Triple race thrills, the legendary Agostini, and more in Festival weekend CAMIER AIMS TO TIGHTEN GRIP BUT UNDER PRESSURE FROM HILL MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli Round eight August 7-8-9 Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit Leon Camier faces a triple challenge as he bids to tighten his grip on the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli in a spectacular bikers weekend that mixes nostalgia with the sport’s cutting edge over three days at Brands Hatch. The “Big Brands Bash” provided a festival of sporting action featuring not just the world’s leading domestic series but also the 15 times World Champion Giacomo Agostini lapping the Grand Prix circuit aboard the iconic 500-3 MV Agusta in company with another multiple title holder Phil Read. Add to that that ear-piercing sound of the collection of classic Grand Prix Hondas the 250-6, 350-4 and the 500-3 as ridden by the late, legendary Mike Hailwood, and the weekend provides the best of the old, contrasting with the new. In terms of the BSB crown, Camier, riding the Airwaves Yamaha, has a comfortable advantage in the title stakes, but that could all change on the demanding Kent circuit. He faces up to his rivals in three races, rather than the usual two, for the first time this season and with 75 points up for the taking the pressure will be on as his rivals aim to close the gap. The focus will be on consistency. The riders will resolve their grid positions for the races in a Saturday lunch-time Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole before lining up for an 18 lap race later that afternoon with the other two races following on Sunday afternoon. Camier together with his team-mate and title rival James Ellison expect to continue their front-running performances but Tommy Hill, continuing aboard the Worx Crescent Suzuki intends to build on his strong debut performance with the team at Mallory Park. Hill, returning to domestic action from the World series, is buoyed also by track time spent on the bike at the Kent circuit as the team developed further the electronic systems. “It was good to be back out on the bike, putting in laps, working well with the team, and now I am ready for the races.” Stuart Easton, riding the Hydrex Honda, like Hill, is determined to peg-back the leading duo in the series. The Flying Scot is currently third in the rankings and eager to make up ground lost during a tough time in the previous round from which he emerged pointless. Simon Andrews, fresh from surgery on a wrist injury, is another rider keen to show what might have been at the Leicestershire circuit, when an incident at the hairpin arguably cost him a maiden victory at the series. He heads up the MSS Colchester Kawasaki challenge while in the HM Plant Honda equipe it is a case of all change. Aussie Karl Muggeridge comes in to replace their suspended Josh Brookes while reigning Superstock Champion Steve Brogan deputises for the injured Glen Richards. Chris Walker, riding the Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha, is chasing a first victory of the season while Ian Lowry is long overdue a podium finish with the Relentless Suzuki by TAS team. Gary Mason, riding the Quay Garage Honda, will be the rider to watch in the chase for the Mirror.co.uk Cup, as he works to make amends for recent inconsistencies which have allowed Peter Hickman aboard the Ultimate Racing Yamaha the opportunity to close in on the title chase. Adding to the racing are rounds of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship; Relentless British 125GP Championship; Metzeler National 1000 and 600 Superstock Championships; Focused Events KTM RC8 Supercup and an International Classic Grand Prix UEM Cup race. Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit fast-facts Lap records – 2.3009 mile Circuit Superbikes Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati, 1:25.724, 96.63mph 09/04/07 Supersport Andrew Pitt, Honda, 1m 28.399secs, 93.70mph, 03/08/08 125GP Robbie Stewart, Honda, 1m 34.274s, 87.86mph, 09/04/07 1000 Superstock Mark Aitchison, Suzuki, 1m 29.317s, 92.73mph, 05/08.07 600 Superstock Loris Baz, Yamaha, 1m 31.356secs, 90.66mph, 03/08/08 Flashback 2008 – Sunday 11 May British Superbikes Race one 20 laps 1 S Byrne, Ducati, 29m 24.345secs, 93.89mph 2 T Sykes, Suzuki 3 C Crutchlow, Honda 4 L Haslam, Honda 5 L Camier, Ducati 6 J Ellison, Honda Race two 19 laps 1 C Crutchlow, Honda 2 S Byrne, Ducati 3 L Camier, Ducati 4 M Laverty, Suzuki 5 M Rutter, Ducati 6 L Haslam, Honda Superbikes on track Friday 7 August 10.20-11.10 and 14.15-15.05 Free practice Saturday 8 August 10.00-10.25 Free practice 12.30-13.34 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole 17.00 Race one 18 laps Sunday 9 August 09.15-09.30 Warm up practice 13.00 Race two 20 laps 16.30 Race three 20 laps Superbikes on television Saturday 8 August British Eurosport 2 12.30-13.45 “live” qualifying and 16.15-18.15 “live” raceday 20.00-21.30 Highlights Sunday 9 August 12.30-18.00 “live” raceday 20.00-21.30 Highlights full television listings www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Steve Plater’s publicist: STEVE PLATER BRANDS HATCH PREVIEW Steve Plater will not now ride the HM Plant Honda Superbike at Brands Hatch over the weekend of August 7 9 but will concentrate his efforts on the Fuchs/Silkolene British Supersport championship round at the Kent circuit in which he holds an 11 point lead over nearest rival Billy McConnell. The Woodhall Spa ace was originally asked by his team to stand in for the injured Glen Richards who broke his leg at Knockhill in round six of the British Superbike series, but now that Josh Brookes is sidelined after a crash at Mallory Park in which he injured his hand, the team have revised their plans. HM