Ryuichi Kiyonari - HM Plant Honda 2007

Ryuichi Kiyonari is making his return to the British Superbike Championship after signing for the HM Plant Honda team to ride alongside Josh Brookes, riding in his second year in 2010.

The two riders will be aboard the CBR1000RR Fireblade while Steve Plater will ride for the team in the British Superstock Championship.

Plater will be joined by John McGuinness for the TT and NW200 competitions following Plater’s season as the TT Senior winner for 2009.

Kiyonari said;

“I’m looking forward to being back in BSB and working with the team again.  I had a happy time with them when I was here before and so I am really exciting to be back.

I don’t know what to expect as BSB is never easy but I will be giving everything to win races.”

The general manager of Honda Motorcycles Steve Martindale said;

“I’m pleased to confirm Honda’s commitment to the British Superbike Championship for 2010 and also the team’s continued relationship with HM Plant,” said Steve Martindale.  The British Superbike Championship is very strong and the high standard of rider talent and racing can be seen at every round.”

Stuart Easton - Brands Hatch 2009

For the second consecutive year, the British Superbike rider Stuart Easton won the Macau Grand Prix at the weekend starting from pole position.

Easton, riding the Hydrex IGT Honda Fireblade 1000cc machine, dominated the race from the off ahead of a challenging Connor Cummins on the PBM Kawasaki WSBK.

The Scottish youngster had pulled a lead of 6.172 seconds by lap 6 but by lap 10, Cummins began to challenge the Honda rider and decreased the gap to 3.078 seconds.

By the penultimate lap, Cummins was only 0.421 seconds behind the race leader, managing to make a pass on the Honda at Fisherman’s Bend but on the final lap, Easton outbreaked the Kawasaki rider as they approached Lisboa to retake the lead.

In third place was the second PBM Kawasaki ridden by Ian Hutchinson while John McGuinness, Michael Pearson and Steve Mercer all retired from the race.

Simon Andrews made his debut at the Macau Grand Prix, finishing in an impressive seventh place for the Team Of Paris-AXA Racing, behind his team-mate Michael Rutter who finished in sixth.

Here are the results;

1 1 Stuart EASTON GBR Hydrex IGT Honda 36:50.910 15 149.47 2:25.170
2 4 Conor CUMMINS IOM PBM Kawasaki WSBK Team 36:51.291 15 0.381 149.45 2:26.251
3 8 Ian HUTCHINSON GBR PBM Kawasaki WSBK Team 37:00.702 15 9.792 148.81 2:26.803
4 69 Gary JOHNSON GBR A.I.M. Racing 37:06.508 15 15.598 148.43 2:26.081
5 13 Rico PENZKOFER GER BMW Macau Racing Team 37:15.519 15 24.609 147.83 2:27.208
6 3 Michael RUTTER GBR Team of Paris – AXA Racing 37:22.761 15 31.851 147.35 2:27.235
7 12 Simon ANDREWS GBR Team of Paris – AXA Racing 37:25.237 15 34.327 147.19 2:28.352
8 33 Luis CARREIRA POR Benimoto Suzuki Cetelem 37:26.117 15 35.207 147.13 2:28.129
9 57 Jeremy TOYE USA Lee’s Cycles Racing 37:26.403 15 35.493 147.11 2:27.507
10 11 Stephen THOMPSON GBR Robinson Concrete Honda 37:34.767 15 43.857 146.56 2:28.569
11 6 Gerald MUTEAU FRA Team of Paris – AXA Racing 37:37.449 15 46.539 146.39 2:28.317
12 10 Mark MILLER USA Celtic Racing 37:42.208 15 51.298 146.08 2:28.223
13 34 Mike BARNES USA PBM Kawasaki WSBK Team 38:09.510 15 1:18.600 144.34 2:29.141
14 9 James McBRIDE GBR PAZZO/EAST Coast Racing 38:24.254 15 1:33.344 143.42 2:31.960
15 31 Horst SAIGER AUT BMW Macau Racing Team 38:25.379 15 1:34.469 143.35 2:31.058
16 37 James HILLIER GBR A.I.M. Racing 38:28.566 15 1:37.656 143.15 2:31.978
17 66 Mark BUCKLEY GBR Jentin Racing 38:31.525 15 1:40.615 142.97 2:31.804
18 15 James STORRAR GBR DMR Racing 38:32.104 15 1:41.194 142.93 2:32.013
19 5 SS Amaury BARATIN FRA Team of Paris – AXA Racing 36:52.569 14 1 LAP 139.40 2:35.584
20 35 SS CHEUNG Wai On HKG CHEUNG Wai On 36:55.852 14 1 LAP 139.20 2:36.267
21 32 SS Joao FERNANDES MAC Joao FERNANDES 37:19.683 14 1 LAP 137.71 2:36.748
22 18 SS SOU Sio Hong MAC Sonic Racing Performance 38:54.896 14 1 LAP 132.10 2:44.520
23 39 SS Jason BROOME HKG Jason BROOME 37:20.516 13 2 LAPS 127.83 2:48.900
24 19 SS Tiago MAGALHAES POR AG Racing 37:41.159 13 2 LAPS 126.66 2:39.152
25 70 SS IP Weng Keong MAC Sonic Racing Performance 39:07.582 12 3 LAPS 112.62 2:49.530
NOT CLASSIFIED
2 John McGUINNESS GBR Hydrex IGT Honda 18:10.518 7 D.N.F. 141.42 2:30.317
7 Thomas HINTERREITER AUT Yamaha Austria Racing Team 10:34.473 4 D.N.F. 138.90 2:31.525
36 Michael PEARSON GBR BTS Racing 8:26.925 3 D.N.F. 130.38 2:38.025
17 Steve MERCER GBR DMR Racing 5:08.914 2 D.N.F. 142.64 2:31.087
FASTEST LAP
1 Stuart EASTON Hydrex IGT Honda 2:25.170 5 151.76kph 94.30mph

