Tommy Bridewell has this week signed a deal with the Lorenzini by Leoni Yamaha Italia Team which will see him contest both the FIM 1000cc Superstock Championship as well as the Italian Superstock Championship.
Following a season racing in the Italian Superbike Championship for Team Naturally Best on a Suzuki GSX-R1000K6, and the Suzuki GSX-R750 European Cup, the 20-year-old from Devizes in Wiltshire contested the final round of the World Superbike Championship at Portimao in Portugal where he finished in a battling 25th place on the ageing bike.
Spotting his prowess, team owner Vanni Lorenzini offered Tommy a test on the team's 2008 Yamaha R1 Superstock machine, normally ridden by Michele Magnoni, at the Portuguese track the following week whereby he lapped quicker than the Italian had in the race to end up fastest in the Superstock class.
With Bridewell attracting the attentions of a number of other teams in both the UK and abroad, Lorenzini went about putting a deal together for Bridewell which will see him race for the team in 2009, with an option to continue in 2010.
After concluding the deal at Cartagena, where the team were testing earlier this week, Bridewell commented: "This is the ride I've been after and I know that the team is capable of winning the championship so it's up to me. They are a great bunch of guys who have moved Heaven and Earth to get me on one of their bikes and their pedigree is proven. There's lots of work to do and it won't be easy but I'll simply knuckle down to the task, learn what I need and then give it my best shot. I really can't thank everyone enough who has been involved in putting this together. After racing in Europe last year, I know virtually all the tracks so that's not a problem and I'm really looking forward to going racing."
FIM Superstock 1000 Championship
April 5 - Spain, Valencia
April 26 - Netherlands, Assen
May 10 - Italy, Monza
June 21 - San Marino, Misano
June 28 - Great Britain, Donington Park
July 26 - Czech Republic, Brno
September 6 - Germany, Nürburgring
September 27 - Italy, Imola
October 4 - France, Magny-Cours
October 25 - Portugal, Portimão
Monday, December 22, 2008
Motorsport : Speed Series Changes Gear For 2009
• Le Mans-style racing for sensible money
• Will Honda focus now on endurance racing?
2009 sees the exciting launch of the SPEED sports prototype racing series, long-distance high speed racing events for the UK. Two, four and six-hour races will challenge two-driver teams and demand clever race strategy to win. Overseas entries are expected.
Formerly the VdeV UK series, the Sports Prototype Endurance Event Driving (SPEED) series has evolved for the 2009 season with a new brand and a new set of regulations designed to encourage bigger grids and spectacular racing.
A series for cars conforming to the FIA’s CN regulations, SPEED is for sports prototype cars - a massively popular formula in global motorsport; SPEED category events are being organised in the US and by a number of promoters across Europe. The popular French series for CN cars will also continue in 2009. All the current CN cars use the Honda FD2 advanced production car engine. Organisers hope that Honda will refocus their sporting interests on this burgeoning endurance series.
For 2009, SPEED has introduced an additional CN2 category for pure CN cars built with a sealed parts package that includes an engine from Mugen-Honda, electronics, dampers and brakes. This will limit initial vehicle purchase costs and control operating budgets through the season.
In addition, SPEED organisers will invite other sports racing category cars, such as Sports 2000 and small bike-engined sports cars, who’s owners want to sample endurance racing. It is likely that these invitation cars will only have to fit Avon tyres and satisfy the safety dry-break refuelling system.
With an 8-event calendar including two continental events, SPEED will broadcast on MotorsTV and Sky Sports. A Euro series of four races is planned as part of this series of events. Belgium, Holland, Germany and the UK will host events
Championship Organiser, Stuart McCrudden: “SPEED is changing gear and accelerating in 2009. We’ll have professionally-run events for our drivers, manufacturers and teams, race fans and marshals. On track we offer drivers a superb amount of seat-time at some great venues. In the pits, refuelling adds to the challenge for teams and engineers. We’re also aiming to run hotlap rides for marshals and spectators at events to give everyone a taste of what it’s like to run in one of these fantastic cars.”
The new SPEED regulations will be issued shortly and a brand new SPEED series website will be online in the coming weeks. Decal packs and downloadable logos for teams, manufacturers and fans will also be made available.
