Chris Burns – MV Agusta

Chris Burns will allegedly be on the grid of the next round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, on August 7/8/9, for the Jentin Racing Yamaha Team

Burns was signed at the beginning of the season to ride the STP-JHS MV Agusta Team, however, before he had even ridden the machine, the contract ended after delays in getting the bike on track.

The Geordie rider, landed a full-time ride in the German Superbike Championship for this season with the Holzhauer Honda Racing team.  Initially, the former MotoGP rider, was a replacement rider for the injured reigning champion Martin Bauer, but after an impressive 2nd and 4th place at the Sachsenring, he was offered the ride until the end of the season, alongside Bauer and team-mate Michael Schumacher.

There is still no confirmation at this point, but with Michael Schumacher returning to the Formula One series to cover for the injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, and Bauer still recuperating, it leaves Burns as the sole rider for the German Superbike Team making it seem unlikely that they would let him go, however, I didn’t expect to see Schumacher back in F1!

Sylvain Guintoli 2009

Last weekend the British Superbike Championship took place at Donington Park for round 2 with the Airwaves Yamaha team taking the victory in both.

As the bikes were on the out lap for the first of the afternoon’s British Superbike races, the Worx Crescent Suzuki rider Sylvain Guintoli was hit by Josh Brookes on the HM Plant Honda after his brakes failed at the Melbourne Loop.

Guintoli has broken his right fibula and tibia and is expected to be out for at least ten weeks.  The team announced today that Michael Rutter will be the replacement rider for this weekend at Thruxton. Josh Brookes has meanwhile been given a one race ban suspended for three British Superbike Championsip meetings for the collision.

Brookes is devastated by the racing accident and has said;

“My greatest apologies go out to Sylvain, I have been in a similar condition myself in similar circumstances so I understand he must be devastated.  I wish his best recovery as he did nothing wrong, he is just the victim of a crappy series of events.  I can only defend myself.  I have said what happened from my position, and 10 years road race experience.  I stand by my words so thanks to those who support me.”

Race One

As the bikes lined up on the grid for the first race it was James Ellison on the Airwaves Yamaha went into the lead followed by Chris Walker on the Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha.

Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda was in third ahead of the solo HM Plant Honda rider Glen Richards in fourth and Simon Andrews on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki in fifth.

After qualifying in pole position, Leon Camier was soon back on form as he first passed Richards and then Easton before taking Chris Walker on the following lap as Andrews also passed Easton to take fourth place.

With only 16 laps left to run, Camier passed his team-mate, gradually increasing the gap to finish almost 4 seconds ahead of Ellison and Easton.

Andrews battled with Walker on the next lap for the final podium step and made it at Old Hairpin only to get it taken back at McLeans.

Easton and Andrews swapped places a couple of times until Andrews lost the front end as he approached Goddards.

Tristan Palmer on the Buildbase Kawasaki crashed out of race one as he clipped the back of Gary Mason’s Quay Garage Honda at the Melbourne hairpin.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 30mins 45.324secs 20 laps
2. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +3.644secs
3. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +10.490secs
4. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda +13.459secs
5. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +15.146secs
6. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +15.565secs
7. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +31.782secs
8. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +34.781secs
9. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +35.362secs
10. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +35.654secs
11. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda +36.348secs
12. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +36.623secs Cup
13. Jon Kirkham GBR Jentin Yamaha +45.280secs
14. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda +53.503secs Cup
15. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda +53.897secs Cup

16. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +1min 00.649secs Cup
17. Victor Cox GBR STP/JHS MV Agusta +1min 01.438secs
18. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda +1min 03.476secs
19. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +1min 03.619secs
20. Matt Bond GBR MIST Suzuki +1min 25.163secs Cup
21. Brian McCormack GBR MAR Kawasaki +1 lap Cup
22. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda +1 lap Cup

Not classified

23. David Johnson AUS Maxxis Adept Yamaha 13 laps completed
24. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 7 laps completed
25. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 5 laps completed Cup
26. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 1 lap completed
27. Malcolm Ashley GBR MAR Kawasaki Did Not Start Cup
28. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda Did Not Start
29. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki Did Not Start

Race Two

Race 2 was won for the first time ever by the Airwaves Yamaha rider James Ellison, just over 2 seconds in front of Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda machine.

The initial race was restarted after Karl Harris’s engine blew,  causing him to crash the Hydrex Honda which then leaked water over the track bringing out the red flag.

