Testing Times for Jentin Doodson Motorsport Hot on the heels of the 2012 British Superbike series opener, round two proved testing in more ways than one for the Jentin Doodson Motorsport Team. With only a few days separating the first two events of the year, there was little time to catch breath for the teams as the BSB Championship headed to Thruxton in Hampshire for the second of the twelve rounds. Fielding the only new for 2012 bike in the class, and with very limited testing, the team continued to improve the bike in the practice and qualifying sessions. However the mixed weather throughout the build up wasn’t ideal development conditions. During the wet practice the team’s Italian rider, Alex Polita showed both his and the new Ducati Panigale’s potential posting an impressive fifth quickest time. Race day brought dry conditions and it was a challenging contest for both Polita and team mate Tom Tunstall around the fastest track on the calendar. Polita came home 19th in race one, before retiring in race two with a technical issue; “It’s been another difficult weekend, the bike is improving slowly, but there’s still a lot of work to do. We are paying the price of very limited pre-season test that means we have to test now on track while other riders are fighting for qualify or race. We knew we would use first two rounds as test, Panigale is new and we need some more time to set up everything. During next week’s there’ll be a meeting at Ducati for organizing work for next races.” Tunstall finished the races in 23rd and 25th and backed up Alex’s comments; “Its testament to the new 1199 Panigale that we’ve been able to get so far with completely standard road engines against tuned superbikes with the benefit of a lot of data and testing. “The bike is great and has so much potential it’s important we use the next couple of weeks to continue the improvements and tap into that. Likewise there is more to come from me and my riding also and I’m looking forward to building onto these first two rounds and coming back stronger” The third round is staged at Oulton Park in Cheshire over the Mayday bank holiday weekend [5th-7th May]. More, from a press release issued by K-Tech Suspension/Orient Express: K-Tech Suspension Sweeps Thruxton British Superbike Weekend With 6 Victories! K-Tech Suspension equipped racers had tremendous success at this past weekend’s British Superbike series events at Thruxton, sweeping wins in all the Superbike, SuperSport, and Superstock classes! In Superbike qualifying, seven of the top ten qualifiers were using K-Tech Suspension KTR-3 front forks and 35DDS rear shocks. The weekend’s results would see K-Tech Suspension on top of the podium for all four stroke classes in a total of six race events. Ian Lowry rode his K-Tech Suspension equipped Padgett’s Racing Honda CBR 1000RR to win the first Superbike race of the weekend, with Josh Brookes charging from 13th on the grid to finish third on his K-Tech fitted Tyco Suzuki GSXR 1000 By TAS Racing. Lucas Scassa (Padgett’s Honda), James Westmoreland (Team WFR Honda) and Graeme Gowland (Team WFR Honda) all finished in the top ten in the first Superbike race. The second Superbike race saw Josh Brookes ride another superb race on his Tyco Suzuki By TAS Racing, who once again started well back in the pack, and clawed his way to the front of the field by the last lap. Brookes would claim victory by 0.660″ and also set the fastest lap of the race on his charge to the front. Ian Lowry and Lucas Scassa rode their Padgett’s Honda CBR 1000RR’s to finish in the top ten, along with Alex Lowes and James Westmoreland from Team WFR Honda – all using K-Tech Suspension KTR-3 front forks and 35DDS rear shocks. Smith’s Racing’s Glen Richards rode his Triumph Daytona 675R to win the first SuperSport race using K-Tech Suspension 20DDS front fork cartridges and a 35DDS rear shock. Saturday’s 12 lap sprint race also saw Sam Warren, Ben Wilson, Jack Kennedy, Luke Mossey, and Christian Iddon follow Richards over the line using K-Tech Suspension products as well. In the second SuperSport race, Billy McConnell rode his Smith’s Racing Triumph Daytona 675R to win ahead of Jack Kennedy, Glen Richards, Luke Mossey, and Ben Wilson – all using K-Tech Suspension components. In the 1000cc Superstock class, Sunday’s race winner Keith Farmer rode his Rapid Solicitors Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki ZX 10R to the checkered flag with K-Tech 20DDS front fork cartridges and a 35DDS rear shock. The 1000 Superstock race was very close, with the margin of victory only 0.194” between first and second place. In the 600 Superstock class, Tim “Twister” Hastings rode his K-Tech equipped MWR Kawasaki ZX 6R to his first professional race win using 20DDS front fork cartridges and a 35DDS rear shock. Congratulations to all, and best wishes for continued success in the 