SWAN HONDA SET TO FIGHT BACK AT BRANDS HATCH The Swan Honda team return to action this weekend (7/8/9 August) following a three week break at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit for the eight round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. The team had a tough weekend last time out at Snetterton, but both James Ellison and Stuart Easton have vowed to come back stronger this weekend at the triple-header event. Both riders currently lie outside of the all-important top six in the overall standings, but with 75 points up for the taking this weekend, it could prove to be the turning point in the season for the Swan Honda team. Ellison said: “The pressure is on, but then it has all year for me. My attitude to these races is the same as ever, I am going there to win. Mathematically it is still possible for me to get into the top six, but I am not going to Brands Hatch thinking about points and positions, my attitude is simply that I am out there to win and do my best as ever. In the Snetterton races, I had the pace but it turned out to be a frustrating weekend, I got a seventh place, then was mugged in the second one to finish fourth and then I was taken out in the third; the pace was there though and going to Brands Hatch I am aiming to build on that.” Easton said: “It will be good to be back this weekend and Brands Hatch is going to be a big weekend for everyone. I am really determined that this is the round where we can turn things around and I want to prove that I can win again – starting at Brands Hatch. Last year I was the most consistent rider; I had 14 podiums and two wins but you look at this year and it just hasn’t happened so far. I know as a team we have the potential to bounce back though and all I can do is race to the best of my ability. We have had a horrendous run over the past few races but we intend to put it right in the three races at Brands Hatch.” More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Rizla Suzuki MotoGP will make the Brands Hatch Circuit in England reverberate to the ear-piercing sound of MotoGP machinery on Saturday and Sunday the 7th and 8th August, as the Suzuki GSV-R and Álvaro Bautista make guest appearances at the British Superbike Championship. Bautista will be giving some high-speed demonstration laps on Saturday and Sunday, as Suzuki celebrates 50 years of International racing. The astounding Rizla Suzuki MotoGP GSV-R800 four-stroke machine will be the fastest motorcycle to lap the 3.7km track and with top speeds of over 330 km/h, BSB fans can experience the superb spectacle of MotoGP at the Kent circuit. The chance to see the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R in action is part of a fantastic weekend at Brands Hatch. Also on the agenda is a ‘triple header’ round of the British Superbike Championship around the Grand Prix configuration circuit, this is set to be the biggest event of the year at Brands Hatch, with tens of thousands of fans enjoying the party atmosphere at the Kent circuit. In addition to three BSB races and the MotoGP demonstrations, the event will feature support races including the British Historic Grand Prix Championship and with a total of 10 support races over the weekend there is certainly enough to keep all motorcycle racing fans happy. Álvaro Bautista: “It will be interesting for me to go to Brands Hatch because I have never been there before and it is such a famous track. It will be good to learn another circuit and to visit a totally new place. To have new experiences like this is always good and it will be interesting for me to ride the bike and get more of a feeling for it at different places. I am looking forward to doing the demo run and showing the British fans that have never seen a MotoGP bike just what it is all about.” Paul Denning Team Manager: “We are delighted to be able to support Suzuki GB in their 50 years of racing celebrations and to bring the sight and sound of a fully-blown MotoGP bike to the Brands Hatch BSB race. This is a great opportunity for Suzuki to showcase the GSV-R’s technology and incredible sound in-front of a different audience. The link between the MotoGP bike and the Suzuki GSX-R which is celebrating its 25th anniversary is evident in their racing ancestry, so to see the two machines together at one event will be very special albeit one will be racing for victory in the hands of Tommy, Yukio, Michael and Alistair and the other will just be ridden slightly less aggressively on its demo laps! “Álvaro is looking forward to riding the Brands Hatch GP track, he’s heard a lot about it and I’m not sure if he’s scared or excited, but I’m positive he’ll let the Rizla Suzuki GSV-R rip and provide great entertainment. MSV put on a fantastic show last year and we hope we’ll be able to make it even bigger and better this year. There’ll be another rider or two experiencing the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP GSV-R for the first time as well so watch this space for details!” More, from a press release issued by British Superbike Championship organizers: ADVANTAGE HILL BUT BROOKES CLOSING IN MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Round eight Brands Hatch 6/7/8 August Tommy Hill takes a slender two points advantage over Josh Brookes into the triple race eighth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch with the former two times winner of the crown Ryuichi Kiyonari in close contention. These races come at a crucial time of the campaign with all of the riders focussed on scoring strong points in their efforts to be in the top six in the overall standings after the following round at Cadwell Park and while the leading trio are seemingly well placed to progress to the shoot-out for the title, they cannot afford any slips. The points scoring system, introduced this season, is achieving the intended effect of concentrating the action, and ensuring the title fight goes down to the last race, although that is piling the pressure onto the riders who have to ensure consistent form, something that is not lost on Hill. “We know that we need to get back to winning ways as although the focus is on the top six, the podium credits are vital and extra points at this, my home round, could mean the difference between winning or losing the title,” said Worx Crescent Suzuki rider Hill who is back to form