5 Minutes With...Tommy Searle and James Dobb January 25, 2008
It was pretty humorous, really. I had set out to interview 2007 Vice-World
Motocross Champion Tommy Searle and his friend and business manager
James Dobb in the pit area of Angel Stadium. The problem was, though,
that the place, between roaring rock music, DJs, revving motorcycles and
thousands of fans holding thousands of conversations, was just way too
crowded and noisy to knock out any sort of interview. That’s when the good
folks at Alpinestars offered up one of their Sprinter vans for us to sit within
and talk.
So there we were: This writer in the driver’s seat, 18-year-old Tommy
Searle in the passenger seat, and 2001 125cc World Champion James Dobb
sitting on a stack of boot boxes between us: Three hard-going travelers
telling war stories without even moving. It looked goofy enough that more
than one person stopped in their tracks to look trough the windshield and
wonder what in the hell we were doing.
But the upside of it all was that it made for a great conversation and both
Dobb and his understudy were both eager to talk about their racing
careers; just like Dobb, who came to America to race in the early 1990s
before going back to become a world champion, Searle was about to mirror
the same journey. In California to ride, train and watch some supercross
before heading back to Europe to take on Antonio Cairoli for the MX2 World
Championship, the duo were having a fine time of it. And that’s where we’ll
begin: An American and two Englishmen sitting in a stationary truck placed
smack in the middle of the main thoroughfare of the Anaheim SX pit area.
[Ed. note: It was announced yesterday by KTM USA that Tommy Searle
just signed a contract with them to compete in America in 2009-2010.]
read the interviews on racerxill.com - pic from motomagazine.co.uk
Tommy Searle RacerX Interview -ozzy go-
Billy MacKenzie MXLarge Interview -ozzy go-
In his first season in the MX1 class Scottish rider Billy Mackenzie
scored a GP win and at times looked very strong. We caught up
with the new CAS Honda signing while he was getting ready to go
out training. Like all good factory riders Mackenzie will come into
the 2008 season ready to race. interview on mxlarge.com
pic from vitalmx.com
Nicoll concludes Unlimited season with win -ozzy go- amasupermoto.com
KTM HMC’s Kurt Nicoll got a measure of revenge in the final AMA
PPG Supermoto Unlimited race of the season, bouncing back from
his Saturday DNF to score his second win on the season.
The 2004 class champion shot into the lead on the opening lap
aboard his KTM 560SMR and never looked back, opening up a six-
second plus advantage in the eight-lap contest before backing
down and cruising to the checkered flag on the final lap.
The outing only underlined the fact that the former World MX star
is still a force to be reckoned with in the class whenever he races,
finishing the campaign ranked second despite missing two rounds
due to conflicts with his role as Racing Director for KTM North
America. Other than being ruled out on Saturday due to an oil
spill, Nicoll finished on the podium in every race he entered this
season.
"It has been a great season for myself and KTM," Nicoll said
following the race. "I was able to get a great start and I felt like I
had the speed on both the asphalt and dirt to pull of a win. I want
to thank everyone who has been a part of KTM this year. It has
been a successful year and I am already looking forward to
2008."
Factory Aprilia Rip It Energy Racing ace Carlson did most of his
heavy lifting early in the season, opening the year with four
consecutive victories and winning five of the first six, before
leaning on his huge points lead and settling in for three straight
finishes off the box. With his second series title already
confirmed, Carlson picked it back up for the season finale,
however, and rode to a second-place finish, his seventh podium
result of the year.
Carlson ran outside the top three for the opening five laps, but
picked up a spot on lap six when Galveston winner Ales Hlad
made a mistake and dropped out of second and then made his
move on South African Brian Capper on the penultimate lap to
move up to the runner-up position.
"This has been a great weekend," Carlson commented. "Aprilia
has provided me with the best bikes out on the track this year.
