Cal Crutchlow - Man Of The Match

Last week I wrote the story on a Charity Football Match taking place between the Air Ambulance Racers v Leicester City Legends.

At half-time, the bike racing boys were 10-1 down after being absolutely destroyed by the Leicester Legends and were only saved from total embarrassment with a goal from Nigel Bosworth.  Dan did however, feel that the racers were more respectable in the last 30 minutes and added that they only scored 2 goals in that time, the other 8 were just lucky!

Dan Cannell, who was the main man behind the charity fund raiser, gave his half-time talk to the boys, which went something like this,

To Cal Crutchlow after seeing him here, there and everywhere on the pitch,

“Where are you playing Cal”, “Everywhere” replied Cal, “OK, Cool…er…carry on then”

At one point during the second half of the match, the racers appeared to have 17 players on the pitch while the Legends only had 13, so that sort of made it fair I guess!

The Legends also lent a couple of players to the Racers side, Muzzy Izzett and David Busst with the Racers finally winning the game, which had been re-scored by 1-0 with Mark Dicken scoring a screamer into the top corner of the net.

Cal Crutchlow was named the ‘Man of the Match’ for the Racing side, after proving himself to be one of the few men who can actually multi-task, on the football pitch anyway.

It turned out to be a fantastic day for all involved and Dan Cannell would like to especially thank Tom Naughton without whom this wouldn’t have happened.  Well done to everyone involved, a fantastic day’s work and hopefully it will be an annual event.

Cal Crutchlow and Kenny Gilbertson are now both confirmed as playing for the Air Ambulance Racers alongside the rest of the team which is made up of;

Graham Read, Tristan Knowles, Sam Middlemas, Nigel Bosworth, Mark Dickens, Dieter Struck, Hudson Kennaugh, Martyn Lewins, Dean Ellison, Mick Price, Kev Jones, Julian Perry, Shannon Etteridge and David Johnson.

I will add any further changes as they happen.

Dan Cannell 2006

This weekend there is to be a Charity Football Match between some well known Motorcycle Racers and some of the old faces from Leicester football club.

It’s taking place at the Hinckley Utd Football ground on the 29th March at 1.30pm with all money raised going to the Air Ambulance Service.

On the side of the Air Ambulance Racers are reported to be;   Dean Ellison, Aaron Zanotti, Alistair Fagan Mark Dicken, Julian Perry, Shannon Ethridge, David Johnson and Martyn Lewins amongst others, and apparently even Cal Crutchlow has asked to play, so you never know!

On the side of Leicester City Legends, possible players are; Steve Walsh, Matt Elliot, Gary McAllister, Dean Thomas, Tom Naughton, Muzzy Izzet and  Neil Lennon to name a few plus it is now rumoured that two of the Coventry City FA Cup Final Players have signed-up.

The teams will be wearing shirts donated by Triumph and there is to be a host of raffle prizes to be won including, a range of clothing from Honda UK Racing,  gifts from the Ron Haslam Race School and romantic meals to name a few.

This is all happening because of one man’s gratitude to the accident and emergency services after nearly losing his life in an horrific motorcycling accident in June 2008, Dan Cannell.

His motorcycle was in collision with a van outside the Axe and Compass pub, near Wolvey on the 16th June 2008, and as luck would have it, a doctor was inside the pub at the time of the accident.

The doctor had to perform an emergency tracheotomy on Dan at the roadside to re-inflate his lungs.  He was transferred by road ambulance to Coventry hospital where he remained in a controlled coma in intensive care for almost three weeks.

Dan suffered serious head injuries in the accident amongst a host of other injuries, 2 collapsed lungs, shattered upper right arm with nerve damage, broken left arm/wrist/ broken left thigh, his lower left leg was broken in 3 places and he suffered 2 broken bones in his face.  His left arm/wrist and hand were pinned as was his broken thigh, lower left leg and hip.  He had to have his left knee re-constructed and his right elbow is now made out of metal.  On the road to recovery, Dan has had to have skin grafts taken from his right leg but was actually let out of hospital on 17th November 2008, much to everyone’s amazement.

Dan was competing in the East Midlands Racing Association Championship before the accident and is determined that he will one day compete again but while he regains his fitness he is putting his time to good use by repaying those that have helped him.

