Castrol Honda returns to World Superbike

Team ten Kate line up at the official team launch today in the UK.

The latest incarnation of an iconic team has returned to the World Superbike championship following today's launch of the new Castrol Honda team, with the global lubricants brand announcing title sponsorship of Honda's superbike effort for the upcoming 2011 title race.
The new team will feature riders Jonathan Rea and Ruben Xaus campaigning Honda's CBR1000RR Fireblade, with the squad being run by the Netherlands-based Ten Kate Racing outfit, who have led Honda's World Superbike effort since 2004.

Castrol's association with Honda's motorcycle racing activities goes all the way back to the Japanese manufacturer's first foray into the sport at the Isle of Man TT in 1959 and the two companies celebrated 50 years of racing together in 2009.

While Castrol has maintained support of Honda's annual World Superbike championship effort in recent years, its previous title sponsorship of the Castrol Honda team generated no fewer than three world titles, with John Kocinski in 1997 and then twice with fellow American rider Colin Edwards in 2000 and 2002.

For Jonathan Rea, 23, the new season, which opens on 27 February at Phillip Island in Australia, will be his third in the World Superbike championship. The Northern Irishman finished in fifth place in 2009, taking two wins, a tally which he doubled last season on his way to fourth place in the championship.

Ruben Xaus, meanwhile, first competed in the World Superbike championship in 1998 and finished as runner-up in 2003 before a two-year spell in MotoGP. The 32-year-old Catalan rider has 11 career wins to his name and a total of 35 podium finishes to date.


Donald Smith - sponsorship manager, Global Marketing Unit, Castrol:

"Castrol are delighted to join Honda once again to see the return of the famous Castrol Honda World Superbike team to racetracks around the world. Motorcycle racing provides Castrol with the ultimate environment to test and develop our advanced Castrol Power One technology and the Castrol Honda World Superbike team provides a powerful and exciting platform to demonstrate the performance of our Castrol Power One products."

Carlo Fiorani - racing operations manager, Honda Motor Europe:
"We are absolutely thrilled that Castrol has shown this level of faith in Honda and its World Superbike championship team. We are really looking forward to the 2011 season and to achieving even more wins under this famous racing banner. It's great to have an such an iconic motorsport brand as title sponsor for the team and, personally, I think the Castrol Honda CBR1000RR race machine looks absolutely fantastic!"

Ronald ten Kate - manager, Castrol Honda World Superbike Team:

"When our world championship racing adventure was first beginning, many years ago now, Castrol Honda was the one team in the paddock which everyone looked up to, whose professional and performance standards we all wanted to achieve. It is an honour for us now to be racing under this famous and historically successful banner and we are privileged to be following in the footsteps of the team we admired so much in the past. You can be sure that everyone in the Ten Kate Racing organisation—riders, mechanics, and all the workshop staff - will give 100% commitment to this really exciting new phase of our World Superbike campaign.

It does the soul good to see the Castrol colors back in WSBK. American's Colin Edwards and John Kocinski won three titles on Castrol Hondas.

Jonathan Rea - #4:

"One of my main inspirations for racing was watching Castrol Honda's Colin Edwards battle Troy Bayliss for the World Superbike championship in that epic season in 2002. It's a real honour for me to be racing under those same famous colours for the 2011 season and I'll be trying my hardest to recreate what Colin did for the Castrol Honda team. I think the bike looks fantastic and I know the Ten Kate guys back at the workshop have been working really hard on its technical development since last season finished so now I just can't wait to get started."

Ruben Xaus - #111:

"After many years of racing at world championship level it is very nice and important for me to be part of a big project like the new Castrol Honda team. The biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world is joining together with one of the biggest lubricants companies in the world and supporting the Ten Kate team, which has had a lot of success with many world championship titles. All together it's a big and really exciting mixture and I will give my talent and every effort to help Castrol and the Honda CBR1000RR become a regular winning partnership in the 2011 championship.

Riding Solo in Mexico

In his latest adventure motorcycle documentary Beyond The Border (Riding Solo in Mexico), Seattle filmmaker and motorcycle-journalist Sterling Noren pursues his passion for adventure travel.

In this documentray, he rides his BMW GS riding through the Baja Peninsula and the Sierra Madre Mountains of Northern Mexico in search of a story about life in Mexico that is not full of violence and despair. 

