2009: Year of the Tiger. Jeff Tigert Continues Winning Streak with Willow Springs Motorcycle Club in April with Fourth Consecutive Formula 1 Win and Announces Tigerteamracing.com Southern California’s Jeff Tigert continued his winning streak with another three race wins at Willow Springs last weekend including the premier WSMC Formula 1 race. April’s F1 race found Tigert and former WSMC #1 plate holder Jeremy Toye both on Honda CBR1000RRs battling hard and fast throughout the entire 20 laps for the checkered flag and the accompanying $3000 winner’s purse. After multiple lead changes, including Tigert’s last lap pass in Willow’s high speed Turn 8, Tigert edged out Toye by a fraction of a second at the line to take the F1 win. Tigert is the currently undefeated points leader at Willow Springs for 2009. Tigert has peppered his successful 2009 racing season with good showings at the AMA’s Daytona and Fontana Superbike races. March’s AMA event at Fontana cost him an engine rebuild when a hose clamp failed, dumping his coolant and eventually overheating his CBR1000s motor as he hobbled across the Fontana finish line. After a complete engine rebuild by John Ethell of Jett Tuning, Tigert rebounded with this month’s wins at Willow Springs. TigerTeam racing is also proud to announce its new home on the internet, www.tigerteamracing.com . The site is regularly updated with results, standings, photos, sponsor information and Jeff’s personal blog. When he’s not winning races, Jeff Tigert is a Test Engineer for Honda R&D Americas Inc, in Torrance, California where he lives with his wife, TigerTeam Racing Manager Christina Tigert. TigerTeam racing would like to thank current sponsors including Dunlop/Sport Tire Services, American Honda, Jett Tuning, Catalyst Reaction Suspension, Cycle Mall, Dynojet, Vortex, Suomy, Helimot European Accessories, GPR Stabilizers, EBC Brakes, Vortex, Red Car Brewery, Leo Vince, Goodridge, and Guzzitech.com. More, from a press release issued by Ryan Farquhar’s publicist: Winning start for Farquhar Ryan Farquhar got his 2009 pure road racing season underway in fine style on Sunday when he retained the Ian Watson Trophy at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough. Riding the 1000cc KMR Kawasaki, Ryan finished first and second in the two legs to add his name to the trophy for the second successive year. Having taken second in his heat for the Ian Watson Trophy races, Ryan got a great start in the first 8-lap leg and slotted in to second at the completion of the first lap around the tricky woodland venue. Enjoying a great tussle with fellow Irishman Michael Pearson, Ryan took the lead a lap later and, at half race distance, began to open up a gap. On the fifth lap though, the red flag came out to stop the race due to an incident on the circuit and with the race declared a result, Ryan was awarded the win by 0.723 seconds. In the second leg later in the day, Ryan again got a great start and led the field around on lap one. A lap later he dropped back to 3rd but when Guy Martin took the lead, he thought it best if he got back in to second to guarantee overall victory. This he duly did and for the remainder of the race he sat behind Martin safe in the knowledge that the runner up spot would enable him to take the overall win and trophy. The Dungannon flyer also had a very enjoyable day on his ER6 Kawasaki and took first and second on his debut in the Mini Twins class, each time enjoying terrific tussles with fellow-Kawasaki rider David Bell, the duo separated by fractions at the chequered flag. The only downside to an otherwise superb day came in the first Supersport 600cc race. Leading a four-rider dice for the lead, Ryan was looking strong at the head of the field but it all went wrong on the fourth lap when he was t-boned by Ian Lougher at Mountside Hairpin and the duo crashed out. Fortunately, both riders escaped injury but the damage to Ryan’s ZX-6R Ninja Kawasaki was sufficient enough to eliminate him from the second race and he now faces a race against time to get it repaired in time for Saturday’s Cookstown 100 meeting. Speaking at the end of the day, a pleased Ryan said: “Overall, I’m happy with how the day went and it’s great to retain the Ian Watson Trophy. The big bike races went well and I felt good at the front although in the second leg I wasn’t quite sure if the overall result was decided on points or time so decided to sit right on the back of Guy to make sure I won it and that’s exactly what happened.” “I was really pleased with my rides on the ER6 and both races were terrific fun the bike’s lovely to ride. The only downside was the crash in the 600cc race. It’s a shame it happened but these things happen in racing and we were both ok, so that’s the main thing. I’ve got a busy few days now to get ready for Cookstown and I’m eagerly looking forward to the meeting and getting the Irish Road Race season underway.” The Cookstown 100 road race takes place on Saturday, April 25th. More, from a press release issued by Cartersport Motorsport Media: RAIN STOPS PLAY IN ITALY FOR BRIDEWELL