Recovered Maxxis-sponsored Impreza hopeful of return in Middlesbrough BDC
Following the recovery of Maxxis-sponsored Team Japspeed’s Subaru Impreza, stolen from Santa Pod on 11 June, tyre manufacturer and drift team alike are racing to ready the car for action in round three of the Maxxis British Drift Championship (BDC). The series makes a welcome return to the Teesside Autodrome in Middlesbrough over the weekend of 2-3 July, when Team Japspeed driver Steve Biagioni is aiming to be back behind the wheel of the 600bhp Impreza and challenging for a podium in the Super-Pro class.
Continue ReadingYokohama riders secure 1st, 2nd place in TT sidecar races
This year's Isle of Man TT races saw a win and a second place for sidecar racer John Holden on Yokohama tyres; Holden took second place in the first of the season's two sidecar races and then went one better on the rescheduled second race to claim his long overdue maiden win. Commenting, Yokohama HPT’s head of Motorsport Mark Evans said: “I am delighted that John and [sidecar passenger] Andy [Winkle] have finally achieved their TT win. It's been a long time coming but all the more deserved for it.” Fellow Yokohama runner Tim Reeves narrowly missed out on the podium twice, finishing fourth in both races.
Continue ReadingFour Isle of Man TT winners on Dunlop in 2011
Dunlop increased its tally of victories to 17 over the last four years, as riders using the company’s rubber took wins in the Superbike, Supersport 1, Superstock and Senior TT races in 2011. The 92nd running of the Isle of Man TT race saw yet another victory for Honda TT Legends rider John McGuiness in the final TT race, completing the 37.73 mile (60.72 km) Mountain Course. “This was an excellent performance from Dunlop-shod teams and riders,” said Dunlop Motorsport sales manager motorcycle race, Pat Walsh.
Continue ReadingAvon celebrates 2011 Isle of Man TT sidecar victory
The Avon-shod Honda-powered LCR of Klaus Klaffenbock and Dan Sayle won the first of the two sidecar events at the 2011 Isle of Man TT races, while only technical issues prevented them from capitalising on a 17-second lead on the final lap in the second. Despite the disappointment of race two, the first Sure Sidecar A race win – which they led from start to finish – meant three TT wins in a row for Klaffenbock and the seventh career win for his Manx-born partner Sayle. Avon-shod machines took eight of the top ten positions in both sidecar races.
Continue ReadingDunlop to support National Motorsport Week
National Motorsport Week, which will run between 25 June and 3 July, will receive the backing of UK motorsport tyre manufacturer Dunlop, the company has announced. The initiative is led by the Motor Sports Association and the Motorsport Industry Association and is intended to encourage more people to participate in motorsport and reaffirm the country’s dominant position internationally.
Continue ReadingStolen Maxxis Impreza returned to Team Japspeed
The Maxxis-sponsored Team Japspeed 1JZ Subaru Impreza has been found and will be returned to the team after it was stolen on Sunday, 12 June from the Performance Vauxhall Show. Maxxis International UK stated that Thames Valley Police found the vehicle early on Monday, 13 June in the Reading area. The Impreza was being used at the Santa Pod Raceway as a display vehicle for the Maxxis display. It had been stripped of its bumper, rear spoiler and rear lights as well as its identifying stickers.
Continue ReadingMaxxis adds new UHP radial to its high performance range
Tyre manufacturer Maxxis recently added the ZR9 ultra high performance radial specifically designed for asphalt track racing to its high performance range. The tyre, which made its UK public debut at AutoSport International and has been available since the end of April in size 195/50 VR15, has a directional tread pattern design with low void ratio for impressive handling. The large shoulder blocks aid cornering and lateral stability, while the centre V-shaped grooves disperse water efficiently to ensure excellent wet traction. The tread, sidewall, bead design and racing compound are designed to meet handling and traction requirements for racing.
Continue ReadingAvon Centenary showbike debuts at Isle of Man TT
Avon Tyres is continuing its centenary celebrations with a special one-off showbike that made its public debut at this weekend’s Isle of Man TT races. Avon’s UK sales manager Gary Bretherton says: “We wanted to have a machine which truly reflected the modern edge of Avon Tyres and its products and the Yamaha YZF-R6 really fits the bill. The bike itself is fitted with a number of go-faster goodies and of course Avon’s own VP2 Supersport tyres. We have used the bike in posters and other promotional literature quite literally ‘reflecting’ a classic motorcycle from an earlier era. This shows both the proud history of Avon Tyres along with the cutting-edge product that our customers rely on to this day.”