He succeeds in capturing the spirit of adventure and discovery, and making a film as much about motorcycle travel as it is about freedom, survival and people coming together to make peace.

Heading solo into the unknown, Noren successfully navigates 3,000 miles of rugged terrain, passing through small fishing villages along the coast of Baja, and the isolated pueblos on dirt roads at the bottom of the spectacular 6,100 ft deep Copper Canyon (a canyon system four times the size of the Grand Canyon). 

He tells a story of friendships, fears and challenge as he discovers a "real treasure of Sierra Madre," a life-affirming event that stands in contrast to the ever-present news about the drug wars south of the border. 

Noren documents "the greatest race the world has never seen," the 50-mile Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon, meets it's inspiring organizer Micah True (Caballo Blanco) and the race participants, the ancient tribe of Tarahumara Indians - The Rarámuri.

Sterling Noren is motorcyclist at heart and a solo filmmaker with no support, no back up plan and no reservations. His goal was to survive the challenges of riding alone in Mexico, document the journey on film.

Produced and Directed by Sterling Noren, Beyond the Border (Riding Solo in Mexico) is available on DVD (NF-BTB) for a retail price of $24.95. He has also produced the BMW GS Off-Road Riding Skills DVD (091-0200) whichs is available for $29.95.

Both motorcycle DVDs are available through Touratech-USA or by calling 1-800-491-2926.

Gabor Talmacsi to test Kawasaki ZX-10R at Sepang

 

Gabor Talmacsi may be at a crossroads in his career, but not wanting to leave any stone unturned and despite revealing that the World Superbike championship is hardly known in his native Hungary.

Talmacsi is still deep in talks with Pedercini, and has decided to give superbikes ago, pending a test with the Kawasaki ZX-10R. The Hungarian rider will be joining the platoon of Kawasaki superbike and superstock riders (Tom Sykes, Joan Lascorz, Chris Vermeluen, Stuart Easton, Katsuaki Fujiwara, Roberto Rolfo, Marco Bussolotti, Leandro Mercado and Bryan Staring, who’ll all be at the Malaysian track from January 10th to 14th.

According to Lucio Pedercini, Talmacsi asked to join the test session at Sepang in order to get the feel of a 1000cc 4-stroke superbike on track, as his previous experiences with a four-stroke has only been with a Moto2, before deciding if his future, wanting to be sure that he could also be competitive in this category.

 

p/s - those who have extra time.... might want to watch the test....

2011 Isle of Man - New Rule....

The official regulations (rules) and entry form for the 2011 Isle of Man TT motorcycle race fueled by Monster Energy have been released. The 2011 regulations and entry form cover all motorcycle racing classes, including TT Zero.

The Official TT Team and Competitors Ferry Booking Forms are expected to be released in the next few days along with the team and motorcycle rider sponsorship acquisition booklet.

The regulations and entry form documents are no longer available in print form and are now only available in electronic PDF format. The closing date for TT race entries is Friday, February 25, 2011.

Paul Phillips, TT & Motorsport Development Manager, says: "The Entry Form has been revised for 2011 and requires a significant amount of information to be completed by competitors and teams."

"Please take time to complete the Entry Form comprehensively. Failure to do so could result in an entry not being accepted."

"Changes have been made throughout the documents and all teams and competitors are requested to read and understand the regulations thoroughly before submitting an entry for the 2011 TT Races."

It has been decided by the 2011 IoM TT these documents will no longer be printed and will now only be available in electronic PDF format. Please note the closing date for entries is set as Friday Feb. 25, 2011.

Here you can download the 2011 Isle of Man TT Race Regulations and the 2011 Isle of Man Entry Form for all classes including TT Zero in PDF format at no charge.

The IoM TT Entry Form has been revised for 2011 and requires a significant amount of information to be completed by competitors and teams. TT riders must take time to complete the Entry Form comprehensively. Failure to do so could result in an entry not being accepted.

Changes have been made throughout the documents and all teams and competitors are requested to read and understand the regulations thoroughly before submitting an entry for the 2011 IoM TT Races.

Should you require any further information regarding the TT regulations, please contact Michelle Haynes, Secretary of the Meeting, ACU Events Ltd, ACU House, Wood Street, Rugby, Warks, CV21 2YX.

