BSB ROUND 11, SILVERSTONE, SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER

A challenging weekend of weather and racing for Arai riders 

JOSH BROOKES, HM PLANT HONDA
Race 1: Second                      Race 2: Third                        Championship Position: Second

“THAT SECOND RACE WAS JUST CRAZY!”
In the opening race at Silverstone Josh Brookes quickly took the lead but the race was red flagged due to rain and on the restart he was battling for the win in the early stages before securing a strong second place in the difficult conditions. In the second race Josh was forced to take evasive action when title fighter rival Michael Laverty crashed in front of him at Copse on the opening lap, and then had to battle his way through the field. A determined effort saw him secure a hard-fought third place and has put him within eleven points of championship leader Tommy Hill.

“The first race started dry and everything was going to plan and I knew we had good pace but then it was red flagged for the rain. When the race was restarted Michael Laverty seemed to have a bit of an advantage and I followed him, but then as the track dried it was Michael Rutter who then seemed faster so I pushed as hard as I could and if I had done any more I would have crashed. That second race was just crazy; I got away and then Michael Laverty went down in front of me. That really ruined my train of thought and I then got passed by a whole heap of riders and then had to really fight my way back. I had trouble getting past a few of them and then there seemed to be oil down on the track as I nearly crashed about ten times; it would have looked pretty dramatic as I had the bars all crossed up and was lucky to stay on to be honest. I found the speed in the last laps but it was too much to try and close James and Kiyo by then, but I had luck on my side and it has put me back up there in the championship now.”


ALASTAIR SEELEY, RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS
Race 1: Sixth              Race 2: Fourth                      Championship Position: Sixth

“I DECIDED TO BRING IT HOME FOR THE POINTS”
Alastair Seeley regained his composure after a high-speed crash on Friday, coming from his fourth row grid slot in race one to take a fine sixth place. In race two Seeley slowed to miss his fallen team-mate Michael Laverty at turn one after a solid start from the second row, narrowly missing out on the podium in fourth place after ten pulsating laps.

“It turned out to be a decent enough day for me after my crash on Friday and a bad qualifying. The first race was damp and with a drying track my wet tyres chewed up on both sides and the bike was also spinning in a straight line. Michael highsided in front of me at turn one in race two. I had to sit up and get on the anchors, which allowed the others to get away. I had a good race with Tommy Hill, Gary Mason and Josh Brookes but I couldn’t find a way round Brookes for a podium spot. After a bit of a moment starting the last lap I decided to bring it home for the points.”

Tyco Racing rider Tommy Bridewell endured a difficult meeting in the wet conditions. The 22 year old suffered a big crash during Friday’s second free practice session which substantially damaged the machine and left Bridewell nursing a knee injury and bruised ribs. Changeable conditions in race one saw Tommy challenging for the top ten when a machine problem ended his bid halfway through the race and as conditions deteriorated in race two, he did well to salvage a twelfth place finish in a shortened race. The result sees Bridewell drop a place to twelfth in the points table but on a more positive note, it was announced at Silverstone that Bridewell will be part of a two-rider team in the 2011 British Superbike Championship aboard this year’s ex-HM Plant Honda Fireblades. The team will compete under the Tyco Racing banner. 

Over to Tommy: “Silverstone hasn’t been kind to me this weekend and following my World Superbike rides I was hoping for much better. The crash put us back on Friday and while things were OK on Saturday, Sunday was tough. The mechanical problem that we had in race one was unfortunate for us and then the conditions in race two meant I couldn’t get in a good rhythm so a twelfth place finish was the best I could do. Hopefully we can bounce back at Oulton and end the season in style.”

Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad’s Steve Brogan hit the first restarted race well, fighting his way to the front of the EVO riders but, as the rain eased off and the track developed both wet and dry patches, his bike began to chew up its wet rear tyre and he opted to ride sensibly and bring it home in sixth place. In the rain-lashed second race Brogan got a good start, and by lap two was the second-placed BSB-EVO rider and 12th overall. On lap nine, however, he fell victim to the very tricky conditions and ended his weekend’s racing prematurely. Brogan still holds a valuable eight-point lead in the BSB-EVO championship going into the final round at Oulton Park which is a triple-header, with 75 points still available. He was philosophical as ever; “I don’t mind riding in the wet, but weather like this is so unpredictable. I went well all race and crashed on the last lap. I didn’t do anything different that time, but I came off. There’s a fine line in the wet between crashing and not. I gave it my best but it was tough luck.”