Go along and support this great cause, you never know when you may need to call on their services!

Here’s a link for further information;

http://www.dlraa.co.uk/index.asp?page=Leicestershire

As well as seeing the latest machinery on offer from manufacturers around the world the show offers an action packed week including the chance to see former World Superbike Champion of 2004 and 2007, James Toseland performing with his band Crash.

Fan’s favourite Chris Walker was already announced to appear at the show on 2nd December and is sure to draw a crowd with the British Superbike news that he will return to next seasons competition with the Rob Mac Yamaha team.

Crescent Suzuki’s new rider Sylvian Guintoli will be meeting fans and signing autographs on Saturday 29th November. Guintoli says he loves living in Britain and the British people, which made it easy for him to sign up to BSB for the coming season. He is looking forward to meeting the fans and hoping that the public like him as much as he likes them.

Yamaha GSE Racing will have new riders Leon Camier and James Ellison on their exhibition stand from 28th to 30th December. They will return to the show on the 6th December.

Former British Superbike champions Niall MacKenzie, James Whitham and John Reynolds who have won a few championships between them over the years, will be at the show every day along with BBC commentator and former rider Steve Parrish. Niall and James will be presenting the daily ‘TWO/Visordown All Star Forum’ stage activities throughout the week.

Glen Richards from HM Plant Honda and two of last years British Superbike riders who will move to WSB for 2009, Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow who finished the 2008 season second and third in the British Superbike results will also be putting in appearances during the show.

Leon’s father, the legendary ‘Rocket’ Ron Haslam will be joining his son on Saturday 29th November, when he will be signing copies of his book ‘Rocket Men’ on the Biker’s World Stand from midday.

GSE will retain the services of the young 2008 rider Leon Camier, who finished fifth overall in the British Superbike results for this years championship, having won three races and five other podium places. His prodigious talent will be matched with the vast experience of former MotoGP rider and journeyman James Ellison, also a firm favourite with the UK fans.

Ellison joins GSE from Honda with whom he finished in seventh place in the 2008 British Superbike series. The rider says he is “ecstatic” to be chosen to race with “The most successful team in the paddock.” He has kept in touch with GSE’s Colin Wright since 2005, when he came close to signing for them. He instead chose to sign for MotoGP team WCM, having impressed when he standing in when their regular rider Chris Burns was injured, late in 2004.

Camier shares the same enthusiasm for the coming season as his team mate, saying that he is pleased to be part of this new era for GSE Racing and it’s exciting partnership with Yamaha and can’t wait to start testing the new YZF-R1.

GSE championship rivals HM Plant Honda, who lost both Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow to World Superbike and World Supersport respectively, have announced two Australian riders as their replacements, in the latest British Superbike news.

Reigning Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport champion Glen Richards will make a welcome return to British Superbike with HM Plant Honda, having spent the last two seasons away. As well as winning the British Supersport crown this season, Richards also won the National Superstock class in 2007.

Having scored back to back titles in two classes, Richards will be looking to make it three in the 2009 series of British Superbike. Richards is joined at HM Plant by Josh Brookes, also from the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport championship. Brookes impressed HM Plant bosses after a one off performance on their machine in the final round of the Supersport championship at Brands Hatch, and is rewarded with the 2009 ride.

HM Plant finished second in this years championship, having won the title in 2006 and 2007.

Shane Byrne - Brands Hatch 2008

Shane Byrne won both races at Brands Hatch yesterday in his final weekend in the British Superbike Championship.

Race 1

Cal Crutchlow on the HM Plant Honda took the lead of race one into the first corner but on the second lap, Byrne dived up the inside heading towards Druids to take his place at the front.

The battle for second place was taking place behind between James Ellison on the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, Leon Haslam on the second HM Plant Honda and Leon Camier on the Airwaves Ducati.

At one point it looked as if Haslam would pass Ellison, but he wasn’t close enough, giving Ellison a chance too pull away from him.

Rizla Suzuki rider Tom Sykes was tailing Camier, followed by Michael Laverty on the TAS Relentless Suzuki and Michael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati.  Laverty’s race ended on lap twenty-seven while running in eighth place.

