Karl Harris 2007

Six weeks to go to the first round of this seasons British Superbike championship and the pressure is starting to build for the teams and riders in what is considered to be the most open championship in years. Having once again lost it’s top riders to World Superbike and the like, the starting grid at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend, will feature a fantastic mix of old and new riders, all united in their goal to take the 2009 title.

Great things are being predicted for the likes of Leon Camier, no longer in the shadow of last seasons champion Shane Byrne, and also his new partner James Ellison in the Airwaves Yamaha team, while French rider Sylvain Guintoli is already being tipped by many experts as the outstanding rider amongst the field.

The Superbike news that Hydrex Honda rider Karl Harris is being tipped by former BSB rider Leon Haslam as a ‘dark horse’ for this years crown is no real surprise.  Harris himself seems ready to exorcise the demons of recent times and appears to be making every effort to get himself in both physical and mental shape for the current campaign.

Back in 2003 and 2004 Harris stood out amongst the British Supersport riders, on board the HM Plant Honda, he won back to back championship’s for the team and earnt himself a place in the  UK factory Honda team for British Superbike 2005. After finishing 9th overall for the 2005 season Harris was paired up with Ryuichi Kiyonari with the main HRC Honda team for 2006. While Kiyonari went on to claim the title in that year Harris finished in a disappointing fifth place overall.

His first spell at Hydrex in 2007 showed some promise, but ended up with nothing and similarly in 2008 for the Rob Mac team, Harris would ultimately end empty handed.

Hydrex have shown their commitment in re-signing the rider for a second spell, although in fairness he was not their first choice. The team had hoped to keep James Ellison and tempt Greg Lavilla to join them but both riders were tempted elsewhere.  Harris will need no reminding that he needs to get himself  sorted out both physically and mentally if he is win the title.  If he can retain his focus both on and off the track- who knows what might happen.

The former British Supersport champion had his best Superbike results when he won this years infamous Macua Grand Prix road race working with the Hydrex Honda team, in Doosan colours, and from that experience of the Honda machinery had no hesitation in accepting an offer from Muir to join the team for this coming season of BSB.

Easton said:  “Working with the team in Macau was a real pleasure and the bike was one of the best I’ve ever ridden. As soon as Shaun talked to me about this season in BSB, I knew I had to be on that bike as it really is capable of winning the championship. I’m really fired up for next season and can’t wait to start testing as we have a real chance of success.”

As part of the agreement with Hydrex Honda, Easton will be allowed to defend his Macau title with the team at the end of the season.

Hydrex Honda’s Stuart Muir is full of optimism for the coming season, believing that the pairing of Easton and Karl Harris will prove to be inspirational as the team prepares to build on the foundations of some great results in 2008. Muir recognises that he has a couple of very hungry riders who are determined to make the most of this opportunity in BSB and he has “every confidence in them.”

While Harris and Easton hope to make some headlines in British Superbike news, Guy Martin, the third Hydrex Honda rider will take part in the big four road race meetings of the year, with Team SMR. After an abortive last season in BSB and road racing alike, Martin will focus on just the North West 200, Isle Of Man TT, Ulster Grand Prix and Macau.

Muir describes Martin as the “Best current road racer yet to win a TT” and adds that with next years package he feels sure that Martin can deliver the goods along with Harris and Easton, saying “Hopefully 2009 will be our year.”

Chris Walker

Chris ‘The Stalker’ Walker has signed a deal with the Rob Mac Racing Team Yamaha for the 2009 British Superbike Championship. Walker won the first of his incredible four consecutive championship second places with the Yamaha team in 1997.

The popular rider returns to British Superbike after a patchy career in Moto GP and WSB, since leaving the UK series in 2001. He will be keen to go one better than his record of second place finishes when he takes part in the 2009 championship and believes that Rob Mac Racing have the credentials to help him finish in top spot.

Walker’s team mate in the Yamaha team will be unveiled next month.

Karl Harris who raced for Rob Mac in 2008, makes his return to the team he left at the end of 2007, Hydrex Honda, it has been confirmed today. The Hydrex team are expected to announce a second rider in due course.

British Superbikes 2008

It’s that time of year again when everyone is waiting to see which riders will be with which team for the 2009 season in the British Superbike Championship.

So far, HM Plant Honda have confirmed they will have the British Supersport rider Glen Richards and World Supersport rider Josh Brookes in their team.

The GSE Racing Yamaha team, who were previously GSE Ducati, will be keeping Leon Camier who will ride alongside the former Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison.

The only other firm confirmations are Atsushi Watanabe, who will now race for the Relentless Suzuki by TAS team after leaving Rizla Suzuki and Sylvain Guintoli, who will be replacing Watanabe at the renamed Crescent Suzuki team after Rizla have ended their sponsorship with BSB.

The MSS Discovery Kawasaki team will be looking to replace Billy McConnell, who has decided to go to the Raceways Yamaha team in the British Supersport Championship.  Two of the riders on the cards for the team are Julien De Costa and Didier Van Keymeulen.

Rob Mac Racing have still to confirm their team for next year, although Karl Harris and Jon Kirkham have been linked to them as well as the rumours that Guy Martin has signed already.

Simon Andrews, the Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha rider, is still unsigned for the 2009 season but will be riding in November in the World Endurance Championship in Qatar.

Gregorio Lavilla and Chris Walker are both keen to return to the British Superbike scene in 2009 after spending the 2008 season in the World Superbike Championship.

Michael Rutter is another unsigned rider for next season after riding for North West 200 Ducati for 2008 and finishing in sixth place in the Championship.

Riders we won’t be seeing in 2009 are Tom Sykes, former Rizla Suzuki rider, Shane Byrne, Airwaves Ducati and Leon Haslam, HM Plant Honda, who are now all going to the World Superbike series.

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

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

Guy Martin

The 2008 Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin, has parted company with the team and has signed up to ride for Rob Mac Yamaha for the 2009 season.

Martin has been partnering James Ellison this season in the British Superbike Championship although his season has been blighted with problems from mechanical failures to spectacular crashes.

Martin has said on his website,

“Next year is all sorted, I’m on Yamaha with Rob McElnea.  There is the new R1 coming out and it’s got a pink frame, so with pink being the new black and me getting some proper trick pink pedals on my downhill bike there was no choice, I had to be on a Yam.

When it comes to preparation there is no better Yamaha team to be with than Rob’s.  They’ve been building trick bikes since the beginning of time, so I’m 100% sure this is my key to success at TT.  Also, there will be no better bloke to get me sorted for success on the short circuits.  Rob’s been there done it and all that.”

Martin recently created history by winning the International Steve Henshaw Gold Cup for the record-breaking sixth time.

Riding the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda at the Oliver’s Mount race track in Scarborough, where he won by over 13 seconds as well as winning both of the Superbike races.