I'm so happy to have been able to back up last years'
championship." full story on amasupermoto.com
pics from hmcracing.com & vitalmx.com
Sheffield Supecross Preview -ozzy go- mxlarge.com
The first round of the Future West ACU British Supercross
Championship draws ever closer with some leading GP and
American riders contesting the Sheffield Supercross this weekend.
The impressive world class rider line-up will see the addition of
another Canuck to the line up. Doug Dehaan of Ontario, Canada
who rode for the Butler Brother's US Supercross/Motocros team in
2007 will be racing aboard a PAR Homes Honda at the opening
round of the Future West ACU British Supercross Championships.
Dougy D will be replacing fellow Canadian Brady Sheren who
broke his wrist last weekend testing and preparing for Sheffield.
Sheren will be out for at least 6 weeks but will be back in time for
Anaheim 1 in January.
"It's too bad for Brady I know he was looking forward to coming
to Sheffield, it would have been a great experience for him,
fortunately we have a long list of other riders who want to come
and Doug Dehaan was at the top of the list. Doug should have
never been on the reserve list in the first place, he deserves a
much higher rung on the ladder. We had already commited to soo
many riders and when Doug called me originally there just wasn't
any space left for him". says Future... full story on mxlarge.com
pic from transworldmotocross.com
Rizla Suzuki's Chris Vermeulen unveils Barry Sheene colours -ozzy go- motorcyclenews.com
Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Vermeulen unveiled the one-off Barry Sheene
paint-scheme he will use for this weekend’s Australian MotoGP at
the Phillip Island circuit earlier today.
The Australian is running his factory GSV-R in the colours double
world 500 champion Barry Sheene ran as a Suzuki rider in the
1970s.
He also has retro helmet and leathers in honour of Barry Sheene,
who helped Chris Vermeulen get his big racing break in the British
Supersport championship.
Chris Vermeulen went onto become one of the top riders in the
world and broke his MotoGP victory duck earlier this season with
a brilliant victory in a rain-soaked French MotoGP in Le Mans.
Chris Vermeulen, who finished second in Phillip Island last
season, said: “Barry Sheene was a big help to me and got me set
up in my career. “He had a great association with Suzuki for a
number of years. My bike looks unreal. I’ve got the leathers and
helmet as well are all very similar to Barry’s and it’s going to be
great out on track like that. I hope the crowd...” full story on MCN
pic from rizla-suzuki-motogp.uk
Toseland relieved after title win
World SBK champion James Toseland admits his nerves were tested by his two-point championship winning margin. 
The Ten Kate Honda rider from Sheffield beat Noriyuki Haga by
just two points to claim his second Superbikes crown.
"Having left Brands Hatch in August with a 66-point lead, I
thought I had one hand on the trophy so to win by two was
nerve-wracking," he told the BBC.
"To win the title once was a lifetime ambition but to win it again,
on a different bike, was really humbling."
Toseland, who won the 2004 crown on a Ducati and the 2007 title
on a Honda, will compete in MotoGP next year for Tech 3
Yamaha, and said it was very important to him to leave the
Superbike arena on a high. "I did the deal (to move to MotoGP)
when I came back from the Suzuka Eight hour race at the end of
July, before Brands. It was a fantastic opportunity to take for next
year," he said. "But I always said it was my it was number one
priority to win title for Ten Kate. "I'm very proud - my team were
all in tears, and my friends and family were all there on the
podium. It was a great day." news.bbc.co.uk
pic from motorcyclingnews.com
Double tops for HANNspree Ten Kate Honda -ozzy go-
An astonishing display of true grit and determination enabled
British rider James Toseland to secure his second World
Superbike Championship title - and the first ever for HANNspree
Ten Kate Honda. The 2007 series victory rounds off an extremely
successful season, in which the team has already collected the
World Supersport title with Kenan Sofuoglu.