after a tough couple of rounds. “We needed podiums last time out at Snetterton after two disappointing rounds before that and that is what we did with three podium finishes. It is a good feeling to go into these Brands Hatch races leading the standings, but Josh and Kiyo showed that Honda will be up there too, and you can’t rule anybody out,” added Hill. He had last weekend off, but the HM Plant Honda duo of Brookes and Kiyonari were in World Superbike action at Silverstone gaining more experience and information that could be vital to them when they race in the penultimate round of BSB there in September. Both are now fully focussed on strong performances to move ahead of Hill and keep their title hopes firmly on track as Brookes, who raced on the Grand Prix circuit in World Supersport action in 2008, explained: “I want to be winning and I missed out on taking all three victories in the previous round at Snetterton, so hopefully we can put that right this time – I have always had good feelings of this circuit and I think that puts you in a good position ahead of the races.” Brookes will be pressed all of the way by Kiyonari who knows what is expected of him: “It is important for the championship that we have three good races as we need to get on the podium as many times as possible before the Showdown. I know what we need to do so I will be working hard with the team to get the results for the championship.” The leading trio will be hard pressed throughout, with their rivals eager to secure points, and placings in the top six, with the Michael Laverty and his Relentless Suzuki team-mate Alastair Seeley riding strongly, as are Michael Rutter aboard the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati and John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki. Piling on the pressure will be strong front running challenges from the Swan Honda duo of Stuart Easton and James Ellison who are both keen to put their title bids back on course after problematic times. “I am going out there to win races. Mathematically, it is still possible for me to get into the top six, but I am not going out at Brands Hatch thinking about points and positions, my attitude is simply that I am going out there to win, doing my best as ever,” said Ellison. Adding further spice to the action is the return to BSB action for the weekend by popular Yorkshireman Tom Sykes aboard the factory World Superbike Kawasaki while in the chase for the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO title BMW riding Steve Brogan aims to extend five points advantage over Hudson Kennaugh. The meeting promises a major festival of motorcycle racing action with rounds of the major championships: Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport; SpeedyRetail.com British 125GP; Metzeler National Superstock 600 and 1000 plus Henderson Harley Davidson XR1200; Triumph Triple Challenge and Bonhams Historic GP series. And, MotoGP star Alvaro Bautista will be joined by twice British Superbike Champion John Reynolds to give demonstration laps aboard Suzuki MotoGP bikes while Leon Haslam and Sylvain Guintoli will be fast lapping aboard their World Superbike machines as Suzuki celebrate 50 years of racing and the 25th anniversary of the GSX-R. For the record Superbikes on track Friday 6 August 10.05-10.50 and 14.50-15.35 Free practice Saturday 7 August 09.40-10.25 Free practice 12.20-13.16 Swan Combi Roll for Pole 16.10 Race one 18 laps Sunday 8 August 09.30-09.45 Warm-up practice 13.30 Race two 20 laps 16.45 Race three 20 laps Superbike lap record Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati, 1m 25.724secs, 96.63mph, 2007 Superbikes on television British Eurosport 2 Saturday 07 August 12:15-14:00 – Live Raceday 16:00-18:00 – Live Raceday 20:30-21:30 – Highlights 23:15-00:15 – Highlights British Eurosport 2 Sunday 08 August 09:30-10:30 – Highlights 11:30-12:30 – Highlights 12:30-18:00 – Live Raceday 20:00-21:30 – Highlights Flashback 8/9 August 2009 Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit Race one 1 L Camier Yamaha 2 B Parkes Kawasaki 3 S Easton Honda Race two 1 L Camier Yamaha 2 B Parkes Kawasaki 3 J Ellison Yamaha Race three 1 L Camier Yamaha 2 B Parkes Kawasaki 3 J Ellison Yamaha More, from a press release issued by Warr’s Harley-Davidson: McWilliams aims to build title lead for Warr’s Racing on home soil Warr’s Harley-Davidson rider Jeremy McWilliams is ready to build on his championship lead at Brands Hatch this weekend (6/7/8 August) in the first double-header of the Henderson Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Trophy. Title leader ‘Jezza’ aims to increase his points advantage at the London dealers’ local circuit in Kent. Team-mate and Canadian Champion Darren James will also be hot to trot aboard his Warr’s-prepared production-based XR1200® racing motorcycle. Darren is used to long circuits and his dirt track experience will be a big benefit on the fast, long straights where every ounce of streamlining will be needed. With just two rounds of the championship remaining, and so much at stake, the tension between the main contenders is set to be immense at Brands Hatch. Races for the Henderson Harley-Davidson® XR1200® Trophy takes place both Saturday and Sunday at the legendary 2.3-mile Grand Prix circuit and is bound to test riders and machines to their limits. “Brands is going to be a real test for us this weekend,” said Jeremy. “We’ve been trying various set-ups during practise sessions here and we know our times are excellent. I can’t wait for the flag to drop! This is Warr’s local track as they have one of their dealerships just a few miles down the road, so I will certainly be doing my best to make sure we fly the Warr’s H-D banner high this coming weekend.” Darren added “I am tremendously excited to be racing my Harley® at one of the world’s most famous circuits. I intend to be in the thick of the action this weekend and I’m hungry for the podium so watch this space!” Warr’s Racing would like to thank it’s partners, Rossetts Mercedes-Benz, Mobil 1, Alpinestars, Muc-Off, Dunlop, SBS, Deeley Canada, Capit Performance, CV Graphics, Foga Systems, Teng Tools, Harris Performance, Pipercross Air Filter Tickets are still available to see the XR1200 races this weekend and hear the rumble. More, from a press release issued by Honda: BROOKES AND KIYONARI