Padgett’s Honda rider Glen Richards finished the Supersport 600 race in fifth, ahead of Ben Wilson, who in the closing stages dropped his bike while challenging for a podium place – he remounted and crossed the line sixth. Unfortunately Richards’ team-mate Ian Hutchinson suffered a leg break in a multi-bike pile up off of the start, which bought out the red flag.

The Superstock 1000 Championship was postponed due to the conditions and HM Plant Honda’s Steve Plater will now have a second race at Oulton Park for the final round – which for him, as he recovers his fitness is probably a blessing in disguise.

Deane Brown – recipient of the 2010 Craig Jones Arai Sponsorship Award – took a well-judged victory in the 125GP class, the first of many, surely. Racing Steps Foundation rider Fraser Rogers finished fourth.

The final round of BSB is at Oulton park, with racing 9th/10th October.

For more news and information on Arai helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

WSB ROUND 12, IMOLA, SUNDAY 26th SEPTEMBER -ARAI RACE NEWS

 Highs and lows for Arai riders in Italy

LEON HASLAM, ALSTARE SUZUKI
Race 1: Fifth                Race 2: DNF                 Championship Position: Second

“IT IS FRUSTRATING THAT IT’S ENDED THIS WAY”
Leon Haslam’s hopes of taking this year’s Superbike World Championship title ended in the second race at the penultimate round at Imola in Italy. He started the race in second place behind fellow countryman Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) and was battling with the lead group after seven laps, but went in a bit too hot at the final chicane and had to go across the gravel trap. He rejoined the track in sixth place and was fighting his way up again when he suffered with a mechanical issue, possibly connected to his off-track excursion.

In race one, watched by more than 69,000 fans, Haslam was just behind leader Carlos Checa on the last lap and lining up a passing manoeuvre when the smallest of mistakes made him run wide. He recovered, but three other riders took advantage and passed him in the process. With series leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia) finishing 11th, Haslam still had hopes of beating the Italian in race two and making the fight go all the way down to the wire at Magny Cours in France. Ducati mounted Checa won both races.

“It is frustrating that it has ended the way it has because I was hoping to take the fight to Magny-Cours, but that’s racing. We always knew it was going to be a hard task because Max’s lead in the points was so great, but while there was hope, we kept fighting. I should’ve won the first race and I would’ve won it if I hadn’t made a mistake on the last lap. I saw that Max had only finished 11th, so at least the fight would carry on and maybe I could get a podium and Max would have another low finish. I was chasing Tom Sykes in race two. He was fast on the straights, but holding me up in the turns, so I thought I’d have a go at him in the final chicane. I went for it, but got in a bit too hot and had to straighten up and go across the gravel. I was using the same bike as race one and it had been OK at the end of the race, but when something happened I pulled off the track as soon as I could. Obviously, I hadn’t wanted the title fight to end this way, but I knew that this weekend was all about having to go for it – and that’s what I did. So I better make up for it in Magny-Cours by winning both races!”

JONATHAN REA, TEN KATE HONDA
Race 1: DNS                 Race 2: DNS                 Championship Position: Third

“WE HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION…”
Jonathan Rea was unable to race at Imola after fracturing his collarbone and wrist in a qualifying crash on Saturday. After further pain-killing injections before the morning warm-up, Rea went out to see how his injuries would stand up to the physical demands of 21 race laps. However, a further crash just two laps in effectively ended his participation. The 23-year-old Northern Irishman bravely went out again on his spare Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade but he was unable to effectively control his machine and was subsequently officially withdrawn from the event. Rea is back in the UK and consulting more than one specialist in order to evaluate the possibilities of his taking part in next weekend’s final round race at Magny-Cours in France.

