SNETTERTON SET FOR KICK OFF AS MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKES IS BACK THIS WEEKEND
The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship returns this weekend (13/14/15 June) following a six-week break as Snetterton in Norfolk beckons for Britain’s biggest motorsport series.
Triple British champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne heads the pack into round three after having his winning streak ended at the last race at Oulton Park by Josh Brookes in a spectacular final lap with the pair separated by just 0.118 seconds. Byrne lapped the Snetterton 300 circuit under lap record pace in pre-season testing, but Brookes is unfazed by his rival’s pace.
Byrne said: “The start of the season has been nearly perfect. We had a great couple of rounds, but as a team we certainly haven’t been resting on our laurels since Oulton Park. We had the pre-season test at Snetterton which was really good and I know some of our rivals have been out on track there recently, but I we can get straight up to speed. We will be ready to get back out and push for results.”
Brookes said: “I am feeling confident. If we continue the way we have then we should be searching for wins this weekend. Some of the other teams have tested at Snetterton but I don’t think we will be disadvantaged because we haven’t. I feel like I have been away from BSB for the last few weeks, but now I am back to thinking about what we can do this weekend. It was great to win at Oulton Park but we need to focus on the present and where we head to next.”
Snetterton also marks the return of the mighty title-winning Honda Racing team, who scored a victory at the track in 2013 with champion Alex Lowes, and will line up for the first of their wildcard appearances with World Endurance champion Julien Da Costa.
Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki’s James Ellison and Chris Walker arrive at the circuit following a positive test last week whilst Czech’s Jakub Smrz proved the Millsport Ducati’s pace in pre-season testing by setting the second fastest time. Triple champion Ryuichi Kiyonari is focused on making history by aiming for BMW’s debut podium finish in MCE BSB at a circuit where he has scored more victories than any of his rivals.
Tribute to Simon Andrews and Karl Harris
Championship organisers MSVR will also pay a special tribute this Sunday at Snetterton to Simon Andrews and Karl Harris, who both recently lost their lives whilst competing at the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT road races.
Prior to Sunday’s opening MCE BSB race, Simon’s RAF Reserves Honda Superbike and Karl’s 1999 European Superstock Championship-winning GR Motorsport Suzuki will be positioned ahead of the starting grid. Simultaneously, in the skies the world’s only airworthy B-17 Flying Fortress, Sally-B, will perform an air display, followed by a low-level flypast by an RAF Tornado GR4 operated out of nearby RAF Marham.
Round 3 of the 2014 MCE British Superbike Championship takes place at Snetterton in Norfolk this weekend (13/1415 June). Tickets are available to purchase on the day throughout the event and under 13s go free.
For further information visit www.britishsuperbike.co.uk
More, from another press release issued by MotorSport Vision:
MCCONNELL LEADS AS MOSSEY BIDS TO CLAIM HOME ADVANTAGE AT SNETTERTON
Billy McConnell heads the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship ahead of the third round at Snetterton this weekend with the Smiths Racing Triumph team heading the pack into Norfolk after his first double win at Oulton Park.
McConnell and title rival Alastair Seeley had two frantic races at the previous round and the Mar-Train Yamaha rider is ready to close the gap at Snetterton this weekend to the Australian standings leader and Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin.
Luke Jones missed out on the podium last time out at Oulton Park as Luke Stapleford closed the gap with his first podium finish of the season, but this weekend marks the home round of Luke Mossey and the Cambridge rider is bidding for a podium return after recovering from a shoulder injury at Brands Hatch.
Mossey said: “I never have any luck at Brands Hatch it seems, but my shoulder is all healed now and I am ready for Snetterton as it is my home round. I was disappointed with Oulton Park even though I still had the injury, but I don’t want to be settling for anything less than I know we are capable of. The Championship isn’t a million miles away and we can comeback; especially here this weekend as I am feeling really confident after we had a test at Snetterton too. It’s a great circuit and it is going to be a great weekend so roll on the weekend.”
In the Motorpoint British Supersport Evo Championship Alex Olsen leads the standings following a victory at Oulton Park with Sam Coventry and Grant Whitaker pushing to close his advantage in Norfolk this weekend.