CONTINUE TITLE DUEL MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Round eight Brands Hatch 6/7/8 August Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari continue their duel for the MCE Insurance British Superbike crown in the triple race eighth round to be decided over the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. The HM Plant Honda duo are currently placed second and third in the points standings and go into this round after a hectic couple of weeks. Kiyonari, the two times former winner of the British crown having returned to his native Japan to win the prestigious Suzuka Eight Hours race for Honda for a third time, prior to joining Brookes for a ‘wild-card’ ride in last weekend’s World Superbike races at Silverstone which the team used as a ‘shakedown’ for the September penultimate round of the British Championship to be held there. They are now focussed on their main challenge, the chase for honours in the British series in which their Suzuki rival Tommy Hill currently has a slender two points advantage in the standings ahead of Brookes. Cosmetically that is good for Hill, but in reality it means little in the final outcome of the crown, something that is not lost on the various Honda riders who know that their main focus is to be in the top six points scorers after the next round at Cadwell Park. The championship introduced a new points system this season in an effort to keep the title chase alive until the final race of the campaign, with the top six riders going into the final three rounds, and seven races, in a ‘Showdown’ for the crown. After the Cadwell Park races, the leading six riders will have their points scores erased, and each given a score of 500 points, added to which will be bonus points, based on their podium finishes in the opening nine rounds complicated, and different, but while piling up the pressure on the riders, it is creating added interest and excitement for the spectators. Brookes and Kiyonari are well placed going into these races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit, but the pressure is on the Swan Honda duo of Stuart Easton and James Ellison who are both outside the cut-off point but who are responding positively to the urgency of the situation. Easton, who started the season carrying a knee injury enjoyed his best form then, but in the last five rounds has tumbled twice and also suffered machine problems. Ellison, who suffered a broken leg in practice for the second round, missed six races, and is playing catch-up, his efforts hindered when he was taken out by another rider last time out. For both Easton and Ellison, there is the need, and the determination, to score strong points, but that is also high on the agenda of the riders around them, including the Laverty brothers, Michael and John; the highly experienced Michael Rutter and the winner of last year’s National Superstock crown Alastair Seeley. The first of the three races will be decided over 18 laps of the Kent Grand Prix circuit on Saturday afternoon, following on from the grid deciding “Roll for Pole” session , with the other two races, each over 20 laps, held on Sunday afternoon. Honda BSB rider quotes ahead of Brands Hatch round eight, MCE Insurance British Superbikes Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda): “I am really looking forward to these races as it has been a while since I last raced on the Grand Prix circuit; it was back in 2008 when I was in the World Supersport Championship and I was disappointed that I had to miss it last year. I have always had good feelings of the circuit though and I think that puts you in a good position ahead of the race. I think what we have learnt from Snetterton and the World Superbike Championship round at Silverstone will put us in a good starting place for free practice and then we will have to work hard, but we should be at the sharp end from the start. We had a good last round at Snetterton and I think we will carry that momentum through to this weekend; I want to be winning.” Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda): “I am looking forward to racing in BSB again after the Suzuka Eight Hour and World Superbike races. I have had good results at Brands Hatch in the past, so hopefully I can have more this weekend and I can score some good points in the three races. I am trying to win for sure as I want to repeat the good weekend we had at Snetterton. We will focus on the settings and what we have learnt and improved on over the past few rounds and I think then we will challenge in the races. It is important for the championship that we have three good races as we need to get on the podium as many times as possible before the Showdown. I know what we need to do so I will be working hard with the team to get the results for the championship.” Stuart Easton (Swan Honda): “There are none more crucial than these races I have a lost a lot of points in the last five rounds but this is a great circuit, one of the best in the country. If we get the bike working better then we can be up front. I am feeling confident, we have had technical issues but those apart have been fast. The crash at Mallory Park was down to me it was just unlucky that it happened when I needed points “It is not going to be easy to get into the top six it will be hard, but it is up for grabs. I am 24 points down but it is there for the taking. I am hoping this round will go my way and that we have got over the technical issues with the bikes. “If the bike is going well, and I am, then we will be up there, as a team we have the potential to bounce back and I will be giving everything in these races.” James Ellison (Swan Honda): “The pressure is on, but then it has been all year and for me. My attitude to these races is the same as ever, I am going out there to win races. Mathematically, it is still possible for me to get into the top six, but I am not going out at Brands Hatch thinking about points and positions, my attitude is simply that I am going out there to win, doing my best as ever. “In the Snetterton races, I had the pace but it turned out to be something of a frustrating weekend I got a seventh place in the opener, was mugged in the second race on the last lap to finish fourth and then I was taken out in the third the pace was there, and going now to Brands I am aiming to build on that.”