• Welcome to the new B.I.R.D. Forum. Please be sure to read the "New Member / New Registered ? Please Read" thread in the Coffee Shop. This contains some important information. To become a full member ( £5.90 a year ) simply click on your user name near the top on the right I hope you enjoy the new site ................ Jaws ( John )

WSBK news

KUCIAR666

Registered User
LOWES RE-SIGNS FOR VOLTCOM CRESCENT SUZUKI


Team Suzuki Press Office ? September 25.

Alex Lowes will continue his partnership with Voltcom Crescent Suzuki for the 2015 eni FIM Superbike World Championship season.

Lowes is confident his progression with the Suzuki GSX-R will allow him to become a consistent front-runner during his second season in the Championship and the British racer is eager to return to the tracks he has been learning as part of his apprenticeship year.

Extending his contract with Voltcom Crescent Suzuki for a further 12 months, Lowes will remain with the team until December 2015, and will be back in action on his GSX-R1000 next week at Magny-Cours in France for the penultimate round of the 2014 Championship.

Despite a rocky start to his rookie year aboard the Yoshimura-powered GSX-R1000 - fracturing his left foot during the season?s opening qualifying sessions at Phillip Island in Australia ? the reigning BSB Champion has developed well on the World stage, demonstrating huge speed and achieving two podiums and two fastest-laps in 2014 so far with four races left to run.

Alex Lowes:


?My first year with Voltcom Crescent Suzuki in the World Championship hasn?t always been easy but overall it?s been great! You learn a lot about yourself and the team when things don't quite go right and now at this stage of the year we know exactly where we need to improve, both on and off track. I'm really enjoying my riding again after some injuries early in the year and looking forward to continuing my improvement and being more consistent in 2015.

?The World Superbike Championship is a fantastic series to race in, it's been great to race at so many new tracks but it has also meant I've had a lot to learn! My second year will allow me the opportunity to continue my development with the benefit of a year?s experience, so I?m really looking forward to the next stage in my career.

?I want to say a huge thank you to the Voltcom Crescent Suzuki team and all the sponsors and partners for their continued faith in me, bringing me up from BSB Champion to the World level and continuing that support into my second year as a World Championship racer. I?m confident we can challenge at the front with the Suzuki GSX-R next year and will be aiming, as ever, to achieve my very best for all involved.?

Paul Denning ?Team Manager:


?There have been a lot of challenges for Alex this year; new Championship, new team, new bike, new tracks, and learning the electronic control strategies used at World level. It?s not easy to jump straight-in from a domestic series and be competitive, but Alex has clearly shown his raw speed, determination and understanding of what?s needed to run with the fastest riders.

?Alex?s most important attribute in terms of our decision to extend the contract is simple ? he is blindingly fast. The second year together will allow us to make better decisions, improve consistency and to understand what?s needed circuit-to-circuit to achieve the best performance. In some cases, that might mean settling for a result that is below our target but is the best that can be achieved on the day; and that approach will come with time and experience. However, when the opportunity is th
ere; we need a rider who can win ? and Alex fits that bill perfectly.?
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
KRT And Jonathan Rea Together In 2015
Kawasaki is pleased to announce that Jonathan Rea will partner Tom Sykes in a two-pronged KRT attack on the 2015 FIM Superbike World Championship.

British rider Rea (27) is no stranger to the Superbike World Championship class having made 140 race starts and taken 15 victories since his first full season of participation in 2009.

Rea has scored four race wins in the recently competed 2014 championship season and his addition to the squad alongside 2013 champion Sykes demonstrates the strong commitment Kawasaki and the KRT squad have to regaining the championship in 2015. KRT now has two of the top three riders in the 2014 championship signed up for 2015.

KRT will start their drive to regain the title when they begin their heavy testing schedule this month in Spain.

Guim Roda - Team Manager of KRT commented:

?After three years working with Loris Baz to grow up a young talent, we will start in 2015 a new strategy, with an experienced and fully formed rider Johnny Rea. We are sure he can increase the whole team performance and he will be a very good team-mate with Tom Sykes. Both have a big respect for each other, and I?m sure both guys will increase their performance, searching the limits of the Ninja ZX-10R. We expect to put on track two very strong riders next year so it is our idea try to win back the title with our two British weapons.?

Pere Riba ? Jonathan Rea?s Crew Chief commented:


?I am very happy that a rider with this kind of level of experience is coming to our Kawasaki team. For me, and all the team, this makes us feel very happy. I believe we have shown that we have a good base and we are working hard to have an even better bike. I believe we can give the tools to Jonathan so he will be fighting for the championship. We will start the winter tests very soon and I feel very positive that Kawasaki took the decision to have Jonathan in the team. As a crew chief we will try to give him the best not only technically but also helping him in general and I am sure we can have a good year.?

Steve Guttridge ? Kawasaki Race Panning Manager commented:

?The opportunity to sign a rider of Johnny's calibre and experience to race alongside our established hero Tom Sykes was a dream we'd studied every season but this time it could come true! Johnny is super-motivated to make the next step in his career and thankfully it is with Kawasaki. We will give him all the tools necessary to make that next step in the Superbike World Championship with our great crew and bike. He himself as a character has a big potential to add to our team?s overall success, both on and off the track, and his personal enthusiasm to succeed alongside Tom can only lift the Kawasaki Racing Team and our brand to the next level in 2015.?
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
2015 WORLD SUPERBIKE CALENDAR RELEASED


Team Suzuki Press Office ? November 20.

The Crescent Suzuki World Superbike Team looks forward to 14 rounds of intense competition next year as the 2015 FIM Superbike World Championship travels from Australia?s opening races in February to Qatar?s flood-lit season finale in October.

Iconic European Championship circuits include Assen, Imola, Portimao, Misano, Jerez and Magny-Cours, with the UK event returning to Donington Park. The ?flyway? races will travel to Australia?s Phillip Island, Laguna Seca in the USA and Sepang in Malaysia, alongside the newly-introduced Chang International Circuit in Thailand.

The full provisional 2015 calendar dates are:

Round 1: Feb 20-22 ? Phillip Island, Australia.
Round 2: March 20-22 - Buriram, Thailand.
Round 3: April 10-12 - Aragon, Spain.
Round 4: April 17-19 - Assen, Netherlands.
Round 5: May 08-10 - Imola, Italy.
Round 6: May 22-24 - Donington, UK.
Round 7: June 05-07 - Portimao, Portugal.
Round 8: June 19-21 - Misano, Italy.
Round 9: July 03-05 - Moscow, Russia.
Round 10: July 17-19 - Laguna Seca, USA.
Round 11: July 31-Aug 2 - Sepang, Malaysia.
Round 12: September 18-20 - Jerez, Spain.
Round 13: October 02-04 - Magny-Cours, France.
Round 14: October 16-18 - Losail, Qatar.

Paul Denning ? Team Manager:

?The 2015 World Superbike Championship looks like a great balance of traditional European venues at some fantastic circuits, added to very interesting long-haul events as diverse as Malaysia, California and Thailand.