James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha 2009

The British Superbike riders and teams were at Cadwell Park this weekend for round nine of the championship, with the Airwaves Yamaha riders Leon Camier and James Ellison taking the wins.

Race One

Simon Andrews on the Confused.com Kawasaki that took to the front as the race got underway but was soon passed by Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda.  Camier was running in third place when he tried to make a move on Easton but the Honda rider snatched the place back as he dived up the inside of the Yamaha.  Camier moved into second on the following lap before hunting down Easton and then passing him to create a gap.

Andrews made a mistake going into Charlie’s and was passed by the second Airwaves Yamaha of James Ellison, who had already passed the Buildbase Kawasaki of John Laverty.

Easton, Ellison and Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki by TAS, were fighting each other for the other two steps on the podium, with Easton and Ellison almost touching in their battle for second.  Easton managed to hold off the Yamaha to claim second followed by Elllison in third.

In fourth place was Lowry, scoring his best place this season ahead of the two Confused.com Kawasaki’s of Simon Andrews and Julien Da Costa. The two Kawasaki riders were in a race of their own and after Simon had held his position for most of the race, Da Costa made his way past on the penultimate lap.  On the final lap, Andrews tried to retake his position but was too fast and forced both riders onto the grass.  Andrews secured fifth place ahead of his team-mate who took sixth.

Karl Muggeridge took seventh place for the HM Plant Honda team, holding off the Worx Crescent Suzuki of Sylvain Guintoli as they crossed the line.  John Laverty finished in ninth for the Buildbase Kawasaki team ahead of Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 26mins 38.546secs 18 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +7.384secs
3. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +7.651secs
4. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +8.133secs
5. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +17.793secs
6. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki 18.126secs
7. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +25.398secs
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +25.522secs
9. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +25.979secs
10. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +28.760secs Cup
11. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +30.488secs
12. John McGuinness GBR HM Plant Honda +32.582secs
13. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +34.734secs Cup
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +34.988secs Cup
15. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +44.779secs

23. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 11 laps completed Cup
24. Michael Howarth GBR STP-JHS MV Agusta 8 laps completed
25. Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki 3 laps completed Cup

Race Two

Leon Camier crossed the line to take the second win of the day but he was excluded from the race after an incident on the final lap, gifting the victory to his team-mate James Ellison.

On the final lap of the race, Camier’s Yamaha was seen with blue smoke coming from the back.  Black and orange flags were waved but Camier remained on track and continued to the chequered flag where he was  disqualified for not stopping immediately on seeing the flags.

A statement was released by the team, stating that Camier mistakenly believed that he had until the end of the lap to come in.  The team apologised to Leon for the problem on his bike which turned out to be a small oil leak, and thanked him for his dignity and professionalism after learning of the disqualification.

Stuart Easton again took to the front as the race got underway while Camier passed the Buildbase Kawasaki of Laverty, with Andrews following his lead.  Andrews lost the place almost immediately as Ellison slipped up the inside.

On the following lap, Camier took Easton with Ellison making a copycat manoeuvre three laps later as Andrews then passed the Honda of Easton.

On lap 6, the safety car was deployed after the STP MV Agusta of Michael Howarth developed a huge oil leak, leaving marshalls to clean-up the track.  The safety car left the track on lap 9 and Easton made an immediate move on Andrews at Coppice, but Andrews snatched it back before the end of the lap.

On the penultimate lap, Easton moved in front of Andrews to take second place ahead of Easton in third.  Julian Da Costa finished in fourth followed by his team-mate John Laverty in fifth.

The Motorpoint Yamaha rider Chris Walker finished in sixth ahead of Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Suzuki, Karl Harris on the Hydrex Honda, Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda and Tommy Bridewell for Team NB Honda.

Ian Lowry had been in ninth place on the Relentless Suzuki, putting in faster laps than both Easton and Andrews until he crashed out on lap 16.  John McGuiness was another non-finisher after retiring the HM Plant Honda with two laps to run.

