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MSS Colchester Kawasaki has signed Ian Lowry to ride a Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R in the last three rounds of the British Superbike Championship.

The Essex, England-based squad are looking to the young Northern Irishman to fill in for the injured Stuart Easton after the team recently parted company with stand-in rider Alex Lowes.

“It’s well known things haven’t gone that well since my first year in BSB, and I tried a few other options, but this is a massive lifeline from MSS Colchester Kawasaki to really prove my worth,” said Lowry, who finished fifth in his rookie year in British Superbikes in 2009 and has also had top-ten results in World Superbike for PBM Kawasaki. “The bike looks great out on track when I’ve followed it, and it’s clearly good enough for podiums – as both Gary and Stuart have shown – so I’m really excited to ride it. I like all three of the tracks we’re going to, and Donington is my favorite by far, so that’s positive. I have a good relationship with some of the Kawasaki guys after Paul Bird ran me out in World Superbikes, so everything is in place. It’s just down to me.”

Team owner Nick Morgan added, “Ian is a class act as he showed in his debut year in BSB, and we’re delighted to have him on board for the rest of the season. It may seem very soon after our announcement of Alex leaving, but the reality is the team needs two riders on board every week for results and development. We’re going to try and let him get a run-out before Donington, although it’s quite late notice and we have a bit of crash damage to fix still.”

North West 200 204mph top speed record holder Stuart Easton teams up with 2010 Top Newcomer Gary Mason for a full road race attack for MSS Colchester Kawasaki.
 
The two riders are in fantastic form in British Superbikes and will be competing at the legendary event on the all new Kawasaki ZX-10R machine in two specifications; full Superbike (2 races) and the Superstock class (1 race).
 
Easton, who finished second in the 2010 feature Superbike event, is in great form racking up a third Macau GP road race victory over the winter and currently sits in third in the British Superbike Championship. “This is one of my favorite events in the World. I enjoy the whole week; away from the riding it’s really relaxed and you get a chance to really bond with the team. It’s obviously far less intense than BSB but then race day goes crazy! This new Kawasaki ZX-10R is all changed for this year so we’re not too sure how it will go at this particular place, it’s been incredible in BSB and only practice will show its capabilities here.”
 
Mason, who took his first British Superbike podium last weekend, is revved up for the event, saying, “It was my first time last year and I couldn’t believe the event. What an atmosphere and the fans were brilliant. I only did Superbike last year, so I’ll get a lot more track time doing Superstock also, plus Stuart is going to help me in practice, which is mega. I’m aiming for top six if I can get away with the group then it’s all down to slipstreaming.”
 
Team boss Nick Morgan added, “As a team we love this event and although we’ve had success here, we’re desperate for that first full Superbike win! With our all new ZX-10R and the form of both Stuart and Gary, this is a great time to be coming here and we have a good chance to make it happen.”
 
Considered to be one of the world’s fastest road races, the International North West 200’s 8.96 mile long course is a challenge to rider, machine and tires alike. The circuit tests handling and performance with differing surfaces, adverse cambers, first gear hairpin bends to super-fast open corners and straights.
 
The Superbike riders will slipstream each other at speeds of more than 200mph on the long NW200 back straight. The North West 200 is recognized to be Northern Ireland’s largest single-day sporting event with around 120,000 spectators expected to gather at the famous triangle course. The Relentless International North West 200 takes place on Saturday, May 21.

Kawasaki British Superbike team MSS Colchester Kawasaki achieved its best ever British Superbike finish with Stuart Easton taking second place in an action packed second round at Oulton Park. The Scot now lies second in the BSB Championship, a tremendous achievement considering the newness of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.

Stuart Easton followed a third place race one finish with a second place race two finish

Having secured the new 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R’s first podium finish in BSB with a third place in race one, MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Stuart Easton followed it up by going even better in the second race, leading for the majority of laps before finishing second overall. Having gained the holeshot, Easton fought off a determined Josh Brookes for nine laps until the Australian suffered a huge crash at Britten’s, firing his Suzuki in the air and narrowly avoiding taking out Easton. After the resulting safety car, Easton continued to lead the race before eventually being beaten into second by Suzuki rider John Hopkins.

Teammate Gary Mason also made strong progress having discovered a base setting in morning practice for his bike that allowed him to progress through the race and recover from a poor qualifying.

Stuart Easton, 3rd in race one, 2nd in race two. Championship position: 2nd
“For us and Kawasaki that’s two podiums and I lead the second race for a long time, so I can’t complain, but I’m just a bit disappointed that the pace car came out. Having said that I count myself lucky that Josh’s bike didn’t hit me, it was like a plane crashing over my head and was so close. We’ve had a fourth, sixth, third and second so far this season which has given the team so much confidence, we are really in the mix. Croft is a good circuit for me and I’m going there second in the championship.”