?Crescent, Suzuki Japan and Yoshimura have all been very busy adapting the GSX-R1000 to the new regulations, and early indications on engine performance compared to the more open 2014 specifications are very positive. We are looking forward to testing on track in Jerez next week with Alex Lowes and new rider Randy de Puniet, and to taking significant steps forward as we approach Phillip Island in February ? the winter will go very quickly!?
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Jonathan Rea Excited About New KRT Quest

In the 2014 FIM Superbike World Championship Jonathan Rea won After an entire career spent riding for a single manufacturer and having been a full-time rider in WSBK since 2009, Rea has opted for a new challenge in 2015 - competing as part of the official KRT FIM Superbike World Championship effort.
Rea has already ridden the 2015 spec Ninja ZX-10R - alongside 2013 world champion and new team-mate Tom Sykes ? with very positive results for each rider during recent winter test sessions.
Jonathan is now in a position to speak about his hopes and ambitions with Kawasaki for 2015 and beyond.

Q: How do you feel about joining Kawasaki?s WSB team and what made you want to ride the Ninja ZX-10R?
JR: I have been trying for many years to win the championship and it has never happened. I sat down during the year, with the people most close to me, and we knew that if I wanted to achieve a world championship I could not just cross my fingers and try again. I had to make a change to expect a different outcome. In the last three seasons Kawasaki has had a very competitive bike. Also with the new rules for 2015 it was important to be in line with a factory team that would develop the bike through the year.

Q: How long have you know you would ride for Kawasaki in 2015?

JR: The deal happened very early. It was hard to contain my excitement at the deal so early because we could not talk about it for a long, long time. The deal was quite straightforward in itself so there was not too much selling of the point on either side. It was a case of we both want to do this so let?s get the deal done.

Q: What about the Ninja ZX-10R now you have had a chance to ride it in testing?
JR: My first impressions are positive. It is very user friendly and easy to ride. The power is very linear on the bike. We are scratching the surface now with development. The 2015 technical rules in WSBK are quite different from before so in some ways we are starting at a zero point. I know Kawasaki is working very hard in Japan to bring new parts.

Q: And the KRT squad, what about them?
JR: With the team round me I feel really good. The atmosphere in the box is cool. They are looking after me really well. Not just at the circuit but also outside the circuit. There is a lot of emphasis on taking care of an athlete, for example. That brings a new meaning to being part of a family. I am really excited to represent Kawasaki as a factory rider, and also to be part of this successful team, so I am excited.

Q: Third place in the Championship in 2014, which was your best ever final ranking. Are you still improving and have more to find inside?
JR: I think there is still a lot of technique I need to work on. Mentally, right now I am ready to win but in the recent past few years; for a world championship the package has not been exactly how I would like it to be ready to challenge for the world title. Maybe when I first joined the world championship the package was ready, but I wasn?t. But I feel now that I am ready. We need to get the best out of the bike and we will see.

Q: Do you think the 2015 rules have already led to a drop in top end power of the four-cylinder machines?
JR: The new rules are more basic, more in line with the standard Ninja ZX-10R that the customer can buy from a shop. That is good but it also means some limitations for us in terms of a race machine. The beauty of me joining the team now is that I have no previous experience to have negative or positive thoughts about. I am starting from a base that is the 2015 base and I?m working from there. I am sure some other manufacturers may be more competitive than last year, some maybe less. We just have to see that balance. Already in the first test it looks like we have some stiff competition from Ducati and the rules have been swinging towards them at the minute. But I fully expect we will be there and have a package capable of winning.

Q: Fourteen rounds planned this year instead of the 12 that finally took place last year. Is this going to be better for you?
JR: It makes no difference really because I just take things weekend by weekend. I am really excited by going to Thailand, however, and I like going to new places. We went to Sepang this year, which was also new for WSBK. Yes, 14 rounds are much better because the issue this year was that the championship started in February and ended in November. So with 13 races the gaps between some of them were far too big and with the final 12 it got even worse. If we can keep racing regularly and present the exciting action that characterises WSBK in people?s front rooms and at the circuits more often, then that is the best-case scenario
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Pata Honda's 2015 WSBK riders presented in Italy
The Pata Honda line-up for the 2015 World Superbike championship was officially unveiled at Verona in Italy today when Sylvain Guintoli and Michael van der Mark were presented to a large and enthusiastic crowd of Italian fans and media.

The two riders ? both world champions in 2014 - have already tested their 2015-specification Pata Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP race machines this year at Portimao, Portugal and, earlier this week, at Aragon in Spain.

In spite of less-than-favourable weather conditions, both riders declared themselves happy with the development of the CBR, on which their Netherlands-based team has worked hard to meet revised technical regulations for the 2015 WSBK season.

Reigning World Superbike champion, Guintoli, 32, and his 22-year-old Pata Honda team-mate, van der Mark, who won last season?s World Supersport crown, will return to Spain tomorrow for a two-day test at Jerez on Monday and Tuesday next week.

The forthcoming season marks the third in which Pata, one of Europe?s largest and most successful manufacturers of potato chips and snacks, has supported Honda?s official entry in the World Superbike championship. Pata president, Remo Gobbi, a passionate follower of motorsport on two and four wheels, was alongside both Pata Honda World Superbike riders when the covers came of their CBR machines on Saturday afternoon.


Sylvain Guintoli


Bringing the number one plate to a new manufacturer is a big deal, really, because it doesn?t happen very often. It?s symbolic for me, too, because I?ll be going for the title again on a different bike, the Honda CBR. I?ll definitely be wearing the number one with pride this year. But I?m motivated by the challenge and I?ve found a team that also wants it really badly. The bike has changed quite a bit over the winter and we have new regulations. The team has worked hard and we know it?s going to be a big challenge, but that?s what makes it interesting! The 2015 engine is quite close to last year?s specification and, if anything, is a bit smoother, which is good news for us because, built as standard, it suits the new rules. We?re still working on a few things li ke weight distribution and geometry but the bike is already quite different to last year. I?m very pleased with the work that has been done over the winter. There is still more work to be done, but the team is a big asset; you can feel the power of Honda, and it feels good.


Michael van der Mark

I?m in the same team as last year but, after winning the World Supersport title, I had to make another step and, for me, that was World Superbike. It?s maybe a little easier for me because I have the same team, but I still have to get used to the bigger CBR and its more sophisticated electronics and find a good set-up. I think the biggest challenge for me and everyone is the new regulations. At the moment the bike feels really good but we?ll have to see where it is after the first few races. I have to learn a lot, of course, but I don?t put any pressure on myself ? I just want to do my best, make forward steps and see where we can get to. The weather hasn?t been great at the two tests we?ve had this year but my feeling with the CBR is much better than my first outing at Jerez. To gether with Sylvain, I think we have a great team. He brings a lot of experience as last year?s world champion, but I think we can learn from each other and that?s what we?ve been doing in the tests.


Ronald ten Kate


Our rider line-up is very good on paper with two world champions on the Honda CBR Fireblade. I think that would be unique for any team but certainly for us. There?s a lot of knowledge and experience that Syvlain is bringing to the team ? he?s been on a lot of different bikes in different paddocks. On the other side, Michael has stepped up to Superbike and he?s the young gun. Apart from a few outings at Suzuka, he has no experience on the big bikes, so when you put those guys in the blender I think we?ve got the perfect team. You can already smell, feel, sense that something great is coming up.


Carlo Fiorani

The 2015 season has already started very well as we are the only team with two world champions in our garage ? one from Superbike and the other from Supersport. Of course, our plan was to have a very experienced rider and a young rider with very good prospects. Our expectation is to have good results with Sylvain and, after a few races, to see Michael fighting in the top six. We want him to grow with the team and be ready to challenge for the title in 2016. The team has worked really hard with the new regulations but the CBR was already quite production-oriented. After the first tests we are quite satisfied and we expect Honda to be fighting for the podium once again.
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Sylvain Guintoli - injury update

Following his crash at turn one at Jerez in Spain on Monday 26 January at the start of a pre-season test, Pata Honda rider Sylvain Guintoli chose to return to the UK for complete assessment of his injuries.

Yesterday afternoon (Wednesday 28 January) the reigning World Superbike champion underwent an MRI scan on his neck and back and had a further X-ray on his right ankle.

Despite severe bruising and some discomfort, it was confirmed that Guintoli sustained no fractures and the 32-year-old has begun his rehabilitation with physiotherapy and the use of a hyperbaric chamber.

?The back is still quite painful,? said Guintoli, ?but I can put some pressure on the ankle and I?m happy that there are no breaks. The treatment has started and although it will take a while to settle down, I?m confident about being fit and ready to start the season at Phillip Island next month.?

He added: ?In the end, it was frustrating to miss the test at Jerez, especially because the weather conditions were so good. But we have another two-day test in Australia before the first round and I?ve already had a chance to see the work that has been done to the CBR over the winter, so I?m excited and looking forward to the first race.?
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Race-ready Yamaha YZF-R1 Returns to World Superbike Challenge



Yamaha Motor Europe has the media buzzing with the announcement of the company's next step towards success in its comprehensive road racing challenge.

Yesterday it was announced that, besides competing in FIM Endurance World Championship, FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and Superbike*IDM International German Superbike, Yamaha will make its official return to the World Superbike Championship in 2016.

Yamaha Motor Europe will hunt for glory in the premier production Superbike series for the first time since 2011 and has a card up its sleeve; the new YZF-R1.

For those who can't keep their curiosity in check until the start of the next season, Yamaha Racing offers a sneak preview. Sit back and watch the Superbike prototype YZF-R1 in action for the first time during the 2015 pre-season shakedown at Circuit d'Alcarras back in March.

Watch the video HERE!


and one more ......

Yamaha Returns to World Superbike


Yamaha Motor Europe will make its official return to the World Superbike Championship in 2016 in collaboration with highly experienced partner Crescent Racing and title sponsors PATA. The team will place the new YZF-R1 in the talented hands of 2014 World Superbike Champion Sylvain Guintoli and 2013 British Superbike Champion Alex Lowes.

PATA has a proven track record and passion for motorsport with a high profile presence in World Superbike, making them a perfect complement to the partnership of Yamaha and Crescent Racing in 2016.

Frenchman Guintoli has over 15 years experience in racing, with 45 podiums, 10 race wins and, of course, the 2014 world title to his credit - in classes spanning 250cc, MotoGP, British Superbike and World Superbike. While young British rider Lowes took 20 podiums, 8 wins and 6 pole positions on his way to his 2013 British Superbike title. He has also competed with Crescent for the last two seasons so is no stranger to the team or the WSBK series.

Returning to the World Superbike stage for the first time since 2011, Yamaha Motor Europe's strategy is clear - to make full use of the all-new YZF-R1 to challenge for victory in the premier production Superbike series. Yamaha's impressive history in the Championship, combined with the stunning base specification of the YZF-R1, offers an unrivalled opportunity to campaign for victory honours.

2009 saw Yamaha take their first World Superbike Championship title, breaking multiple records throughout the season with American rider Ben Spies on board. Iconic riders such as Noriyuki Haga, Troy Corser, James Toseland, Marco Melandri and Cal Crutchlow, among others, have all taken their turns delivering countless victories on the YZF-R1 throughout Yamaha's Superbike career.

Crescent will partner Yamaha as their fully-supported Official WSBK Team from 2016. Crescent is the World Superbike Championship's only UK-based team and has a 20-year racing history at both national and global level that features victories in the British Superbike Championship, World Superbike and MotoGP.

Yamaha Motor Europe will retain responsibility over racing strategy and technical development, as well as the rider agreements with Crescent's hugely experienced, dedicated, technical and engineering racing personnel running the team's operation at each of the Championship rounds.

The all-new Yamaha YZF-R1 arrived as a game changer in 2015, re-writing the rulebook for the Supersport market as the next generation of racing machine. As the 2015 racing season draws to a close it can already claim numerous victories - including the inaugural Road America AMA Championship and the legendary Suzuka 8Hr Endurance race in the hands of MotoGP stars Pol Espargaro, Bradley Smith and five-time All Japan Superbike Champion Katsuyuki Nakasuga. In the UK the R1 is in contention for the British Superbike Championship title, while across Europe the story continues with both the Polish Superbike Championship and the French Superstock Championship secured. Yamaha also currently leads the Spanish FIM CEV Repsol International Championship and last weekend claimed second overall in the FIM Endurance World Championship in the hands of France's GMT94 Yamaha team.

"This is a very exciting moment for us as we eagerly wait to return to the top level of Superbike competition next year after an absence of four years," commented Yamaha Motor Europe Chief Operating Officer, Eric De Seynes.

"Having re-written the Supersport rule book and changed the game with the new YZF-R1, directly developed from Yamaha MotoGP technology, it was clear we would need to return to the World Superbike Championship to show the full potential of our new Superbike machine. We took one year to grow experience with the new R1 in many other championships where the bike has shown its potential already, with the amazing 8H of Suzuka victory and the very positive results that our official Teams are gathering all around Europe. Now we are ready to be back on the world stage and I am happy we have found in Crescent the same values of professionalism, engineering detail and passion for victory we share."
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Rea And Sykes Take To Jerez For KRT Winter Test Two

2016 Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes will take part in their first joint winter test session on 3 and 4 November, at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain. After Sykes had a very positive testing experience on his own recently at Motorland Aragon the entire team will now take its next step into the forthcoming FIM Superbike World Championship season, with the new and improved 2016 Ninja ZX-10R.

Rea, who was at home for the birth of his second son during the Motorland tests, is keen to get back into action after testing some 2016 parts at a one-day session at Jerez, immediately after winning the 2015 championship in September.
Sykes found real improvements in the 2016 material and machine set-up he tested in Motorland and is now heading to Jerez to make sure he can make the most of the second test on a busy KRT winter schedule.
Jerez is a particularly useful circuit to evaluate machines and parts as its 4.423km layout features a wide variety of corners and elevation changes. Its location in the south west of Spain usually provides the best weather in Europe during the winter months.
Kawasaki and the entire KRT squad will use their full winter test programme to accelerate the final development of the WorldSBK specification Ninja ZX-10R in readiness for the first round of the new season at the end of February in Australia. The race machine will be directly based on the new showroom model that was launched recently in Spain, which in itself features many ideas and design characteristics first developed in the white heat of WorldSBK racing.
Jonathan Rea stated: ?I am really excited to get back onto the bike again. I started to test some new components on the bike in Jerez the day after the race in September and right there and then I had a good feeling with the direction things were going in. Speaking to some of the crew and KHI staff about the Motorland test last week they have moved the bike forward. The areas it has improved in should really help me a lot and I want to try the full potential. I am excited because Pere Riba, my crew chief, has worked really hard with the KHI engineers to make the 2016 bike really competitive for me. We will adopt our step-by-step philosophy again, get through the test programme and not get too excited because there is a lot of mileage and riding to be done before the first round in Phillip Island.?
Tom Sykes stated: ?The KRT squad has got a quite heavy winter testing schedule, which is good. We are bound to work through our set-up again and in Jerez we have the added bonus of more new material that will be present on our bike for next year. We want to confirm our findings from the Motorland test last time out so we will try them again because we have a good timescale to work with. Jerez and Aragon are quite different racetracks so we will see how the behaviour and character of the bike is in Jerez. A same or similar result will confirm the very good results from the previous Motorland test and set us off in a good direction again for the rest of the winter.?
Guim Roda, Team Manager KRT, stated: ?Our main idea is to continue the testing and good way of working with the parts we have received from KHI. It is the right period of the year to test many of the ideas that the team and the crew chiefs had in mind, to try and find new levels of performance. Testing on two different tracks means you can confirm the operation of the parts we have tried already and Jerez it is always good to work on to make these comparisons. We also need to fix and clarify some small points and details on order to decide the information to give to the team?s suppliers, so that we can start the new season in February with the right amount of the correct material. Jonathan will be with us this time after having had a chance to enjoy his private life and the birth of his son.?
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User

Yamaha Takes Successful First Steps to Superbike Return


Yamaha Motor Europe's return to the FIM Superbike World Championship began in earnest this week with a preliminary two-day test at the Circuito de Jerez, in Spain, introducing riders Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli to the new Pata Yamaha YZF-R1.

Successfully achieving its objectives, the initial test programme focused on familiarising the new riders, team members and management structure with each other, and with their tools for the coming season's championship challenge, the YZF-R1.

While the forecast threatened limited track action for the opening day, the poor weather failed to materialise allowing Lowes and Guintoli to complete 121 and 100 laps respectively throughout the two full-days. Tuesday's session began tentatively as the track dried from the previous day's deluge, but both riders were fully up to speed by the afternoon, continuing the hard work and good weather into Wednesday.

Having productively completed the pre-defined programme, Lowes, Guintoli and the Pata Yamaha World Superbike team move on to Aragon, in north-eastern Spain, in just under two weeks' time to continue the evaluation of the current findings during a second two-day test commencing on Monday 16th November.

Alex Lowes

"My first go on the YZF-R1 and I absolutely loved it! We've got a lot of work to do but the potential of the bike is really good. There is a lot that I need to learn and change with my style, so I have a lot I need to improve myself, but I'm looking forward to the challenge. The bike has a lot of potential already as I've said so I'm looking forward to getting out in Aragon already - if there wasn't so much work for the boys to do I'd want to go there tomorrow! I really enjoyed riding the YZF-R1, it's been lots of fun and it's nice to get the project started so successfully."

Sylvain Guintoli

"Well, a very positive first contact with the YZF-R1! We've managed to do quite a lot of work but most importantly the base of the bike - the chassis and power delivery - feels really good. It was a positive test overall and I'm looking forward to carrying on the progress in the next practice in Aragon and Jerez. I really enjoyed riding it - it reminds me a lot of the M1 from 2007, I can see and feel the same philosophy behind the bike - so yes, a very positive first impression and it's nice to feel such a good atmosphere with Yamaha."
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Jerez Progress For KRT At Winter Test Two

2016 Kawasaki Racing Team duo Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes completed a two-day test at the Jerez de la Frontera circuit in Spain today, with positive end result for each rider. Most of the key elements of Kawasaki?s 2016 Ninja ZX-10R were evaluated at this test, in readiness for the next one in two week?s time ? then ultimately a full season of competition in the FIM Superbike World Championship next season.

After trying out some new model components at a one-day Jerez test last September, shortly after winning the Riders? Championship, Rea did some comparative testing between 2015 and 2016 material at the beginning of this test, before sampling the full 2016 machine for the majority of the time.
Jonathan set a fastest lap of 1?40.6 on the 2016 bike, which is the full WorldSBK spec race version of the new 2016 showroom model, recently unveiled to the world in Spain. He completed 114 laps in total.
Sykes tried both 2015 and 2016 components and machinery at this test but ended up with a more or less complete 2016 set-up in readiness for the next test for the team, to be held at Motorland Aragon between 16 and 17 November.
Jerez delivered two valuable days on track for Tom, who posted a best lap of 1?41.0 and 117 laps in total, despite losing some time due to damp weather each morning at the 4.423km long circuit in Andalusia.
Jonathan Rea stated: ?Honestly, testing is not my favourite part of the job but it has been necessary to make a really constant effort because Kawasaki has brought many new components for the 2016 bike. It has quite a different character from last season so we had to evaluate many things. The main thing was the chassis balance of the bike and we have some positives from that. The engine character is quite different to the 2015 bike as well so we have been working with the electronics to maximise that and make it suit my style. We got through the vast majority of the test items and we are happy because we were able to lap a lot faster than we did during race weekend, with a similar temperature. So that is encouraging.?
Tom Sykes stated: ?Overall the test was pretty good. We had some issues to deal with but yesterday started well considering the condition of the track early in the morning. Our plan today was to work through a lot of things, some interesting components. All things considered I am happy with the progress of things. I also hit a bird today, and during a good lap! That caught me by surprise and I had to enter the pits because of the impact. The bird hit the screen and then hit me in the front of my crash helmet, right on my visor and chin bar! On the whole, it was a good test and it has set us up to be ready for the next one.?
Pere Riba, Jonathan Rea?s Crew Chief, stated: ?We started with a mix between the 2015 and 2016 machines to start to follow the programme of understanding the good points from 2015 and the good points for 2016. Then, after some laps going out and in, we changed to the 2016 bike and we started to focus on that programme. There is quite a lot of difference on the engine side because there is a different inertia and other details in the engine. Also, the 2016 chassis so it is essentially a new bike. Because of this we have to understand every single change we make in the set-up of the engine and chassis. We are really happy with the results because we reached nearly 90% of the items we wanted to test. We improved the feeling of the bike for Jonathan step by step and at the same time the lap time was good. On race tyres we did a kind of simulation and the race times were already much faster compared to the fastest race at Jerez this year.?
Marcel Duinker, Tom Sykes? Crew Chief, stated: ?The track was not perfect in the early part of the day but we still continued with the testing schedule we started in Motorland Aragon and we confirmed the chassis set-up we developed there. So now that was done that on two different tracks and the performance was on a good level at each. We were at around 99% of the 2016 specification of the machine at the end of the tests. I think Tom did 64 laps on the first day and 53 on the second day and he set a lap of 1?41.0 on the final day, on race tyres.?
 