At the restart, Walker shot into the lead until passed by Glen Richards on the HM Plant Honda at McLeans and then Camier.  Walker took his place back further in the lap while behind Jason O’Halloran on the SMT Honda and David Johnson on the Team Maxxis Branson Yamaha, tangled and both were out of the running.

On lap 3, Camier came to a stand still on track shortly after passing Walker. After a lot of fiddling about with his machine he was once again rejoining the race but was by then back in 25th position.

On lap 6, Easton and Walker were again fighting for position with Walker finally pushed back to third position as Easton also made his move stick.

Ellison crossed the line to take the chequered flag followed by Easton in second, Walker in third, Andrews in fourth and Richards in fifth place.

Josh Brookes ended his dismal weekend by crashing out in race two along with Karl Harris who went down on the last lap.

Camier finally finished in twelfth, he was about to finish in the top ten when running in ninth on the penultimate lap he made a mistake.

Here are the results;

1. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 30mins 49.102secs 20 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +2.582secs
3. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +5.740secs
4. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +9.517secs
5. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda +9.729secs
6. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +18.247secs
7. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +26.512secs Cup
8. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +27.330secs
9. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +28.626secs
10. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +31.155secs
11. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +31.930secs
12. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha +40.198secs
13. Jon Kirkham GBR Jentin Yamaha +41.721secs
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +50.121secs Cup
15. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda +50.506secs Cup

16. Victor Cox GBR STP/JHS MV Agusta +52.806secs
17. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda +52.889secs Cup
18. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +1min 13.938secs
19. Matt Bond GBR MIST Suzuki +1min 22.793secs Cup
20. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda +1min 28.591 Cup

Not classified

21. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda 16 laps completed
22. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 11 laps completed Cup
23. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 7 laps completed
24. Brian McCormack GBR MAR Kawasaki 7 laps completed Cup
25. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki 6 laps completed
26. David Johnson AUS Maxxis Adept Yamaha 1 lap completed
27. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda 1 lap completed
28. Malcolm Ashley GBR MAR Kawasaki Did Not Start Cup
29. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki Did Not Start

Sylvain Guintoli – Brands Hatch 2009

Easter weekend saw the first round of the British Superbike Championship get underway at Brands Hatch in Kent with Sylvain Guintoli and Leon Camier taking the wins.

Race 1

Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Crescent Suzuki took his first win on his British Superbike debut at Brands Hatch after qualifying in pole position and despite a slow start off the grid

. Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda took the lead going into the first corner followed by the replacement HM Plant Honda rider Steve Plater and the second Hydrex machine of Karl Harris.

Guintoli was back in fifth after a very slow start with all the action happening in front of him as Harris and Plater exchanged the lead. By the second lap Harris was overtaken by the second HM Plant Honda ridden by Glen Richards, moving him back to fourth place.

The safety car was deployed as the riders began lap 3 after a crash at Clearways involving Tom Tunstall on the Hardinge Doodson Motorsport Honda and Matt Bond on the Mist Suzuki. Bond was left lying on the track but fortunately suffered no serious injuries and the green flags were once again waved on lap 6. Neither riders were back on the grid for race 2.

Richards soon passed Plater before taking the lead but on lap 11, Harris crashed out at Druids passing the lead to Easton for a short time as Plater made his move on lap 12 at Paddock Hill. Guintoli had meanwhile moved up to third place and Leon Camier was also on the move on the Airwaves Yamaha, passing Easton and Richards.

Plater lost his machine on lap 16 as he went into the gravel at the entry to Druids seeing Camier desperately trying not to get caught up in the crash, dropping him down into 10th place. Camier battled away and finished the race in fourth position ahead of his team-mate James Ellison.

