Motourage

MotoGP 2012 finally got underway today with the first of three days of testing at the Sepang Circuit in Malaysia. Yamaha Factory Racing riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies took their first ride on the 1000cc YZR-M1 since last year. Both riders blew the cobwebs off quickly and settled down to an impressive pace, Lorenzo proving to be the fastest man on track with his team mate always close behind him.

The focus for the first day was to get back into the swing of riding and also to establish a good base set up. Tomorrow and the day after, Lorenzo and Spies will compare various new settings to provide valuable data for the second Sepang test in one month’s time.

Jorge Lorenzo, 1st, 2.01.657, 30 Laps:
“I’m very happy with today. For the first ride on the bike in some time, it’s been very positive. Yamaha has worked very hard over the winter for this M1. I can see very easily where I have to adapt my riding style for the bike and I can see a lot of potential. We have many areas where we can improve so I’m looking forward to beginning again tomorrow. I’m also very happy that my finger is fine and doesn’t affect my riding at all.”

Ben Spies, 4th, 2.02.234, 28 Laps:
“I’m happy. It was fun to get back on the bike today. I haven’t ridden any type of motorcycle since Valencia. It didn’t take too long to knock the rust off, we tried a few things in set up and every step we did made small improvements. We have a lot to do in the next couple of days and a lot more in the second test. It’s been a confidence inspiring start, Yamaha have put in a lot of effort for this season so we’ll work day by day to be even better.”

Test Times:
1. Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’01.657
2. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda Team 2’02.003
3. Cal Crutchlow (GBR) Yamaha Tech3 2’02.221
4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’02.234
5. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Ducati Team 2’02.392
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Yamaha Tech3 2’02.751
7. Hector Barbera (SPA) Pramac Racing Team 2’02.773
8. Katsuyuki Nakasuga (JPN) Yamaha Factory Racing 2’02.829
9. Alvaro Bautista (SPA) Honda Gresini 2’02.869
10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Team 2’03.151
11. Stefan Bradl (GER) LCR Honda 2’03.668
12. Karel Abraham (CZE) Cardion AB Motoracing 2’03.781
13. Franco Battaini (ITA) Ducati Team 2’04.986
14. Casey Stoner (AUS) Repsol Honda Team 2’07.163
15. Colin Edwards (USA) NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2’08.240
16. Jordi Torres (SPA) Avintia Racing 2’10.671
17. Ivan Silva (SPA) Avintia Racing 2’11.267

Sepang Record Lap:
C. Stoner (Ducati) 2007, 2’02.108

Sepang Best Lap:
V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2009, 2’00.518

The Ducati 848 Challenge returns for 2012 now firmly established as the premier one-make series in the UK.

For many riders the Ducati 848 Challenge series has been the ideal platform to display their talents in front of huge BSB TV audiences, and for many it provides the best profile for their valued sponsors.

The success of the championship has been reflected with 25 riders already signed up for the 2012 season and a large number still looking to join the series before the opening round at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend.

Ducati Manchester’s Robbie Brown, who last season finished third overall, returns for 2012 and must start as one of the Championship favorites along with Darren Fry (JHP Racing/Ducati Coventry) hoping to return to the form that took him to the title in 2010. However, they face stiff competition from riders switching to the Challenge for the first time in 2012, including Marty Nutt (NUTTTravel.com), Ed Smith (Ultim8 Racing) and Max Hunt (OHLINS @ P&H Motorcycles) who all spent last season in British Supersport. Former British 250 Champion Woolsey Coulter is coming out of retirement to take up the Challenge and will be joined by 2011 MRO Stock1000 Champion Byron Beckett, ex-TTC rider Nicky Wilson (NWR), along with Sean Neary (Motocorse) and Ryan Myler (Close Print Ducati).

Although there are some experienced riders competing, the Challenge welcomes a group of up and coming young riders eager to make their mark in the paddock. James White, 18, (Team After Dark) the 2011 Thunderbike Champion will seek to use his experience of racing a Ducati (his 2011 title was achieved on a 749) while James Folkard, 20, (Win43.com) will be stepping up as last year’s Aprilia RRV450 Challenge champion. Sam Coventry (Moto Rapido) joins the series from the Spanish CEV Stock Extreme Championship, Ryan Gibson, 17, (Fast Frame UK) comes from North Gloucestershire 600 class while Kasey Wyatt, 18, (GBmoto Racing) moves up from the highly competitive Aprilia Superteens.