2012 British Superbike series! Orient Express is proud to be the exclusive North American importer and distributor for K-Tech Suspension products from the U.K. For detailed information, technical assistance, or for information regarding where you can purchase K-Tech Suspension products please contact your local authorized K-Tech service center or Orient Express at 800.645.6521 or visit our website http://www.orientexpress.com. Orient Express has provided riders and racers with the finest equipment, parts, and performance since 1973. More, from a press release issued by Evan Steel Performance: Jake Holden breaks the Arroyo Seco lap record on his EvanSteelPerformance.com BMW S1000RR. The team attended round two of the ASMA road race series to get some testing in before the upcoming AMA Pro Racing Big Kahuna at Road Atlanta. Holden won both of Sundays 1000cc races, Unlimited Superbike and the Formula Arroyo money race, turning best laps of 1:06.1 in both races despite cool and windy conditions. Roger Heemsbergen turned a new personal best lap of 1:07.1 while trying to match Holdens pace, and the two of them gapped the field immediately. Jake ran on both the new USA spec Dunlop slicks and the British made Dunlop slicks, turning almost identical lap times on each. Jake Holden: “This is my second time out here to Arroyo Seco, and I love the track and the people. It was a fun weekend, and we made some major progress with the bike, we tried some rear suspension ideas and it made the bike much more comfortable for me. I’m really looking forward to getting to Road Atlanta and seeing what we can do there! I really want to thank Roger and Michelle who own and run the track for putting on a great event, as well as for helping our team out by letting us stay Monday and do a Jake Holden Riding Clinic here. The money earned from that is really helping us get to the next AMA round at Atlanta. Special thanks to Josh Kaufman from Speedcell also for his support. I can’t wait to get back out here and race with these guys again!” Evan Steel: “We made some progress with the rear suspension this weekend, and the bike overall is a little better everywhere. We will keep chipping away at it and if we can improve every time out that’s a good sign. It’s always fun to come out to Arroyo Seco, these guys have a lot of fun racing. I want to thank all of the local motorcycle crowd, from Phoenix to Deming, for helping our team out so much this season already. We are headed to Atlanta and hoping to keep pushing towards the front of the AMA Pro Racing National Guard SuperBike class.” The entire EvanSteelPerformance.com BMW team would like to thank all of our awesome sponsors: Iron Horse Motorcycles, U.S.MegaMax.com, Intawishin Consulting Group, Musselman Honda, Thermosman Suspension, Carrozzerria USA, Leo Vince, Dunlop, XCEL Trackdays, GPR, Ballistik Apparel, Driven, Ohlins, GB Racing, Sidi, Samco, Kurvey Girl, Shoei, OTL Magazine, Mussleman Honda Circuit, Supernova Cycles, ASMA, Tucson Pool and Spa, Mid Town Bar and Grill, Hotbodies, Chicken Hawk, and War Paint. More, from a press release issued by Road & Track Suspension: Congratulations to Road and Track Suspension Formula 1, 2, and 4 race winners at the Central Motorcycle Roadracing Association’s event on April 14-15, 2012. The following racers earned R&T Suspension Contingency Certificates. Certificates are received directly from the CMRA and are valid until the first race of 2013. Road and Track Suspension Formula 1 Novice 1. Bobby Davies $100 2. Kevin Randall $75 3. Arthur Fonseca Jr. $50 Road and Track Suspension Formula 2 Novice 1. Andy Gilliland $100 2. Patrick Kelly $75 Road and Track Suspension Formula 4 Expert/Novice 1. Brandon Altmeyer $100 R&T would also like to congratulate the following riders on their race podiums using R&T Suspension setups and SuperSport valving, Traxxion Fork Cartridges, Penske Shocks, Ohlins, and/or K-Tech. R&T is a dealer and service center for all types of suspension. Brandon Altmeyer 1st E Super Stock 1st R&T Formula 4 Ryan Andrews 2nd E Super Stock Bobby Davies 1st R&T Formula 1 (N) 2nd C Super Stock (N) Juan De Hoyos 2nd Formula 40 Leightweight (N) Arthur Fonseca Jr. 1st A Super Stock (N) 1st Formula 40 Heavyweight (N) Andy Gilliland 1st R&T Formula 2 (N) 1st Lightweight Twins (N) 1st D Super Bike (N) 2nd D Super Stock (N) R&T Cycles and Suspension is located in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. R&T can be reached at 210.348.9707 or VonHertell.com More, from a press release issued by Thrashed Bike Racing: THRASHED BIKE RACING TAKES IT’S FIRST CCS/ASRA TEAM CHALLENGE OVERALL WIN !!! The setting was perfect at Carolina Motorsports Park this past Sunday as Walt Sipp turned in a flawless performance during the 2-hour/65-lap race to take the Thrashed Bike Racing’s Buell 1125RR to the top spot on the podium. There was a lot of action