The MSS Colchester Kawasaki of Julian Da Costa developed a fuel problem on the warm-up lap forcing him back to the pits to collect his second bike, meaning a start from the pit lane and cold tyres. He battled his way from the back of the field to take eleventh position while his team-mate Simon Andrews was one of the top ten riders going into the first corner and finished in seventh place. Here are the results;

1. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki 24mins 27.117secs 30 laps
2. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda +0.952secs
3. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +3.086secs
4. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha +7.007secs
5. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +7.814secs
6. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +8.505secs Cup
7. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +9.359secs
8. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda +9.369secs
9. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 10.549secs
10. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +16.181secs
11. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +16.248secs
12. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +19.536secs
13. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +20.201secs
14. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +21.920secs
15. Jon Kirkham GBR Jentin Yamaha +21.998secs
16. Michael Rutter GBR North West 200 Yamaha +24.817secs
17. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +32.203secs
18. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda +32.985secs Cup
19. David Johnson AUS Maxxis Adept Yamaha +36.193secs
20. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda +44.291secs
21. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +45.321secs Cup
22. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda +45.501secs Cup
23. Brian McCormack IRL MAR Kawasaki +1 lap Cup
24. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki +4 laps Cup

Not Classified
25. Steve Plater GBR HM Plant Honda 16 laps completed
26. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda 10 laps completed
27. Matt Bond GBR MIST Suzuki 0 laps completed Cup
28. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 0 laps completed Cup

Fastest Lap

45 Glen RICHARDS AUS Honda – HM Plant Honda Lap 14 – 46.476 – 92.84 mph – 149.41 kph

Race 2

Race 2 looked to be a repeat of the first with Stuart Easton, Steve Plater and Karl Harris as the riders went into the first corner with Harris moving into second place on lap 2.

On lap 3, Sylvain Guintoli, who was in fifth position tried to move up the inside of Glen Richards making contact, while Plater sat on the tail of Harris, before moving into second place.

On lap 6, Leon Camier passed Guintoli going into Druids and on lap 7, Harris lost two places to Richards and Guintoli. Camier soon made a move up the inside of Richards, who judging from his reaction was surprised to see him there. By mid-race, Camier was sitting in second place behind Easton but his much faster times made it obvious that it would only be a matter of time before he took the lead which he finally did on lap 18.

Guintoli finally took second place after another exciting battle with Plater, after several overtaking moves, Guintoli eventually ran wide letting Plater back through. Plater then made a mistake at Druids seeing Guintoli taking full advantage and putting Plater down to third.  Easton ended the race in fourth position followed by Richards, Harris and James Ellison.

Chris Walker on the Motorsport/Henderson Yamaha had been in his own battle for seventh place with Ellison and Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda, with Ellison passing both riders to finally take the position ahead of Walker and Mason.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 23mins 25.330secs 30 laps
2. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +2.319secs
3. Steve Plater GBR HM Plant Honda +3.347secs
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +3.772secs
5. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda +3.915secs
6. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +11.121secs
7. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +11.531secs
8. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +11.826secs
9. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +12.968secs Cup
10. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +14.641secs
11. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +18.471secs
12. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda +18.533secs
13. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +18.929secs
14. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +19.146secs
15. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +29.669secs
16. Jon Kirkham GBR Jentin Yamaha +29.791secs
17. Michael Rutter GBR North West 200 Yamaha +32.960secs
18. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +33.158secs
19. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda +33.246secs Cup
20. David Johnson AUS Maxxis Adept Yamaha +34.273secs
21. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +36.697secs
22. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda +1 lap
23. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +1 lap Cup
24. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki +1 lap Cup

Not Classified
25. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda 22 laps completed Cup
26. Brian McCormack IRL MAR Kawasaki 13 laps completed Cup
DNS Matt Bond GBR MIST Suzuki Cup
DNS Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda Cup
DNS Tim Bourne GBR Kent Cottages Honda Cup

Fastest Lap

3 Stuart EASTON GBR Honda – Hydrex Honda Lap 3 46.320 – 93.15 mph – 149.92 kph

One of the riders out on track was Michael Rutter also known as ‘The Blade’, where he completed several laps on the new 200 Ducati 1098R.

He said “The package is brilliant;  I have just been getting my head round the electronics in testing.  The Ducati package always seems to work, it either suits a rider or it doesn’t.  We just need to get the right feeling to make it work for us.  We have been working with the new Pirelli tyres but it’s the same for everyone – it will even everyone up.  I can’t wait until Brands Hatch – that’s when we will see where everybody is at.”

Leon Haslam has said that this year he wants nothing less than championship win for the HM Plant Honda team.

Last season, Leon also known as the ‘pocket rocket’, was racing for the Airwaves Ducati team and he said “My decision to move to Honda was because I have the chance to move on to the world stage and do some of the events this season.  Honda have been working with my family for years – dad used to race with them.  By riding for the HM Plant Honda team it will give me the opportunity to race in the Suzuka Eight Hour event and some World Superbike Championship rounds.

