Motourage

Northern Ireland-based TAS Racing is pleased to announce its continued involvement with Suzuki for the 2011 British Superbike and International Road Racing seasons. The team will employ a two rider lineup in each discipline.

“To say that my Father and I are honored to solely spearhead Suzuki’s official racing effort in 2011, taking in both British Superbikes and International Road Racing, would be an understatement,” said team manager Philip Neill. “2010 completed an unbroken decade for TAS Racing representing Suzuki. It’s a period of time that doesn’t even take into consideration my own racing efforts with the official Suzuki Motocross team, nor my Father Hector’s success in the halcyon days of pure road racing, operating as a semi-supported Suzuki team. So I think it is fair to say, deep down, the Neill family are Suzuki through and through.

“Taking the current economic situation into consideration, we fully understand that the commercial side of racing is very difficult these days. We also appreciate the tough decisions Suzuki had to make regarding their future racing plans, and with this in mind, we are delighted that TAS Racing will be entrusted with the overall Suzuki racing program within the UK.

“We understand and accept that with this new position will come a number of increased expectations – none more so than the delivery of results – but are determined not to let this affect our approach. As a team, we always apply one hundred percent effort to our racing and no one expects more from any given season than our team members themselves.

“Our approach will remain as it always has been: to carry out the role in a professional manner, build the strongest possible team structure, including our rider line-up, and just as important – we will continue to enjoy what we do.

“In addition to showing our appreciation to Suzuki and each member of the team, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our very loyal partners, some of whom have been with TAS Racing from the beginning. Without the support of Relentless, Beacon Security, Leo Vince and many others, we simply would not be in the position we are in today.”

Riders
As previously mentioned, the team will run a two-rider setup in the 2011 British Superbike Championship and also on the International Road Racing scene. A short list is currently under consideration, and an announcement on the lineup, including any changes or additions, will be made in the coming weeks.

The Swan Honda team return to full strength this weekend as Stuart Easton is joined by the returning James Ellison at round five of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park.

James Ellison hopes he can pick up where he left off before his crash at Thruxton

Ellison has been out of action since sustaining a broken femur during practice at Thruxton and since then has been determined to return to fitness with extensive physiotherapy and sessions in a hyperbaric chamber. He is now able to be completely focused on the weekend ahead after being declared fit during last weekend’s British MotoGP round by BSB Chief Medical Officer Dr. Romer whilst she was officiating as the Chief Medical Officer at the event.
Easton meanwhile is looking to make amends for a disappointing round last time out at Cadwell Park and replicate his Oulton Park victory as he targets a points haul to close the gap to championship leader Tommy Hill in the title chase.

“I am happy that this weekend I will back in the Swan Honda garage and ready to race after what feels like eternity since Thruxton, and I need to thank everyone who has supported me over the past weeks,” said Ellison. “I was fortunate that I could take my fitness test at the MotoGP round so now I can go to Mallory Park with my mind fully on racing. I have completely put my injury behind me now and although I am not completely back to full fitness I am approaching this weekend as I have any other earlier this season. I am not going out on circuit just to try and salvage points, I need to go out there and be pushing for wins or at least the podium. I am going to be giving it one hundred percent this weekend and I still believe that the top six is completely achievable with five rounds and eleven races before the cut off point for the Showdown.”

“It has been a long break but I am ready to get back out there and am keen to make amends for a disappointing round at Cadwell Park,” said Stuart Easton. :We had been strong in practice and qualifying and I seemed to just not have any luck on race day. I think now though luck should be back on my side and its time to get myself back up the standings after not scoring that many points at the last round. Mallory Park has in the past always been a bit of a lottery and you really have to keep out of trouble, as we have seen before. The points are so important now, so I need to get back on the podium this weekend; I am yet to finish a BSB race at this track so I want this to be the turning point.”

Swan Honda team manager Shaun Muir concluded, “It seems such a long time ago since we were last out at Cadwell Park. We need to get both our riders back to the form they promised early in the season, and with everything to fight for we are looking forward to some hard racing at Mallory Park. We are hoping that both the boys come away with a big points haul to boost their championship hopes.”

MSS Colchester Kawasaki’s Gary Mason has been declared unfit for tomorrow’s Cadwell Park British Superbike meeting after a medical inspection showed he had received a concussion during a qualifying crash.

Gary had been running strongly all weekend and was actually in second position in the second stage of qualifying when he fell heavily at Charlie’s. The Lichfield rider was particularly disappointed after such positive practice session times.

The team’s other rider, Chris Walker, qualified in a strong eighth position for tomorrow’s two BSB races as the sun beat down at the Lincolnshire circuit.

Howie Mainwaring could only manage 14th in the Superstock class, but the team is confident that he has a strong race set-up.

Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Tommy Hill took second and third-placed finishes at Oulton Park yesterday to significantly extend his lead in the British Superbike Championship after three rounds, as team-mate Yukio Kagayama was an unfortunate victim of a first-race accident that left him unable to take part in race two.

For Hill, it was another day of strong performances: In race one, rival Stuart Easton led off the line and while Hill was never more than three-tenths-of-a-second behind, Easton’s late-braking-style prevented a pass. At the finish, Hill was just 0.058-seconds adrift.

Rain fell before the second race and so Hill rode conservatively, getting a feel for the conditions before passing several competitors to secure the final podium position. Significantly, Easton – his nearest rival in the point’s standings – elected to ride on a different tire-compound for this race and failed to find the grip he needed and so retired. Consequently Hill’s lead in the Championship has extended to 51 points.

Tommy Hill:
“I’m feeling really good, really chuffed with this result. The second race was a real test in ‘iffy conditions.’ There was a rush to get the adjustments made; changing the gearing, wanting to change the suspension; it was all very last-minute. I spent a bit of time getting a feel for the conditions and where the bike felt good. I didn’t know where Josh Brookes or Stuart was so it was a pleasant surprise when I came in to find I had those extra points over them. In all, a consistent weekend and I’m happy with that!”

Yukio Kagayama had qualified in seventh position, but for this morning’s warm-up, he made changes to his set-up that brought him up to fourth fastest. However, in the first race, he got a bad start and riding mid-pack was approaching Island Bend when he got hit from behind, causing him to crash at high speed.

The heavy fall left Kagayama winded and battered. However a subsequent X-Ray revealed a compression to his T7 vertebrae and Kagayama will now undergo a CT scan to get the fullest detail on his injury.

Yukio Kagayama:
“I was very happy with the changes to the set-up we made this morning and I felt a podium result would be possible. Unfortunately I didn’t make the best start in that first race. Then as I was turning into Island Bend I was hit from behind and crashed. The crash wasn’t a very comfortable experience and while I was winded at first I’m still very sore now. No injury is good, but I’m optimistic that I’ll be well enough for the next round at Cadwell Park in three weeks time.”

Jack Valentine – Team Manager:
“I’m very pleased with Tommy’s performance this weekend. In both races he rode intelligently; not making a pass in that first race when it would have been risky; and then playing himself in carefully in the second, taking no chances, but working hard and taking yet another valuable podium.

“Yukio was very unlucky again this weekend: He’d made good progress on his set-up this morning and looked good for some strong results. The plan is now is to see him back at Cadwell Park fit and rested. He’s starting to lose touch with that vital sixth place in the Championship but there’s still plenty of opportunity to turn his season around.

“Altogether a good weekend for Suzuki, though. To have three GSX-R1000s in the top-five is a great situation to be in – and congratulations to Michael Laverty on his win this afternoon. Now it’s onto Cadwell Park and hopefully more of the same from Tommy and hopefully a change of luck for Yukio.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship:
Race one:
1. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda)
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.058s
3. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +10.399s
4. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.843s
5. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.849s
6. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +11.073s
7. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +23.428s
8. Chris Walker (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +27.478s
9. Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) +35.997s
10. Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +36.709s

Race two:
1. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS)
2. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +6.00s
3. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +11.333s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +16.029s
5. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +23.590s
6. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +27.258s
7. Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +30.287s
8. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +30.283s
9. Hudson Kennaugh (MAR Kawasaki) +32.463s
10. Adam Jenkinson (Buildbase Kawasaki) +54.950s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings (after three rounds):
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 126
2. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 75
3. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 74
4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 65
5. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 63
16. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 25

Tommy Hill increased his lead significantly in the British Superbike Championship by taking a race victory and second place in today’s Thruxton second round.

Worx Crescent Suzuki's Tommy Hill is enjoying a comfortable 34-point lead ahead of HM Plant Honda's Josh Brookes

With an identical scorecard to the Brands Hatch opener, the Worx Crescent Suzuki rider again put together a commanding performance in race one and then backed it up with a strong performance in race two, limiting his risks and building his Championship lead.

Teammate Yukio Kagayama also built on his front-row qualifying; dicing for the lead in race one and showing – as he did in the Cartage winter tests – that he has speed the equal of his Hill. After a third-placed finish in the first outing, Kagayama was promising better still for the second race, but it wasn’t to be: Riding on identical bike settings to the first race – as was Hill’s machine – Kagayama rear tire developed a severe loss of grip after just three laps and never recovered, but he fought on to finish a creditable 11th for a precious handful of points.

Tommy Hill:
“There’s not much to say! Another two fantastic results and to come away with a much bigger Championship lead is a great bonus. I’ve been a bit stiff today after that 120mph highside yesterday but, to be honest; once you’re on the bike and the adrenalin is flowing you don’t notice it. It was good to have Yukio up there this weekend and properly racing – and if he gave it to me I gave it to him back! But that’s exactly how racing should be; we’re team-mates in the pits, but we’re competitors on the track and I think we’re both really looking forward to Oilton Park.”

