Motourage

Bryan Staring

Former Australian Superbike champion and current Team Pedercini Superstock 1000 rider Bryan Staring will fill in for Leandro Mercado at the opening round of the 2012 Superbike World Championship season at Phillip Island on the last weekend in February. Mercado will miss the first round after sustaining a fracture of his right radius in a crash on his supermoto bike. The 19-year old former AMA Pro Supersport competitor sustained the fracture during a crash in a training session last week in Argentina. On Monday, Mercado underwent surgery to speed up his rehabilitation. He will be back for the second round at Imola, Italy on April 1.

Staring, who, in December, re-signed to race for Kawasaki in the Superstock 100o class, participated with the Superbike squad last year as a wild card in the first round of at Phillip Island, finishing with a fifteenth and a seventeenth place in the two races.

Leandro Mercado:
“I’m really disappointed because I won’t be able to participate at the Phillip Island races as it could be my Superbike debut. I was eager to compete in Australia hoping to obtain good results. I know the whole team worked extremely hard to prepare my bike for the first appointment of the season and now I’m forced to miss out on the race. Starting from next week, with the help of my doctors, I’ll start intensive rehabilitation to make sure that I’ll be in top condition for the second race in Imola.”

Ben Spies

Yamaha Factory Racing Complete Successful Test at Sepang

The Yamaha Factory Racing Team today completed the first test of the 2012 MotoGP season at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Riders Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies spent the three track days working to develop the base set up of the 1000cc YZR-M1 ahead of the second Sepang test in one month’s time. The riders and engineers focused on the balance of the M1 chassis along with improving the electronics package to gain the optimum performance from the increased horsepower. New Bridgestone tires were also assessed ahead of the upcoming race season. The times from today’s final session saw Lorenzo slot in as the second-fastest rider, 0.59 seconds behind Casey Stoner. Teammate Spies wrapped up in fourth position, 0.88 seconds from first.

The riders will now return to the USA and Spain respectively while the engineers return to Japan with the valuable data to make the next steps forward in development. The team will return in four weeks’ time to test the work done.

Jorge Lorenzo, 2nd, 2.00.198, 35 Laps
“I’m really, really satisfied, I have improved on my best record here in Sepang. We tried a lot of things; some have been a lot better, especially one major improvement. We also know where we have to improve in the future. The electronics are not perfect yet, we still need to make it smoother but the bike has so much potential we are very optimistic. The Yamaha engineers have worked really hard so they have done a good job. I made my best time today at midday which is the hardest time with the conditions so it was pretty good. Let’s see what we can do when we come back.”

Ben Spies, 4th, 2.00.495, 16 Laps
“It’s been a good test, we’ve got a lot of things accomplished, we’re definitely moving in the right direction with my bike. I tried the Yamaha test rider’s bike today which had a slightly different set up to make a fair comparison with mine. I made a small mistake, losing the front but that’s testing; it can happen when you’re working out the good and bad. All in all it’s been great and I’m really happy and looking forward to coming back and seeing what’s new.”

Positive start to 2012 for Crutchlow and Dovizioso

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Telecom Italia and Ducati have extended their partnership to the Superbike World Championship during the 2012 season as the sponsorship agreement between the two companies in MotoGP is extended to the World Superbike Championship’s Althea Racing Team.

TIM, Telecom Italia’s mobile telephony brand, will be emblazoned on the fairing and front cowls of Team Althea’s two Ducati 1198s and on the racing leathers worn by Carlos Checa, current World Superbike Champion, and 2011 Superstock 1000 and new Althea Ducati superbike contender Italian Davide Giugliano.

This partnership strengthens the links between the two companies, both of which share values like the pursuit of excellence, technological leadership and a desire to compete in major challenges. Telecom Italia and Ducati line up to race together towards new triumphs on and off the track.

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.”