|
PRESS
RELEASE
SMOTO:
British Supermoto double-header and Junior Euro Cup this weekend (OCT
17, 2006)
- The British Supermoto Championship is gearing up for
a thrilling double-header this weekend at the Three Sisters circuit
in Wigan with Matt Winstanley and Christian Iddon renewing old rivalries
in SM1 while the Red Bull KTM Junior Euro Cup will add an international
flavour with some of the best young riders in the world on show.
- Recent date changes have meant that the penultimate
rounds of the Championship will run back to back at the Lancashire venue
with a full programme of racing on both Saturday and the Sunday. Local
radio station WishFM 102.4 will also be on hand in another first broadcasting
live throughout the Saturday from pitlane.
- In the SM1 class KTM mounted Matt Winstanley has more
than a two race points buffer on nearest challenger Ady Smith with Jay
Smith a close third. At this stage of the season the big bike class
really is Winstanley’s to lose and with Aprilia rider Christian
Iddon coming back into the fold from world championship duties there
is sure to be some fireworks from the two great rivals. Throw into the
mix top South African rider Craig Venske along with the two Smith’s
it promises to be some of the best racing of the year.
- In SM2, Winstanley has been totally dominant having
nearly wrapped up the championship at the previous round at Langbaurgh.
Second and third though is still very much to be decided with David
McKee, Ricky Higgs and young Chris Hodgson all within a few points.
- It’s in the Junior SM4 class where the racing
has been the closest all season with just five points separating the
main protagonists of Ryan Blandford, Lewis Cornish and Oliver Harrison.
- The other main drawcard for the weekend will be the
Red Bull KTM Junior Euro Cup which is making its first visit to these
shores and will share the billing with the British Championship. The
Cup features 28 of the best young riders aged 15 to 21 from 10 European
countries.
- British hopes will rest with a strong rider line-up
consisting of Chris Hodgson, Richard Blakeman, Oliver Pope and Gino
Rea. The fifth rider Lee Cunliffe a Wigan local has been sidelined following
a recent accident which left him with a broken leg.
- In the most recent round at St Wendel in Germany
Hodgson had a tough first race but came home the highest placed Brit
in ninth while in the second race Rea took a sensational victory which
sees him move upto seventh in the overall standings.
- CREDIT: www.britishsupermoto.com
BF3:
Macau Rodolfo Ávila driver completes pre-season test (FEB 23, 2006)
- Macau driver completes
pre-season test, eager to get 2006 season underway. Macanese star driver
Rodolfo Ávila recently completed a two-day test in preparation
for the 2006 British F3 Championship at "the home of Welsh Motorsport"
more popularly known as Pembrey Circuit. Familiar to Avila as Pembrey
was the venue of a similar test in 2005, he took for the time his Performance
Racing Europe-backed Dallara F304 – Mugen Honda which will be
the same car he will use as he challenges other able drivers in the
National class.
- The intermittent
weather offered an added challenge and was appreciated by the young
Macau-driver who clocked in laptimes respectable for one who has spent
his entire career in various Asian championships. Completing more than
a hundred laps, Avila is aware of the amount of hard work required to
keep him at par with his European counterparts.
"This season opener test went quite well”, commented Avila.
“The main objective was to set both the car and myself on our
pace and gradually build up from there. Having not driven since the
Macau GP, I was focused on all opportunities of development especially
now that in the British Championship, one can expect tough, if not the
toughest mix of drivers from all over the world. I have no doubt that
Performance Racing is capable of preparing a car to be on top of the
National class so really, it is up to me as the driver to utilize the
opportunity and resources available. This, and the succeeding tests
at other circuits unfamiliar to me would be of great importance in my
first season outside of Asia”, continued a highly-motivated Avila.
- Although sponsorship
support is still currently under negotiations, Avila managed to complete
the initial tests with the valuable support from a few confirmed supporters
namely the government of MACAU, environmental infrastructure company
CESL-ÁSIA), online gaming company MACAU-SLOT.com, Macau’s
premier bank BNU, civil construction company TONG LEI, engineering consultancy
firm PROFABRIL - ASIA CONSULT, intellectual property service company
RP MACAU, Macau telecommunications giant CTM, beverage company TSINGTAO,
popular Macau restaurant FAT SIU LAU and telecommunications company
e a PT ASIA.
- "When you
reach this level, the racing costs are very high. It would be impossible
to enter in this prestigious championship without their full support.
I remain most grateful for their confidence and for sharing the same
vision of making proud the colours of Macau and all my fellow-Macanese”,
remarked the dedicated Macanese driver.
The 2006 season continues on the 1st and 2nd of March with another official
test session at Snetterton, UK. The layout includes two of the longest
straights in the UK, linked by quick corners, and a couple of mind-concentrating
chicanes. (Rodolfo Ávila www.rodolfoavila.com)
CHAMPCAR: ‘SPEEDY’
DAN CLARKE MOVES CLOSER TO 2006 CHAMP CAR SEAT (FEB 10, 2006)
- Dan Clarke is expected
to finalise his Champ Car deal within the next few weeks and is preparing
for his move with an intensive training programme. Clarke has been courted
by a number of top race teams for participation in European and British
motorsport series’, but is totally committed to a stateside move.
- The 22 year-old
racer, a BRDC Formula Ford Champion, Formula Ford Festival Winner and
a rookie F3 winner, says, “It’s very flattering to have
such a high level of interest in my future career and everyone has an
opinion on what’s best for me. Champ Cars is getting my vote and
with the Champ Car community showing plenty of faith in me, I’m
focusing on being ready for the start of the season at Long Beach.
- “This year
will be my learning year, ahead of the revised Championship in 2007
with the new lightweight Panoz chassis and Cosworth engine power levels
exceeding those in F1. I expect to be challenging for wins when the
new package comes onboard.”
- Clarke was privileged
to spend time with David Coulthard and Red Bull Racing in Barcelona
last week, as a guest of Adrian Newey, one of Clarke’s mentors,
and he said of his time trackside, “I thank Adrian for inviting
me to the F1 test with the Red Bull F1 team and my experience in that
environment will definitely help me; it was very educational and a good
opportunity for me to learn from some of the best in the business.”
- Newey and Clarke’s
close friend Johnny Herbert, Sporting Director, Midland F1 team, have
both supported Clarke in his decision to join the top American single-seater
racing series. Herbert wished Clarke well saying, “I understand
Dan’s dream to compete in Champ Car and I support him wholeheartedly.
I’d have liked to have seen him test in an F1 car, but he’s
showing great maturity in single-mindedly focusing on his goal.”
- Dan is currently
concentrating on his fitness programme, training in London with Nick
Russell, a renowned driver trainer with a client list which has included
David Coulthard, Eddie Irvine, Justin Wilson, and Christian Klein. Nick
said of the regime that he’s developed for Dan, "It’s
a two month boot camp for him. I have promised to get him as fit as
DC in time for Long Beach. I will be working him very, very hard. His
fitness won't be a problem".
TOP
OF PAGE
|
|