Other riders returning to the fray include Stuart Poyser (P & H Motorcycles), Mark Cheetham (Hunt Pie Machines), Ricky Holden (Holden Racing), Jamie Poole (Moto Rapido), Aaron Brown (Ladybirds Ducati) and Barry Poll and Dan Cruickshank (both Pumpkin Patch Racing). Another returnee, Steve Jordan, will be joined this year by his wife, Sarah Jordan (both Global Robots/Steve Jordan Motorcycles), no doubt creating the first husband and wife team in the BSB paddock to ever race against each other!

The Ducati 848 Challenge will again consist of eight rounds and sixteen races, including six British Superbike rounds, as well as the now traditional two overseas rounds. The series kicks off at the British Superbikes opener at Brands Hatch before visiting Assen, Snetterton 300, Misano and the famous World Ducati Week, Oulton Park, Cadwell Park, Donington Park and finally Ducati UK’s home circuit, Silverstone.

Australian superbike racer Jordy Burgess from Newcastle, New South Wales in Australia has re-signed an agreement with Team ADR Racing for 2012 to compete in the AMA Pro National Guard Superbike Championships. After a successful campaign with ADR for 2011 on board the ADR-built Suzuki GSX-R1000, Burgess is saddling up for another year abroad in the United States competing with some of the best superbike racers in one of the world’s highest profile championships, in which he will be competing alongside fellow countryman and ADR team owner “Aussie” Dave Anthony.

“I am really excited about this forthcoming season,” said Burgess. “Riding again with ADR is a great opportunity for me to build upon my first season in AMA Superbike last year and continue moving up the ranks. The bike this year will have some additional improvements. It’s been quite a long time since my last ride, in fact the last time I was on a race bike was the New Jersey race last year so I’m looking forward to getting back up to speed and getting some miles on the bike before our first round in Daytona 15-17th March.”

The number 33 Rider will have the experience under his belt from 2011 to draw upon on his return to the United States for the 11-round, nationwide series in which he will again be working alongside mechanic Shaun Higginbottom for the season.

Burgess will head to California this week to start preseason training and testing along with some State Championship races with ADR before heading east to Florida, where the AMA Pro Racing season will commence as part of Bikeweek 2012 in Daytona, FL.

Motourage wishes a very happy birthday to reigning Australian Superbike champion Glenn Allerton.

Check out Glenn’s official website, GlennAllerton.com, and follow him on Twitter at Twitter.com/GlennAllerton.

Reigning Polish Supersport Champion Daniel Bukowski will defend his title in 2012 again with the Suzuki GRANDys Duo team aboard the new GSX-R600. Bukowski, who also finished fifth in the 2011 UEM European Championship, is hoping for a wild card ride in the Brno World Supersport round on July 22.

“Last season, Daniel was just as successful as we had hoped, and it was obvious to continue our cooperation,” said Suzuki GRANDys Duo team manager Jacek Grandys. “I believe in 2012 he will not only repeat the success, but we will also achieve something more.”

“The continued cooperation with Suzuki GRANDys duo isn’t surprising, and I feel assured of the decision,” said Daniel Bukowski. “I am very happy to be able to stay another season in the ‘blue garage.’ The only thing I lack is the opportunity to start in the World Supersport Championship, but it is our goal to achieve this. I hope I can provide my fans with unforgettable thrills and I promise to do my best.”

Daniel Bukowski Career History:
2011: Supersport Polish Champion, 5th place European Supersport Championship.
2010: 2nd place Polish Supersport Championship.
2009: Alpe Adria Superstock 600 Champion, 2nd place Polish Superstock 600 Championship, 3rd place Alpe Adria Supersport.
2008: 2nd place Polish Superstock 600 Championship.
2007: 1st place Polish Cup Rookie 600.

Guy Martin completes the Tyco Suzuki lineup for the forthcoming season. The 2011 Ulster Grand Prix Superbike winner and quadruple podium finisher at last year’s Isle of Man TT will partner Manxman Conor Cummins in an all-new line up for the three major International Road Races.

British Superbike Championship rider Alastair Seeley will also join them in a three-pronged attack at the North West 200 in May.

It will be Lincolnshire rider’s second season racing for Moneymore-based TAS Racing and in inimitable Guy Martin style, he explained just why he wanted to remain on GSX-R machinery with Tyco Suzuki.

