The rumour is that Damian Cudlin is the person to contact for the model's mobile number.  More info on availability when I get it. Get in line.

It's also available on Damian Cudlin's site (along with other stuff) HERE

Misano Adriatico (Italy), Sunday 1 July: The Ducati 1098 F08, Ducati's future World Superbike challenger, made its public debut at the Misano World Circuit in Italy yesterday with a number of demonstration laps in front of over 50,000 spectators at WDW World Ducati Week 2007. Two-times World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss was given the honour of demonstrating the 1098 F08 machine, which is still in its factory development stage, sporting black carbon-fibre bodywork and aluminium fuel-tank.

The 1098 F08 has been undergoing development work at Mugello in the hands of the Ducati Xerox Junior Team's young Superstock riders Niccolò Canepa and Domenico Colucci, but for the Misano spectators this was the bike's public debut.

"I just saw the new 1098 for the first time yesterday" declared Troy. "It looks and feels good and although it clearly doesn't feel like home after a couple of laps, I'm sure Ducati are moving in the right direction and it will be soon. I've still got a few things to concentrate on at the moment, like winning this year's title, but I'm really looking forward to testing the bike at a quieter moment in the future."

The 1098 F08, which will replace the 999, complies with the draft regulations for the World Superbike Championship issued by the FIM two weeks ago. In particular engine specifications are much closer to the road version than on the 999. For example, the con-rods, the crankshaft and the rocker arms are all standard components. As for the bike itself, the level of elaboration is similar to the F07 and in particular the frame is identical to the road bike, while the swing-arm, front and rear suspensions and exhausts can be modified.

18 permanent teams will go head-to-head on 29th July in Japan at the ‘Coca Cola Zero Suzuka 8 Hours’ race, the third leg of the QMMF Endurance FIM World Championship. The 30th edition of this legendary endurance race is a special highlight of the racing calendar and is often a pivotal point in the World Championship race. At the top of the Championship standings is the Suzuki Endurance Racing Team (SERT), the favourites among the permanent teams. SERT has only a single Championship point advantage over Kawasaki Motor France but will have the opportunity to stretch its lead at Suzuka as Kawasaki Motor France will not be on the start line.

The Suzuka 8 Hours will not, however, be straight forward for SERT. In this unusual race they will be up against a number of impressive Japanese official and semi-official teams who, although racing outside of the Championship (only Superbike, Superproduction and Superstock categories are racing for points), will be difficult adversaries, often racing high performance machines. Seventh at Suzuka in 2005, SERT only managed to finish 38th last year following three crashes. The best performance of the permanent teams in 2006 was by Yamaha Austria Racing who were placed 10th. Of the other permanent teams such as Bolliger Team Switzerland, Yamaha Phase One Endurance, Suzuki Sweden, Diablo 666 Bolliger Kawasaki and Endurance Moto 45, many have already had their first attempt at Suzuka, while others will be braving the circuit for the first time.

Two permanent teams have been replaced. RT Racing & Moto Virus have taken the place of No Limits & MCS Racing on a Suzuki. Eric Monot and two Japanese riders – Naoki Yamada and Yosuke Sumi – will be at helm. Eurosport Benelux have partnered with the FCC TSR team. Satoru Iwata and Yoshiyuki Sugai will be guiding the Honda with Heinz Platacis. Many will remember that FCC TSR won the ‘Suzuka 8 Hours’ in 2006 with Takeshi Tsujimura and Shinichi Itoh. There is also Japanese participation in the Qatar Endurance Racing Team with Shohei Karita and Naoki Shimizu assisting Mashel Al Naimi. Finally, another absence from the starting line will be Genous Team which has forfitted this Championship leg due to a lack of budget.

Thirty points are on offer to the winner at Suzuka in the Superbike, Superproduction and Superstock classes.

COMMENT:
...well well well...so it seems that the rumoured "enquiries" to the FIM about the creativity of the Eurosport Benelux team partnership with FCC-TSR have come to nothing. With Sugai and Iwata taking a top ten result at the pre-Suzuka race, the 300km, I don't think that Heinz Platacis will really get a go on the bike - except a few qualifying laps, maybe. Then, you have to think about the QERT team running at Suzuka (also running two Japanese riders - 25th in the 300km RS ITOH & KAZE riders Shohei Karita and Naoki Shimizu, along with the "stand-by" rider, Mashel Al Naimi) and think that if anyone really objected to the creative use of the "Eurosport Benelux" name, they really should have to include the QERT team - but that would really upset the series sponsors QMMF now, wouldn't it?

By the way, it's great to see the return of yet another Aussie (even though the official FIM team listing has him as GBR, he was born in Adelaide) - welcome back Paul "Youngy" Young, riding for Suzuki Sweden.