FIM SUPERBIKE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 09 JULY 31 SILVERSTONE, GREAT BRITAIN PREVIEW ALEX LOWES TEAMED WITH KARL MUGGERIDGE FOR ROUND NINE British rider Alex Lowes and reigning IDM champion Karl Muggeridge will represent the official Castrol Honda Superbike World Championship team at Silverstone this coming weekend, after both team regulars Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus were forced out by injury. Lowes has already deputised for the Rea in the Ten Kate operated team at the previous Brno round, where he scored a point in race one, then a DNF in race two. Alex had an opportunity to test at Assen last week and put in almost 120 laps on day one before rain on day two reduced the available track time, and therefore his final lap count. Nevertheless, Lowes was delighted to have the chance to get to know the full Castrol Honda package better and now eagerly anticipates getting back into race action at his home circuit. Muggeridge, who was victorious in the Supersport World Championship for the Ten Kate Honda team in 2004, and later became a Superbike rider for the same team for two successive seasons. He is, therefore, well-known to the current Ten Kate outfit and is still active in the IDM championship riding a Honda. He currently lies second in the German Championship rankings after five rounds. Jonathan Rea had been hoping against hope to be fit to ride at his home race, but for Xaus missing Silverstone was an even more unexpected blow. Persistent pain in his back, despite an initial all clear, drove him to seek further medical attention. A fracture to his L3 vertebra was diagnosed, but Ruben is expected to be back in time for the tenth round of the championship, in Germany on September 4. The 5.9Km long ‘new’ Silverstone track layout was used for WSBK competition last season, with Jonathan Rea taking his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR to second place on two occasions. This year the pits and paddock complex has been relocated to a new home inside the Silverstone ‘Wing’ as the revitalisation of one of Britain’s most iconic racing venues reaches another level. WSBK Rider Comments Alex Lowes, Castrol Honda says: “I had a great time at Brno, but it was all a massive learning curve for me and the test at Assen last week was the perfect chance to spend some more time on the bike. I managed to pick up where I left off in terms of adapting my style and racked up quite a few laps. We changed a few things and got to test some stuff to try to improve the feel of the bike mid-corner. By the end of the second day it was beginning to feel like my bike, so I was really happy, and the last couple of runs were pretty good. I think we did a decent job. Now I can really look forward to Silverstone this weekend I love the track and it’ll be a home race for me, so I’ll work as hard as I can from Friday morning and try to deliver two solid results for the team. The latest Silverstone is a big improvement on the old track we used in BSB racing. It has some really nice fast corners and a more technical stadium section.” Karl Muggeridge, Castrol Honda says: “I was actually on holiday with the family in Italy when the call came through from Ronald (Ten Kate), but I’m really happy to get this opportunity to join the team again. I actually rode for the Castrol Honda British Supersport team way back when, so it’s good to be back with that iconic racing name again, too. The World Superbike paddock is a place where I feel completely at home, but there’s definitely a big job ahead for the weekend. I don’t want to set any unrealistic targets and I’m not going to Silverstone to re-invent the wheel. I’ll just aim to work hard and ride strong all weekend and hopefully get a couple of decent finishes in the races.” World Supersport Preview ROUND 8 British Riders To The Fore But Foret Plans Cross-Channel Plunder Fabien Foret (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) will have to fight off several strong challenges from local British riders at Silverstone to take his first race win of the year. He was only 0.448 seconds from victory at the previous round at Brno, but it was his fellow Honda rider Gino Rea (Step Racing Team Honda) who had the pleasure of taking the first career WSS race win, and the first full points score for a CBR600RR rider this year. Rea is now eighth in the rankings and with many of his early season issues with injury and niggling technical points now seemingly solved, he is looking to get further up the table this weekend. Now third in the championship fight overall, on the same score of 85 points as second place rider Broc Parkes, Foret is the top ranked Honda rider at present. The next nearest is Sam Lowes (Parkalgar Honda) in sixth place. One of the British brigade trying to score a home win at Silverstone, Lowes is a British Supersport Champion and is on a machine which has proved to be podium capable from the outset of his first full season in this category. Robbin Harms (Harms Benjan Racing Honda) was the top ranked Honda rider for some time, but recent bad luck (including a crash and breakdown at the previous round in Brno) has placed him seventh, after opening his 2011 score with three top five finishes in succession. A rookie in 2011, Florian Marino (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) has shown flashes of potential, while at the opposite end of the overall experience spectrum, James Ellison (Bogdanka PTR Honda), is another rider who can justifiably dream of a podium finish if things go to plan in practice and qualifying. Ellison is 12th currently, Marino ninth. Silverstone was a personal WSS career highlight in 2010 for Portuguese competitor Miguel Praia (Parkalgar Honda), a rider who is approaching