SPEED will be represented at the Autosport International Racing Car Show at the NEC in January by the TFL-prepared car, which will be on stand number 6950. MSA license holders can enter a draw to win a free test drive in a SPEED car in 2009 by collecting an entry form from the stand.
The new website for the series will be: www.speedracingUK.com
• Will Honda focus now on endurance racing?
2009 sees the exciting launch of the SPEED sports prototype racing series, long-distance high speed racing events for the UK. Two, four and six-hour races will challenge two-driver teams and demand clever race strategy to win. Overseas entries are expected.
Formerly the VdeV UK series, the Sports Prototype Endurance Event Driving (SPEED) series has evolved for the 2009 season with a new brand and a new set of regulations designed to encourage bigger grids and spectacular racing.
A series for cars conforming to the FIA’s CN regulations, SPEED is for sports prototype cars - a massively popular formula in global motorsport; SPEED category events are being organised in the US and by a number of promoters across Europe. The popular French series for CN cars will also continue in 2009. All the current CN cars use the Honda FD2 advanced production car engine. Organisers hope that Honda will refocus their sporting interests on this burgeoning endurance series.
For 2009, SPEED has introduced an additional CN2 category for pure CN cars built with a sealed parts package that includes an engine from Mugen-Honda, electronics, dampers and brakes. This will limit initial vehicle purchase costs and control operating budgets through the season.
In addition, SPEED organisers will invite other sports racing category cars, such as Sports 2000 and small bike-engined sports cars, who’s owners want to sample endurance racing. It is likely that these invitation cars will only have to fit Avon tyres and satisfy the safety dry-break refuelling system.
With an 8-event calendar including two continental events, SPEED will broadcast on MotorsTV and Sky Sports. A Euro series of four races is planned as part of this series of events. Belgium, Holland, Germany and the UK will host events
Championship Organiser, Stuart McCrudden: “SPEED is changing gear and accelerating in 2009. We’ll have professionally-run events for our drivers, manufacturers and teams, race fans and marshals. On track we offer drivers a superb amount of seat-time at some great venues. In the pits, refuelling adds to the challenge for teams and engineers. We’re also aiming to run hotlap rides for marshals and spectators at events to give everyone a taste of what it’s like to run in one of these fantastic cars.”
The new SPEED regulations will be issued shortly and a brand new SPEED series website will be online in the coming weeks. Decal packs and downloadable logos for teams, manufacturers and fans will also be made available.
SPEED will be represented at the Autosport International Racing Car Show at the NEC in January by the TFL-prepared car, which will be on stand number 6950. MSA license holders can enter a draw to win a free test drive in a SPEED car in 2009 by collecting an entry form from the stand.
The new website for the series will be: www.speedracingUK.com
Motor sport : Fast Bikes’ Project Superlight Sets New Nurburgring Lap Record
UK mag smashes lap record for Bridge-to-Gantry
Future’s Fast Bikes magazine has set a new lap record at the world-famous Nurburgring, with their specially built Suzuki GSX-R600 ‘Project Superlight’.
Widely known as the toughest, most dangerous and most demanding circuit in the world, with 13 miles and 72 corners to negotiate, the Nurburgring is one of the greatest tests that any vehicle can face.
The Fast Bikes team took a standard Suzuki GSX-R600, and teamed up with Richard Vanags, of special parts importer P3 Unlimited, who built the bike using only bolt-on parts. The goal was to reduce weight everywhere possible, while keeping the bike road legal, and not resorting to specialist tuning work. The idea was to get the power to weight ratio as close as possible to 1:1, then take on much more powerful GSX-Rs.
Fast Bikes took Project Superlight, plus a standard GSX-R750 and GSX-R1000 to the Nurburgring, and put them all in the hands of Nurburgring expert, Andy Carlile – who already held the fastest recorded lap of the ‘Ring on an MV Agusta, at 7m21s Bridge-to-Gantry. Andy’s ridden thousands of laps of the ‘Ring and is one of very few riders capable of beating his own record.
