Monthly Archives: September 2020

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The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team ready for the Pirelli French Round at Magny Cours

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team ready for the Pirelli French Round at Magny Cours

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team ready for the Pirelli French Round at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours (France)

The seventh round of the 2020 WorldSBK season will take place this weekend at the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France.

The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team arrived yesterday at Magny-Cours to prepare for the Pirelli French Round which, according to the weather forecast, could be largely characterized by rain.

Scott Redding will get on track on Friday morning for the first free practice session with the aim to reduce the gap (51 points) with the WorldSBK leader Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki).

After the stunning first win of the season obtained ten days ago in Barcelona, Chaz Davies will try to confirm his extremely positive momentum to both consolidate his third place in the riders’ standings and contribute to the chase for the team standings as the Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team is second (427 points) only 8 points behind the Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK.

Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #7)

“It’s a good time for us and after the precious results obtained in Barcelona, we want to continue in this direction. During the Montmelò weekend the feeling with the bike was really solid. If the feeling with the front end was positive in the previous races already, I think that we have also been able to fix the feeling with the rear. We will give our best in Magny-Cours even if we don’t know in which weather conditions we will race”.

Scott Redding (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati #45)

“I don’t know very well the Magny-Cours circuit where I have never competed in my career. However, it seems a very interesting circuit and also suitable for the Ducati Panigale V4 R and this could be a good starting point. I really like to race on new circuits and I’m very motivated. We will find unpredictable weather conditions and this will make the weekend even more exciting. I know the team is already working and I can’t wait to get back on track”.



Source: The Aruba.it Racing – Ducati team ready for the Pirelli French Round at Magny Cours


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McAMS Yamaha looking to strengthen title fight at Donington Park

McAMS Yamaha looking to strengthen title fight at Donington Park

The McAMS Yamaha team will be looking to strengthen their fight for the 2020 Bennetts British Superbike crown with a strong weekend as Rounds 13/14/15 of the season get underway at Donington Park.

Having taken three victories and four further podiums from the last six races, the team hope to carry their momentum forward to this weekend’s action as they look to fight for the 2020 title.

A double win last time out at Oulton Park puts Jason O’Halloran in prime position to challenge, having taken more podiums than any other rider this season, the Australian now sits just two points off series leader Glenn Irwin ahead of the final six races.

Team-mate Tarran Mackenzie is also in the mix, a brace of top ten finishes at Oulton Park sees the Silverstone race winner 53 points off the top of the table, but having seen his team-mate reduce a 44 point lead to just two over one weekend at Oulton Park, the 24-year-old knows a strong round at Donington could keep him in the title hunt ahead of the finale at Brands.

The weekend marks the season’s second visit to Donington, this time on the longer Grand Prix circuit as opposed to the National layout used back in August, where O’Halloran stormed to pole position and two podium finishes.

Mackenzie also has podium history at the iconic circuit, which is located just ten minutes’ drive from his family home in Ashby de la Zouch.

Practice for the weekend gets underway on Friday afternoon ahead of qualifying and the opening race on Saturday with two further races on Sunday.

2020 BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUNDS 13/14/15

Friday 2nd October
15:15- 16:00: Free Practice 1

Saturday 3rd October
09:40 – 10:25: Free Practice 2
12:15 – 12:40: Datatag Extreme Qualifying
16:00 – Race 1 (18 laps)

Sunday 4th October
09:35 – 09:45: Warm Up
12:15 – Race 2 (20 laps)
16:15 – Race 3 (20 laps)

Jason O’Halloran – Championship: 2nd – 176 points

“I am excited to get back out on track at Donington this weekend. The results at Oulton Park put us right in the hunt for the 2020 championship and they didn’t come out of the blue, we have been working towards that all season and it felt like a long time coming! We were really strong at the national circuit earlier in the year and I feel we’ve made some big progress since then so I’m confident going into the weekend, we’ve got the speed, the ability and the bike is clearly in a good place. The plan is to approach the weekend like every other, I want to be quick from the off in FP1 and then we can build from there. The goal has to be to be in a similar place, or better, in the championship going into Brands Hatch and then it’s game on!”

Tarran Mackenzie – Championship: 6th – 125 points

“I’m looking forward to Donington. When we were there earlier in the year, the potential was definitely there as shown by our front row start for the third race but that was before we made big steps with the bike over the next few rounds as we started to understand the new tyres. Donington is a mega track and the fast, flowing, first half of the circuit suits our bike really well and the improvements to the R1 for 2020 should also make us stronger in the second half of the lap too, so I’m feeling confident ahead of the weekend and determined to end the season with a strong final two rounds.”

Steve Rodgers – Team Principal

“This is going to be a really important weekend for the team as we look to strengthen our fight for the 2020 crown. We’ve won three out of the last six races and been on the podium in five out of the last six, which shows we are in a pretty strong position with both riders.

“Jason is two points off the championship leads so we’ll be expecting more of the same from him this weekend as he looks to strengthen his position in the title chase ahead of the final three races at Brands Hatch. He was strong at Donington earlier this year so there’s no reason he shouldn’t be up there this weekend.

“Taz is still in the hunt too, a strong weekend from him could see him claw back that points gap just as Jason did at Oulton Park. We know he’s got it in him and Donington has been a great circuit for him in the past, so it will be interesting to see how this weekend pans out!”