Tommy Bridewell saw his hopes of getting his Italian Superstock Championship campaign off to a good start halted when rain washed out the Misano race yesterday. The 20-year-old from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire is contesting the series for the Lorenzini by Leoni team alongside the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup this season and was hoping to get some more valuable track time on the brand new Yamaha R1. However, the handling problems that plagued the team in Valencia a couple of weeks ago returned and Bridewell struggled during qualifying in the dry, but with wet weather forecast for race day, he was hopeful of a good result. But it wasn’t to be as after a wet start, it dried up and some support races were run but a cloudburst just before Tom was due to go out saw the track drenched and after a few riders did exploratory laps at the request of the organisers, it was deemed unfit to race on so as a result, the race was postponed. “We had some fairly major handling issues again which the team are trying their hardest to resolve as we just can’t put our finger on it. I was at the point of grinding the engine casings but in the morning warm up in the wet, it felt a lot better. Obviously I’m disappointed to come to Italy and not get a race but we need to get the bike sorted and one option for Assen next weekend is to build a completely new bike for me which the team are looking at” said Tom. The Dutch track will host the second round of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup and Bridewell is hoping to improve on his 13th place finish in the opening round in Spain when it gets underway at 10.40 (GMT) on Sunday. More, from a press release issued by Guy Martin’s publicist: Mixed day at the Mount for Martin Guy Martin endured a mixed day of racing at Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough on Sunday, where he was competing in the Ian Watson Spring National meeting. The Hydrex Honda star suffered a spill in his heat race but bounced back to take 1st and 4th in the two legs of the Superbike class to chalk up his first win of the 2009 season. Riding the 1000cc Honda Fireblade for the first time this year, Guy only finished building the bike on Saturday evening and practice saw him encounter front suspension problems, as the larger TT tank was making the front forks bottom out on the approach to the three hairpins. The necessary adjustments were made in time for the Superbike heat race, and Guy immediately slotted in to third place. As the riders began their second lap of the 2.43-mile public road course, Guy moved in to the lead but no sooner had he done so, he crashed out as he lost the front end going in to the Esses, man and machine sliding into the hedge. Fortunately, Guy was uninjured although rapid repairs were required on the damaged Honda. Despite not having qualified for the two legs of the Ian Watson Superbike Trophy, Guy was added to the grid although he made the worst possible start in the first 8-lap race when the front wheel went skywards as the lights turned green. Dropping all the way down to 15th, Guy then set about clawing his way through the field. Tenth at the end of the first lap, he had worked his way up to fourth on the fifth lap when the red flags came out for an incident and the results was subsequently declared. In the second leg, Guy was again on the second row but this time he made a better start and found himself in second place after the first two laps, taking the lead a lap later. He promptly opened up a gap at the head of the field and came home just ahead of Ryan Farquhar, to finish 2nd overall after the points were combined for the two races. Speaking afterwards, Guy said: “It’s good to get my first win of the season under the belt although it’s been another fraught day. With the larger tank on the bike, the handling of the bike was way off and you can’t manhandle it around like you can with the smaller, short circuit tank so we had to make a fair few changes to get it anywhere near right.” “The bike was a lot better at the beginning of the heat race although tipping in to the Esses, the front end just completely washed out and I was in the hedge before I knew it. We got the bike patched up in time for the first Superbike race but I made a complete pig’s ear of the start and nearly flipped the thing but I got my head down and got up to 4th before the red flags came out. I made no mistake later in the day though and once I’d got to the front, I managed to keep Ryan at bay to take the win.” “Like Brands Hatch last week with the 600, we’ve learnt a lot about the Superbike today and now we know what adjustments need to be made prior to the North West 200. It’s been valuable time on the bike and better to encounter the problems here rather than at the North West so we can now look forward and make sure we’ve got everything covered for when we arrive in Northern Ireland.” Prior to the North West 200, Guy’s next race will come at Oulton Park for the second round of the British Supersport Championship, with the meeting