Despite limited testing and ‘hot lap’ opportunities, Project Superlight was quicker than both the 750cc and 1000cc bikes, and set a new lap record of 7m17s for a Bridge-to-Gantry lap, despite never quite getting a completely clean lap. Given better conditions Andy Carlile said “I reckon that a sub 7m10s lap is on the cards with clear traffic and good weather”.
Richard Newland, Editor of Fast Bikes said: “This is a phenomenal achievement, and proves that you can build amazing sportsbikes in your garage with no specialist tools or equipment, and that weight has a dramatic effect over performance. Project Superlight is a testament to the original concept, dreamt up by Richard Vanags of P3 Unlimited, and to Andy Carlile’s extraordinary focus on track. We’re delighted to have been a part of this project, and to have broken the ‘Ring lap record.”
Future’s Fast Bikes magazine has set a new lap record at the world-famous Nurburgring, with their specially built Suzuki GSX-R600 ‘Project Superlight’.
Widely known as the toughest, most dangerous and most demanding circuit in the world, with 13 miles and 72 corners to negotiate, the Nurburgring is one of the greatest tests that any vehicle can face.
The Fast Bikes team took a standard Suzuki GSX-R600, and teamed up with Richard Vanags, of special parts importer P3 Unlimited, who built the bike using only bolt-on parts. The goal was to reduce weight everywhere possible, while keeping the bike road legal, and not resorting to specialist tuning work. The idea was to get the power to weight ratio as close as possible to 1:1, then take on much more powerful GSX-Rs.
Fast Bikes took Project Superlight, plus a standard GSX-R750 and GSX-R1000 to the Nurburgring, and put them all in the hands of Nurburgring expert, Andy Carlile – who already held the fastest recorded lap of the ‘Ring on an MV Agusta, at 7m21s Bridge-to-Gantry. Andy’s ridden thousands of laps of the ‘Ring and is one of very few riders capable of beating his own record.
Despite limited testing and ‘hot lap’ opportunities, Project Superlight was quicker than both the 750cc and 1000cc bikes, and set a new lap record of 7m17s for a Bridge-to-Gantry lap, despite never quite getting a completely clean lap. Given better conditions Andy Carlile said “I reckon that a sub 7m10s lap is on the cards with clear traffic and good weather”.
Richard Newland, Editor of Fast Bikes said: “This is a phenomenal achievement, and proves that you can build amazing sportsbikes in your garage with no specialist tools or equipment, and that weight has a dramatic effect over performance. Project Superlight is a testament to the original concept, dreamt up by Richard Vanags of P3 Unlimited, and to Andy Carlile’s extraordinary focus on track. We’re delighted to have been a part of this project, and to have broken the ‘Ring lap record.”
Motorsport : Flooding Prevents The Last GT3 Race For The Apex Jaguar XKR
Rain stopped play at the Dubai Autodrome circuit for the last race of the GT3 Championships.
A record crowd filled the Dubai Autodrome for the penultimate race in the FIA European GT3 Series on Friday 5th December. The Apex Jaguar of Chris Dymond and Stuart Hall qualified in 13th position, following some startling test time, recording the Supercharged V8 XKR running up to 4 seconds a lap faster than last year.
The Jaguar’s outstanding performance on the straight produced several spectacular overtaking manoeuvres, and at one point, the Dymond/Hall team were running in 6th position.
The second Apex Jaguar, driven by Phil Quaife and Robert Hissom, were taking the opportunity to test a number of changes to set-up, with a view to making their mark during the final race of the season, scheduled for the following day. Unfortunately their plans were thwarted by an unexpected and unseasonal downpour which meant that the final race of the FIA European GT3 Season was cancelled.
The heavy overnight rain overwhelmed the circuit and the surrounding road network, leaving several parts of the circuit up to 1m under water. The Apex team and drivers were informed of the decision early on Saturday morning, being permitted into the circuit only to retrieve equipment from the paddock and pit lane.
Dubai Autodrome Manager Richard Birch said "This is some of the worst flooding I have encountered at the circuit."
The Federation International Automobile (FIA) Stewards of the meeting released the following statement; “Following a track inspection by the race directors of the FIA GT3 Championship, GP2 Asia and the Speedcar Series it is their collective view that the volume of water on the track, and the likelihood of there being any improvement during the day, would make it impossible to run any races safely. The Stewards of the Meeting therefore in accordance with Article 141 of the 2008 FIA International Sporting Code have accepted their advice and cancelled all races today.”