“We had to make the decision after warm up to sit out the two races because my injuries from yesterday were just too painful on the bike. I tried in warm-up but I didn’t have sufficient strength or control in my left wrist for left-handed corners. It’s very frustrating for me and the whole team – it’s been a tough weekend and I know I’ve had a lot of support behind me from the guys here and all my fans. I’m really sorry that we couldn’t make the race but I have to look after my body and I’m going to get some medical opinions. Until we’ve got them in we won’t be able to give a proper prognosis but I’d like to thank the team, our sponsors and all my fans for their support.”

CAL CRUTCHLOW, STERILGARDA YAMAHA
Race 1: Tenth               Race 2: Third                Championship Position: Fifth

“I THINK WE SHOWED WHAT WE ARE CAPABLE OF”
The second race at Imola saw Cal Crutchlow deliver an inspired ride. Coming from a bad start, dropping to 13th off the line, Crutchlow put the hammer down and chased down the lead pack; an engine failure by Leon Haslam scattered the following riders. Undeterred he kept on pushing, overtaking Biaggi with six laps left to go for fourth place. Lap 18 saw him swiftly pass Tom Sykes at the last chicane before the start finish line for third place, which he then held to the line to claim his podium finishing just 3.9 seconds off the leader. Race one saw Crutchlow dropped to 14th off the start line from his 12th position on the grid but he fought back to seventh by lap seven. Coming into lap 12 he’d climbed further and took Smrz for fifth going into the first corner. Unfortunately he ran wide onto the gravel the following lap, dropping to tenth where he held on, fighting off Biaggi to the finish line.

“I’m happy with today in the end. I’m disappointed with the first race, I think I had podium pace and was catching up to the guys in front but made an error, which dropped me back. The second race was good, I had a bad start then Noriyuki Haga and Carlos Checa and I all had to come from the back which made it interesting. Big thanks to Yamaha who put together a great bike this weekend for me, we were really strong and put in some good laps towards the end of the races and I think we showed what we are capable of.”


NORIYUKI HAGA, XEROX DUCATI
Race 1: Third                Race 2: Second            Championship Position: Sixth

“I’D SAY WE CAN ALL BE HAPPY WITH THAT!”
In race one Noriyuki Haga made up a lot of ground off the line, in ninth after the first lap. A drop in the performance of some of the frontrunners, in the second half of the race, allowed the Japanese rider to catch first Tom Sykes and then Jakub Smrz, putting him fourth. On the final lap Haga moved into third position and secured a podium spot when Leon Haslam ran off track. A warmer track greeted the start of race two, and Haga was again able to make rapid progress, making up eleven places in nine laps. The Japanese rider never gave up, passing Max BIaggi, Tom Sykes before going after Carlos Checa who had already built up a significant advantage. Haga did all he could but the Spanish rider only increased his pace, to take his first double win on board the 1198 Ducati.

“It wasn’t easy and I’m really happy to have reached the podium twice, even if I couldn’t win today. At this track the first corner is particularly narrow and that can make the first lap pretty dangerous but I got through it and made up some positions there, and then found a good rhythm in both races which meant I could start to catch up, finally reaching third, and then second. Of course it would have been even better to win but I would have needed a few more laps in order to do that. My congratulations go to Carlos, Lorenzo and Cal as they all rode extremely well, especially Carlos. A Ducati 1-2-3 and then a 1-2 – I’d say we can all be happy with that!”
Jakub Smrz and his PATA Aprilia, after a great qualifying, finished the first race in fourth and DNF’d the second. He lies 15th in the championship.

The WSB paddock now heads to the final round at Magny Cours, with racing on October 3.

For more news and information on Arai please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

NEW ARAI RX-7 GP LEON HASLAM REPLICA ARRIVES IN UK

Locked in battle for the World Superbike championship, and putting pressure on current leader Max Biaggi, Alstare Suzuki rider Leon Haslam has a lot going on as the season rolls into autumn. He also has a brand new Arai RX- GP replica to show off, which has just arrived into stock at Arai’s UK importer Phoenix Distribution.

