Knockhill All Set To Make History At British Superbikes! Knockhill Racing Circuit will be the setting for three unique events this forthcoming weekend as it hosts the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, the ADT Fire and Security round. The three-day event from 17th to 19th June will see one of the greatest riders in the world; ex MotoGP rider John Hopkins make his Scottish debut. Jenny Tinmouth, the fastest female TT rider of all time will resume her circuit racing career and the most iconic name in British motorcycling, Norton, will launch its first dealership at Knockhill. ‘Hopper’, from San Diego in California rides for the Samsung Crescent Racing Team aboard a Suzuki and has followed on his prestigious MotoGP and World Superbike careers with an assault on the prestigious MCE Insurance British Superbike title. Hopkins recently tested at Knockhill and within a few laps was at near lap record pace which may be ominous for his fellow BSB competitors including England’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Japan’s triple BSB Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari. In addition, Jenny Tinmouth from Ellesmere Port is all set to make her 2011 racing debut on her Honda CBR600 in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship. Jenny achieved the fastest lap ever by a female rider at the challenging Isle of Man TT course in 2010 and also came third in the British Supersport Cup last year. Reunited with her trusty Honda after an abortive sortie into British Superbikes, Jenny will be racing on both Saturday and Sunday as part of the new look series which sees double headers at all rounds. No doubt she will be aiming to get her season up and running before the Championship heads south after Knockhill. Jenny will also be one of five female riders to compete next weekend including Scotland’s own Sammi Tasker. Arguably one of the most iconic and historic names of the British motorcycle industry is coming to Scotland. Norton will open its first dealership in a new worldwide network with RPM. Russell Paterson Morgan, based in Perth, extends its portfolio of British brands by adding Norton alongside Morgan and Ginetta. RPM are launching the brand at the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship meeting with their Sales Director and current BSB rider Chris Walker on hand for the ceremonial launch this Friday (17th June). Both versions of the performance road bike, the Sport and Cafe Racer will be on display at the Knockhill showroom for fans to admire. PRESS CALL – FRIDAY 17th June from 10.30am onwards The team at Knockhill invite all bonafide media to attend a Press Call from 10.30am on FRIDAY 17th JUNE at Knockhill to meet John Hopkins, Jenny Tinmouth and witness the official opening of the Norton dealership. John will be on track from 10.30am, Jenny will be available from 11am and between12 noon and 1pm, Chris Walker and Russell Paterson of RPM will be launching the Norton brand in Scotland. For further information on the above, please contact [email protected] who will advise of the accreditation process. Tracey can be contacted on 01383 723337 or Stuart Gray for any other event or PR requests. For further information, please check out the official MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship website at www.britishsuperbike.com. Event details: Friday – Admission £5 – Start Time 10am Saturday – Admission £15 – Start Time 9am Sunday – £30 – Start Time 8.45am Advance discount tickets available including a special three day pass for only £32. Further details are available via the website at www.knockhill.com More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: SWAN YAMAHA AIMING HIGH AS KNOCKHILL BECKONS The Swan Yamaha team will be aiming high at the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill this weekend as Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty return to the Scottish track and prepare to challenge for the two victories on Sunday. Hill and Laverty currently lie fourth and fifth respectively in the overall standings and are separated by just a single point. Both riders are now feeling in a determined mood ahead of the event as Hill seeks a return to the podium following two challenging rounds at Croft and Thruxton whilst Laverty is aiming for a repeat performance after winning last time out at Thruxton. Hill said: “I am ready for Knockhill. The last few rounds we have run at the front and have been up there setting the pace in practice and qualifying, but it just hasn’t happened for us in the race with the lottery of the wrong tyre choice in the changing conditions. This weekend hopefully there will be none of that and we can just get out there and race to get the results we know that the Swan Yamaha team are capable of. I want to be on the podium at Knockhill as it is frustrating when you have been fast all weekend and then you are not up in the top three in the race but like I said, we are definitely capable of challenging for the win and we are all positive we can do it at Knockhill.” Laverty said: “After winning at Thruxton I am really looking forward to Knockhill this weekend and hopefully the conditions will be consistent throughout so we can have two good races. The Swan Yamaha has been strong whether it has been wet or dry, but after being on the podium at the last round I want to be back in the top three again because it is so close for the top six positions in the standings. I am in there at the moment but I need two good results this weekend to stay there and try to cement the position. We definitely have to keep the momentum going so we need another good weekend to try and get more points and podium credits for everyone at Swan Yamaha.” For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk