October | Page 6

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: HM Plant pair reaction to front row qualifying

12 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Having qualified in second and third behind Shane Byrne, HM Plant Honda rider’s Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow were in good spirits ahead of their final races for HM Plant. Commenting on his crash in...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Rob McElnea comments on Karl Harris absence

12 October 2008 by Phil Dean

The paddock looked on in confusion yesterday as it was announced Karl Harris would not be riding for the remainder of the weekend and Superstock rider Jon Kirkham would take his seat on the Rob Mac...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne glad to be back at the front

12 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Shane Byrne was in a relieved mood after taking his fifth pole of the year at Brands Hatch British Superbikes. Speaking to MCN, Byrne said: “It’s good to be back on top, it seems like it’s been a...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Cal Crutchlow looks ahead to BSB finale

12 October 2008 by Phil Dean

HM Plant Honda rider Cal Crutchlow is in a buoyant mood following his third place qualifying this afternoon at Brands Hatch. Speaking to MCN, Crutchlow said: “I think we’ve definitely got the pace for...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Jon Kirkham reaction to replacing Karl Harris

12 October 2008 by Rob Hull

MCN caught up with Brands Hatch British Superbike qualifying sensation, Jon Kirkham, who was drafted into the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha team at the last minute just moments before today’s qualifying...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Josh Brookes takes supersport pole

12 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Makeshift HM Plant Honda Supersport rider Josh Brookes took pole for tomorrow’s Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport race at Brands Hatch this afternoon, setting a lap time of 47.127. Brookes narrowly...

Karl Harris

11 October 2008 by Gill Boakes

Karl Harris, what a top bloke. Best wishes to Karl and good luck for next season.

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Michael Laverty demanding more grip

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Relentless Suzuki’s Michael Laverty managed to set the seventh fastest time of this afternoon’s qualifying session but has said he needs more rear grip through Clearways to be able to compete in...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Secret fork solution helps Ellison to fifth

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Hydrex Bike Animal Honda’s James Ellison has put his fifth position qualifying for tomorrow’s two BSB races down to a top-secret fork setting. “Our suspension man, Javier, has come up trumps again,”...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne takes fifth pole of the season

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

2008 British Superbike champion Shane Byrne took pole for the last British Superbike races of the season. Byrne beat the two HM Plant Honda’s of Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow into first, and was...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Stuart Easton: “It’s so close round here”

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Having been placed 22nd in the final practice session of the weekend, MSS Discovery Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton spoke to MCN about how he’s faired so far. “It’s not been too bad this weekend,” added the...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Two-man team for 2009 not out of question for Lloyds British Yamaha

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha Team Manager Bernie Toleman has said a two-man outfit is not totally out of the question for 2009. The team confirmed to MCN that they would be running the new 2009-spec...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Jason O'Halloran starts to feel at home on the Indy circuit

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

SMT Honda’s Jason O’Halloran is starting to get to grips with the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch this weekend. Having finished the practice sessions in a highest of 13th, bettering riders such as...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: John Laverty has his say on Brands Hatch Indy Circuit

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Daily Star cup champion John Laverty passed comment on how he’s feeling around the Indy circuit at Brands Hatch. “I was supposed to be riding one of Michael Rutter’s bikes this weekend, but because...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Shane Byrne's helmet goes under the hammer

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, Shane Byrne has donated his one-of-a-kind ‘Byrne Baby Byrne’ helmet, worn at the first race at round eight of the British Superbike Championship, Oulton...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Guy Martin keeps the same recipe for Roll for Pole

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin says there was no need to attempt to make changes to the bike in the damp conditions in this mornings Free Practice session at Brands Hatch British...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Sector one improvements require for James Ellison

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Hydrex Bike Animal Honda’s James Ellison will have to make vast improvements to his first sector times around Brands Hatch to make the it into the last phase of the Swan Combi 50 Roll for Poll session...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Jon Kirkham replaces Karl Harris