Leon’s suitably chuffed with his new paintwork: “I’m really pleased with this evolution of my helmet design. I wanted to keep the two separate sides – as in the red and blue – as it ties in with the Devil and Angel theme I’ve had for a while, but freshen the whole job up a bit. Aldo Drudi came up with the H for Haslam – this is a bit of a take on my dad Ron’s old lids; he used to have RH on the front, back in the day. Now I’ve got a big, modern white H on the front!”

Underneath the trick paintwork is Arai’s RX-7 GP, a racing helmet considered by many as the benchmark against which all others are measured. Featuring a peripherally belted Structural Net Composite (SNC) shell, with hyper ridge strengthening in its lower section and wider aperture (plus larger visor) for better vision the RX-7 GP is the most technologically advanced motorcycle helmet Arai has ever produced. The RX-7 GP’s Air Intake Stabiliser Diffuser increases airflow through the helmet, while the Airflow Spoiler and visor brow ventilation ducts ensure suitable climate control for any situation. The five-position Air Wing reduces drag, turbulence and buffeting.

The Arai RX-7 GP exceeds ECE Regulation 22-05 and the new SNELL M2010 standard. ECE 22-05 represents the legal minimums for helmets in road use throughout the European Union while Snell M2010, introduced in October 2009, demands protective standards well beyond these legal minimums. The RX-7 GP easily surpasses ECE 22-05 and was the first helmet to meet Snell M2010, offering far superior head protection for motorcyclists.

The Arai RX-7 GP Haslam replica is available in sizes XS–XXL and has an RRP of £589.99.

The Arai Difference

Without exception all Arai helmets offer a peerless fit; the Japanese brand’s reputation for quality, comfort and safety has recently been further reinforced as, for the 12th consecutive year, Arai came out top of the JD Power and Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. Also, Arai placed three of its helmets in the overall top ten – including the number one spot – of RiDE Magazine’s 2009 RiDER Power Survey, an exhaustive poll taken from 5000 readers, reported in the November 2009 issue.

For more information on the RX-7 GP Haslam replica, or the Arai range call Phoenix on 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

Arai wearing Charley Boorman in Africa!

BSB ROUND 10, CROFT, SUNDAY 12th SEPTEMBER

A bumpy weekend for Arai’s riders…

JOSH BROOKES, HM PLANT HONDA
Race 1: Sixth                       Race 2: Eighth                    Championship Position: Fourth

“IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE”
Josh Brookes never looked comfortable on his CBR1000RR at the fast – and very bumpy – ex-airfield circuit. A dismal result (by his standards) moves him back to fourth in the Title Fighters' Shootout, 28 points behind the lead; five races – two at Silverstone and three at Oulton Park – remain for Brookes to make up the difference.

“We thought this could be a strong round for us, we were on the podium twice last year but haven’t been as competitive as we should have been and it has been a struggle. We had a bad start to the weekend and never really recovered and it was hard to know what we were doing wrong, but we need to look at what has happened in terms of the way we work through the changes and resolve it. Race two was better than race one for me, but we didn’t make any real drastic changes as it could have made it worse. We are just going to look at the weekend and then prepare for a better weekend at Silverstone.”

ALASTAIR SEELEY, RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS
Race 1: DNF                        Race 2: 15th             Championship Position: Sixth

“MY HEAD’S NOT DOWN”
Alastair Seeley didn’t have quite the weekend he expected either at Croft with a first race DNF after being collected by another rider at the hairpin. Then in race two the BSB rookie battled bravely for points, eventually finishing 15th. He remains in sixth place in the Title Fighters' Shootout on 506 points.

“I had a good start in race one and was making progress until Gary Mason took me out at the Hairpin, and with a broken clutch lever I couldn’t re-start which I wasn’t too happy about. In race two I wasn’t feeling that comfortable with a number of small little problems hampering my progress, but that’s racing. Croft basically proved more difficult than I imagined but my head’s not down and I’m looking forward to Silverstone and Oulton.”

Quay Garage rider Tommy Bridewell was running inside the top ten in race one, and looking good to improve as the race progressed when he was unfortunate enough to experience an exhaust breaking which forced him into retirement on lap 13. However, with his performance in race one, his lap time was good enough to place him on row two of the grid for the day’s second race and he made the most of his opportunity. Slotting into fifth on the opening lap, Bridewell remained in contention for the final podium place as half a dozen bikes battled it out for third position throughout the race whereby he finished in seventh place, just two seconds off a podium place. The result consolidated the 11th place Bridewell holds in the points table going into the penultimate round at Silverstone. 