Here are the results;

1. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 28mins 02.679secs 18 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +4.099secs
3. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +4.584secs
4. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki +5.435secs
5. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +6.843secs
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +7.239secs
7. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +12.836secs
8. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +14.833secs
9. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +15.100secs Cup
10. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +16.684secs Cup
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +19.920secs Cup
12. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +24.193secs
13. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +24.359secs
14. Howie Mainwaring GBR Team Maxxis Yamaha +24.769secs
15. Jon Kirkham GBR Rob Mac Racing Yamaha +26.729secs

Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha
Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki Cup

MV Agusta 500 3cil - 1967 Giacomo Agostini

This weekend, the British Superbike teams and riders head to the Brands Hatch circuit for round eight of the Championship with a few surprises in store.

The Mist Suzuki team will be making their return at the circuit this weekend, following a break after the surprising retirement of their rider Matt Bond.

Steve Mercer will be the man aboard the Suzuki and the team are hoping that the pairing will encourage sponsorship to enable the team to race for the remainder of the season.

Sheridan Morais, the former South African Superbike champion, will be the replacement for World Superbike rider Makoto Tamada, who was injured at the last round WSB championship at Brno.

Morais will be riding alongside Broc Parkes for the Paul Bird Kawasaki Superbike Racing Team this weekend as wild-card riders while celebrating their new sponsorship deal with Henleys.

There is to be three British superbike races over the weekend with the first race taking place on the Saturday after the Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole.  Included in the weekend full programme are eight races taking place from six different support championships as well as demonstrations.

Here is the line-up for the famous riders and classic bikes taking part in the demonstrations;

Giacomo Agostini – 500 MV-Agusta 3, 750 OW31 Yamaha, 500 OW45 Yamaha
Phil Read – 500 OW53 Yamaha (ex Sheene team Akai)
Mick Grant – KR750 Kawasaki
Paul Smart – 1972 TR750 Suzuki
Dave Croxford – 1973 John Player Norton
John Cooper – 1966 500 Seeley G50
Ron Chandler – BSA Rocket-3
Rex Butcher – MV Agusta 850 Magni
Tony Rutter – Ducati TTF1
Tommy Robb – 125 OW15 Yamaha
Trevor Nation – 500 RG Suzuki (ex Sheene)
Steve Parrish – 500 RG Suzuki
Jamie Whitham – 500 XR88 Suzuki (ex Aoki)
Leon Haslam – Honda RS1000 TTF1
Colin Seeley – 1968 500 Seeley G50
Julian Soper – 750 Hadleigh Honda
Alan Cathcart – BSA Rocket-3
John McGuinness – Honda TT Superbike Winner
Steve Plater – Honda Senior TT Winner
Julian Da Costa – KR500 Kawasaki (ex Ballington)
David Hailwood – Honda 250-4, 350-4, 500-4
Glenn English – 500 Cagiva (ex Mamola)
Kim Rose – 250/4 Benelli Provini
John Davis – 500 RG Suzuki

HM Plant Honda 2009

The HM Plant Honda British Superbike Team have announced their riders for the next two rounds of the championship on the 7-9 August at Brands Hatch and at Cadwell Park on the 29-31 August.

Original rider Glen Richards, is still recovering from a broken leg and was replaced by Steve Brogan at Mallory Park.  The reigning British Superstock Champion ended the day with an impressive seventh and ninth place and is keen to ride for the team again despite continuing to defend his own title in the Superstock class.  Brogan will share his ride with John McGuinness, who will be taking his place at the Cadwell Park round.

The second team rider Josh Brookes, was given a two race ban at the last round at Mallory Park after being found guilty of reckless riding .

Karl Muggeridge is set to make his British Superbike debut as a replacement for Brookes and is eager to get back on board a Superbike after recuperation for the past few months.  The 35-year-old Australian, broke two vertebrae after a big crash at Assen at the beginning of the year in the World Superbike series while riding for the Celani Team.  On his return at American round, he crashed again bringing out the red flag but escaped with only bruising, he was replaced by Alessandro Polita for the remainder of the season.

The team manager Havier Beltran said;

“Rider changes mid season are never ideal for riders or the team, but we’re in the situation we’re in and we fully intend to just try and make the most of a less than ideal situation and get on with the job. Steve did a superb job for the team at Mallory on his first real taste of a Superbike and we’re confident we can build on that performance at Brands Hatch. But beyond that, Steve needs to be able to concentrate fully on defending his Superstock title, which is why we’ve chosen to field John at Cadwell, instead of Steve again. John is familiar with the HM Plant Honda Superbike from the TT and North West 200 and this, coupled with his strong performance during our team test at Cadwell last week, secured him the BSB seat at the team’s home round. Karl is a rider who has experience of the British series and also Honda, having ridden for us in the Supersport championship a decade ago. He’s also won races at Brands, it’s his favourite circuit and he has experience of the Fireblade from his World Superbike experience. All in all, we feel we’re fielding a strong line-up for the next two rounds.”