Swan Yamaha Take the Lead in Opening Round of the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship The season got off to a flying start for the Swan Yamaha team in Brands Hatch as Tommy Hill took his first victory in race two and a second in race one to take the championship lead ahead of round two in Oulton park. Hill put on a sensational performance in race two holding off advances from race one winner Byrne and current champion Kiyonari to take the chequered flag and his first victory of the season. The opening race of the day was dramatic for team-mate Michael Laverty. In an accident packed race one Laverty was unfortunate and suffered a highside on lap 11 while in the lead, causing him to crash out. Hill just behind him, had to take evasive action to avoid collision and initially dropped back to 11th before fighting back and completing the race in an impressive second place. Recovering from his race one accident Laverty put on a solid performance in race two and finished in fourth place setting the fastest race lap along the way. Hill heads to Oulton Park for round two of the BSB championship in top of the 2011 standings with 45 points, 4 points ahead of Byre in second. Laverty sits in eighth position with 13 points. In British Supersport Yamaha R6 rider Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing) scored a third and second place, leaving Brands in second place overall, only 2 points behind leader Ben Wilson. More, from a press release issued by GR Motorsport: Strong start to British Championship 2 incredible starts by Marshall take Aprilia RSV4 APRC to top ten A huge sun kissed crowd witnessed the First round of the ‘Metzeler National Superstock Championship’ at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend , Prolonged unusually high temperatures throughout the weekend caused many of the teams and riders some issues and qualifying was quite a testing time for Marshall Neill and GR Aprilia only managing 21st on the grid, but the race was to be a different story. The extremely busy ‘MCE British Superbike Championship’ timetable had the scheduled 24 lap Superstock 1000 race start at 11 am. Starting from 21st Portadown’s Marshall Neill had a huge mountain to climb aboard the 2011 Aprilia RSV4 APRC, but as the lights changed Marshall made fantastic use of the Aprilia APRC system launching towards the top ten! At the end of the first lap Marshall had pushed the RSV4 into 11th place and a lap later was in 8th, an incident on the track brought out the pace car for the next 4 laps before a red flag stoppage to help the trackside staff to clear the incident. The restart was to be over 16 laps with the grid set from lap 2 which gave Marshall and the RSV4 grid 8. Another fantastic start and Marshall brought the GR Aprilia round in 3rd with the leaders. Marshall settled in to a tremendous battle and brought the Aprilia home in a very strong 7th a brilliant result to say we have only had the bike now for just over a month. Marshall Neill “I was really looking forward to the BSB this weekend although Brands is not one of my favourite tracks. We had a few problems in qualifying which did cost me but Brent and the boy’s Danny and Big Willy did a ‘good job’ help from Simon at Aprilia was great and morning warm up showed we were ready. The wee Aprilia is just fantastic off the line Brent said he could not watch the first lap but I really enjoyed it. The restart I knew I could repeat the first I had a great race to bring her home 7th and now I am off home and looking forward to Oulton. “ Tony Robinson “Marshall and the Aprilia RSV4 APRC have proven to be a good package for the team, we know we more to come from both as the season progresses and we are looking forward to more good results.” 3 days in the workshop and straight off to Oulton Park for the bank holiday weekend which is one of Marshall’s favourite tracks. We have some opportunities for sponsorship, advertising and corporate hospitality if you would like to join us please don’t hesitate to contact me More, from a press release issued by Nadine Lajoie: Two 4th Position for Nadine Lajoie Button Willow, CA, April 24th, 2011 The California State Championship kick off was this weekend during the 4th Round of Wera West Championship. She was participating with her CBR Honda 600 RR/Catalyst Reaction/Suomy in 5 different races. The weekend finished on a better note, because that started with poor and slow lap times on Friday and a crash Saturday morning during practices, when the bike in front of her crashed and spilled oil everywhere. “I tried to avoid the oil but with the sun and all the dirt cloud, it was impossible to see. I slowed down as much as I was able to, but it was too late! I lost control in a low side, from the oil. I had a few parts to fix, and I was ready for the following practice with the help of Norm Harris. I think I finished 17th in the Solo 20.” Sunday, during the Women Super Sport race, there was an incredible battle for the third position between Marisol Lacour, Jennifer Everson Lauritzen and Nadine. Nadine was waiting for an opportunity to pass, which happened in the second to last lap where Marisol’s turn was too wide, and Nadine was taking fourth behind Jennifer. Christie Cooley took the win in front of Krystyna Kubran. She also finished 4th in Senior Superbike, 11th in C Superbike (600cc) and 15th in B Superbike (750cc). The next races will be for the WERA National at Miller Motorsports Park, UT (June 17-18-19) where she will race the regular sprint races, and will be part of the 6-hour Endurance Team put together by Shandra Crawford. Infineon Raceway, CA will follow on July 8-9-10. Also known as “The Motorcycle Racer & Speaker who sings like an Angel”, Nadine is a motivational speaker who creates a non-profit organization using motorcycle racing as a metaphor to save lives with fun & passion, and help against depression & suicide all over the world. You can also help and join that “much needed” movement! Please visit www.nadineracing.com for more info, order her book “Win The Race Of Life”¦ with Balance and Passion at 180mph”, reserve your spot for your speaking events and book signing. She will be in 10 different cities on the West Coast of USA this summer and