THRUXTON
Podium joy continues for MACKENZIE – KENNEDY cracks BSB Top Ten
Sheffield based GR Motosport’s Team WD-40 Superbike and the Stauff Connect academy we again in action at the 7th round of the MCE British Superbike Championships at Thruxton. The riders and Team were all determined to build on the success of the last event at Brands Hatch, and what a fantastic job they made of it.
Qualifying in the ultra competitive MCE British Superbike went very well continuing to make improvements in performance. Taylor Mackenzie and his crew continue to make strong steps forward in moving up the field and Jack Kennedy and his crew were tasked with a strategy change which saw immediate improvement taking him to 12th on the grid with plenty of TV time for both riders.
Race 1 both riders made brilliant starts, their improved positions gave an advantage when unfortunate the race had to be stopped after 5 laps for an oil spillage. At the restart both Jack and Taylor had vastly improved grid position which gave them both a great opportunity in the 15 lap restart. What a race Jack battling for the top Ten and grabbing 7th on the line and Taylor tantalisingly just missing his 1st BSB championship point.
Race 2 Jack was to start from 7th and Taylor 23td on the grid another fantastic Start from both and they were in the thick of it. Jack forced himself into a huge battle with current Champion Shakey Byrne which looked like it was going for the podium unfortunately they touched and Jack went down at super high speed destroying his Team WD-40 Superbike but thankfully Jack after medical check up is going to be a little sore but in his own word a 100%. Taylor was again in a battle for the last point breaking through to 16th with a lap to go some 3.9 second off 15th, putting his head down he closed the gap to just 08 missing out again, but we can all feel it’s there for him any race now.
In the Pirelli National Superstock 600 Stauff Connect Academy’s Taz Mackenzie was again in championship form never out of the top 2 all weekend. In the race he took the lead at the start pushing hard on every lap. Unfortunately and ONLY with the aid of the slip stream Taz was piped to the line taking 2nd and his forth podium in as many races his disappointment did show for a moment or two before the return of that fantastic Mackenzie smile.
Jack Kennedy: “t’s been a really good weekend for us and finally all our hard work as a team is paying off. A good qualifying position gave us a better crack at it for race one and it was great to take 7th at the line, our best finish of the season so far.
Race two I was feeling even stronger but the nature of Thruxton lends itself to many different race lines which resulted in me clipping Shakey and crashing out big style. Luckily I didn’t take him with me and I’m thankful to walk away from it relatively lightly. Sorry to Team WD-40 for wrecking my bike and big thanks to them for all their hard work this weekend. Obviously while I’m really disappointed not to get a result in race two, I’m still feeling upbeat about how things are going as we are not too far off now. It feels great to be up the sharp end and I’m back to enjoying my racing. I want to keep that momentum going and finish the season strong for the remaining 5 rounds JK#44
Taylor Mackenzie: “I made more progress this weekend with my best races day so far coming home just out side the points with 16th in both races. Although we are one big team, I want to say a massive thank you to my side of the garage for all their efforts this weekend. This year is without doupt one of the toughest BSB seasons ever and were not far off scoring points now week in week out. Hopefully we can make another step forward and grab our first points before the year is out….
Tarran Mackenzie: “I had another very strong weekend as I wasn’t out of the top 2 again over the 3 days. At the end of the race I was gutted not to get my 3rd win of the year. Looking back at it now, I was happy with how the race went as I was setting a very fast pace at the front with no slipstream! Geoff, Juan and Gary did an awesome job with my bike all weekend which gave me the confidence I have, so a big thank you to those guy’s as well as the whole Stauff Connect Academy – Team WD-40, GR Motosport set up. I am looking forward to cadwell where we will get a run out at the track before the event. “
Brent Gladwin “Wow what a weekend we had at Thruxton! The highs and lows of racing are something I am sure we are all addicted to which is why we all work so hard to be the best we can and achieve our goals in life and racing – some would say racing is life and who am I to argue that one away.
In what can only be described as the best and worst year to be a competitor in BSB we are finally in the mix. Best because currently BSB is the most competitive Superbike series in the world and worst because BSB is the most competitive Superbike series in the world, where anyone of 25 riders are capable of getting on the podium at any race.
