Motourage

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.”

MSS Colchester Kawasaki is looking to a colorful future with 17-year-old Danny Buchan as he moves up to the British Superstock 1000 Championship in 2011. The young Team Green graduate, Buchan had an impressive season in 2010, his debut at national level racing, in the Superstock 600 class, and both MSS Colchester and Kawasaki UK are proud to continue their relationship with the promising youngster as he steps aboard the all-new Ninja ZX-10R for 2011.

Danny Buchan will make the move from 600s to literbikes in 2011

Buchan, who is local to the MSS Colchester Kawasaki race team workshop, has been supported through his still fledgling career by both Kawasaki UK’s Team Green race program and Nick Morgan’s MSS Colchester British Superbike race team, so it is a very positive step for rider, team and manufacturer. His astonishing 2010 season showed Buchan’s talent and potential as he put in amazingly mature and professional performances week after week while getting to grips with not only the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R machine but also racing at a national level in the highly prominent BSB series.

The step up to the 1000cc production-based Superstock class for 2011 shouldn’t be underestimated for the 17-year-old but it’s a very natural one for both Danny and the MSS Colchester team as they welcome the exciting new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R machine for the coming season. Danny tested the out-going Superstock ZX-10R machine recently at Mallory Park and put in impressive lap times for his debut on the larger capacity bike.

Danny Buchan
“I’m really looking forward to this massive challenge on the new Ninja, I loved 2010 with the team and I’m confident in doing well for the 2011 season. I feel really proud to be part of Team Green and know other young riders will get the benefit also.”

MSS Colchester Kawasaki Team Manager Nick Morgan
“It’s fantastic for us to continue our relationship with Danny, in fact relationship couldn’t be a better word because he really is part of the family round here. It’s a fantastic chance for Dan, us at MSS Colchester Kawasaki and Kawasaki UK because it is investment in all of our racing futures. Having Danny on the Ninja ZX-6R in Junior Superstock for 2010 showed his talent is right up there with a truly magnificent performance in his debut season. Ultimately it wasn’t the series win we had grown to think could happen but overall his season was terrific and we know it was only the smallest of steps away.

“It was always part of the grand plan for him to move up to the 1000cc bike with his height lending itself to the bigger machine but on the back of his great performance this year, and with the new Ninja ZX-10R arriving, the time is absolutely right for the lad. It’s a tough championship with some very professional teams and experienced riders but if Danny is going to progress it is a great series to continue his learning curve within.”

Kawasaki Motors UK Sales and Marketing Manager, Michael Johnstone
“Danny had a brilliant year in 2010 considering it was his debut season at national level. It proves his talent, of course, but it also proves Kawasaki’s investment in the young and talented riders in the UK is a success. We’re extremely happy that Danny is moving up to the Superstock 1000 class as it will continue his steep learning curve as a professional motorcycle racer. Good luck to him and Nick Morgan’s team for the coming season.”

Australian Superbike Championship front runner Bryan Staring is heading to the UK for what he has described as the “chance of a lifetime” – a one-off ride with the HM Plant Honda Team in the Superstock 1000 class of the British Superbike Championship.

The 22-year-old Cougar Bourbon Honda Racing pilot has excelled in 2010, taking debut race and round wins in the national series and catching the eye of Honda counterparts in the UK who were searching for a replacement for their injured regular rider, Steve Plater.

Already familiar with the CBR1000, the Gold Coast-based rider is hoping to quickly adapt to what the new bike asks of him when he hits the Snetterton circuit this Friday through Sunday. He will race as teammate to fellow Aussie Josh Brookes who leads the championship.

“I am absolutely rapt with this chance and can’t thank Honda enough for looking after me and providing this opportunity,” said Staring. “I’ve set my sights on racing in the BSB (British Superbike Championship) in the past and this is a good chance to see how it all works and how competitive I can be. I’m not overly worried about the results, I’m more focused on learning the characteristics of the bike and the nature of the tires and the grip they provide.”

“The Superstock machine will be quite close to the specs of our Aussie Superbikes so I’m hoping to adapt quickly. Josh (Waters) and Wayne (Maxwell) have shown they can match it with some of the best overseas so I’m hoping I can come up to speed pretty quickly.

“I’ve never been to Snetterton before, the only UK race I have competed in was at Donington and that was in the pouring rain – this will be a clean slate, the weather looks set to be fine and I’m really looking forward to meeting the team and learning the ins and outs of the circuit.”

“We are always looking to develop and foster Australian talent at an international level, and Bryan certainly deserves this opportunity with a first rate team, added Honda Australia’s General Manager, Motorcycles, Tony Hinton.  “We are confident he will do very well in the UK and wish him success this weekend.”

The 2009 national Supersport champion, Staring  currently leads the ASBK championship by 4.5 points over Wayne Maxwell and 9.5 points over Josh Waters.

Fresh from his Isle of Man TT Superbike podium on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki, Cameron Donald will make a welcome return to the British Superbike paddock this weekend, riding in the National Superstock class at Knockhill.

Donald last competed in the British series at Oulton Park in 2009, but will use the Scottish round for some added track time on his GSX-R1000 Auperstock machine before the Southern 100 Road Races on the Isle of Man,  July 12–15 and the Adelaide International Kells Road Races, July 17-18 in County Meath, Ireland.

Cameron Donald:
“I’m really excited about getting over to a BSB round as I still love to get involved in short circuit racing, and I’d like to thank Philip and the team for giving me this opportunity. My last outing in the BSB Superstock class was at a wet Oulton Park last year, but I’ve raced at Knockhill before and I like the circuit. It’s technical and tricky; a bit like my local circuit at home in Melbourne, and more importantly, it gives me some extra time on the Superstock Suzuki. I’m going to keep it simple this weekend and have some fun, but I’m also here to give it my best shot – so hopefully the weather is kind to us.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“Our idea is to keep Cameron as sharp as possible, and giving him some extra track time on our Superstock GSX-R1000 at Knockhill will stand him in good stead for the forthcoming races at the Southern 100 and Kells Road Races. Since we came back from the TT, Cameron has shown a huge desire to get back out on our bikes, and on his day he’s no mean performer on the short circuit scene. There will be no pressure on him this weekend, and some extra miles on the Superstock bike will also provide the team with important set-up information, should we decided to take in any other races this year.”

MSS Colchester's Howie Mainwaring

MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Howie Mainwaring took the first ever lap record at the new Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit with a fine podium in one of two Superstock support races this weekend. Howie took sixth in the second outing after a race long duel with returning MSS Superbike rider Simon Andrews, who this weekend deputised for the injured Conor Cummins in the Blackhorse Kawasaki Team. The race weekend saw two dramatic Superstock races with multiple leader changes. Howie lead the race for several laps before he was overhauled by the vastly experienced Josh Brookes and Glen Richards. The Superstock riders had a number of extra runners to add even more competitiveness to an already impressive field including Brookes, Andrews, Ian Lowry, Michael Rutter and Martin Jessop. With the added pressure of a huge crowd and MotoGP bosses in attendance, there was plenty on the line and opportunities to shine or crash out. Howie definitely shone in race one but with handling issues in race two he had to make the best of a bad job to finish sixth.

Afterward, a clearly disappointed Howie said, “I guess if this had been the other way round with a sixth on Saturday and a podium and fastest lap on race day I would be happier. I learnt loads about the circuit in race one but unfortunately I didn’t get to use the settings as we had a few problems in race two. Still awesome to ride in front of a big crowd and with all GP bikes parked up in pitlane.”

Team boss Nick Morgan summed up, “Overall, a cracking weekend and again so impressed with Howie, he really rode with maturity in both races keeping out of trouble. OK we lost a couple of points to Kirkham but we also cemented the runner-up placing with a big gap back to Plater, who’s still injured. I’m sure the fans loved watching the two Kawasakis battling it out in race two but I was genuinely surprised to see Simon cross the line in front of Howie.”

Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship
Rounds 5 and 6, MotoGP Silverstone

Race one result

1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda)
2. Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda) +0.500s
3. Howie Manwaring (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +1.967s
4. Jon Kirkham (JK Racing BMW) +2.933s
5. Simon Andrews (Blackhorse Kawasaki) +2.970s

Race two result

1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda)
2. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com BMW) +3.336s
3. Jon Kirkham (JK Racing BMW) +5.043s
4. Sam Warren (Midland Motorsport Honda) +5.975s
5. Simon Andrews (Blackhorse Kawasaki) +8.864s

Championship standings after Silverstone:

1. Jon Kirkham (JK Racing BMW) 104
2. Howie Mainwaring (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 86
3. Steve Plater (HM Plant Honda) 70