For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com
More, from a press release issued by Tyco Suzuki:
TYCO SUZUKI READY TO GET BSB SEASON UNDERWAY AT SNETTERTON
12th June 2014
British Superbike Championship – Round 3, Snetterton Preview
After a virtual six week break for the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT, the British Superbike Championship kicks itself back into life this weekend at Snetterton in Norfolk for round three of the 2014 championship.
American John Hopkins returns refreshed from his trip back home to California, looking to get his season well and truly underway with some top performances; as are his BSB and British Supersport team-mates Josh Waters and Taylor Mackenzie.
John Hopkins:
“After a disappointing weekend at Oulton last time out I’m very determined to get things back on track this time around at Snetterton, and I think the track will be good to us as a team. The Showdown format allows a bit of breathing room at the start of the year, but now we need to come back stronger. I’ve put a lot of time into my race fitness since being back home on both my road bike and motocross machine. I want to be up there fighting this weekend.”
Josh Waters:
“I went on Honeymoon after Oulton to Italy and spent some time with the team and the Mackenzie family at the TT. I’ve been keeping up my fitness and can’t wait to get back on my GSX-R this weekend at Snetterton.”
Taylor Mackenzie:
“I had a good run at Snetterton last year with Tyco Suzuki and after a sluggish start to this season I’m determined to be up there at the sharp end this weekend. There’s nothing like a few weeks away from racing to get you fired up and with the weather looking good for Snetterton there’s sure to be a massive crowd there this weekend, which is also a motivating factor.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“We are all looking forward to getting back to BSB action this weekend. After a less than satisfactory start to the year, a few weeks off to fulfil our NW200 and TT commitments have allowed our BSB riders to re-evaluate and get themselves well prepared for an intense few months in British championship – starting this weekend at Snetterton. It’s time to get back into the thick of the action at the business end of both championships and the whole team is fired up and ready for the challenge.”
Schedule
Friday
9.30am – British Supersport FP1
10.10am – BSB FP1
1.55pm – British Supersport FP2
2.35pm – BSB FP2
Saturday
10.35am – BSB FP3
11.30 – British Supersport Qualifying
4.05pm – BSB Qualifying
5.15pm – British Supersport Race 1 [10 laps]
Sunday
9.30am – BSB Race Day warm up
10.07am – British Supersport warm up
1.32pm – BSB Race 1 [16 laps]
3.30pm – British Supersport Race 2 [15 laps]
4.30pm – BSB Race 2 [16 laps]
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More, from a press release isued by FFX Yamaha:
FFX YAMAHA RIDERS SET SIGHTS ON SNETTERTON SUCCESS
A determined FFX Yamaha team return to action this weekend (13/14/15 June) at Snetterton in Norfolk for the third round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as the season resumes after a six week break.
Ian Hutchinson returns to circuit racing following his recent appearances in the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT Road Races, and after scoring his best result of the season last time out at Oulton Park he is fully focused on building on the team’s previous results.
In the Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship Andy Reid will be bidding to maintain his winning momentum and aims to extend his two point lead in the overall standings after celebrating two of the three victories so far this season.
Hutchinson said: “I am going to Snetterton to really start my season again this weekend. I haven’t done as many laps of the 300 circuit as some of the other riders but we did do the pre-season test there earlier in the year and I feel that we have a relatively good place to start now this weekend. I want to get stuck into the races this weekend and I hope that we can pick up where we left off after race two at Oulton Park when we got into a rhythm and the FFX Yamaha was working well.”
Reid said: “I am still as confident as ever and we just need to recap on what we have done so far and try and keep that going. We have had the highs of some race wins and we have been working hard as a team, but we need to keep pushing so that we can do the same again at Snetterton. We have done some laps already this season at the official test before the opening round and that also gives us a bit more confidence too. I would like to keep the upper hand this weekend for sure.”
ENDS
Images for editorial use can be found by clicking here
About FFX
FFX, based in Folkestone, Kent, began trading in 2003 and has rapidly expanded to become one of the UK’s largest supplier of all the major tool brands as well as fixings and building supplies.
As well as gaining significant market share of the European online tool market via the FFX website, FFX recently became Ebay UK’s largest supplier of tools with unrivalled customer feedback and customer satisfaction.
Over the course of 2014, FFX will be expanding its network of retail outlets as well as opening a new distribution centre.