at the front as Walt had to come from behind to retake the lead after getting a splash of fuel to finish the race with 9 laps remaining. The team got Walt back on course just as the leaders prepared to enter the tight turn 1 at CMP. Walt put his head down and with the Erik Buell Racing prepared machine managed to pass the leader with 4 laps remaining. The Arrow Aviation Co LLC team held their breath until the white flag was waved and then started to believe that the team had the possibility to land their first win of the series. When Walt took the checkered flag on the Dunlop shod machine the team was speechless and the celebration began in earnest! Walt was ecstatic when he brought the Buell to the #1 spot on the podium. When interviewed, Walt said: “Wow, what a rollercoaster. We had a plan for one stop during the race but that all went out the window when I had to stop early for fuel. That put us on a two-stop strategy. As it turned out the other top teams had to make two stops as well. During the last stop I saw the leaders come by, and Tim said it was time to go. I went out and pushed to try and catch them. You never know with endurance style racing, so you have to push hard every lap. It really paid off today. I’ve got to give it up to Paul at Dunlop. The tire he suggested was awesome. It felt the same at the end of 65 laps as it did in the beginning. I’m also just so proud of the team. Each round they work hard to put me on a good bike and give me what I need. Tim really deserves this win and I’m proud to give it to him. Last year at Carolina all I gave him was a crashed up race bike. This is sweet redemption.” Walt would like to thank personal sponsors, Bison Racing, KBC Helmets, Arlen Ness, Sidi, EBC, Vortex, Zero Gravity, EC3D Compression, Crossfit Matters and Dunlop. Team principal Tim Ivanoff replied, “It has been a lot of fun and hard work to be able to bring the Buell to the CCS/ASRA Team Challenge series the last few years and quite a challenge to try and keep the team near the front with the high level of competition found at each event. We have watched and tried to learn the methods of the leaders in order to become competitive. Walt is an excellent match for the Buell 1125 and brought her home to the top of the box today!!” Tim continued, “I want to offer a special thanks to the fellows at Arrow Aviation, Avcal Decals, and Erik Buell Racing for their continued support who help us be able to compete at this level!!! Thanks also to Dunlop for providing the tires able to last the distance at the abrasive Carolina Motorsports Park surface.” Walt and the team will be competing this week in the Daytona Sportbike class at the AMA Big Kahuna Road Atlanta round for the team’s debut in the AMA Pro Series and hope that the fans will come out and show their support! Interested parties may contact Tim Ivanoff at [email protected] More, from a press release issued by Muench Motorrad Technik Gmbh: MUENCH’s electrifying motorbike show in Magny Cours World Champion wins first 2012 FIM e-Power International Championship race For the third time a World Championship race was carried out in Magny Cours. The technological leader MUENCH was able to already secure two victories on this racetrack, the most recent last weekend when the team accomplished a double with Matthias Himmelmann and his newly found team mate Katja Poensgen. “žWe are very happy with the results and the felicitous season opening. The time we spent developing and testing definitely paid off,” said Matthias Himmelmann. Matthias tested a new, more balanced battery and Katja competed with the most recent engine. One could see that she was really enjoying the ride. “žThe feeling on the bike is so much different compared to the 250’s. Since you not only have to watch your competition but most of all your battery, you really have to drive tactically. The racing series may still be young but I’m already very glad to be a part of it.” The “e-Power International Championship” is the official championship for e-powered motorcycles. It was founded in 2010 and has been organised by the international motorbike racing federation FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) ever since. By now the bikes’ progress concerning reliability and performance is highly visible. “žWe are very proud to present such technological highlights to the public. In the beginning the audience was a little confused by the bikes’s whistling but in the end they all celebrated the winners of each race. In line with the FIM e-Power Championship four more additional races are scheduled for this year. Unfortunately only one will be hosted in Germany: June 10th, 2012: Hungaroring (Ungarn) July 18th, 2012: Laguna Seca (USA) August 11th, 2012: Oschersleben (Deutschland) September 8th, 2012: Le Mans (Frankreich) For more information please visit: www.muenchmotorbikes.com