Source: McAMS Yamaha looking to strengthen title fight at Donington Park


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Confident Irwin determined to regain lost ground in standings advantage

Confident Irwin determined to regain lost ground in standings advantage

Glenn Irwin had a 35-point advantage before the previous Bennetts British Superbike Championship event at Oulton Park, but that lead diminished in Cheshire and now the Honda Racing rider has just two points separating him from Jason O’Halloran ahead of this weekend.

A technical problem in round 11 left Glenn Irwin not scoring in a race for the first time this season, but aside from that, in the additional two races, the championship leader believes that Oulton Park proved to be one of his strongest rides of the season.

Reflecting on the previous rounds, Irwin said:

“I was really content with the last race at Oulton Park and the last race was our fastest with the best pace. The boys made some really good improvements with the bike during the weekend. Oulton Park is always a difficult circuit, and for it being the first time we were there with the new Fireblade, if we look at who was behind us, and how close we were to the likes of Danny, who has always shown good form there on the Kawasaki, it was a really strong race.

“The leaders on the day – hats off to them, they had something; I don’t think it was an outright one lap pace over us as qualifying showed, but what they did have was outright consistency and the ability to do that pace every lap, which is something that we can only improve with another visit there. That isn’t right in the forefront of my mind right now as we don’t race there again this season, but there was a lot of information gathered and we learnt a lot.

“When I talk about how close the bike is to the road bike that is still very much the case, and Oulton Park perhaps highlighted the need for some parts like links which we didn’t have access to, so small things like that could make a difference in the future, but to leave on a high as such is weird.

“I have said, I felt that the third race at Oulton Park was one of my best races I have rode this year, so that gave me confidence that we hadn’t suddenly went off the boil. I wouldn’t use the phrase that we struggled, as that wouldn’t be the case, but it proved to be a more difficult weekend for the entire team, including the support classes.”

The team then went from Oulton Park straight into testing, as they continue the development of the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP, something that also gives Irwin confidence, knowing how much is still to come from the new machine.

“We had a little test after Oulton Park and without saying too much, it went really good and we worked through some things we wanted to try away from a race event, without the pressure of only having two free practice sessions,” added Irwin. “We were able to understand the improvements we have made to the bike and it was a successful test so confidence is high, the Honda is capable of performing this weekend, I am capable and we have to!

“I think going back to Donington with the test we did there last week, the improvements we have made will definitely help, so it is nice knowing that the areas we needed to improve earlier in the year we have, and we will continue to work harder. We have to be happy with what we have with the timeframe.”

The return to Donington Park, where the Irwin brothers bagged five podiums between them back in August on the shorter National circuit configuration, is something that the Honda Racing rider is looking forward to this weekend.

“I am confident,” added Irwin. “I can’t go and say I am going to win, but what I can say is the championship is close and I would like to go to Brands Hatch with obviously a lead to start with, and a bigger lead than what we currently have now.

“I think we need and want to do that, and being at a track where I think we realise that we can do that with our package is important. If we didn’t think we had the pace at the track with the bike it would be difficult aiming for higher results, but there is no reason why we can’t perform at a high level. Obviously our opposition can bring their A game as well, which can always make things difficult but that’s where we are.

“The weather could throw some variables as well, so that will be exciting. We have to not read into Oulton Park too much, and we backed that up with our test that followed Oulton Park, take the positives in terms of development and take the positives from the test that we are showing good form and try our best to turn that into good results this weekend.”

Watch the racing live on free to air Quest HD, Eurosport 2 and Eurosport.com



Source: Confident Irwin determined to regain lost ground in standings advantage


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Further twist in battle to run Jurby Circuit

Further twist in battle to run Jurby Circuit

ARA tender appeal successful

An appeal by Andreas Racing Association over the awarding of a contract to manage Jurby Race Circuit to an organisation run by previous committee members has been successful.

The Director of Audit Advisory has recommended “the tender does not proceed to contract”.

The Department of Infrastructure tendered to look for someone to manage the facility, which includes maintenance and bookings for track days as well as race meetings.

However, the department will be advised of the outcome of the appeal and the recommendation.

Andreas Racing Association raised a number of concerns about the former committee members, who resigned at the end of last year.

The appeal findings say this is outside the scope of the review but notes it is a “due diligence” matter for the department.



Source: Further twist in battle to run Jurby Circuit


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Are Honda and Yamaha planning new small capacity adventure models?

Are Honda and Yamaha planning new small capacity adventure models?

 
Honda Africa Twin 250

Rumours from Japan seem to suggest that Honda and Yamaha are planning some interesting new adventure and touring models


Source: Are Honda and Yamaha planning new small capacity adventure models?

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2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 to use 1,158cc engine documents reveal

2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 to use 1,158cc engine documents reveal

 
Ducati Multistrada V4 engine

American classification documents have revealed that the new Ducati Multistrada V4 will use an all-new engine


Source: 2021 Ducati Multistrada V4 to use 1,158cc engine documents reveal

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Another one bites the dust! Tokyo Motorcycle show cancelled for 2021

Another one bites the dust! Tokyo Motorcycle show cancelled for 2021

 
Tokyo motorcycle show

COVID-19 has claimed another, unsurprising, victim, as the 2021 Tokyo Motorcycle show gets cancelled


Source: Another one bites the dust! Tokyo Motorcycle show cancelled for 2021

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Honda goes after Royal Enfield with the Honda H’Ness CB350

Honda goes after Royal Enfield with the Honda H’Ness CB350

 
Honda HNess CB350

Honda is set to do battle with India’s biggest domestic manufacturer as the H’Ness CB350 does battle with Royal Enfield


Source: Honda goes after Royal Enfield with the Honda H’Ness CB350