Yukio Kagayama:
“That first race was so enjoyable; a return to normality. The result is not so bad, but could have been better: At one point I was leading but near the end there I lost a second on Tommy and Josh, and while I got it back, it was too late. But great to be on the podium. For race two, what can I say? The rear tire felt like it punctured and after five laps, my race was finished. I carried on but the feeling was very scary and it was very difficult, but I raced for some points. After everything, I am happy; the bike and the Team are working very well and I’m looking forward to Oulton Park – as unlike the track here, I can remember much about it.”

Jack Valentine – Team Manager:
“It’s been a cracking day. Tommy’s had a day much like he did at Brands Hatch; putting in a great performance in the first race then playing the long game in the second, taking the points and building the Championship lead. Yukio was right on it today, to the point where I was getting nervous as he and Tommy started slugging it out! Yukio was looking good in that second race too, but tire issues put him out quite early on. Tommy retaining and building on his Championship lead is a great way to finish the weekend. But we’re far from complacent – it’s a long season and Tommy knows he can’t afford to relax. Yukio has shown that he’s got the pace and being just 15 points outside the top six he’s still very much in the frame for being in the showdown at the year end.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Thruxton:

Race one:
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki)
2. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +0.818s
3. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +1.185s
4. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +1.510s
5. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +5.670s
6. Martin Jessopp (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +7.490s
7. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +9.154s
8. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +9.300s
9. Ryuichi Kiyonarri (HM Plant Honda) +9.493s
10. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +17.014s

Race two:
1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda)
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.391s
3. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +7.112s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +7.146s
5. Martin Jessopp (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +7.263s
6. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +7.789s
7. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +8.241s
8. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +10.378s
9. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +12.218s
10. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +12.240s
11. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +17.507s

Championship points (after 2 rounds):
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 90
2. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 56
3. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 50
4. James Ellison (Swan Honda) 41
5. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 40
11. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 25

Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama stole the honor of recording the fastest lap-time from the Cartagena 2010 BSB test today in Spain after he slashed nearly a second off the previous best times and lapping at a scintillating 1:33.51.

With team-mate Tommy Hill only 200ths-of-a-second behind, the pair easily bettered the official lap record and finished first and second at the top of the BSB test times.

Jack Valentine – Team Manager:
“We’re very, very pleased with today’s outcome. We had only planned for three days’ testing here but considering the high workload and the teething issues we’ve experienced, we felt the extra day would help prepare the team better for the next test at Guadix on Tuesday.

“Yukio’s had his work cut out these last few days, but today he was able to put in 42 laps – nearly equal to what he did over the entire three previous days. This brought him up to Tommy’s pace and it was a real pleasure to see the pair of them all-but sharing the best lap time. But, just as importantly, those lap times weren’t one-offs for either of them as they were able to lap consistently at this very fast pace.

“So we’re really happy with the progress made: We’ve come here with a team that’s much bigger than we had last year and we’ve come with new kit in the form of the Öhlins suspension and Motec engine management. The bikes, the riders; and the team are really starting to gel and we’ve achieved everything we set out to do.”

Unofficial overall top 10 test times:
1 Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m: 33.51s
2 Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m: 33.53s
3 Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki) 1m: 34.3s
4 Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1m: 34.4s
5 James Ellison (Swan Honda) 1m: 34.5s
6 Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 1m: 34.8s
7 Neil Hodgson (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1m: 34.9s
8 Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki) 1m: 34.9s
9 Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 1m: 35.0s
10 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 1m: 35.2s

Worx Crescent Suzuki riders Tommy Hill and Yukio Kagayama concluded their three-day British Superbike Championship pre-season test at Cartagena in Spain today having made important progress – and taking the unofficial lap record in the process.

While Hill unofficially broken the lap record and set the fastest time – and with his team-mate only tenths-of-a-second behind – Team Manager Jack Valentine warns that these tests aren’t about lap times; but detailed bike-preparation in readiness for the BSB season, which gets underway at Brands Hatch in just 26-days time.

The BSB test, following on from private tests at the Portimao circuit in Portugal in February, has not been without its problems: Kagayama’s bike has suffered teething problems with its new engine management system, which has limited his track time. Both riders have suffered crashes too: Hill crashed yesterday while passing another rider and Kagayama high-sided in the final session today. Both riders escaped injury and both bikes have been fully repaired.  During the three days, Hill completed 90 laps of testing, while Kagayama made 52.

Tommy Hill:
“The testing has been really good and I’m very happy with progress. We came here with a big list of jobs to work through and it’s been good to get through these; working with different chassis and suspension settings. The lap times have come down and now the bike is really starting to feel my own. This circuit is really tight and twisty and so I’ve been able to ride the bike in a way that’s similar to how we ride the UK circuits, so everything we’re doing here is relevant. It’s going well.”