Gary Mason, 9th in race one, 10th in race two. Championship position: 12th
“Yesterday was hard for us and we didn’t qualify well. Overnight we completely altered the bike for warm-up and found a setting that I absolutely loved and from that we have just got stronger and stronger. The pace was a lot faster in race two and I was trying to hang in there but unfortunately the tire went off a cliff, but we can work with that and with this new setting I’m really looking forward to Croft.”

National Superstock 1000 riders Danny Buchan and teammate Howie Mainwaring dominated the early stages of the Superstock race, swapping paintwork before Mainwaring crashed on lap 11 while in the lead. Buchan looked set to repeat his stunning Brands Hatch debut win having taken over the lead but was overtaken on the last lap by Honda rider Tristan Palmer.

Danny Buchan, 2nd. Championship position: 1st
“That was a good race and I felt really comfortable out there but Tristan has a lot of experience and that counted for him today. I knew I was faster than him through the last sector so I thought I’d have a go there on the last lap but he protected his line well and to be honest I was thinking about the championship. Last year we had a few early non-scores and it affected our championship – two podiums in two races is a tremendous start to the 2011 season.”

Howie Mainwaring, DNF. Championship position: 11th
“I’m pretty gutted, as a team we had everything covered, first and second place, before my crash. I don’t think I did anything differently to the last lap but the rear let go and came round on me. Croft isn’t usually a good circuit for me but I’m going to make it one this year.”

Nick Morgan, team owner
“What a fantastic weekend, to come away from Oulton Park second in the championship is mega. For us as a team it is simply terrific, everyone is buzzing and got the results they deserved. Gary made some huge in-roads in race two, Stuart rode so well in both races and Superstock could so easily have been a double podium. And we have been lucky, that was so close with Stuart and Josh’s bike in race two, I was gutted that the pace car came out as he had built up a decent lead, but I’m happier seeing a pace car than an ambulance.”

MSS Colchester Kawasaki Superstock rider Danny Buchan

Kawasaki British Superbike team MSS Colchester Kawasaki had a fantastic start to the 2011 British Superbike Championship with both of their Superbike riders securing valuable points and Superstock rider Danny Buchan taking an exciting win. Stuart Easton now also holds a creditable third in the red-hot BSB series.

Brands Hatch was always going to be a tough round for the team as it was the first time they had competed with the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R. Having struggled in qualifying, both Superbike riders found their feet in the race with Stuart Easton briefly taking the lead and nearly securing a dream podium finish. In the second race Stuart built on his impressive first outing on the Ninja ZX-10R to take a hard fought sixth place while Gary Mason overcome his first race difficulties to finish tenth. These results see Stuart Easton leaving Brands placed third in the BSB Championship, a result the team was not expecting due to the newness of the bike, which is getting stronger every outing.

“To be honest, I’m pretty shocked at our results,” said Stuart Easton. “We had some problems over the weekend and to leave Brands in third place in the Championship is a fantastic result. The chassis on the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R isn’t quite there yet and we struggled towards the end of the race with side-grip and the front end. It’s still very early days for the team and I think this year will be about consistency, getting those points in the bag. I’m gutted to miss out on a podium in race one but I knew that whoever was behind was close and I tried to keep them off but nearly lost the front. With a fourth and a sixth I haven’t sprayed any champagne but I’m satisfied and looking forward to Oulton, which I think will suit the bike.”

“My second race was certainly better than the first, and I think we are getting there with the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R,” added Gary Mason. “Brands isn’t a great track for us, and with a new bike it’s hard to get on the pace; a few tenths here and there make a big difference around such a short track. But there is certainly potential, I went faster today than I ever have around Brands and as always the boys worked their guts out. I’m now really looking forward to Oulton which is a rider’s circuit and one I love.”
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MSS Colchester Kawasaki completed their final two British Superbike tests yesterday with all four riders in fantastic form and raving about their new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R machines

Danny Buchan at Cadwell Park

Superbike riders Gary Mason and Stuart Easton put in front-running lap times and completed full race durations with the bike running full BSB-spec engines for the first time.  Superstock duo Danny Buchan and Howie Mainwaring beat the existing lap records at each event they attended, proving the awesome pace of the new machine in almost stock form.

The squad were blessed with two dry days of full testing at Brands Hatch and Snetterton to bookend an extensive pre-season test program taking in Guadix, Portimao, Cartagena and Cadwell Park.