The 27-year-old collected the win by the narrowest of margins
following two difficult 23-lap races. Race one saw Toseland forced
off the track on the opening lap after Lorenzo Lanzi high-sided in
front of him leaving him nowhere to go but onto the gravel. The
new champion remained aboard the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda
CBR1000RR and re-joined the track at the back of the pack.
Toseland concentrated on the task at hand and set about carving
his way through the field - eventually settling for a safe seventh
position. Noriyuki Haga claimed the race win to move into second
position overall and narrow the gap in the championship standings
to 17 points.
HANNspree Ten Kate Honda's Toseland returned to the track for
race two with a difficult task ahead and knowing that he must
finish in eighth place or higher. The Brit did not enjoy the best of
starts and slotted into sixth position from pole before moving up
to fifth on the opening lap.
The determined rider soon came under pressure from Troy
Bayliss and Max Neukirchner and by lap five the German rider
passed the HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider, relegating Toseland
to sixth place. However, just three laps later Neukirchner crashed
out, leaving only Bayliss to challenge the World Superbike
Champion.
Bayliss passed Toseland on lap 11, while Toseland's team-mate
Roberto Rolfo slotted into seventh position. The riders maintained
station until the chequered flag with Rolfo assisting his HANNspree
Ten Kate Honda team-mate to ride safely to championship victory
with a two-point margin.
A tenth and seventh position respectively places Rolfo eighth in
the overall standings, on equal points with seventh-placed Lanzi.
Toseland's title rival Noriyuki Haga claimed a double race win -
but it was not quite enough to seal ultimate glory. full story
on hannspreeracingworld.com
pics from motograndprix.it & roadracingworld.com
Toseland claims Superbikes title
Britain's James Toseland won the World Superbike Championship
for a second time at Magny-Cours on Sunday.
He finished only seventh in the first of the day's two races after a
fall, but sixth position in the second race was enough to give him
the trophy.
Toseland, 27, finished two points clear of Japan's Noriyuki Haga,
who won both races on Sunday to overtake Max Biaggi.
Honda rider Toseland, who switches to MotoGP next season, won
the title for the first time in 2004.
He was delighted to seal his latest triumph, saying: "It's about
time. I've been in the lead from the first race.
"What an incredible championship, with Haga, Biaggi, Troy
Bayliss and Fonsi Nieto coming strong at the end.
"It's the best championship I've ever ridden in. To have a pole
and win the championship in my final race in World Superbikes
is a big 'thank you' to everyone involved.
"This is what I live for, this is the only thing that matters,
getting this trophy.
"My one (trophy) at home was getting lonely so I thought I
better get him a partner." news.bbc.co.uk
picture from motograndprix.it
Noriyuki Haga closes championship gap on James Toseland -ozzy go- motorcyclenews.com
'07 World Superbike Championship Round 13 - October 7, 2007
Magny Cours Superbike Race 1
1. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 38.33,762
2. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) + 2,770
3. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) + 3,735
4. Max Neukirchner (Germany/Suzuki) + 8,570
5. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) + 12,925
6. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) + 13,283
7. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) + 16,395
8. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati) + 22,581
9. Regis Laconi (French Republic/Kawasaki) + 22,828
10. Roberto Rolfo (Italy/Honda) + 32,729
Magny Cours Superbike Race 2
1. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 38.35,353
2. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) + 3,518
3. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) + 9,142
4. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) + 9,257
5. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) + 12,825
6. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) + 19,316
7. Roberto Rolfo (Italy/Honda) + 20,994
8. Regis Laconi (French Republic/Kawasaki) + 22,452
9. Michel Fabrizio (Italy/Honda) + 22,505 
10. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati) + 28,352
2007 World Superbike Final Standings after Race #25
1. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) 415pts/8 wins/14 top-3
2. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 413pts/6 wins/15 top-3
3. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) 397pts/3 wins/17 top-3
4. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) 372pts/7 wins/13 top-3
5. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) 296pts/9 top-3
6. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati) 201pts/1 win/2 top-3
7. Roberto Rolfo (Italy/Honda) 194pts
8. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) 192pts/1 top-3
9. Max Neukirchner (Germany/Suzuki) 149pts
10. Regis Laconi (French Republic/Kawasaki) 137pts
11. Michel Fabrizio (Italy/Honda) 132pts/1 top-3
12. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) 125pts/1 top-3
13. Yukio Kagayama (Japan/Suzuki) 116pts/2 top-3
14. Jakub Smrz (Czech Republic/Ducati) 66pts
14. Shinichi Nakatomi (Japan/Yamaha) 66pts
16. Karl Muggeridge (Australia/Honda) 62pts
17. Josh Brookes (Australia/Honda) 40pts
18. Steve Martin (Australia/Honda) 27pts
19. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Italy/Kawasaki) 19pts
20. Marco Borciani (Italy/Ducati) 12pts
pictures from motograndprix.it
Toseland storms to pole
James Toseland put himself in the best possible position to win a
second World Superbike title by taking pole position for the final
rounds of the championship at Magny-Cours.