Tommy; “The frustration I felt in race one was somewhat eased in race two and I have to be reasonably satisfied with that performance. I felt in race one that I could have got a good result but then the exhaust split and my race was over. It just goes to show how important a good grid position is and, from row two, I got a good start in the second race and went with the leaders. I hung on in there but I was on the limit and to be dicing with a load of factory bikes and riders was good. I thought a podium was possible at one point but it didn’t happen but I’m pleased for the team and sponsors, who have done a great job for me again. Roll on Silverstone and I’m hoping we can challenge once again for that elusive podium.”

Jentin Racing BMW Motorrad Steve Brogan’s first BSB-EVO race was a nail biter, with the Liverpudlian rider pushing through the pain of his raw elbow – which he injured in a heavy fall in free practice on Friday – to chase eventual first-placed rider Hudson Kennaugh and take a very well deserved second. Brogan’s second race proved to be equally dramatic; following a good start, he moved into first place in the EVO class, with fellow championship contenders Kennaugh and Gary Johnson close behind. As the chequered flag approached, the two rivals managed to get past, making their moves stick. In a tight battle Brogan chased them to the line, finishing a very close third, and leaves Croft with a 38-point championship lead. He was pretty upbeat after a tough weekend;

“Considering the fall I had on Friday, I’d have been glad to be out there at all. The team did a fantastic job getting the bike ready to race in a very short time. To get a second and a third is very good, considering the position we were in just two days ago. We’ve got two more rounds, five races, on tracks I love, and two weeks now to rest my arm. I’ll be back at full fitness and I’m going to go for the championship title!”

Padgett’s Honda rider Glen Richards continued his unbroken spell of podiums since winning at Knockhill four races ago, by taking third-place in the Superstock 1000 race. Despite suffering a major off in Supersport practice which hampered his qualifying efforts in that class, the tough Aussie chased through the field from 11th place after suffering his second lacklustre start of the day. With six podiums from seven finishes, Richards can only reflect on where he might have been in the championship, had he not missed out on the first three races after his dramatic high-side at the first round. HM Plant Honda rider Steve Plater, continuing his return to fitness, finished seventh.

In the earlier Supersport race Richards had set the tone for his day by dropping down to 23rd place on the first lap, but once the race was in its stride, he got his head down and quickly made his way up to 15th and then lap-by-lap made his way through to 9th at which point the red flag came out because of oil on the track. Supersport team-mate Ian Hutchinson was holding onto 8th place in the race when he suffered electrical gremlins that compromised his race pace, to the extent that he decided to preserve his machinery and retired after completing 9 of the 14 laps.

Deane Brown finished second in both 125GP races, with John McPhee winning the first on Saturday and ending up third on Sunday.

The next round of BSB is at Silverstone, with racing on September 26th.

For more news / informatrion on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

Arai riders share wins, podiums and news in Germany…

LEON HASLAM, ALSTARE SUZUKI
Race 1: Sixth                     Race 2: Third                      Championship Position: Second

“I’M GOING TO BE PRETTY SORE…”
Leon Haslam defied the pain barrier in the second race at the Nürburgring in Germany, taking a podium despite a dislocated right thumb and damaged knee ligaments. The Team Suzuki Alstare rider crashed at the start of race one when he was highsided and it was fortunate that the race was red-flagged and he and the other fallers were able to make the restart. His bike was too badly damaged to take part in the restart, so he was forced to use his spare bike – one that he had only used for a handful of laps in practice and qualifying. The set-up and feel of the bike were different to that of his number one bike, but he rode superbly to take a very creditable sixth place. That was impressive enough, but in race two he surprised everybody with his grit, determination and fighting spirit to take third place.