Continue ReadingNiezen wins, Maxxis makes podium at British Drift Championship round 2
Making a guest appearance at round two of the Maxxis British Drift Championship, drift star Remmo Niezen from the Netherlands piloted his V8 BMW E30 to victory, while title sponsor Maxxis’s Super-Pro championship leader Mark Luney used his MA-Z1 Drift tyres to make it on to the podium.
Continue ReadingHankook promotes updated Red Bull Ring
Hankook has released a video promoting the newly modernised, but still legendary Red Bull Österreichring. According to the promotional film drivers will have push their brakes and engine revs to the limit “all the time” round the revamped circuit which, although currently part of the DTM series, is described as a Formula One track.
Continue ReadingDunlop to supply new Moto3 series, extends Moto2 supply
Dunlop Motorsport, IRTA and Dorna Sports have signed a contract for the exclusive supply of tyres to the Moto3 Championship, a deal which will run from the introduction of the new category in 2012 until the end of the 2014 season. An agreement has also been made to extend the existing Moto2 Championship contract until at least the end of 2014. Dunlop will supply tyres and technical support to every competitor in Moto3, the replacement for the 125cc World Championship. Dunlop has exclusively supplied tyres to Moto2 since its inauguration in 2010. Dunlop’s supply has been ratified by Dorna and the International Road Racing Teams Association (IRTA).
Continue ReadingPirelli riders come back from injury for 2011 Isle of Man TT road races
After a year of rueing the misfortune of its main riders, Pirelli says that it will bounce back with a strong line-up for this year’s Isle of Man TT, which it hopes will be more competitive than ever. Two of Pirelli’s biggest hopes, Guy Martin and Conor Cummins crashed out of the final Senior race whilst in leading positions in 2010. Pirelli’s racing manager and Isle of Man resident Jason Griffiths lives and breathes the TT. Thirteen times a podium finisher at the TT, Jason said, “We didn’t have a lot of luck last year with our riders showing great pace but a series of technical and rider DNF’s, meant we didn’t see the top step of the podium. Guy is definitely in great form and we’ve carried out some interesting and positive tyre tests with him over the winter. There are a number of quality riders lined up this year and with Hutchy ruled out through injury it could go a number of ways for the main protagonists. Most of all we hope for good, safe racing and a continuing good spectacle for the fans.”
Continue ReadingDunlop to debut new dual compound in Moto2 at Catalunya
In addition to the MotoGP World Championship, Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya will also see the fifth round of the 2011 Moto2 Championship, on 3-5 June during which tyre supplier Dunlop will debut its dual compound rear tyre. Dunlop will bring the dual compound W919 as the main specification rear tyre with the three series 3868 as a softer second option. For the front, it will supply the 753 medium and 717 hard compound. Dunlop believes the recent Formula One Spanish Grand Prix could represent a new challenge, with the large amount of rubber compound deposited on track from Pirelli’s PZero F1 tyres representing an additional variable.
Continue ReadingJapfest 2 drifts to Donington with Maxxis Championship drivers
Maxxis has announced that the British Drift Championship, for which it is a headline sponsor will be represented at Japfest 2, the second event in the Adrian Flux Auto Series for fans of high performance Japanese cars. Japfest was launched last year at Rockingham. For 2011, the event will be staged at Donington Park on Sunday, 10 July 2011. The circuit has previously hosted rounds of the BTCC, British F3, British Superbike Championship and the European Formula One Grand Prix.
Continue ReadingCooper Tires British F3 series delivers “hands-on learning” with motorsport
Students from St Matthias Primary School in Malvern, Worcestershire were given an “alternative learning” experience through motorsport when they were visited by the Cooper Tires British F3 series. The visit was part of an initiative to introduce the youngest generation to motorsport. The project was initiated by teacher Emma Rowe, who enlisted the help of the F3 championship promoter, the SRO Motorsports Group, to help bring motorsport to life for the pupils, asking them to design a “racing buggy”. Last Friday the primary school students were treated to a visit from reigning British F3 National class champion Menasheh Idafar and the T-Sport team.
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