The 27-year-old Briton had showed no indication in regular
qualifying that he could challenge for the top spot and was the
ninth man of 16 to set his time.
But a superb 1:38.501, which smashed the qualifying record, saw
the squirming Ten Kate Honda rider on pole for the second time
this season and only the fourth time of his career as one by one
his more fancied rivals failed to better his time.
There was nothing unusual about seeing a Suzuki ridden by a Max
second on the grid, but it was not Max Biaggi as instead Suzuki
Germany's Max Neukirchner took his best career grid spot, only
0.023 seconds slower than Toseland.
Completing the front row were the Motor Italia Yamahas of Troy
Corser and Noriyuki Haga, one of the two men still capable of
beating Toseland to the title.
Lorenzo Lanzi was an impressive fifth ahead of what will be his
final two races for Ducati, with the Alstare Suzuki of Biaggi - who
needs to win to take the title battle with Toseland down to the
final race.
Outgoing world champion Troy Bayliss, the fastest man in regular
qualifying, has a messy lap on his Ducati and will start seventh,
ahead of the PSG-1 Kawasakis of Regis Laconi and Fonsi Nieto.
Completing the top ten was Ruben Xaus on a Sterilgada Ducati,
while Britain's Dean Ellison failed to make it into Superpole and
will start 20th and last on his Pedercini Ducati. Yahoo!Sport
Magny Cours Superbike Superpole - October 6, 2007
1. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) 1.38,501
2. Max Neukirchner (Germany/Suzuki) 1:38.524
3. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) 1:38.624
4. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 1:38.897
5. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) 1:38.955
6. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) 1:38.982
7. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) 1:39.174
pictures from worldracing.com & motograndprix.de
Chris Vermeulen: 'Barry did a lot to make sure I became a success when I arrived in the UK'
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP is set to ‘go retro’ with Chris Vermeulen at his home Grand Prix in
Australia, as the hometown hero pays tribute to his hero and mentor, Suzuki’s
legendary 1976 and 1977 World Champion Barry Sheene.
The 25-year-old Queenslander will be riding a one-off Rizla Suzuki GSV-R inspired by
Barry Sheene’s Suzuki XR-14 Grand Prix bike of the mid-seventies. The 2007 800cc
GSV-R will have an individually designed Rizla blue and white paint-scheme that will
also feature a tribute to Sheene’s famous crossed seven, set within Vermeulen’s 71.
Suzuki’s Grand Prix winning Australian will also be sporting a retro style race-suit to
match the bike and a helmet inspired by Sheene’s iconic style.
Vermeulen was singled out as a remarkable talent by Sheene in the nineties and he
persuaded the young Aussie to go to Britain and pursue his racing dream. Vermeulen
took Sheene’s advice and has never looked back since then, winning a World
Championship on his way to becoming a full-time MotoGP racer with Rizla Suzuki.