The Motorsport Team is also happy to assist with any inquires and can be contacted at the Department of Economic Development, St Andrews House, Finch Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2PX.

SuperMartxe VIP 125cc MotoGP

When Paris Hilton officially announced Monday that she will be fielding riders for the 2011 125cc MotoGP Championship, the media went mad, every outlet from the New York Times to the most notable journalist in the motorcycle industry vying for a better angle.

As coverage continued of this pop star entering the world of MotoGP racing, many eagerly awaited for the unveiling of the new SuperMartxe VIP by Paris Hilton team, which is a joint effort with the By Queroseno Racing (BQR) racing team out of Barcelona.

And this superstar premier came Saturday, as Hilton presented her new 125cc MotoGP team in the Spanish Capital of Madrid. Donned in skin-tight leathers, Hilton unveiled the pink, white and blue Aprilia RSA motorcycles alongside SuperMartxe VIP riders Sergio Gadea and Maverick Vinales.

Vinales, 15, won both the Spanish national and European 125cc championships this year.

The SuperMartxe team will be run by Raul Romero, who stated he will fight for the final 125cc title before the category is replaced by the new Moto3 class in 2012.

MotoGP states the sporting and technical director will be Ricard Jové whilst the highly accomplished Rossano Brazzi, who has previously worked alongside Valentino Rossi and Max Biaggi, will be responsible for the preparation of the bikes.

Reports say that Paris Hilton was approached by BQR team partner Riccard Garriga and Nano Barea, the founder of SuperMartxe (an Ibiza-based dance-party series that Hilton has been affiliated since 2009). Hilton responded excitedly, and decided to become one of the team owners.

Under contract, Paris Hilton must attend five (out of 17) rounds of the MotoGP Championship. It has not been reported which races she will attend.

Although MotoGP races are the most popular across motorcycle racing, Hilton's exposure is expected to bring an even wider audience to the sport.

Hilton will be another giant celebertiy within the motor-racing industry; the other most notable celebrity is Michael Jordan, who fields a team in the AMA Superbike series.

Rea admits to 'good feeling' on MotoGP debut

Ten Kate World Superbike Championship front-runner Jonathan Rea makes an encouraging MotoGP debut in a private test session with HRC at Sepang in Malaysia

In a private three-day test session around the Sepang International Circuit on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur, Honda Ten Kate World Superbike Championship front-runner Rea joined HRC test rider Kousuke Akiyoshi to help to develop the RCV212 in preparation for next season.

After the bike's riding position was adjusted to suit his stature, the 23-year-old joined his Suzuka 8-hour team-mate out on-track, with the pair making the most of the warm weather at the 5.548km circuit to complete almost a full day's work, interrupted only by a brief rain shower.

“Today I had great fun learning a MotoGP bike, and the Sepang circuit is impressive!” the Ulsterman reported following 51 laps as he familiarised himself with the characteristics of the grand prix machine. “My body is still not 100 per cent and this is a pity, but I had a very good day with the HRC test team.

“I've spent almost all of my career on production-derived bikes; I just rode a 125GP a few years ago, and today I had a good feeling riding the Honda RCV212. The bike feels very powerful, the engine revs higher than my CBR1000R and it is easy to change direction. I'd like to thank HRC and Honda Europe for this opportunity, and I'm looking forward for the next two days of testing.”

Paris Hilton launching own race team

SuperMartxé VIP by Paris Hilton team to field two riders in the 2011 125cc Championship

RATHER THAN A new clothing line or fragrance media princess, Paris Hilton will front her own 125 Grand Prix team next season.

Joining up with the existing BQR team, the new SuperMartxé VIP by Paris Hilton team will field three-time 125 race winner, Sergio Gadea and rookie Maverick Viñales. The latter joining the World ranks after taking titles in 2010 Spanish and European 125cc championships.

The daughter of the Hilton hotel tycoon, more prominently known through choice media appearances, adds her name to the team which will see the talented technical collaboration of Christian Lundberg and Rossano Brazzi; Brazzi well-known in aiding Rossi to his 125 glory.

2011 marks the final running of the 125cc class before the two-stroke series is replaced by four-stroke singles in 2012.

p/s - so you better watch out..... ladies had entered the competition.........