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Winter Test Three For KRT And The Second At Motorland

The overall Kawasaki Racing Team will take part in its third scheduled winter test session between 16 and 17 November, at the long and sweeping Motorland Aragon circuit in northern Spain. Tom Sykes will be taking part in his third test and 2016 FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea his second since the launch of the new model Ninja ZX-10R.
For Sykes the latest WorldSBK Kawasaki has already provided a positive direction of development for his particular riding style. On his return to Motorland for this test, only a few short weeks since he first rode on the 2015 and 2016 machines and tested parts, he is out to consolidate some items and try some new ones as part of Kawasaki?s comprehensive racing development programme for the new machine.
Rea missed the first Motorland test to be at the birth of his second son but after a very positive first test at Jerez recently he is more than keen to try out his machine at a very different track. Like Sykes he set good lap times at Jerez, and they each found a high degree of consistency with their times on used tyres.
Whereas Jerez is mostly tighter corners with short straights, Motorland is long, undulating in places and has some relatively long and fast corners. In 2015 the final hairpin and chicane complex was dropped for WorldSBK use, making the last turn a long left handed curve onto the short finish straight, which just adds to the overall feel of Motorland being an ?open? and swift circuit.
After this two day test KRT will make one more session with the 2016 machine and race parts at Jerez before the start of the official winter test ban, which runs through all of December and half of January.
Jonathan Rea stated: ?I had a great initial impression in Jerez with the new bike. We worked through items on the test list but we have more to test at Motorland. I hope the weather will be good for two days here because we need to define some of the new material soon, evaluate it and make sure we have clear conclusions so we can order parts for the January tests. It will be another case of working through options and understanding how the bike is working on a different track. At this time year it is a lot cooler than at most races so we get good weather because the window for riding is relatively small so we need to be productive.?
Tom Sykes stated, ?I had a really nice week of holiday with the whole family down in a forest in the south west of England. It was a nice break so I am really looking forward to the next test. Every time I get on the new bike I get a bigger smile on my face. We have lost a little bit of time during some of the earlier tests but I am feeling very happy with the team and the bike. I am really enjoying myself again. Even considering where we are now, with some tests left to do, I feel we are competitive. We still have some more things to try in the most interesting development direction. I have to say that the direction we went in between 2012 to 2104 is the same direction this new bike has been developed for. It is all positive, it all adds up and it all makes sense.?
Guim Roda, Team Manager KRT, stated: ?The next Motorland test will be the second time we have been there in three weeks. After the most recent test in Jerez it will be especially important to continue testing all the ideas - on set-up and new part combinations - that the crew and KHI have created to improve the package we had in 2015, with the basis of the 2016 model. Is incredible to see the riders? motivation and the hunger they each have to win next year. I?m sure this will improve the competitive level of each and I'm sure other teams will have to work a lot. Both riders are finishing 2015 on a very good level. Is amazing the easy way in which they push to the limit and give feedback of so many small details to help improve the bike. To see them both do that is really impressive. I expect both of them can explore the limits even better in 2016 than they did in 2015."
 

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Nicky Hayden & Michael van der Mark- Honda WSBK, Aragon test - Day 1 photos & video

Nicky Hayden describes his first test on the Honda WSBK CBR1000RR Fireblade SP at Aragon in Spain.

Michael van der Mark - Honda WSBK, Aragon test - Day 1 photos & video
Honda World Superbike rider Michael van der Mark describes the first day at his team's winter test at Motorland Aragon in Spain. The 23-year-old Dutch ace is preparing for his second year in the series on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP.

Aragon test - Day 1 photos & video
 

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Pata Yamaha Complete Second Spanish Shakedown

Pata Yamaha World Superbike riders Alex Lowes and Sylvain Guintoli have completed their second two day pre-season test, this time at Motorland Arag?n in north-eastern Spain, despite repeated interruptions from the mid-November weather.

The 5,077m modern circuit - located just outside the small town of Alcaniz and 100kms from the region's capitol Zaragoza - was due to host testing from 10:00hrs on Monday 16th November. However, dense fog surrounded the area for much of the day, delaying track action until the early afternoon and preventing both Lowes and Guintoli from completing more than a handful of laps each. Tuesday initially looked to be off to a similarly murky start but the Spanish sun soon broke through the gloom, allowing the Yamaha YZF-R1 to stretch its legs on the undulating 17-corner layout and almost 2km back straight.

Continuing the test programme initiated in Jerez a fortnight ago, a positive Lowes achieved 88 laps across the two days, improving his familiarity and confidence with his YZF-R1 and setting increasingly positive and consistent lap times. Hampered first by the poor track conditions and then by minor technical issues, Guintoli completed 56 laps. With a raft of data and information to carry them through to next week's return visit to the Andaluc?an circuit, commencing on Wednesday 25th November, both riders are eager to resume their progress in Jerez.

Lowes and Guintoli will now travel to Milan as Yamaha Motor Italy prepares to host the riders for their first public appearance in 'Racing Blue' at EICMA on Thursday 19th November.

Alex Lowes

"This afternoon we finally really got going after waiting for the weather - we didn't have much time on track yesterday and today was a long morning waiting for the fog to clear. We did a race simulation and then some work on the bike, setting-wise, getting a better feeling on corner-entry. We are getting better every time we go out, we still have a lot to learn but I feel really good, it was my best-ever lap around here and I'm starting to really understand the YZF-R1. I still feel like there is a lot more to come but it was fun and I am feeling like I was getting more out of the bike this afternoon. I'm looking forward to Jerez!"


Sylvain Guintoli

"Unfortunately we've had a few issues, both with the weather and with the settings this week so we couldn't really build on the work we had started in Jerez. Just a few teething problems, but it has meant I didn't get as many laps in as I would have liked. Hopefully we can sort them out quickly and move forward again in Jerez next week because the YZF-R1 feels really good as a base!"
 

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Winter Test Three Finishes On A High For KRT Riders

Kawasaki Racing Team pairing Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes made the most of the available track time at Motorland Aragon over a two-day test with the 2016 Ninja ZX-10R while also filming an interview session for the launch of the much anticipated KRT Winter Test Edition of the same bike in its road form at the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan.

With some new parts to try, and confirmations being made of some components that have been tested already, both Sykes and Rea collected valuable data for their team crew and KHI to evaluate before the next track sessions, to be held in Jerez de la Frontera next week.
Rea, who rode in the short window of opportunity that appeared late on during day one, after heavy fog and low cloud had prevented any meaningful early action, finally set a best lap of 1?50.3 on day two. It was the fastest lap of the tests.
Sykes and his crew had elected not to do any laps on the first day, given the low track temperatures. He was out as soon as the sun had warmed up the track enough on day two. Tom set his best lap time of 1?51.1 and also tried some new parts, in addition reconfirming some existing components and settings.
Jonathan Rea stated: ?We tested engine settings with a little bit different inertia and worked with some weight distribution ideas. We also tried a different rear spring and we confirmed everything was fine. I did some back-to-back comparisons with a new rear tyre that Pirelli had brought. It was like an SC1 family with stronger sidewalls, which gave more stability. For me it was a big step my riding style. We also used the new swing arm we first used in Jerez and we reconfirmed that too.?
Tom Sykes stated: ?I am very happy considering the track conditions and the limited amount of testing we had. We have only worked with the hard tyres all day and I am really pleased with the lap times and the consistency. Overall the base seems very good and like always we tried some interesting items today. They were positive in some areas and, although there is still work to be done in other areas, generally we did not touch the bike in terms of set-up. We were just checking the updated 2016 parts. I am really pleased with the performance of them.?
Pere Riba, Jonathan Rea?s Crew Chief, stated: ?Like the 2016 Ninja ZX-10R road machine, we have new engine inertia characteristics this year and with that it makes everything work differently, so also the engine management must be different. We have just tried different inertia settings to understand the changes. We are still at the stage of collecting information and now is not the time to set-up the bike to be too sharp. We also tried the new swingarm, rear shock and the big things we have to test. Now we can start to eliminate points and start to build the bike. The lap times were very good and Johnny is very confident. It was a positive test and I am very happy.?
Marcel Duinker, Tom Sykes? Crew Chief, stated: ?Today the morning fog was gone quite fast, the sun came out early and we could start testing this afternoon. The three or four priorities we wanted to test here, which we tried in Jerez last week, we worked with again. We have now confirmed on two tracks that this material has improved our general performance. Not only after one lap but also over race distance. We made a couple of steps on the engine and on the chassis and I am very satisfied with this result.?
 