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP and Vermeulen will unveil the bike at Phillip Island on Thursday
11th October, in the Team’s pit-box at 16.45hrs local time.
Team-mate John Hopkins will be racing in his usual, instantly recognisable Rizla Blue
colour scheme at Phillip Island as he lines up alongside Vermeulen for round 16 of the
MotoGP World Championship on Sunday 14th October.
Chris Vermeulen
“This is a great honour for me to ride the latest generation of Suzuki GP bike in a colour
scheme inspired by my hero, Barry Sheene. Barry did a lot to make sure I became a
success when I arrived in the UK and I miss him a lot. I rode one of his XR-14 Grand
Prix bikes at the Goodwood Festival of Speed last year and that was certainly a
privilege, but to ride my bike in the same livery is just awesome. Thanks to Suzuki and
the team for letting this happen, I just hope that we can do credit to it! read the full
story on autoracingdaily.com - pic from barrysheenetribute.com
World Superbike: Magny Cours Preview -ozzy go- motorcycle-usa.com
It's going to be a 'Battle Royale' this weekend between Hannspree
Ten Kate Honda's James Toseland, Alstare Suzuki Corona Extra's
Max Biaggi and Yamaha Motor Italia's Noriyuki Haga for the title
of World Superbike champion. What appeared as a dominant 66-
point lead after Toseland's double at Brands Hatch three races
ago has dwindled to a surmountable 29-point margin. The results
at Vallelunga demonstrated that there are no certainties in
roadracing, with Toseland crashing in Race 2 and almost getting
taken out in the first lap of Race 1 when Troy Corser spilled. With
50 points at stake in the final race of the season at Magny Cours,
the competition for the podium in France this weekend is going to be fierce.
"This has been one of the most up and down rollercoaster rides of
a championship that I've ever competed in. The pace at the front
of World Superbikes this year has been incredible and it's been a
pleasure racing against the two Troys, Nori, Max and the rest of
the field. The racing has been fantastic, but I fly on Wednesday to
France with only one intention - to win my second World
Superbike Championship in Magny Cours, where I secured the
title in 2004," Toseland said.
The Hannspree ace has registered an impressive resume this
season - eight victories, including his first-ever WSBK double
podium, to go along with six other trips to the rostrum. And even
though he has a 29-point advantage headed into the last race of
the season, the British rider will have to fight to the very end with
Biaggi and Haga poised to pounce on any mistakes and stake
their own championship claim.
If Toseland's track record at Magny Cours has any merit, he
should be in good shape to secure the championship. King James
won his first title at the French circuit in 2004, overcoming a five-
point deficit with a double podium finish, albeit in a different class.
He did win Race 1 there last year in WSBK, so he has
demonstrated the skills necessary to put his CBR1000RR in the
winner's circle.
Standing between Toseland and the championship is Biaggi.
Considering this is the Roman rider's first World Superbike
season, the Suzuki ace's results have been spectacular. Biaggi
has had to learn tracks on the fly as it was his first time to turn
laps at many of the courses. Mad Max has been coming on strong
the last few races and his 1-2 finish at Vallelunga vaulted him
past Yamaha's Haga, who had owned the second-place position
for most of the season. It's certain that Toseland will be aware of
Biaggi's position at all times come Sunday. 
But Biaggi is not his only threat. Yamaha Motor Italia's Haga is
also within striking distance, 33 points behind Toseland. The duo
engaged in a classic duel in Race 1 at Vallelunga, exchanging
elbows and knees in a joust to the finish line. Toseland would
eventually win the duel, but Haga is a true warrior who will lay it
all on the line in France this weekend to try and bring the
championship title home.
"Magny-Cours is going to be a real animal fight for the win.
Toseland, Biaggi, Bayliss, Corser and I are all looking at that top
step with determination. It's going to come down to who wants it
the most and who has the best set-up. But I plan to spoil
everyone else's party!" Haga exclaimed.