‘My Team’ is something my Sponsors and I continue to be particularly proud of! We have a fantastic group of people, who over this season has become a TEAM
The Girls led by Clare and her PR machine are just simply the best! The Team WD-40, Stauff Connect Academy Twins, Holly and Abigail are The Team and Sponsor brand ambassadors everyone wants to be seen and photographed with. Sam and Kate deliver stunning hospitality for Team and VIP guests alike so thank you Ladies.
The Technical Crew led by big Geoff have no understanding of whether it is night or day – can or can’t they just simply do it. Team WD-40 Superbike crew chiefs Danny and Andy lead and focus their teams of Rob and Ashley, Martyn and Tim respectively in the march forward. Stauff Connect Academy’s Juan and Garry are simply the best in class at this moment!
The riders we now have are all special to us. We again took a calculated gamble in 2015 some of which did not work out. You all know how well young Josh Bannister and Sam Atkinson have gone right from the start, but now Jack, Taylor and Tarran are starting to fulfil our dreams for them. Jack suffered with arm pump and is now stunningly battling wheel to wheel with current championship contenders. Taylor is a great little superbike rider and banging on the door of his first BSB points. The fact Tarran was gutted to have only been second this weekend speaks volumes of the young man.
Our Partners and Sponsors are without doubt the best in their own fields of commerce. Their continued unrivalled support and involvement of all our activities on and off track are a fantastic part of the image we have created. Their enthusiastic business to business amplification of message ensures worldwide recognition of all brands, the Team and the MCE British Superbike Championship!
More, from a press release issued by Team Traction Control:
TEAM TRACTION CONTROL BACK ON THE PODIUM AT THRUXTON
Team Traction Control continued their battle for the front in both the Motorpoint British Supersport and Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championships last weekend at Thruxton with both James Rispoli and Andy Reid claiming podium finishes at the high-speed Hampshire circuit.
In the Sprint race Rispoli was fighting in the lead group as he scrapped with Kyle Ryde and Sam Hornsey, putting in one of his best performances of the season to hold third, just 0.152s adrift of second at the finish. Reid meanwhile claimed fifth place after a tough start to the race.
In the Feature race the pair were again both embroiled in a huge scrap at the front of the field, with the pair pushing hard for the podium again until Rispoli crashed out unhurt in the closing stages. Reid went on to claim second place as the pair now set their sights on more at Cadwell Park.
In the Superstock class Joe Francis claimed a strong fourth place finish, holding off Benjamin Currie for the position in the final stages of the race, smashing the lap record in the process.
Rispoli said: “Last race weekend definitely had its fair share of highs and lows. But that’s what I LOVE about racing! I am really pleased with the weekend – we have finally been able to show our true potential and we were at the front of the field and proving we can consistently run there. I am a little bummed about getting taken out in race two but that’s racing, that’s why we line up on Sundays. I am looking forward to Cadwell now with renewed excitement!”
Reid said: “I am happy after the weekend as we have moved up to fifth in the standings, although I was disappointed with the first race. I got a bit messed up at the beginning of the race and it meant I lost the lead group so I wanted to put that right on Sunday. It all got a bit crazy towards the end of the race but it worked in my favour so I am happy with that.”
Francis said: “It was a good weekend for us at Thruxton, although we missed out on the podium we had another strong finish in fourth place and that is important for the championship. To set a new lap record shows that we really have a strong pace and I think we will be in an even better position now to get back on the podium.”
More, from a press release issued by Waznie Racing:
Jordan Szoke hit a major milestone while chasing a historic 10th National Superbike title on Sunday at Atlantic Motorsports Park. Turing his Mopar Express Lane backed 2015 BMW Motorrad S1000RR around the 2.56 km (1.6 mile track) he hit the checkered for the record 50th time in his superbike career.
“It’s great to get my 50th win here; this place is so challenging on a Superbike. They’re really animals around here,” said Szoke. “My focus is still on the championship, not records. Now I have to go to Mosport , get the championship, and then get my head down at that track.”
Szoke took the lead on the 12th lap of the 22 lap race and pulled clear of the remainder of the field by 4.662 sec finishing in 25 min 32.703 seconds.
Szoke has claimed 5 for 5 races this season and all but one of the valued pole positions. Giving him a monumental lead of 91 points heading into the season finale double header at the historic Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville Ontario, Canada. There will be 108 points up for grabs during this final event taking place Aug 14 – 16.
Szoke’s Extreme Show will also be performing during the BMW Motorrad Days. Szoke offers a Motorcycle Experience like no other to all types events across the country. He provides an army of talent equipped with wealth of experience and professionalism. Watch for our precision Observed Trials team to provide a unique show experience for the whole family to enjoy.