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Althea BMW Racing Team

Althea Racing announces its cooperation with BMW Motorrad Motorsport in the World Superbike Championship and the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup 2016.

The Spanish rider Jordi Torres will compete alongside the German Markus Reiterberger in the World Superbike Championship 2016 on the Althea BMW Racing Team?s BMW S 1000 RR SBK.

The Althea BMW Racing Team will participate in the World Superbike Championship 2016 with support from BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The Italian team signed a two years contract to receive technical support from BMW Motorrad Motorsport. The German experts will support the Italian team with their knowledge and technical know-how and will work alongside the team throughout the whole season.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport will provide the team with engines and electronics. The team will be responsible for the development of the bike during the season and manage the sporting and logistical aspects of its participation in the series.

?I?m delighted to cooperate with BMW Motorrad Motorsport? said Genesio Bevilacqua, Team General Manager. ?Each team member is fully committed to this new challenge and, now, we?re ready for the first day of the 2016 season. Next week, the team will be in Jerez for the shake down of the new bikes, the first small steps on what will be a long journey. I?m very looking forward to repaying the trust that BMW Motorrad Motorsport has put in my team in the form of good performance on the racetrack during the 2016 season.?

On next 23rd and 24th of November Althea BMW Racing Team will take part to the test days for the shakedown of the new 2016 BMW S 1000 RR SBK and STK. The first session will take place in Jerez (SP) where the Althea BMW Racing Team engineers and the technicians from BMW Motorrad Motorsport will be together on track for the first outing of the WSBK 2016 season.

?Our two riders, Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger, already showed to be fast and consistent? continued Bevilacqua. ?Jordi has been named rookie of the year in the WSBK Championship 2015, despite he already won two times the CEV Championship before entering the WSBK Championship last year. Reiti also won two titles in the German SBK championship IDM, he?s young and talented rider and is, finally, the return of a German rider in the World Superbike Championship. I strongly believe they both will be, very soon, fast and consistent.?

Jan Witteveen will be Althea BMW Racing Team?s Technical Director. The Dutch engineer will be responsible for the development of the bike. He will coordinate the Team's engineers and will liaise with the experts from BMW Motorrad Motorsport on the technical topics. Witteveen has been working in the motorsport field since ages and in his long career won several championships in different classes.

In 2016 the Althea BMW Racing Team will also compete in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup 2016 with the BMW S 1000 RR STK. Raffaele De Rosa, who finished third in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup 2015, will compete with the Italian team for the second season.
 

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Fourth Winter Test For KRT And Second At Jerez

Kawasaki Racing Team riders Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes will embark on their latest winter test sessions, starting on Monday 23 November, riding for the second time at Jerez de la Frontera since the end of the season. 2015 FIM Superbike World Champion Jonathan Rea will start his test one day after attending the FIM Gala at Jerez on Sunday night, where he collects his FIM medal for winning the title in such spectacular form.

The Jerez test schedule for the KRT Squad will be Monday and Tuesday on track, a day of resting and evaluation on Wednesday and then two final days on the circuit again on Thursday and Friday. This will be the last chance for Rea and Sykes, the latter being the 2013 World Champion for Kawasaki, to ride their new 2016 WSBK specification Ninja ZX-10R before the start of the winter test ban period, which runs from early December through to the middle of January.
Both Sykes and Rea lifted their respective world titles at Jerez but this is also a special circuit in terms of what it offers from its layout. With no long straights but many types of corner, and some heavy braking zones thrown in, Jerez is something of an ideal test track.
At the most recent test in Motorland Aragon both riders moved closer to their final choice of race components for the 2016 season, while still carrying out both function and performance tests. That cycle of work should conclude at this test in Jerez, with the next outings in Europe in late January focusing more on race performance at the first scheduled round of the championship in Australia, on February 28th.
The Superbike World Championship calendar has been released now, and features 14 rounds spread over nine months, from February to late October.
Jonathan Rea stated: ?Kawasaki and the team have been developing the bike and the next thing for us to focus on at Jerez is my riding position to see if we can achieve a bit more grip, and just more feeling with the bike. Aside from that, we have tested many items so far and we will also test front forks here. We will put all the best items together to work on our performance. I would imagine we would finish this test with some longer race simulations. This is a very important test because we need to be clear and precise in our work to make sure we have the right material at the next ones.?
Tom Sykes stated, ?Our base after the recent Motorland tests felt really good and now we need to try and improve some things in all areas. In the last run at Motorland we tried a few things and our consistency appears very good. Overall our tests have been positive. It is really nice to see that the direction we have worked along in the past with the Ninja ZX-10R is the same direction our new improvements are also moving in. We can go to Jerez now to test again with a lot more information, with a lot more track time available, and really try to get closer to a bike set-up that we need to take to Phillip Island.?
Guim Roda, Team Manager KRT, stated: ?We start the last test of 2015 here, so this is a significant one. It will also be a long one because we have 2 + 2 days of testing in one week, and the weather looks like it will be very good. We will continue our winter test program in order to fix the best set up possible to start next season in Australia. The introduction of the new Ninja ZX-10R on the market will mean we will have time during the season to continue to improve the race bike, but for sure the most important period is now, in the winter. We are really optimistic of the bike?s potential and we are convinced that the base of new Ninja ZX-10R is even better than the old model. This should make sure our performance will be better this year and that the lap times will be even faster. Marcel, Pere, Yoda-san and all the technical staff of KRT, suppliers, and KHI engineers are working really hard to build an even better WorldSBK Ninja than last year?s."
 

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The Althea BMW Team concludes two days of testing at the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera.

With cool temperatures but sunny conditions, the Team was able to work on different set-up solutions for the new BMW S1000 RR bikes. Riders Jordi Torres and Markus Reiterberger each used various configurations as they worked to find a level of performance that can serve as a base for the future development of the Bavarian company?s machines.