Haga also has a proven track record at Magny Cours, with a race
win to his credit in 2004 to go along with his second and fourth-
place finishes last year. Nitro Nori has shown he can run rapidly
on the circuit, posting the fastest lap during Race 1 last season.
And despite being eliminated from championship contention, the
two Troys are posed to play the role as spoiler this weekend.
Though Ducati Xerox's Troy Bayliss may not have been able to
defend his crown, it doesn't mean that he wouldn't love having a
say in who wins the title this year. read the full story on MC-USA
Crash puts Toseland party on hold
James Toseland's pursuit of a second World Superbike
Championship will go down to the final round after a dramatic
crash in the second race of the 12th round in Italy.
HANNspree Ten Kate Honda rider Toseland will travel to next
weekend's finale at Magny-Cours in France with a 29-point lead
over Alstare Suzuki rider Max Biaggi and is still in prime position
to regain the crown he won in 2004 with just 50 points available.
But while the title looked all but secure back in early August when
his commanding double win at Brands Hatch opened up a 66-point
lead at the top of the standings, Toseland will now have to bank
two decent finishes in France to reclaim his title in his last
Superbike race before moving to MotoGP next season.
Toseland claimed third in race one behind Biaggi and Xerox
Ducati rider Troy Bayliss at the Vallelunga circuit near Rome but
crashed in race two and was only able to finish 11th after
rejoining the field as Bayliss won from Biaggi.
The Sheffield-born rider admitted that he had endured "the
hardest race of the season" after problems with his machine's
traction control but was not too disheartened as he stands on the
cusp of regaining his title.
He said: "We've gone from a really dominant and strong position
on Saturday to struggling today.
"The guys made a great job of rebuilding my number one bike
after the superpole crash and I chose to ride it. This was my
decision and maybe it wasn't the best decision because we
struggled to get the traction control working.
"There was no improvement from race one to race two and race
one was bad enough - definitely the hardest of the season so far."
ukpress.google.com - photos from motograndprix.it
World Superbike - GP of Vallelunga
Vallelunga, Italy, September 30, 2007
2007 FIM Superbike World Championship Round 12
Vallelunga Superbike Race 1
1. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) 24 laps, 39:24.967
2. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) -5.638 seconds
3. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) -7.452
4. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) -10.079
5. Michel Fabrizio (Italy/Honda) -22.257
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) -25.662
7. Regis Laconi (French Rep./Kawasaki) -34.811
8. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) -38.075
9. Shinichi Nakatomi (Japan/Yamaha) -39.070
10. Vittorio Iannuzzo (Italy/kawasaki) -47.702
21. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) -24 laps, DNF, crash
Vallelunga Superbike Race 2
1. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) 39:30.861, 24 laps
2. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) -1.431 seconds
3. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) -4.466
4. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) -13.766
5. Roberto Rolfo (Italy/Honda) -20.848
6. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati)-21.930
7. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) -29.847
8. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) -29.986
9. Shinichi Nakatomi (Japan/Yamaha) -40.126
10. Max Neukirchner (Germany/Suzuki) -40.733
11. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) -42.544, crash
Superbike World Championship Standings after Race #23
1. James Toseland (Great Britain/Honda) 396pts/8 wins/14 top-3
2. Max Biaggi (Italy/Suzuki) 367pts/3 wins/16 top-3