Yukio Kagayama:
“It hasn’t been easy for me with the problems we’ve had, but even on my side of the garage we’ve still made good progress and the speed is there. We’ve focused on working through many settings. We need to try many settings as there are many circuits in the season, so we need many ideas, many answers so that we can always be fast. So, good progress, but still more work to do!”

Jack Valentine – Team Manager:
“Testing is a serious business and it’s not at all straight forward. It’s been fairly-cold here and it’s been a job for the riders to find grip, so to get the lap times they have is excellent progress. As well, this test has been organized in sessions – rather than an open pit lane – and this has given the team a good taste of the kind of approach we’ll need to take in race-qualifying under the new one-bike rule. So far, all is good.”

The team had intended to conduct only three days testing at Cartagena but will now take part in the fourth and final-day of testing tomorrow, before moving onto the Guadix circuit later in the week for the final tests before the BSB season begins.

James Ellison & Stuart Easton

James Ellison and Stuart Easton had their first chance to get to grips with the Swan Honda at Cartagena on Thursday as the team’s testing schedule kicked off in Spain.

Both riders made the most of the first day as a shakedown test to work on basic set-up with Easton focusing on the electronic system while Ellison readjusted to the Honda on his return to the team.

Ellison said: “It was great to get the first day of testing underway and get back out on the Swan Honda. The team has worked really well today and it is like being back with the family again and it’s like I have never been away. We have been in and out of pit lane all day getting the bike to feel like mine again and I have been working on the gearing as it is so different from the Yamaha. We made a few slight changes to positioning but for me it was valuable time back on the Honda. It is definitely all smiles here tonight.”

Easton said: “We had a plan of what we needed to work on today and we have surpassed that so it bodes well for the next three days here at Cartagena. We have mainly focused on the new electronic kit and I have to say that it already feels better than I was expecting. We haven’t been clocking up the laps today but have solved a few teething problems that you always have at the first test. Tomorrow we plan to work further on the electronics as this is vital but after day one we are heading in the right direction.”

After a massive learning curve in 2009 whilst competing in their inaugural British SuperBike season MIST Suzuki continued to develop their Suzuki GSXR1000 over the Winter months. The preparation for the 2010 season resulted in a vastly improved machine with over 200 hp at the rear wheel coupled with a significantly improved electronics and suspension package.

Longtime MIST Suzuki Rider Matt Bond retired halfway through the 2009 BSB season

Plans for 2010 began in early November with promising talks with both sponsors and potential riders alike. As time moved on an agreement was reached with a top level sponsor and plans continued with a view to hiring an established rider, someone of the calibre of former race winner Chris Walker for example, and other experienced staff who could help take the team to the next level.

In the past week the team has learned that the company that had agreed to support the sponsor’s new business venture would be reviewing their partnership which means that by the time any money is available, if at all, it will be too late to allow everything to be ready in time for the start of the season.

It is with regret that MIST Suzuki find themselves in a difficult position with such a short time before pre-season testing is due to begin. Every effort is being made to secure the necessary funding to compete in the British SuperBike class this season and hire a rider capable or proving what the team can do. In addition there is potentially the option to run a second rider in the new SuperBike Evo class should the opportunity arise.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki are busy putting together plans for an intense racing season with new riders, sponsors, high-technology and a focused development schedule as they attack British Superbike (BSB), National Superstock and the Isle of Man TT.

The Essex-based team stepped up a level in 2009 with their riders regularly running at the sharp end of the pack resulting in a creditable BSB series finish of sixth and seventh. Star rider Simon Andrews lead races, finished on the podium and would have had an even stronger Championship position had it not been for injury.

For the 2010 season, Andrews will again spearhead the team, backed up by Privateers Cup winner Gary Mason, while the squad will also run a professional effort in the fiercely competitive Metzeler National Superstock Championship, having signed up Howie Mainwaring.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki hopes all the pieces have finally come together for 2010

Away from the short circuits, the team will run a fourth Kawasaki ZX-10R in the varied roads circuits of the Isle of Man TT, Ulster GP and NW200 utilizing the talents of roads specialist Ryan Farquhar.

During the winter, the team have picked up two state-of-the-art electronics packages, which have been developed by the Kawasaki World Superbike outfit of Paul Bird Motorsport. The Magneti Marelli Marvel system handles all on-board electronics to tackle both data collection and system management, with a myriad of datalogging and fine tuning options available. The electronics systems have been installed and the technicians have acquainted themselves with the technology, the team now track time to hone their set up.

Winter testing is scheduled to start on the 9th March at Guadix in Spain, which will give the team the opportunity to explore the new electronics for the first time.

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