Guy Martin:
“It’s taken a while, but it was always on the cards. I’m happy to be back with the team for a second year and I love the new Tyco Suzuki colors. Great job. I couldn’t knock last year to be honest; the only thing we didn’t do was win a TT, but hopefully we’ll put that right in June. That’s the box we want to tick. The North West and Ulster GP are great events but it’s a TT win I really want. The team is good enough, the bikes are good enough; and I believe the rider is good enough, so it’s time to go out and win one.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“After all the speculation it’s nice to finally be able to officially announce that Guy Martin will continue to race for TAS in 2012 in the new Tyco Suzuki livery. I think we both knew that it was going to happen. We made a verbal agreement to each other last August at the Ulster Grand Prix, but all the speculation has brought lots of publicity for our sponsors, the team and Suzuki, which is great. But I suppose when Guy gets out of bed these days he gets media coverage.”

“He’s a hard man to pin down with such a busy schedule, but with Conor onboard and now Guy, I think we have a strong team looking ahead to the three internationals. Guy proved last year that he has all the ingredients required to go all out for that TT win in June. It’s eluded him so far, but we’ll work as hard as we can as a team to make it happen.”

“He’s not just the most popular rider in the UK these days, but also very popular outside the sport, which is good for motorcycling in general. Everyone at TAS, Suzuki, Tyco and existing sponsors like Ian Glen from Beacon are delighted to see him stay for a second year. And as I said before, along with Conor and our BSB duo of Seeley and Brookes, I feel it can be a successful season for Tyco Suzuki.”

Team Honda Racing will return to the Australian 600 Supersport category in 2012 with last year’s ASBK 125GP Champion Josh Hook joining the team onboard a Motologic-prepared CBR600RR.

The young rider from Taree in New South Wales has already gained valuable experience in Australia and overseas, having competed in the Red Bull Rookies cup in the USA series two years in a row and competing as a wildcard entry in the IVECO Australian MotoGP 125cc class in both 2010 and 2011.

Excited to be racing with the factory Honda team, Josh believes he is ready for the challenge ahead saying “I am really looking forward to getting on the track on the Honda CBR600RR and I’m very excited to join Team Honda Racing. I know I will learn a lot working with the team as well as from Wayne and Jamie. It is a pretty competitive class so it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident that we will find a good setup for me in testing and that I will feel comfortable on the bike going into Round 1 at Phillip Island.”

Team Principle, Paul Free is keen to see what the season brings for his expanding team and feels confident that the re-entry into the 600 Supersport class will be a notable one.

Paul Free:
“This is very exciting news for Team Honda Racing. The Motologic-based team has not competed in the 600 Supersport class for a few years now and we are all looking forward to returning to the category with Honda this season. Josh shows great potential and will fit in very well with everyone in the team. He will get his first taste of the CBR600RR soon in our first official test and I am sure he will do well going into the first event.”

Looking forward to Honda’s re-entry into the Supersport class, Tony Hinton, General Manager Honda Motorcycles said “Honda is excited to be re-entering the Supersport class in 2012 and welcoming Josh Hook into Team Honda Racing. Honda has a strong history in Supersport racing both here and on a World Championship level. Josh is a talented rider with fantastic potential and we look forward in helping him develop further, and to the prospect of challenging for the Australian Supersport Championship in 2012.”

Four-time Polish champion Andy Meklau will continue to represent Suzuki GRANDys duo in 2012. Meklau, an Austria native and winner of 25 races in the International Polish Championship last season, will race in the Superstock 1000 class and occasionally Superbike in the Polish and Alpe Adria Championships aboard the new GSX-R1000 L2.

Jacek Grandys – Manager Suzuki GRANDys duo:
“I am very happy that we are working with Andy for another season. His professionalism and experience are invaluable, and working with him is a great pleasure. Again we define the high goals and believe the new 2012 GSX-R1000 will help us to do it.”

Andy Meklau – Superstock 1000:
“I am glad that I will continue co-operation with Jacek and his team. In Poland, I feel at home and I hope it will be another successful year for all the Team. I’m really looking forward to the first tests with new GSX-R 1000 and then racing the Championships.”