Danny beat the Superstock lap record for Cadwell Park at an MRO race over the weekend while Howie did likewise at Brands Hatch with an unofficial 46.5 second time around the short Indy circuit.

Team owner Nick Morgan
“It’s been a fantastic couple of days at Brands and Cadwell with all four riders in the form of their lives. The timing is spot on as all the components and team have come together at this last test so we can go into Brands with real confidence in the setup and riders. I’m not one to make bold predictions as they usually come back to haunt you, but it does feel like this could be our time, and to have four riders all showing such speed is brilliant. For this bike to be in such form so early in its development in both Superbike and Superstock guise really tells you something about its standard geometry and engine straight from the crate.”

Stuart Easton
“I’m really happy going into Brands after such a lengthy test schedule and trying so many settings with the bike. We are in good shape for round one, but there’s still so much more to come from the engine and chassis. It’s been good to go head to head with everyone else at Snetterton and I feel we’re in the right area with settings for there also.”

Gary Mason
“I’m really happy with all testing so far. Spain was great, first time getting to ride the new ZX10R and since then the last two tests we’ve had the new superbike engine which gave it more power and it was working the electronics and suspension more. Literally every lap we improved I can’t wait for Brands as that’s when all the hard work matters.”

Howie Mainwaring
“What a mega two days, we’re still learning and trying different things yet getting quicker with every change, it’s been incredible. We’ve been improving by over a second at every track so far over last year. I’m also enjoying having a team-mate pushing me which might sound weird but it’s really good for me and great motivation. It also feels like the team has taken another step forward.”

Danny Buchan
“Feeling really good on the new ZX10R, it’s an awesome bike. It suits my riding style down to the ground. We had a really positive winter and now we’re ready to put all in place at Brands. Knowing we did our fastest time on old rubber 30 laps into the tire today gave me a good feeling also. So we’re now ready and fit for the season.”

Gary Mason and Howie Mainwaring in the Superbike class will partner Stuart Easton and Danny Buchan in Superstock for MSS Colchester Kawasaki during the 2011 British Superbike season.

MSS Colchester's Gary Mason

Gary Mason had a disappointing 2010 British Superbike season with some bad luck and injuries, but, for 2011, he joins established front runner Stuart Easton who has tested the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R machine with the Paul Bird World Superbike squad and brings vital data as the MSS team starts its testing program.

“In my head it was always going to be a two-year project, but we didn’t know we were going to have such a poor year in terms of results, which may make people question the decision to carry on,” said MSS Colchester’s Gary Mason. “However, when everything clicked I was running good laps, especially in practice but often lost so much time in final qualifying. What I lacked was consistency and that meant I never got on a roll. But it’s easy to make excuses, this is a massive year for me, I have a mega new bike, great squad and a top teammate, so it’s down to me. I’m proud Nick is sticking by me and he knows I can do so much better. I can’t wait to get out on the new bike and start making it my own.”

In the keenly contested Superstock 1000 class, last year’s MSS Colchester rider Howie Mainwaring returns to unfinished business in the series. Having made a stellar start with two second places in the first rounds, Howie also impressed many with a podium at the one-off Superstock round held at the Silverstone MotoGP. Having held second place through much of the series, Howie eventually finished fourth in this competitive and closely matched series.

“I’m so glad to have a second chance with the Colchester lads,” said Mainwaring. “They helped me have such a mega year, and I should have finished higher up the final series board. So a great learning year but now with the new bike I’m looking to step it up and I also want that first win so much it hurts. I’ve been training and MXing loads, so I’m well prepared and I just want to get out there.”

Howie will be backed up by the team’s 2010 Superstock 600 rider, 17-year-old Danny Buchan who will step up to the 1000cc category and also experience the awesome new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki Team Manager Nick Morgan:
“To have four riders we’ve worked with before is so important to me and the technicians. Gary’s better than the results showed last year and he wants this second opportunity. Stuart needs no introduction and he’s already had miles under his belt on the new Ninja World Superbike which will be valuable to us. Howie really impressed us last year and with some more consistency I think he can be a challenger whilst it’s mega to be able to keep Danny in the Team Green family. He can only get better and there’s no pressure in his first year, we just want him to learn and develop. As everyone knows outright model power is so important in Superstock and that’s definitely something that the new Ninja has buckets of, so this could be our year.”

British Superbike star Stuart Easton has signed with MSS Colchester Kawasaki stating he is looking forward to the new Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and being reunited with his old team.