Here are the results;

1. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 23.21.717
2. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 23.23.609
3. James Ellison Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 23.23.861
4. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 23.23.907
5. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati 23.27.464
6. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 23.28.276
7. Michael Rutter North West 200 Ducati 23.41.052
8. Simon Andrews Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha 23.41.719
9. Jon Kirkham Rob Mac Racing Yamaha 23.45.245
10. Tristan Palmer Tena for Men Honda 23.46.958
11. Gary Mason Quay Garage Honda 23.46.975
12. Billy McConnell MSS Discovery Kawasaki 23.48.052
13. John Laverty Buildbase North West 200 Ducati 23.48.052
14. Atsushi Watanabe Rizla Suzuki 23.53.059
15. Jason O’Halloran SMT Honda 23.58.862
16. Guy Martin Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 23.58.902

Race 2

Leon Haslam led the race from lap one and by lap three, he had set the fastest time, but nearing the end of the race he started to lose time giving Shane Byrne the chance that he was waiting for.

Byrne took the lead from Haslam on the final lap of the race at McLaren forcing Haslam to run wide and move to the second step of the podium.

Byrne’s team-mate, Leon Camier took the final place on the podium after slipping past Cal Crutchlow on the HM Plant Honda.

Tom Sykes on the Rizla Suzuki was battling it out with James Ellison on the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda until lap twenty-five ended Sykes hope when his machine developed a mechanical problem.

Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki suffered further problems in race two and was seen going into the pits on lap two due to further mechanical issues.

Here are the results;

1. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 23.21.124
2. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 23.22.941
3. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati 23.25.429
4. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 23.29.685
5. James Ellison Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 23.30.907
6. Michael Rutter North West 200 Ducati 23.32.524
7. Simon Andrews Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha 23.45.389
8. John Laverty Buildbase North West 200 Ducati 23.46.968
9. Gary Mason Quay Garage Honda 23.46.991
10. Jon Kirkham Rob Mac Racing Yamaha 23.54.225
11. Chris Burns STP Superbike MV Augusta 23.56.605
12. Jason O’Halloran SMT Honda 23.56.638
13. Tristan Palmer Tena for Men Honda 23.59.512
14. Atsushi Watanabe Rizla Suzuki 24.02.517
15. Guy Martin Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 24.02.749
16. Peter Hickman Red Viper Racing Honda 24.03.117

Shane Byrne - Brands Hatch Qualifying

ucati, claimed his fifth pole position of the season today for the final round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.

Leon Haslam on the HM Plant Honda took second place despite a heavy crash at the beginning of the session and suffering a bruised shoulder, followed by team-mate Cal Crutchlow in third.

Rizla Suzuki rider, Tom Sykes, completed the front row of the grid ahead of tomorrows final race and who is still in with a chance for that runner-up prize.

James Ellison on the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, took fifth position to start the second row alongside Leon Camier on the second Airwaves Ducati.

Relentless Suzuki rider, Michael Laverty, finished in seventh place followed by MIchael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati and Jon Kirkham on the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha, who is replacing Karl Harris this weekend after withdrawing due to personal problems.

Simon Andrews on the Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha completed the top ten riders.

Here are the results;