3. Noriyuki Haga (Japan/Yamaha) 363pts/4 wins/13 top-3
4. Troy Bayliss (Australia/Ducati) 341pts/7 wins/12 top-3
5. Troy Corser (Australia/Yamaha) 267pts/8 top-3
6. Lorenzo Lanzi (Italy/Ducati) 192pts/1 top-3
7. Ruben Xaus (Spain/Ducati) 187pts/1 win/2 top-3
8. Roberto Rolfo (Italy/Honda) 177pts
9. Max Neukirchner (Germany/Suzuki) 136pts
10. Michel Fabrizio (Italy/Honda) 136pts/1 top-3
11. Regis Laconi (French Republic/Kawasaki) 122pts
12. Yukio Kagayama (Japan/Suzuki) 116pts/2 top-3
13. Fonsi Nieto (Spain/Kawasaki) 98pts
14. Jakub Smrz (Czech Republic/Ducati) 66pts
15. Shinichi Nakatomi (Japan/Yamaha) 61pts
16. Karl Muggeridge (Australia/Honda) 53pts
17. Josh Brookes (Australia/Honda) 40pts
18. Steve Martin (Australia/Honda) 27pts
photos from suzuki-racing.com & ducati.com
Vallelunga: World Superbike Round 12 Preview -ozzy go- motorcycle-usa.com
As World Superbike action gets ready to invade Rome and
launch its attack on the Vallelunga circuit, four riders, all
from different manufacturers, are still alive in the hunt for
the championship title. With two events and four races
remaining, the opportunities for the quartet to grab a share
of the unclaimed 100 points and to close the 41-point lead
that Hannspree Ten Kate Honda's James Toseland holds are
dwindling.
There are four riders that still mathematically have a chance
of winning the championship title. Toseland has the inside
line to the crown with 375 points and eight race wins. The
26-year-old Brit could quash his challenger's hopes with a
double podium this weekend. the Honda rider looked in total
control of the championship up until Lausitz where he fell
off the pace, finishing ninth in the first race and salvaging
a fourth in the second.
Yamaha Motor Italia's Noriyuki Haga sits in second place
with 334 points and four wins. Haga needs another double
podium like the one he posted at Monza to keep the
pressure on Toseland all the way to the wire. Haga made
up 25 points during the last round at Lausitz and needs to
concentrate on winning this weekend and letting the other
variables fall into place.
"I don't think I've ever felt closer to the championship title
than I do now; everything is coming together and the bike
is feeling the best it's ever done. My focus for this weekend
is to chip away at that points margin a bit more; it's all about
winning this weekend," Haga said of the championship. click
on ozzy go to the full story – pic from motograndprix.it
Toseland can win title on Sunday
If James Toseland can extend his title lead by nine points at Vallelunga on
Sunday, then he will be crowned the 2007 World Superbike champion one
round early.
The Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider heads into the penultimate round 41
points clear of Yamaha Italia's Noriyuki Haga, with 100 points still to be
won. Therefore if Toseland can push his title lead up to 50 points by the
end of Sunday's pair of races, then he will have an unstoppable advantage.
"We are so close to the end of the season now, but it still feels a long way
away to me - particularly after what happened in Lausitz," said 2004 world
champion Toseland, who struggled at the German round. "I still have a
good advantage, but I know that in racing anything can happen and you
can't relax until you have two hands firmly on the trophy. I am trying to
focus on the individual races and getting on the podium, but I am not
letting go of my lead without a fight."
"With the championship reaching its final stages and James still leading
the title chase, we are feeling a bit of pressure," admitted team manager
Ronald ten Kate. "To be honest though, I believe the real pressure is on
our rivals, because they have to make up the points while we just have to
maintain the current lead. During the test at Vallelunga we concentrated on
race distance and we have a good set-up for the CBR1000RRs. Hopes are
high that we can secure two solid results for James and Roby [Rolfo] this
weekend."