the latest British race in better shape than he has been able to in some recent races. Thirteenth in the rankings, Praia has to finish stronger than eighth at Silverstone to record his best result of the year. Polish rider Pawel Szkopek (Bogdanka PTR Honda) is 21st in the overall standings, with Alexander Lundh (Cresto Guide Racing Team Honda) 16th and Vladimir Ivanov (Step Racing Team Honda) 18th. Imre Toth (Team Hungary Toth Honda) is 20th. After Silverstone there is a month long break until the next round for both Superbike and Supersport classes, with action recommencing at the Nürburgring on September 4. WSS Rider Comments Fabien Foret says: “I am pretty happy to go to Silverstone because it is my favourite track in England and hopefully the weather will not be too bad. We made a test at Assen to help us to make the next half step up to the top of the podium. I was expecting to do that in Brno, but because of the red flag and a few other reasons I could not get to the right place. I am going to focus on having a good weekend, have fun and enjoy the bike and try to do my best again. I have such a good feeling on the bike now and I feel like I am almost brand new. I feel even more sharp than at Brno so I am ready for it.” Sam Lowes says: “I just can’t wait to get racing and I feel really fit. I really enjoyed Donington earlier this year and the huge amount of support we received. I love Silverstone, I raced there twice last year and won the race and British Supersport Championship at the circuit, so it is a good one for me. In my opinion this is the first track all year that I can turn up at and be on it right away. I just want to get there and be on it and look for that first win.” Robbin Harms says: “We have built a new bike because the last crash at Brno was pretty tough and we built a new bike and a new chassis, which means I am looking forward to Silverstone. The spec is very much like the previous one, but every time you build a new version you make something new and maybe we can improve in some places. I think the most recent Silverstone layout is very good, especially because they used some parts of the old track.” Gino Rea says: “I am still smiling looking back to our win at Brno and now I cannot wait to get to Silverstone, especially if the good weather continues here in the UK. I have great memories of Silverstone last year because that is where I got my first podium in this class in front of a home crowd. Coming off the win I am going into the next race injury free and full of positive thoughts. Let’s get on with it!” Florian Marino says: “We had a test at Assen and we found quite a good base and good pace for Silverstone. Brno was not too bad because I made quite consistent lap times, closer to the guys in front, and that was a big improvement on the races before. Silverstone is one of my favourite tracks. I feel better going to the race there after the Assen test, having done 93 laps on the first day and then 60 on the second, but it had started raining.” James Ellison: “Silverstone should be a good track for us and it is a home round in Britain as well. We are still working on the front-end set up at the apex of the corners as right now I cannot maintain the corner speed I want to. We sometimes find a good setting and sometimes not. We will go back and run the bike with standard handlebars which is the way Eugene Laverty ran last year.” Miguel Praia says: “At Brno I was riding well and happy about my pace, but I was not happy crashing out when riding so well. I don’t want that happening again. I am looking forward to Silverstone, I had my best ever race last year and know the track pretty well. I am putting it all together and want to make my best race ever. I am confident.” More, from a press release issued by Supersonic Racing Team: This coming weekend we will have the ninth round of the World Superbike Championship on the Silverstone track. The Silverstone circuit will host two SBK races and is located in England, not far from Northamptonshire. The track was build as a military airport and the first race of the Formula 1 world championship was held on the track (May 13, 1950) In 1975, the chicane was build to attempt the speed of the Woodcote corner and the Bridge curve was modified in 1987. In 1990 and 1991 important work was done to transform the Silverstone circuit, and become also a medium-slow track. In the 2010 season, the circuit was lengthened by 760 meters, while this year, the start grid has been moved from its original location between Woodcote and Copse curve, to Club and Abbey, including also a new pit lane and the new and refurbished paddock. Also available, a conference room (Wing Silverstone), new garage, a building for the race direction, a new media centre, new hospitality areas and a VIP area. The Supersonic Team will arrive at Silverstone to confirm the good work done so far, but also to improve the results of the races that have never been as positive as those obtained in the tests. Danilo Soncini and his whole team will arrive very motivated in England and strong believes that they can achieve great results. Maxime Berger: “I really like this track; I won last year in Superstock the second place just one second behind the winner. I hope that the climate is favourable, because I don’t like racing in the rain, but even if it rains I will give my best as always. I am fine with my team and my Ducati and I only miss a bit of luck that gives me a great result in the race. In the tests we have already seen that very well and in the recent races we always entered into Superpole. I hope soon, to find the best settings for my 1198 to gain a good starting place on the grid and be able to fight for a result that can reward our sponsors, the team and myself.”