Stuart Easton aboard an MSS Colchester Kawasaki at his home circuit of Knockhill in 2008

The former British Supersport champion and Superbike race winner, who last rode for the official Kawasaki UK squad in 2008, sees his return as great timing with his extra Superbike experience and the new, race-developed Ninja ZX-10R machine. Stuart also has a long-term racing relationship with Kawasaki World Superbike squad owner Paul Bird, whose support and inside knowledge of the new machine certainly helped make up his decision.

The 27 year old Scot said, “Ever since I spoke to Paul Bird about the new bike and the opportunity came up to run in the MSS squad I’ve been really excited. I know the team from last time around and they had massive potential which was shown in Simon Andrews rides in 2009. Since then I’ve learnt a lot also and have racked-up wins and podiums, so it feels like a good time to be re-uniting. The new bike looks awesome and I’ve been watching the test times from the WSB team, very impressive. I’ll be riding for Birdy in Macau, and testing the bike in Aragon in Spain next week, maybe if I’m really lucky I’ll get out on the 2010 bike too. The close relationship between the two squads and exchange of info can only help so all-in-all I’m well happy.”

Stuart finished an impressive third in the MCE British Superbike Championship in 2009 but started 2010 with a knee injury that plagued his year giving 10 DNFs and finishing a disappointing ninth. Despite the setbacks he still logged a win and five podiums.

MSS Colchester Kawasaki team boss Nick Morgan said, “We’ve been pursuing Stuart for a long time, he is a class act and definitely our first choice of rider. With his increased Superbike experience and wins under his belt now there is no denying he can cut it at the very front of the BSB pack. Like us, he’s excited by the new Ninja ZX-10R and we can’t wait to get testing with both Stuart and this awesome new bike.”

The MSS Colchester Kawasaki squad will also be campaigning at the Macau GP and look forward to announcing their full lineup soon.

The Swan Honda team were back on track at Brands Hatch today for the eighth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as James Ellison and Stuart Easton finished the day seventh and fourteenth respectively following the opening two free practice sessions.

Ellison had been fastest towards the early part of the opening free practice session, but after ending seventh believes there is more to come from him in qualifying and the opening race tomorrow. Easton continued to improve his lap times in the afternoon, but knows that some further progress could put him back where he needs to be for tomorrow’s all-important opening race.

James Ellison:
“I am fairly happy with how practice has gone today; I started off good and I felt quick, but to break the next barrier and move that bit forward has been difficult. There were reasons for this, the light rain, and slower riders but all in all it has been a good day and the best is yet to come from us this weekend. Tomorrow if we make some steps forward with the front end of the Swan Honda then we should be able to turn into corners faster on the brakes and that should give us the extra tenths we need to move up the timesheets.”

Stuart Easton:
“We have just been working through a few things today, switching back to the settings we used before, and just going from there. We are still trying to work through some different combinations that could make a real difference, but that extra tenth will improve the positions dramatically. I am not that far off, so if I can shave a few tenths off in the final practice we should be up there for the qualifying session and the first race of the weekend. We just need to keep improving and get our heads down tomorrow.”

The Swan Honda team head to Fife, Scotland this weekend for the sixth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship north of the border at Knockhill Circuit. Stuart Easton will be targeting victory at his home round while teammate James Ellison is determined to build on his impressive point scoring finishes at Mallory Park.

Easton has his sights firmly set on becoming the first Scottish rider to win a BSB race at Knockhill since former BSB champion Steve Hislop in 2002 and get himself back inside the top six following a challenging weekend at Mallory Park.

Ellison marked his return to the championship at Mallory Park with two solid point-scoring results, and this weekend is determined to raise the bar again with expectations of scoring two top ten finishes.

Stuart Easton:
“I had a disappointing weekend at Mallory Park, but then it has never been my strongest circuit. However I love Knockhill and I want to turn things around this weekend for my home fans as it is the only chance they get to see me race in Scotland. My mind is already on the weekend and what we can do to put us back inside that all important top six again as that is where we need to be and it is critical to have a strong weekend and get back on the podium on Sunday. I have yet to win at my home round so that is definitely the aim for the weekend, especially as I missed out last year with a second place.”

James Ellison:
“I am looking forward to Knockhill as last weekend was a real test for me and now I know what to expect. I am going there with the same mentality I did for Mallory Park – to go out and give it everything to score as many points as I possibly can. I am desperate to just get back up there and put the Swan Honda where it deserves to be, especially for everyone that has supported me. I think I can improve on Sunday as in the second race at Mallory Park I could battle with Dan Linfoot and Gary Mason and my lap times at that point of the race were the third fastest on the circuit, so that was a boost for me. I am heading back to the hyperbaric chamber again before Knockhill and every day I am getting stronger so the top ten is my aim.”

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.”