As well as Toseland and Haga, third in the championship Max Biaggi (53
points from Toseland) and defending world champion Troy Bayliss (79
points from Toseland) also have a mathematical chance of winning the
2007 title. crash.net -photo from motosport.com
Double Delight For Haslam -ozzy go- londonbikers.com
Donington Park, Leicestershire, Sunday 23rd September 2007
2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Round 12
Donington BSB Race 1
1. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 30m37.871s
2. Tom Sykes (Honda) +1.416s
3. Shane Byrne (Honda) +1.626s
4. Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +9.214s
5. Jonathan Rea (Honda) +12.034s
6. Chris Walker (Suzuki) +15.515s
7. Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +26.204s
8. James Haydon (Kawasaki) +28.661s
9. Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +33.019s
10. Steve Plater (Yamaha) +54.844s.
Donington BSB Race 2
1. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 30m35.829s
2. Tom Sykes (Honda) +0.056s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +3.416s
4. Chris Walker (Suzuki) +7.132s
5 Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +12.299s
6. Shane Byrne (Honda) +16.567s
7. Jonathan Rea (Honda) +16.672s
8. Michael Rutter (Kawasaki) +34.428s
9. Steve Plater (Yamaha) +34.841s
10. Karl Harris (Honda) +46.036s.
British Superbike Championship Standings after Round 12
1. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 404pts
2. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 367pts
3. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 363pts
4. Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 318pts
5. Shane Byrne (Honda) 283pts
6. Tom Sykes (Honda) 270pts
7. Chris Walker (Suzuki) 206pts
Leon Haslam at Knockhill - londonbikers.com
Team Great Britain - Profiles for the 2007 Red Bull FIM Motocross of Nations -ozzy go-
The second “winningest” Motocross of Nations team after USA, Great Britain has
owned the trophy 16 times, the last of which was 1994. The team has also won
the first Motocross of Nations back in 1947. Billy Mackenzie (16), Tommy
Searle (17) and James Noble (18) will be this year’s rider.
This is the fourth consecutive Motocross of Nations for Scottish Billy Mackenzie,
who was in the Great Britain team in 2004, 2005 and 2006. The 23 year old
born in Edinburgh has just finished his first MX1 season, where he gathered a
lot of experience, winning one GP (Sugo) and clocking one pole position
(Namur). Everyone remembers the laps of last year’s event where he led
Stefan Everts and James Stewart, sending the home ground wild.
Tommy Searle ended his second Motocross World Championship season in
second place behind Cairoli, and was also capable of winning his maiden GP
(Donington). With a total of 10 podiums, Searle has shown an incredible
consistency and will be trying harder at this second participation in the
Nations, the first having been at Matterley Basin last year.
James Noble looks forward to this event, as he classes riding for his country as
his best Motocross memory. Noble’s strongest asset is consistency; he missed
the points only three times in the 30 moto’s of this year’s Motocross World
Championship, where he has worked his way up to an eventual eleventh place.
Former racer Mark Eastwood will replace Rob Herring in his first appearance
as Team Manager of Great Britain. Eastwood has plenty of experience, and
was in the podium finishing Great Britain team back in 1997.
Last year’s result and team (MX1/MX2/Open): 6th; Billy Mackenzie, Tommy
Searle, Carl Nunn. pic from transworldmotocross.com
Mackenzie wins first British Championship -ozzy go- kawasaki-racingteam.com
23 year old Mackenzie, winner of the Grand Prix of Japan and the first world championship event with the KX450F-SR, gave the manufacturer their first British accolade since 1996 and ended Honda’s seven year dominance in the premier class of the UK competition.
The eighth and final round of the Maxxis-backed championship at a sunny and spectator-packed Pontrilas circuit was actually won by team-mate Tanel Leok who was making a one-off appearance. The Estonian assisted the crew and Mackenzie enormously by defeating the Scot’s main rival Ken de Dycker in the first moto (‘Mac’ was third) and then shadowed and defended leader Mackenzie in the second race until the two factory machines had a safe margin, by which stage he moved through and went on to seal his second chequered flag of the day.
With results of third and second to take second overall Mackenzie
confirmed his maiden British Championship by ten points over De
Dycker and only missed the podium once from eight rounds, not
dropping out of the top four in sixteen motos. click on ozzy go to
the full story on kawasaki-racingteam.com