While most residents of UAE have put the heavy downpour down to a freak occurrence, the Meteorological Department at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) have confirmed that they were carrying out tests to induce artificial rain by using aircraft to sprinkle cloud seeding salts in moist clouds heading to Dubai earlier in the week. So it is feasible that the deluge was in fact, man made !
The two Apex Jaguar XKRs will return to the UK, where the team will focus on plans for the 2009 season, which starts at Silverstone on 2nd and 3rd May.
A record crowd filled the Dubai Autodrome for the penultimate race in the FIA European GT3 Series on Friday 5th December. The Apex Jaguar of Chris Dymond and Stuart Hall qualified in 13th position, following some startling test time, recording the Supercharged V8 XKR running up to 4 seconds a lap faster than last year.
The Jaguar’s outstanding performance on the straight produced several spectacular overtaking manoeuvres, and at one point, the Dymond/Hall team were running in 6th position.
The second Apex Jaguar, driven by Phil Quaife and Robert Hissom, were taking the opportunity to test a number of changes to set-up, with a view to making their mark during the final race of the season, scheduled for the following day. Unfortunately their plans were thwarted by an unexpected and unseasonal downpour which meant that the final race of the FIA European GT3 Season was cancelled.
The heavy overnight rain overwhelmed the circuit and the surrounding road network, leaving several parts of the circuit up to 1m under water. The Apex team and drivers were informed of the decision early on Saturday morning, being permitted into the circuit only to retrieve equipment from the paddock and pit lane.
Dubai Autodrome Manager Richard Birch said "This is some of the worst flooding I have encountered at the circuit."
The Federation International Automobile (FIA) Stewards of the meeting released the following statement; “Following a track inspection by the race directors of the FIA GT3 Championship, GP2 Asia and the Speedcar Series it is their collective view that the volume of water on the track, and the likelihood of there being any improvement during the day, would make it impossible to run any races safely. The Stewards of the Meeting therefore in accordance with Article 141 of the 2008 FIA International Sporting Code have accepted their advice and cancelled all races today.”
While most residents of UAE have put the heavy downpour down to a freak occurrence, the Meteorological Department at the National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) have confirmed that they were carrying out tests to induce artificial rain by using aircraft to sprinkle cloud seeding salts in moist clouds heading to Dubai earlier in the week. So it is feasible that the deluge was in fact, man made !
The two Apex Jaguar XKRs will return to the UK, where the team will focus on plans for the 2009 season, which starts at Silverstone on 2nd and 3rd May.
Netball : CENTRAL PULSE PLAYING ROSTER ANNOUNCED
The Central Pulse franchise has today confirmed their playing roster for the 2009 season of the ANZ Championship.
Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said she was thrilled to be able to finalise the team within the time extension granted by the ANZ Championship.
“I am really pleased with the mix of youth and experience we have been able to secure. We have a number of players from the central region as well as our first Silver Fern to be signed to the Pulse and the experienced Jamaican defender Althea Byfield,” she said.
The squad has begun their conditioning programmes and will commence full-team training in January.
Shooters:
Paula Griffin
Jamilah Gupwell
Larissa Harrison
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble
Midcourt:
Cushla Litchwark
Neesha Weiser
Camilla Lees
Ngarama Milner
Defenders:
Althea Byfield
Hannah Broederlow
Bessie Manu
Katie King
Central Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie said she was thrilled to be able to finalise the team within the time extension granted by the ANZ Championship.
“I am really pleased with the mix of youth and experience we have been able to secure. We have a number of players from the central region as well as our first Silver Fern to be signed to the Pulse and the experienced Jamaican defender Althea Byfield,” she said.
The squad has begun their conditioning programmes and will commence full-team training in January.
Shooters:
Paula Griffin
Jamilah Gupwell
Larissa Harrison
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble
Midcourt:
Cushla Litchwark
Neesha Weiser
Camilla Lees
Ngarama Milner
Defenders:
Althea Byfield
Hannah Broederlow
Bessie Manu
Katie King
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