Both of the Althea BMW Team riders were able to achieve solid results and, though lap times were not crucial this week, both Torres and Reiterberger were nevertheless able to lap consistently fast, with times that were very close to both the track record and those set by their strongest rivals present on track. Final lap times ? a 1'40.531 for Reiterberger and 1'41.002 for Torres ? serve as an immediate injection of faith that will boost the whole Team, with all parties working closely together to find the right direction in which to continue. The Italian and German engineers were coordinated by new Technical Director Jan Witteveen with a very positive outcome.

With regard to Superstock, Raffaele De Rosa completed roughly 100 laps and immediately found feeling with the BMW S1000 RR in its stock version. Right from the first laps, he was able to improve on his personal record of the 2015 season by almost a second, with a final best time of 1'43.040.

The team will return to the track on 14 December, at Vallelunga in Italy, where it will carry out one day of testing, providing the riders with new material and electronic solutions as they work to refine the new bikes.

Genesio Bevilacqua:
?Team Althea embarks on a new experience, and this week the riders and team have worked together for the first time. We?ve tried to immediately give the riders an easy bike that can suit their riding styles. We?ve been pleasantly surprised with this debut because the engineers and riders have done a great job, meaning that Jordi and Reiti were immediately quick right from the first laps. After this initial outing, we?re very pleased and believe we can make another step forward already on 14 December at Vallelunga. I must thank BMW because the company has provided us with a very interesting work platform on which we, with our experience, can easily work.?

Jan Witteveen:
?I?m pleased because we?ve come up with a solid base. From here on in, we have a lot of work to do in order to achieve much greater competitiveness by the time we arrive at the opening round.?

Jordi Torres:
?In general I?d say it?s gone well, because we?ve completed some great work. We worked to find a solution for problems identified at the start of the test and the fact we found a solution, with a new bike, must mean we?re on the right track. We?ve a lot to do but we?ll soon be competitive and I want to do as much as I can to learn to ride what is a totally different bike to those I?ve ridden in the past.?

Markus Reiterberger:
?I?m happy with how our first test has gone. I?ve got on really well with the whole Team and with my BMW. I was very fast today but we have a great deal of work to do in order to improve in all areas and become competitive. I hope I?m able to improve already in the next test at Vallelunga, and can?t wait to get back on the bike.?

Raffaele De Rosa:
?I?m pleased with these two days of testing. I hadn?t ridden since Magny-Cours and immediately had a good feeling with the bike. The bike, as it is now, is already at a good level. We also carried out a race simulation and I was satisfied with that. My lap times have been very positive and, though it?s too early to make any predictions, I?m feeling very optimistic.?
 

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Early Exit for Lowes from Final Jerez Test

The Pata Yamaha World Superbike Team has withdrawn Alex Lowes from the final two days of winter testing at the Circuito de Jerez, in Spain, after yesterday's late afternoon high-side caused a dislocation to his left shoulder.

Early indications track-side concluded no serious damage after the dislocation was corrected by the swift actions of the circuit medical staff. However, with severely compromised movement and a speedy recovery his prime motivation, the British rider flew back to the UK this morning to seek specialist treatment.

Wednesday saw Lowes accomplish a full day of testing with his new WSBK-spec YZF-R1, completing 77 laps as he worked through a large raft of test items and electronic control strategies. The data collected will allow his technicians to continue to fine-tune his Yamaha machine in his absence, with a return to action scheduled for the New Year.

Teammate Sylvain Guintoli will continue to spearhead the Japanese marque's presence on track for the remaining two days at the Andaluc?an circuit, having already amassed 63 laps in the opening day.

Alex Lowes

"I'm disappointed not to be able to continue testing, as we have been doing a great job in understanding the YZF-R1 and developing my own riding style to suit it over the past few weeks. We were unlucky with the weather at Aragon so I was looking forward to a full three days of good conditions at Jerez to really get down to business. It wasn't to be, and my priority needs to be my fitness and rehabilitation after the crash yesterday, but we have been making some good progress so I'm pleased with the development so far. I felt really good on the bike yesterday and was able to be fast and consistent, I just made a small mistake - and perhaps got caught out by the drop in temperature at the end of the day - and it resulted in a pretty big crash!

The guys have done a great job this month and I know they will continue their hard work without me, now I just need to focus on getting back to 100% so we can be in the best possible position for the January tests and ready for Phillip Island."
 

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Althea BMW Racing Team presents its line-up for the 2016 WSBK season in Civita Castellana (VT- Italy)

Civita Castellana (VT) Italy, 21 January 2016

The Althea BMW Racing Team today opened the doors of the evocative ?Moto dei Miti? Museum, owned by Genesio Bevilacqua and located next to the Racing Department, to host the presentation of its team together with BMW Motorrad Motorsport ahead of the 2016 season.

Thanks to the agreement between General Manager Genesio Bevilacqua and BMW Motorrad Motorsport, Althea Racing will compete this season with BMW S1000RR bikes, entrusting them to the young German talent Markus Reiterberger and to Spanish rider Jordi Torres in the Superbike World Championship, and to Italian rider Raffaele De Rosa in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup.
Technical direction of the teams will be tasked to Dutch engineer Jan Witteveen, a very well-known name in the sector with Witteveen already a part of motorcycling history.

Despite the winter break imposed by the race calendar, the Althea BMW Racing Team has not stopped since the final 2015 round in Qatar. Althea Racing?s award-winning technicians had a first chance to work together with technical staff provided by BMW Motorrad Motorsport during two days of private testing at Jerez de la Frontera and at their home track of Vallelunga.
Markus Reiterberger and Jordi Torres got to grips with their BMW S1000RR bikes, with results that left the whole team optimistic.

The historic roundel logo comes together with the new livery of Althea BMW Racing with its innovative black/white base, the new official team colours.

Last season, Markus Reiterberger, winner of the IDM Superbike Championship, already had the chance to compete in the Superbike World Championship, participating as a wildcard entry at both Magny-Cours and Misano, on board the BMW S1000RR.
Jordi Torres meanwhile arrives from an extraordinary World Superbike race win, achieved at the final round of Qatar, and a solid fifth place finish in the overall standings.
Raffaele De Rosa, who was already an Althea Racing rider, begins the 2016 season strengthened by the 6 podiums he achieved over 8 races in the 2015 edition of the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup.

Taking to the stage today were General Manager Genesio Bevilacqua, followed by engineer Jan Witteveen, Technical Director. Together with them, the two Superbike riders Markus Reiterberger and Jordi Torres and Superstock 1000 rider Raffaele de Rosa. Michel Fabrizio also took part, in his role as test rider and manager of the Althea junior squad. The event was also a perfect opportunity to launch the collaboration with rider Emiliano Malagoli, who is eager to face the season with the ?Diversamente Disabili? organisation for the disabled, and who will have a BMW S1000RR Stock made available to him in an Althea BMW Racing Team version.
The event concluded with the unveiling of the three BMW S1000RR bikes in their 2016 livery.

For the second consecutive year, official sponsor FIAMM confirms its key role with Team Althea.