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Jon Kirkham will take Karl Harris’ seat in the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha team for the qualifying session in British Superbikes. Kirkham will ride the Rob Mac Yamaha R1 for the remainder of the weekend...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Michael Laverty looks to suspension to improve lap times

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

In the first two sessions of the weekend Relentless Suzuki rider Michael Laverty was placed in ninth position with a best time of 46.877, and has targeted suspension changes in a bid to get further up...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Rob Frost takes the flag in first qualifying

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Rob Frost left it late in the first qualifying session for British Supersport this morning, setting the fastest lap as he took the chequered flag. With morning residue keeping sections of the track...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Jack Valentine still in confident mood despite first day disappointment

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Rizla Suzuki’s team boss, Jack Valentine, says the team will he looking to help Tom Sykes find a breakthrough that can see him rise up the time charts from a surprising eighth place. Finishing the...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Airwaves Ducati pair aim high on day two

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Airwaves Ducati riders Shane Byrne and Leon Camier are looking for minor changes for today’s morning Free Practice session that should see them at the sharp-end at the final round of British...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Karl Harris continues to dominate

11 October 2008 by Phil Dean

A damp to drying track at Brands Hatch saw an unusual third free practice session for the finale of British Superbikes. It was more success for the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha team and Karl Harris...

Great afternoon at Brands

11 October 2008 by kim fisher

A great afternoon at Brands Hatch with all the guys from the BSB.

Meeting the BSB guys

10 October 2008 by Kim Fisher

An afternoon metting the riders down at Brands Hatch, on 10/10.08. All great guys- even with their clothes on!

Having fun at the BSB

10 October 2008 by Kim Fisher

Having fun at the BSB at Brands Hatch before the big race. They’re always up for a bit of fun!

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Karl Harris reaction

10 October 2008 by Rob Hull

Karl Harris told MCN that a new set of front forks has helped him top both free practice sessions today at Brands Hatch. The Rob Mac Racing Yamaha man set a best time of 45.993, the only rider to...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Jack Valentine confirms Sylvain Guintoli for 2009

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Rizla Suzuki team manager Jack Valentine confirmed to MCN this afternoon that Sylvain Guintoli has officially signed to ride for his squad next year. Speaking exclusively to MCN, Valentine had this...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Sublime Karl Harris tops free practice two

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Karl Harris romped to the top of the timesheets in free practice two at Brands Hatch this afternoon. Setting the pace early, Harris set a time of 46.194 just 10 minutes in to the session, and that...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Glen Richards picks up where he left off

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Glen Richards topped the timing sheets for the second British Supersport session in succession this afternoon, with a lap time of 47.216. Richards headed the field from Josh Brookes who is replacing...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Atsushi Watanabe looks for corner exit breakthrough

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Having finished the first free practice session in a lowly 20th, Rizla Suzuki’s Atsushi Watanabe is looking to rid the problems and climb up towards the sharp end of the grid. MCN spoke to...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: HM Plant confirm new year testing in Spain

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

HM Plant Honda team manager Havier Beltram has confirmed that the team will be heading to Spain for testing in the new year. Speaking to MCN, Beltram said “We’ll be heading out to do three days...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Leon Haslam leads the way in Free Practice 1

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

HM Plant Honda’s Leon Haslam topped the first free practice session at Brands Hatch this morning, clocking a best time of 46.274. Setting the pace with only two minutes left in the session, Haslam’s...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Rossi, Agostini and Fogarty donate to CJ riders fund.

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Newly crowned MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has donated signed memorabilia to the Chris Jones auction that is taking place at Hailwoods restaurant tomorrow night. Also on offer at the auction is a...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: HM Plant hoping for successful weekend

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

With both riders already signed to ride elsewhere next season, HM Plant Honda’s Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow are hoping to sign off in style for the team. As Leon Haslam sets his sights on World...

Brands Hatch British Superbikes: Injury could rule out Dave Johnson

10 October 2008 by Phil Dean

Team Maxxis’ Dave Johnson faces a tough weekend following a mountain bike incident which left him with a broken bone in his right hand. It’s an all too familiar situation for the Australian, who came...