More, from a press release issued by Triumph Motorcycles (America):
TRIUMPH FLAT TRACK RIDERS READY FOR RETURN TO ACTION AT THE BLACK HILLS HALF-MILE
Riedmann leads CSBK Pro Sport Bike championship after third consecutive win
ATLANTA (August 4, 2015) – After nearly a month off, the AMA Pro Flat Track series races back into action at the Black Hills Half-Mile, in Rapid City, S.D., on Tuesday, August 4. Triumph riders Jake Shoemaker and Brandon Robinson are eager to get back on their Bonneville motorcycles as they continue the championship race.
Shoemaker, rider of the #55 Bonneville Performance / Castrol / Triumph Bonneville, had his best result of the season at the last race, finishing in 10th place, while Robinson has piloted the #44 Latus Motors Racing / Castrol / Triumph Bonneville to a top ten finish in all but two races this season. Shoemaker and Robinson currently sit in 13th and 6th, respectively, in the GNC1 point standings.
“I really enjoy half-miles and can’t wait to get back on the Bonneville Performance / Castrol / Triumph Bonneville after this break,” said Jake Shoemaker. “I’ve focused on my training quite a bit and the team has made some changes to the bike, so I’m expecting to get a good result.”
As part of its outreach initiative, VETMotorsports will embed Cpl. Daniel M. and Spc. Michael W. with the Bonneville Performance team. Through Castrol’s VETMotorsports Performance Match Fund, the on-track performance of Triumph teams in both Flat Track and MotoAmerica competition has earned VETMotorpsports $5,950 in bonuses thus far this season.
Kenny Riedmann rode his #1 plated Riedmann Management / GE Capital / Castrol / Triumph Daytona 675R to his third consecutive Pro Sport Bike victory at Atlantic Motorsport Park for the fifth round of the Canadian Superbike Championship. The win puts Riedmann in the lead of the championship standings with two races remaining on the schedule.
“This was the first time I’ve ever swept a Pro Sport Bike weekend, leading all practice sessions, qualifying on pole and taking the victory,” said Kenny Riedmann. “It’s great to be back out in front in the championship and I think we’ve got a good chance of getting the championship again.”
Fans can stream the entire AMA Pro Flat Track event live online, free of charge, at www.FansChoice.tv. Practice starts at 4:00 p.m. MDT, with the racing to begin at 8:00 p.m. and the GNC1 Main at 10:30 p.m. MDT.
About Triumph
Triumph Motorcycles is a British motorcycle marque that produces a wide range of truly distinctive Modern Classic, Adventure, Sport, Cruiser and Touring motorcycles offering the perfect blend of authentic design, character, charisma and performance. The first Triumph was produced in 1902. The company’s global headquarters is located in Hinckley, Leicestershire, England, solely owned by Bloor Holdings Ltd. Triumph Motorcycles America Ltd., its North American subsidiary, is based in Atlanta, Ga., and home to the motorcycle industry’s first 24/7 Customer Support team. To see the full range of Triumph motorcycles, visit www.TriumphMotorcycles.com.
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About Castrol
Castrol, one of the world’s leading lubricant brands, has a proud heritage of innovation and fuelling the dreams of pioneers. Their passion for performance, combined with a philosophy of working in partnership with manufacturers, has enabled Castrol to develop oils that have been at the heart of numerous technological feats on land, air, sea and space for over 100 years. Today, the company’s vast portfolio of high performance lubricants, including Castrol EDGE, Castrol GTX MAGNATEC, Castrol GTX and Castrol Power RS, are available in almost 140 countries worldwide. For more information on Castrol’s premium lubricants, please visit www.Castrol.com<http://www.Castrol.com>.
About VETMotorsports
Founded in 2012, Veteran Empowerment Through Motorsports (VETMotorsports) is an award-winning, non-clinical outreach program that embeds qualifying warfighters with existing race teams to provide them with unique motorsports experiences. By placing veterans in hands-on, high-stress, team environments that mimic active duty, the organization gives them direction, empowerment and challenges that help them focus on ability and moving forward rather than disability and the past. To date VETMotorsports has helped more than 65 injured warfighters participate in 35 motorcycle and auto racing events across the United States. To learn more about VETMotorsports, participate in the program, or make a donation, visit www.VETMotorsports.org<http://www.VETMotorsports.org>.