Pos – Rider – Bike – Team – 1st Quali – 2nd Quali – 3rd Quali

1 - Shane Byrne - Ducati – Airwaves Ducati - 46.512 - 46.081 - 45.799
2 - Leon Haslam - Honda – HM Plant Honda - 46.341 - 46.485 - 46.096
3 - Cal Crutchlow - Honda – HM Plant Honda - 46.256 - 46.493 - 46.118
4 - Tom Sykes - Suzuki – Rizla Suzuki - 46.616 - 46.508 - 46.201
5 - James Ellison - Honda – Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 46.571 - 46.525 - 46.255
6 - Leon Camier - Ducati – Airwaves Ducati - 46.457 - 46.408 - 46.303
7 - Michael Laverty - Suzuki – Relentless Suzuki by TAS - 46.995 - 46.562 - 46.513
8 - Michael Rutter - Ducati – North West 200 Ducati - 46.582 - 46.445 - 46.518
9 - John Kirkham - Yamaha – Team Yamaha - 46.889 - 46.603 - 46.560
10 - Simon Andrews - Yamaha – Jentin Racing / Lloyds British - 46.952 - 46.602 - 46.579
11 - Billy Mcconnell - Kawasaki – MSS Discovery Kawasaki - 46.996 - 46.682
12 - Atsushi Watanabe - Suzuki – Rizla Suzuki - 47.011 - 46.842
13 - John Laverty - Ducati – Buildbase NW200 Ducati - 47.028 - 46.853
14 - Tristan Palmer - Honda – Tena for Men Honda - 47.132 - 46.857
15 - David Johnson - Honda – Team MAXXIS - 47.027 - 46.936
16 - Gary Mason - Honda – Quay Garage - 47.192 - 46.951
17 - Stuart Easton - Kawasaki – MSS Discovery Kawasaki - 47.058 - 46.979
18 - Guy Martin - Honda – Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 47.311 - 47.082
19 - Shannon Etheridge - Kawasaki – MAR Adept - 47.207 - 47.100
20 - Scott Smart - Kawasaki – Hawk Racing - 47.249 - 47.197
21 - Jason O’halloran - Honda – SMT Honda - 47.346
22 - Peter Hickman - Honda – Red Viper Racing - 47.383
23 - Francis Williamson - Ducati – Moto Rapido Racing - 47.647
24 - Victor Cox - Yamaha -STP Superbike - 47.654
25 - Chris Burns - MV Agusta – STP Superbike - 47.693
26 - Leon Morris - Ducati – Brookspeed - 47.781
27 - Tom Tunstall - Honda – Hardinge – Ice Valley Motorsport - 47.786
28 - Malcolm Ashley - Kawasaki – MAR Adept - 48.059
29 - Martin Jessopp - Honda – Riders Racing - 48.512

Local boy Shane (Shakey) Byrne began his career at Brands Hatch and is expected to put on a show after clinching the British Superbike championship in the last round at Silverstone, his second BSB title in five years.

Those who have followed ‘Shakey’ throughout his career will know that despite already having won this years title, he will not be content unless he finishes on the top step of the podium at Brands Hatch. That may be easier said than done as no less than four of Byrne’s rivals are set to fight it out for the BSB runners up spot.

The British Superbike results from the last Brands Hatch meeting saw Shane Byrne winning race one with the second race going to Cal Crutchlow. Crutchlow currently sits in fourth place of the championship just ahead of another local rider Leon Camier who will be keen to shine at Brands.

They will both be slugging it out for the runners up position with third placed Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam who currently sits in second place in the Championship.

Of the four Leon Haslam is the current man in form having been the top points scorer in the previous four rounds, but they all share the same desire to end the season as runner up to Byrne, as best of the rest.

Ironically this will also be the final British Superbike race for Leon Haslam, Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow, with Haslam and Sykes joining Shane Byrne in World Superbike next year and Crutchlow departing for World Supersport, so everyone involved will be keen to finish this series on a high.

The latest British Superbike news from Brands Hatch is that Leon Haslam is setting the pace in free practise, of course that doesn’t count for much when it comes to the actual race, but one thing is certain,  the scene is set for  a grand finale to this years series.

Shane Byrne 2008 BSB Champion

Shane ‘Shakey Byrne’ won the British Superbike Championship for 2008 this weekend on the Airwaves Ducati.

Race One

Leon Camier took the victory in the first race at Silverstone on the Airwaves Ducati despite a poor start putting him back to ninth place at the end of the first lap behind his team-mate Byrne.

The front three riders Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow and Tom Sykes started to put a gap between the rest of the pack until on lap three, Sykes on the Rizla Suzuki tried to pass Haslam at the final chicane.  He was unable to stop in time and took himself and Haslam out of the race.  Sykes was eventually excluded from the race one results and will start race two twelve places back on the grid from his qualifying position.

On lap five, James Ellison on the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda caught the back of Michael Laverty under braking going into the final chicane ending the race for both of them, and allowing Byrne to move up to third place.

Karl Harris had to retire from the race on lap seventeen after developing mechanical problems with the Team Yamaha machine.

Here are the results;

Pos – Rider – Bike – Team – Time

DNF - Scott Smart - Kawasaki – Hawk Racing - 23:32.820
DNF - Karl Harris - Yamaha – Team Yamaha - 23:36.119
DNF - Guy Martin - Honda – Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 13:30.203
DNF - Michael Laverty - Suzuki – Relentless Suzuki by TAS - 5:50.819
DNF - James Ellison - Honda – Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 5:51.030

Race Two

Leon Haslam on the HM Plant Honda took the chequered flag in race two after dominating the race from the start.