Talking about his new Fireblade he said “The new Fireblade is a completely new concept and the new developments have been based on Moto GP machines, we also have the new Pirelli tyres, but everybody on the grid is the same.  It is a learning curve but it is awesome, everything is going well and I am looking forward to this season.  I want to win the championship and I am not going to settle for anything less.”

The 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship starts on April 6th at Brands Hatch.

The HM Honda team have Leon Haslam as their number 1 rider who will be joined by the British Supersport Champion of 2006, Cal Crutchlow.

The Rizla Suzuki equipe team have ‘Rookie of the Year’ for 2007, Tom Sykes alongside Atsushi Watanabe, the Japanese double-Superbike Champion and a third runner, a Suzuki in Relentless colours, Michael Laverty, who is the reigning British Supersport Champion.

Airwaves Ducati have the veteran Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne with team mate Leon Camier. They will be riding the latest racing version of the Italian bike, the 1098R.

MSS Discovery Kawasaki team have yet another Supersport title holder, Stuart Easton alongside the Australian, Billy McConnell.

Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda have Guy Martin, the renowned road racer with his team mate the former Moto GP rider, James Ellison, who’s elder brother, Dean Ellison, he will be competing against on the Co-ordit Yamaha.

Another former Supersport Champion, Karl Harris wil be racing for Team Yamaha, while the Hawk Kawasaki have Scott Smart and James Hayden. Michael Rutter will be riding for North West 200 Ducati team while the STP MV Agusta will have Chris Burns aboard.

The Superbike Privateer’s Cup also has a strong line-up with Malcolm Ashley, Tom Tunstall, Luke Quigley and Martin Jessopp.

The Bennetts British Superbike Championship begins the start of a 12 round series at Brands Hatch on Sunday 6th April 2008.

Here are the other teams and riders not mentioned above (P)=provisional:

Adam Jenkinson (SMT Honda), Simon Andrews (LLoyds British Jentin Yamaha), Steve Plater (AIM Yamaha), Tristan Palmer (TENA for men Honda), Michael Howarth (TENA for men Honda)(P), Martin Jessopp ( Riders Honda )(P), Luke Quigley (PDM Racing)(P), James Buckingham (Quay Honda)(P), Steve Mercer (Bob Farnham Tuning)(P), Aaron Zanotti (Red Viper Honda), David Johnson (PR Branson Honda), Brian McCormack (TAG Honda MAC Racing), Malcolm Ashley (MAR-ARP Kawasaki)(P), Tom Tunstall (Hardringe Ice Valley Motorsport)(P)

Watanabe, the two times Superbike Champion worked through various combinations on his bike to help him and his team with improvements to his GSX-R1000. The Japanese rider managed a total of 92 laps and improved his times throughout the day.

Tom Sykes the British Superbike rookie managed 82 laps and also worked on his set-up, he said “I had a good day, we definitely made progress. I know I could have gone faster but we decided to gather data which will stand us in good stead in the future. All in all it’s been good – we have got a lot of information for the electronics and can learn from that.”

There is more testing this weekend at the Guadix circuit in Spain but here are the riders in order of their places for this session:

Leon Haslam (Honda), Shane Byrne (Ducati), Cal Crutchlow (Honda), Tom Sykes (Suzuki), Michael Rutter (Ducati), Atsushi Watanabe (Suzuki), Leon Camier (Ducati)

Haslam has changed teams this year from the Airwaves Ducati to the reigning champions HM Plant Honda with whom he is hoping to take the trophy alongside his new team mate Cal Crutchlow. He said in an interview with Crash, “I’ve know Cal for many years, he’s a mega-top rider whose progression in Superbikes got stronger and stronger all through last year”. “I think he’s going to be up there as a contender. It’s good to have a competative team-mate because it makes you push that little bit harder”.

Haslam also predicted a good season for ‘Shakey’ Byrne, “purely because the Ducati is going to be really strong, with 20bhp and 200cc more than last year”, “on top of that you’ve got Rizla Suzuki with the Japanese Champion coming over, and Tom Sykes who has proven himself to be a top runner as well.”

The Championship always seems to elude young Haslam but the closest he got was in 2006 when he lost his chance due to the final race at Brands Hatch being red flagged before half time and only half the points were awarded, so lets keep are fingers crossed for the young hopeful this year.