is also co-author with Les Brown in “Fight for your Dreams”. More, from a press release issued by Performance Technical Racing: WILSON CRAIG RACING’S Cameron Donald won 10 races out of 10 starts at Bishopscourt and Kirkistown in Northern Ireland over the Easter break on his PTR prepared Honda Fireblade Superbike and Honda CBR600RR Supersport bike. It was the first time that Donald got to meet his 2011 team and he was impressed. He said: “My first time on the Superbike and with the Wilson Craig team was a very good start to the season, 10 wins out of 10 starts, you can’t ask for more than that. “Just as pleasing as the wins was the fact I was at lap record pace as well. We used both meetings as a test and I will keep my feet on the ground, especially with the Superbike – that is always a work in progress as there is so much to adjust. “I have my first street race at Cookstown this weekend and it will be interesting to see how we go, we want to learn more and progress there to the North West 200. I have a lot of confidence and the bikes and team worked very well.” PTR is the organisation behind the Parkalgar Honda, Bogdanka PTR Honda and PTR Romania teams in the World Supersport Championship and has finished runner up in the World Championship in 2009 and 2010. It offers customer packages to racers and track day riders of all levels. PTR Director Jason McClean said: “We are pleased to add our first Superbike wins to our CV and are delighted that Cameron and Wilson Craig have got off to a great start to the season. “It is our second year with the Wilson Craig Racing Team and we hope to add plenty more victories to the tally this year. “If anyone is interested in using bikes prepared by PTR then please call and speak with us, we want to expand our business into the road racing scene and help riders achieve their potential.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Suzuki’s all new 2011-Model GSX-R600 has been proving itself on race tracks world-wide in the hands of Team Suzuki riders as well as on the road with Suzuki owners and world media. Fast becoming a firm favourite with the motorcycle press globally, the GSX-R600 has been setting the pace in the British, American and Australian Supersport National Championships in the hands of Alastair Seeley, Elena Myers and Brodie Waters. In Britain, Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider Seeley (pictured left) raced his GSX-R600 to its maiden victory in the second leg of the season-opening round at Brands Hatch in Kent on April 25th, bouncing back from a first race fall as he challenged for the lead. The 31-year-old former British Superstock Champion and current North West 200 Superstock and Superbike lap record-holder currently sits fourth in the 24-race series with round two this weekend at Oulton Park in Cheshire. Said Seeley: “I never looked behind me in that second Supersport race and it’s a good job as I think I might have scared myself! This coming weekend we’ll get a chance to stretch the legs on the GSX-R600 at Oulton Park.” Relentless Suzuki by TAS Team Manager Philip Neill was upbeat at his new Supersport rider’s recovery, along with the new 2011 machine’s performance, saying: “There are a number of positives to take away from this meeting, starting with Alastair Seeley: He was pure class in that race today and it’s not the first time he’s pulled this team out of a hole: He completely out-smarted his rivals and the new GSX-R600 package was nothing short of perfect.” In America, 17-year-old Myers (pictured centre) took her SuzukiScoopFans-sponsored GSX-R600 to sixth and seventh-placed overall finishes at the opening round at Daytona Beach, Florida in mid-March, putting her second in the AMA West SuperSport Championship. The teenager, who will compete in all races this season, although she is officially only entered into the ‘West-Coast’ Championship said: “Saturday’s race was a good one overall. I think it was crazy in the first few turns here at Daytona. The restart was better and I got a good launch on my GSX-R600. Guys in Turn-One are pretty bossy in there, but I had to boss them right back! “Last year was my coming-out season; it was basically my learning year. This year is more hammer-down, getting ready for SportBike. Sixth and seventh place isn’t bad at Daytona, but I’m just working on going uphill from here. Right now, I’m second in the West Coast Championship leaving here. I have Infineon, Miller and Laguna to look forward to. This is my first weekend on the new 2011 SuzukiScoopFans Suzuki GSX-R600 and it’s a great bike right off the start and I’m really pleased with it.” Myers’ next event of the 2011 AMA SuperSport series is at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California on May 13 – 15th. In Australia, Team Suzuki GSX-R600 rider Waters (pictured right) moved to within one point of the Championship lead after finishing second overall in round two at Symmons Plains Raceway in Tasmania. The 18 year old won the second of the two 20-lap Supersport races, but had his chance of victory in race one ruined on the opening lap when he missed a gear-change and crashed, remounting to finish in ninth place. At the following round at Darwin’s Hidden Valley Raceway on April 17th, Waters – who was competing on an up-rated version of the team’s 2010 machine – kept his 2011 Championship challenge alive with 10th and fifth; and just seven points off the series lead after three rounds despite his off-track incidents. Caught out by a patch of wet bitumen in the opening 17-lap race, the teenager remounted his 2010-model GSX-R600 after the Turn One crash to salvage 11 points. A further 16 points in race two put Waters fourth in the Championship. Said Team Manager Phil Tainton: “It was a tough weekend for Brodie in Supersport as we weren’t able to get the new 2011 GSX-R600 ready in time. The recent tragedy in Japan delayed the race parts we were waiting on, but to be just seven points off the Championship lead with the 2011 bike now available for the rest of the rounds puts Brodie in a good position to challenge for the Championship.” The next round of the Viking Group Australian Superbike Championship takes place at Perth’s Barbagallo Raceway this weekend, April 29 – May 1st.