taking place from May 2-4. More, from a press release issued by Miles Thornton Racing: Trying to get back on track after a rough start in the 2009 season, Miles Thornton put forth an awesome effort during the 3rd round of the WERA National Challenge Series at Jennings, FL. Thornton entered Formula 2, 125 GP, and 750 Superbike classes. In the Formula 2 race, Miles had a great start and looked to be in the lead early and fell victim to a mechanical failure. In 125cc GP, Thornton got an awesome start on THEROTATER.COM sponsored Moriwaki MD 250 placing him second entering into turn one. Miles battled with Stefano Mesa dealing a third place finish for Thornton in the end. In the 750 Superbike class Miles knew he was out powered on his Yamaha TZ250, and rode to an eighth place finish. “I am very pleased with my results this weekend and the advances the team have made on the bikes, considering the complications we have struggled with over the past few rounds,” Thornton said. Miles’ would like to thank Arai, Syed, Sidi, Held USA, Impact Armor, EBC, Darius Company, Pauleez, Porzio Performance, and Composite 1 for all the help and support they have provided. More, from a press release issued by Greg Melka: Tampa, Florida rider Greg Melka was smooth and steady, and none too slow during the CCS twin-sprint weekend April 18-19 at Carolina Motorsports Park. Greg entered 11 middleweight and heavyweight races over the two-day event and won six of them. Thanks to front row starts, he got the holeshot in nearly each race but started off the weekend nearly missing the first race, GTU. “Yeah, we were kinda sleeping on that one. There was a red flag before one lap was completed that got me back on the front row to take a restart,” said Melka. “Younger 600 specialists Abe Stacey, Zsolt Veres, Reese Wacker and Paul Allison were too much in some races, but at age 41 I was happy to occasionally stay out front and get some wins. The new Michelin Power One tires are making my racing fun again.” Melka did not start his 11th race of the weekend, saying, “I had enough fun for one weekend, ending with six wins in 10 starts with nothing worse than a fourth made me a happy guy.” Melka won Heavyweight Superbike Race One, GTU Race One, Heavyweight Supersport Race One, Heavyweight Superbike Race Two, Middleweight GP Race Two and Heavyweight Supersport Race Two. Greg Melka would like to thank ProFlowTech.com, Michelin Tires, T-man and CTR of Ohlins Suspensions, mechanics Ian Jobert and Jim Scala, Dick at Full Spectrum Racing, JenningsGP, EBC, Vortex, Engine ice, Sharkskinz, Silkolene, SYED leathers, Sidi boots, Cahill’s Yamaha, RS Customs painting and fab, Century Design, Pit Bull, USA Tools, S3 Media, LeoVince and VP for the continuous support. More, from a press release issued by Team Velocity Racing: TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha: 3rd Straight Heavyweight Superstock Victory in WERA Endurance at Jennings GP JENNINGS, Fla.””TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha increased their winning streak last weekend, taking their third consecutive Heavyweight Superstock victory during Saturday’s six-hour WERA National Endurance Series race at Jennings GP. Chuck Ivey, Brett Champagne, Zac Chapman and James Vanderhaar rode the TVR/EBC Brakes Yamaha YZF-R1. Although they were racing for the win, as always, the weekend was also a test for the team’s new 2009 model R1. There were a few setup struggles, but overall everyone was impressed with the bike. “It’s a totally different machine than the ’08,” commented Chapman. “The power delivery is different, but really fast and smooth; it almost felt like riding a V-twin, which is what I’m used to riding.” “The new bike is awesome. We just need to get it dialed in, and now we know what direction to go for the next race. I’m looking forward to having the R1 out there on the other tracks we race,” said Champagne. TVR has a test day scheduled prior to the next WERA Endurance round, and they will work with Jamie James to get the suspension and setup perfected on the ’09 R1. “The overall results from Jennings don’t show how well the guys rode,” said Ivey, referring to their finish of seventh overall. “We’ve just got some things to work on. Our crew kept their focus to keep us on track, and everybody’s happy with how the new R1 works and feels.” TVR II, the team’s Mediumweight Superstock entry, featured Vanderhaar, Reuben Frankenfield and 16-year-old talent Ethan Ellis on a Yamaha YZF-R6. Despite a crash, the team was poised for the Mediumweight Superstock win before an extra pit stop relegated them to second. They crossed the line just 30 seconds behind first place after a six-hour battle, and this marks the second time TVR II has earned a class podium this season. For Vanderhaar, riding both the R1 and R6 during the race was a challenge. “I only got three laps of practice on the R6, but it was easy to ride because it’s so much smaller than the R1,” he said. “But then I got on the R1 and it has so much power! Riding it is much more physical because you’re on the edge the whole time.”