Karl Harris and Cal Crutchlow were fighting each other for second place on lap two, taking turns for the position until Crutchlow got it all wrong and went straight on at the bend.

Tom Sykes had to start from seventeenth on the grid after his penalty from race one but by lap four had moved into sixth place while on the next lap, Byrne passed Harris to take second position.

On lap fourteen Sykes had passed Harris to take the final step of the podium, a fantastic race after starting near the back of the grid.

Crutchlow retired from the race on lap fifteen after developing mechanical problems with his machine.

Here are the results;

Pos – Rider – Bike – Team – Time

DNF - Cal Crutchlow - Honda – HM Plant Honda - 20:26.247
DNF - Atsushi Watanabe - Suzuki – Rizla Suzuki - 18:21.045
DNF - Scott Smart - Kawasaki – Hawk Racing - 11:13.790
DNF - Guy Martin - Honda – Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 4:40.200
DNF - Chris Burns - MV Agusta – STP Superbike - 1:37.029
DQ - Gary Mason - Honda – Quay Garage - 29:25.215

Cal Crutchlow

Cal Crutchlow on the Repsol Honda took pole position for tomorrows eleventh round of the British Superbike Championship.

Crutchlow recently announced that he would be riding for the factory Yamaha World Supersport team next year, but knows that he could still take second place in the championship as their are only his team-mate, Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes to fight for the rest of the points.

Haslam will start alongside Crutchlow in second place with Michael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati in third and Karl Harris on the RM Racing Yamaha in fourth.

Tom Sykes will start from fifth on the Rizla Suzuki followed by Shane Byrne on the Airwaves Ducati, who only needs to collect seven points tomorrow to take the championship.

Leon Camier is in sixth place on the second Airwaves Ducati ahead of James Ellison in seventh place after a disastrous qualifying session.  The rider had to use his second bike after the rear wheel spindle jammed on his number one bike.

Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki will start in ninth place followed by Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda.

Guy Martin, team-mate of Ellison on the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda crashed out in the first session damaging the bike and damaged his hand, he will be starting from twenty-first on the grid.

Here are the results;

1. Cal Crutchlow GBR HM Plant Honda 1min 25.489secs
2. Leon Haslam GBR HM Plant Honda 1min 25.790secs
3. Michael Rutter GBR NW 200 Ducati 1min 25.952ecs
4. Karl Harris GBR Rob Mac Racing Yamaha 1min 25.976secs
5. Tom Sykes GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 26.012secs
6. Shane Byrne GBR Airwaves Ducati 1min 26.136secs
7. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Ducati 1min 26.175secs
8. James Ellison GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 1min 26.555secs
9. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 1min 26.912secs
10. Gary Mason GBR Quay Garage Honda (CUP) 1min 27.011secs

11. Stuart Easton GBR MSS Discovery Kawasaki 1min 27.279secs
12. Scott Smart GBR Hawk Kawasaki 1min 27.282secs
13. Simon Andrews GBR Lloyds Jentin Yamaha 1min 27.514secs
14. Billy McConnell AUS MSS Discovery Kawasaki 1min 27.652secs
15. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda 1min 27.805secs
16. Tristan Palmer GBR Tena for Men Honda 1min 28.140secs
17. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Rizla Suzuki 1min 28.151secs
18. David Johnson AUS Maxxis Honda 1min 28.179secs
19. Peter Hickman GBR Red Viper Honda 1min 28.607secs
20. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda (CUP) 1min 29.021secs

21. Guy Martin GBR Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 1min 28.530secs
22. John Laverty GBR NW200 Ducati (CUP) 1min 28.538secs
23. Chris Burns GBR STP MV Agusta (CUP) 1min 29.135secs
24. Dan Stewart GBR Wilcock Consulting Honda (CUP) 1min 29.394secs
25. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge/Ice Valley Honda (CUP) 1min 29.594secs
26. Leon Morris GBR Brookspeed Ducati (CUP) 1min 30.461secs
27. Francis Williamson GBR Moto Rapido Racing Ducati (CUP) 1min 30.832secs
28. Shannon Etheridge AUS MAR Adept Kawasaki (CUP) 1min 31.609secs