?We are ready to face the challenges of the upcoming Superbike World Championship with great enthusiasm ? confirmed Nicol? Gasparin, Executive Vice President Reserve & Mobility Power Solutions at FIAMM ? and are strengthened by the bond we have created with Team Althea, which is further reinforced this year thanks to the iconic BMW brand, synonymous with technological excellence and sporting spirit. FIAMM has always believed in motorsports as a vehicle to promote its brand in Italy and abroad, and invests in the Superbike championship because this class uses production-derived machines that are therefore very similar to models that the passionate motorcycling community can purchase and equip with FIAMM technologies. This year, Team Althea can count on very competitive riders who have a winning spirit. All of the preconditions for success are in place.?

Althea BMW Racing Team thanks all those sponsors who have chosen to renew their faith:

- BMP Tappi: http://www.bmp-tappi.it/
- Ceramica Althea: http://www.altheaceramica.it/
- Plus+ton: http://pluston.it/
- Fuchs Silkolene: http://www.fuchs-silkolene.de/
- Sapal: http://www.sapal.it

Thanks also go to the precious technical sponsors:

- Beta: http://www.beta-tools.it/beta/index.html
- PBR: http://www.pbr.it/
- Akrapovic: http://www.akrapovic.it/
- OZ: http://www.ozmotorbike.com/
- Panta Racing Fuel: http://www.pantaracingfuel.it/
- 3D Graphics: http://www.grafica3di.com/index.php
- Fren Tubo: http://www.frentubo.com/
- Race Seats: http://www.raceseats.it/it/
- Thermal Technology: http://www.thermaltt.com/
- Bonamici Racing: http://www.bonamiciracing.it/home.html
- Sprint Filter: http://www.sprintfilter.net/
- Regina Chain: http://www.reginachain.it/
- Progrip: http://it.progrip.com/
- Taleo Tecno Racing: http://www.taleotecnoracing.com/?lang=it
- SBS: http://uk.sbs.dk/
- MRA: http://www.mra.de/it/

The team will be at Vallelunga for its third private test session on 23 and 24 January, before flying to Phillip Island (Australia) for the two official test days (22-23 February) taking place prior to the opening round of the season.



GENESIO BEVILACQUA
General Manager Althea BMW Racing Team


?I?m so pleased to be able to pair the Althea brand with that of BMW Motorrad Motorsport, as together they form a new reference for BMW for the coming seasons. We know that the task ahead is a significant one and are aware that the competition we will be facing on track will be stiff and well prepared. The precious support of BMW combined with our experience, which has seen us frontrunners in recent seasons of the factory-derived championship, will surely allow us to be competitive right from the first race. We of course expect to need a little time in which to get the measure of the situation and collate the necessary references, but the riders, technicians and engineers that our team brings to the track are capable of being major players and crave the successes that team Althea has enjoyed during its long and glorious history.?

MARKUS REITERBERGER
SBK Rider #21


?I can say that I?ve been in a proper relationship with the BMW S1000RR since 2011. We have already won a lot together but to be able to experience the Superbike World Championship for the first time makes me proud and eager to begin. The white and black livery of the Althea BMW Racing Team is very aggressive; I?m excited and proud to wear these colours, which also mean I carry great responsibility. I don?t want to make any predictions for the season, but I admit I?m hungry to win.?

JORDI TORRES
SBK Rider #8
1

?I?ve only recently arrived in the Althea BMW Racing Team, but I already feel part of the family: each and every member of the team is passionate and competent when it comes to bikes and motorcycling and their expectations are high. I tested the BMW S1000RR for the first time during testing at Jerez de la Frontera in November and then in Vallelunga and I immediately had great sensations. There is still work to do, but there is enormous potential. Unveiling my bike today was really emotional and I know I?ll definitely have fun with her on track.?

RAFFAELE DE ROSA
STK1000 Rider #35


?I have just completed an incredible season with Althea Racing in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, achieving six podium finishes in eight races, definitely the best season of my career so far. I didn?t quite achieve a win but I?m going to do my best to start this year from where I left off, repaying the renewed faith that Genesio Bevilacqua and the team is putting in me.
The BMW S1000RR is a completely new bike for me, but I was immediately at ease and surprised in terms of how easy it is to use the engine and its incredible manoeuvrability.?

JAN WITTEVEEN
Technical Director


?I?m very pleased about this project with team Althea and the collaboration with BMW Motorrad Motorsport, because it is a project with great potential. It will probably take a little time to reach the technical level that we have set ourselves but we have the right riders with us, and the right balance between experience and exploitable potential.?
The full Althea BMW Racing Team Press Kit, including hi-res photos, videos and press releases can always be found online in the PRESS AREA of the www.althearacing.com website.

The Althea Racing Team:

2010
Third place in the Superbike World Championship.

2011
Superbike World Champion with Rider Carlos Checa.
Superstock 1000 FIM Cup Champion with Rider Davide Giugliano
Superbike Manufacturer?s Champion.
Superstock Manufacturer?s Champion.

2012
Fourth place in the Superbike World Championship.

2013
Sixth place in the Superbike World Championship with the factory Aprilia RSV4.

2014
Runner-up in the EVO category with the Ducati Panigale 1199 EVO.

2015
Third place in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup with the Ducati Panigale 1199R.
Ninth place in the Superbike World Championship with the Ducati Panigale 1199 RS.

Over the last five years, Althea Racing has achieved the following results in Superbike:
? 22 Race wins.
? 9 Second places.
? 11 Third places.
? 9 Superpoles.
? 27 Fastest laps.
? 1886 Points.
Superstock 1000 FIM Cup:
? 4 Race wins.
? 6 Second places.
? 3 Third places.
? 5 Fastest laps.
? 3 Pole positions.
? 308 Points.
 

KUCIAR666

Registered User
Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team back on track for 2016 at Portim?o and Jerez
Fresh from this week's global launch of Yamaha Racing's 2016 Programme in Barcelona on Monday, Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK Team immediately gets down to work with two back-to-back tests scheduled at Portim?o and Jerez in the coming days.

Recovering well from his high-speed accident at the Circuito de Jerez, in Spain, last November, Alex Lowes is eager to test his rehabilitation by reuniting with his YZF-R1 at Portugal's rollercoaster Aut?dromo Internacional do Algarve on Friday 22nd January. Located less than 20kms above the coastal resort of Portim?o, the 4,592m undulating layout is one his teammate Sylvain Guintoli knows well, having achieved five WorldSBK podiums there to-date, and the Frenchman is looking forward to testing his new Yamaha machinery against the challenging course.

The Crescent-run team will spend two days at the rider-favoured Portim?o (the only time the championship will attend the track in 2016, as it no longer features on the WorldSBK race calendar) before returning to the 4,423m Andaluc?an circuit outside Jerez de la Frontera, where a further two days of track-time await the riders on 26-27th January.

Alex Lowes
"I'm looking forward to testing as I'm intrigued to see how I can ride with my shoulder. If I can ride to a good level there are plenty of things we have to work through, if not, then I will get my head down with some more physio and concentrate on the start of the season in Australia. I can't wait to get back on the YZF-R1 after such a great launch this week and if my shoulder feels ok then it's going to be lots of fun!"
Sylvain Guintoli
"After the excitement of the past week it will be good to get down to business on track, with four days testing the YZF-R1 at Portim?o and Jerez. We have some important work to do in preparation for the first race of the year at Phillip Island next month so I'm really looking forward to getting back on the bike, working hard with the lads and getting the best out of the Yamaha before we head to Australia."
 
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