Plant Honda have drafted in ex-World Supersport champion Karl Muggeridge to take over the reins of one of the two Superbikes at Brands Hatch with Steve Brogan riding the other bike. For the team’s home round at Cadwell Park at the end of the month, Muggeridge will be joined by road race specialist John McGuinness which frees up Steve Plater to concentrate on his Supersport campaign. “I was asked to stand in for Glen at Brands Hatch and Cadwell but after a lot of careful thought I decided against it,” said the ever-smiling Lincolnshire rider. “I am leading the British Supersport championship and it’s my aim to take the title this year. But they are all lining up behind me and I need to concentrate all my efforts on my own championship to give myself the best chance of lifting the trophy. “There are three Superbike races at Brands Hatch, one on Saturday and a further two on Sunday. It’s not the races that will take my concentration but the free practice and qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday. I don’t want to be distracted from the Supersport class by having to jump from one bike to another in order to gain a decent grid position in each class so it was agreed that I should step down from the Superbike.” This season is proving to be one of Plater’s best. He picked up some top results at the North West 200 and the Isle of Man TT and to win the British Supersport championship would be the icing on the cake for him. Earlier in his racing career Plater was twice runner up in the British Supersport championship and he aims to go one better this season and take the title. Free practice for the British Supersport class is on Friday with two qualifying sessions on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s 18-lap race at 3.15pm. More, from a press release issued by Mist Suzuki: MIST Suzuki Return To British SuperBikes MIST Suzuki will return to British SuperBike action at the triple header round at Brands Hatch this weekend after a short break following the shock retirement of long term rider Matt Bond. After concentrating on racing at the TT and other road circuits for much of the season new rider Steve Mercer is hoping that the step up from his regular Suzuki GSXR1000K9 race bike to the MIST Suzuki SuperBike version will allow him to get up to speed faster at the high profile Brands Hatch round. The team have taken the opportunity to undertake some additional development work on the bike as a number of the long awaited performance parts have finally arrived. With little or no testing time the team hope the combination of new lightweight wheels, new rear shock and swing arm linkage plus the next development of their engine package will allow Mercer to feature regularly on the SuperBike Cup podium and take the fight to some of the factory riders. Team Manager Mike Edwards said “Trying to find a rider to replace Matt was a difficult one but we think Steve has what it takes to do well. We have plenty of track time at the weekend so will take it slowly so that Steve has time to adjust to the nature of short circuit racing. The bike development is coming along and, although we are still waiting for some parts, we are finally approaching the bike we hoped to have at the start of the season. We are hoping that Steve and MIST Suzuki can help each other and encourage new sponsorship to allow us to complete the season”. MIST Suzuki would like to thank our long term sponsors that have helped us get this far GPR Steering Dampers, Steve Jordan Motorcycles, Leo Vince Exhausts, Silkolene Oils and R&G Crash Protection along with the additional support from Morello Roofing and MotorBikesToday.com without which we could not compete at Brands Hatch. More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport: HENLEYS AND MORAIS JOIN KAWASAKI WORLD SUPERBIKE TEAM With less than a week to go before their guest appearance in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, former double British Superbike Champions and current World Superbike Championship team, Paul Bird Motorsport, will have both a new sponsor as well as a replacement rider at the meeting at Brands Hatch on August 7/8/9th. Running the official factory Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10Rs, the www.supercasino.com, Vent-Axia and Kick Energy-backed team will field South African Sheridan Morais alongside Australian ace Broc Parkes due to former MotoGP and WSB race winner Makoto Tamada being ruled out through injury following his crash at Brno last week. 24-year-old Morais deputised for Tamada at the Kyalami round and scored solid points in both races and in addition, knows his way around Brands given he scored a second place finish in last year’s FIM Superstock 1000 Championship race there so is confident of further success. In addition, the team will be hoping to celebrate a new sponsorship deal in style with leading clothing brand Henleys. Established in 1996, Henleys is one of today’s most influential and innovative UK fashion brands. With casual wear for both men and women, the product range also includes an impressive denim range, outerwear and accessories, making Henleys a true lifestyle brand. “We recognise the fast-paced environment our customers live in and aim to create collections with a distinct personality that enhance the wearer’s lifestyle so by linking up with Paul Bird and the Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team, that allows us to do that,” said Henleys Creative Director Simon Peters. Team owner Paul Bird commented: “We are delighted to welcome Henleys to our portfolio of distinguished partners and they are another recognised brand that adds vitality to our team. We feel their products reflect in what we are doing and look forward to a successful association, starting this week at Brands Hatch.”