Andy Meklau Career History:
2011: Superbike, Superstock 1000, Formula X-Treme Polish Champion, Superbike & Superstock 1000 Austrian Champion, Superbike Alpe Adria Champion.
2010: Superstock 1000 Polish Champion, Superbike Austrian Champion.
2009: Superbike Polish Champion, Superstock 1000 Austrian Champion.
2008: Superbike Austrian Champion, 3rd place: IDM (German Championship) Superbike.
2007: 3rd place IDM (German Championship) Superbike.
2006: 2nd place IDM (German Championship) Superbike.
2005: 2nd place IDM (German Championship) Superbike.
2004: 3rd place IDM (German Championship) Superbike.
2003: 6th place IDM (German Championship) Superbike.
2001: 10th place AMA Superbike (USA Championship).
2000: 13th place: Superbike World Championship.
1999: 2nd place PRO Superbike (German Cup), 11th place Superbike World Championship.
1998: PRO Superbike Champion (German Cup).
1996: Austrian Superbike Champion.
1995: 13th place Superbike World Championship.
1994: 6th place Superbike World Championship.
1993: 1st victory in Superbike World Championship, Grand Prix 500cc.
1992: Austrian Superbike Champion.
1991: Austrian Superbike Champion.
1990: Austrian Superbike Champion.

TAS Racing has signed Manxman Conor Cummins to race Tyco Suzuki machinery during his 2012 international road racing campaign, which is based around the North West 200, Isle of Man TT and Ulster Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old is regarded as one of the sport’s hottest young properties, and despite his high-speed and hugely publicized accident on the Mountain Circuit during the Senior TT in 2010, he is now fighting fit and looking forward to a new chapter in his career.

Cummins will also take in a number of British Superstock rounds throughout the season and hand-picked road races like the Southern 100 for Tyco Suzuki.

Conor Cummins:
“This is the ride I’ve been wanting for three or four years. I’m thrilled to have been given the chance to now ride for a factory-supported team in Tyco Suzuki and to be working with the boys at TAS Racing. I’ve been training hard with gym sessions and out on the pushbike and mountain bike over the winter, so I’m relishing the thought of getting aboard the team’s GSX-R1000 Superbike in testing. I’d say I’m not far off being as fit as I ever was and having been over to the workshop to meet the boys in Northern Ireland and have a look at my bikes. April can’t come quick enough to get racing.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“After months of speculation and negotiations it’s great to finally welcome Conor Cummins to our team for the 2012 international road racing season. It’s fair to say there has been a little bit of pressure to return to a two-rider team on the roads – so once we’d reached that decision, Conor really was the obvious choice. As a person I’ve always been hugely impressed with Conor and his riding skills were evident to all after those blistering lap speeds at the 2010 TT.

“However, probably more impressive is the determination he has shown in his comeback from injury, and for me, that was more than enough to justify a factory-supported ride with us here at Tyco Suzuki. I’ll be looking forward to working with Conor both on and off the track this season, as he has the attitude and personality I was really looking for in a rider.”

Hector Neill, Team Owner:
“It’s no secret the Isle of Man TT is the highlight of the racing season for me, and with that in mind, it was important to have a two-rider lineup. It’s also widely known that my number one desire in racing is to again win the Senior TT trophy. So what better way than to win it with a Manxman onboard.”

Joan Lascorz and Tom Sykes joined forces in the new-look Kawasaki Racing Team World Superbike Championship squad for a first 2012 test at Spain’s Almeria Circuit on January 19-20.

The new initiative of a long winter test ban (brought in by the series organizers this season) has only recently ended and therefore the Almeria sessions gave the whole KRT effort an opportunity to get back together and enjoy some valuable track time with the Ninja ZX-10R.

Sykes left with the best lap time, a 1:34.6”, while Lascorz took a 1:35.1. Overnight temperatures fell to near freezing point, but track conditions once the sun had come up each day were such that the riders and technical staff had a great chance to work through the many setup options on the latest race version of the Ninja ZX-10R.

The team will now take their optimum material and set-up data to the awesome Phillip Island circuit in Australia for two separate test sessions before the opening race weekend of the season. The first of 14 rounds will take place there February 24-26.

Tom Sykes: “It went very well because we arrived at another kind of circuit compared to the ones we have tested at before and the bike worked well straight away. After a big winter lay off it only took me ten laps to go faster than I have ever been at Almeria. I was happy with that. After that it was a case of testing some small items we had requested from KHI. It was consistently around 15 degrees [Celsius] in terms of track temperature and the sun was shining, so we could not ask for any more in January. The track was in good condition as well, just a bit dusty off line.”

Joan Lascorz: “We tested everything. It was cold in the mornings at Almeria but the track conditions were good and it was sunny each day, but there was some snow in the mountains around the track. This is the last test before we go to Australia so we decided the final direction of the machine set-up to take there and, in general, for the rest of the season. Tom and I have very a different machine set-up now but it is just to suit our different riding styles. The most important thing is that the difference between the fastest riders and the others in the races is that they get the tires to last for the whole race distance. This is the most important thing.”