“My crash in race one was a highside and I am sorry that it caused Troy to crash also. Luckily the race was stopped and everybody was able to have another go. I had hurt my right thumb and left knee and they were very sore, but I was determined to get out there and give my all. Once the race started, the adrenaline kicked in and I think I would’ve been much faster and more competitive if it had not been for the fact that I was on my number two bike. The mechanics weren’t able to repair my number one bike in time for the restart. I had only done a few laps on the spare bike and so the set-up wasn’t as good and it was that which prevented me challenging the front guys, not my injuries. The team repaired my number one bike in time for race two and I felt much happier. They and the Clinica Mobile staff did great jobs and it was thanks to both of them that I was able to get on the bike and take a podium. I’m sure I’m going to be pretty sore tonight and although I would’ve wanted a couple of wins today, I was happy to get on the podium and with 100 points possible in the next two rounds, anything can happen.”

JONATHAN REA, TEN KATE HONDA
Race 1: First                        Race 2: Second  Championship Position: Third

“I’M ENJOYING RIDING THE BIKE!”
Jonathan Rea enjoyed a race win, a second place finish and set a new lap record at the Nürburgring. Starting from the inside of the front row of the grid, Rea was first into the tight first corner in race one and, although pressed hard in the early stages by Haga and Carlos Checa, the 23-year-old from Northern Ireland was never headed. Race two was not quite so straightforward for Rea, who was fourth on the opening lap before passing series leader Max Biaggi and eventually finishing second to the hard-charging Haga after Checa crashed out on lap 10. However, the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda rider took the fastest lap in race two to go with the new Nürburgring lap record he had established in the first outing – itself almost a second inside the record he established in the process of winning race two last year.

“We were really behind the 8-ball on Friday but did a lot of work that night and came back yesterday with a bike we could challenge with. We managed to turn that into a win in the first race today by making a break at the front and controlling the race, so all credit has to go to the crew for turning things around. Nori was really fast in the second race so I’m really happy with a one-two and really think that was probably the maximum points I could get today. It was a lap of two halves really and I while I was weak in the first two splits the last two were really strong. Although I could gain a little bit there, I’d just got dropped a little bit at the start and I lost my rhythm a bit when Checa went down. But I’m really happy – I’m enjoying riding the bike and it’s fun to turn up to a racetrack and just ride the CBR. If you’d offered me a one-two on Friday I would have snapped your hand off.”

CAL CRUTCHLOW, STERILGARDA YAMAHA
Race 1: Third                      Race 2: Fourth                   Championship Position: Fifth

“I DID THE BEST JOB I COULD, AND IT’S GOOD FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIP”
Cal Crutchlow kept his head down and got straight to business in Germany. Despite a challenging grid position of tenth Crutchlow fought through in both races, taking a well earned podium with third in race one and finishing just off it in fourth in race two, a mere four tenths of a second behind Leon Haslam. Despite putting in such a solid performance Cal’s mind may have been a little bit elsewhere over the weekend; his rumoured move to MotoGP, to the Tech3 Yamaha team, was confirmed on Sunday.

“Race one was really good, I was happy to be on the podium again, especially starting from tenth and considering we spent a lot of the weekend working through some different set up issues; it was a credible finish. I was also happy with the second race, I was disappointed not to be on the podium but I think if we had a better tyre we could have challenged for it, I did the best job I could. It was still good for the championship, we are pulling up on Checa a little bit so hopefully we can go to Imola and build on this”

Speaking about his impending move to MotoGP he was modest, yet excited;

“Being part of the Yamaha Sterilgarda World Superbike Team has been fantastic – when I first signed with Yamaha for the 2009 World Supersport Championship we went on to win, and the natural progression was to move to World Superbike. It was an honour to be asked to be part of the team and to remain as part of the Yamaha family. Now I’m again taking another step and I am being brought through to the Tech3 Team as they have done with other riders such as Ben Spies in the past. I first rode for Yamaha in 2003 in the R6 Cup so have a great history with them. Moving to MotoGP is a great opportunity for me; it was an honour to be asked by Herve Poncheral and for Yamaha to back me. I intend to do the best job I can with the team next year, be humble, learn and enjoy the experience.”

NORIYUKI HAGA, XEROX DUCATI
Race 1: DNF              Race 2: First  Championship Position: Sixth

“I WAS ABLE TO GET THE JOB DONE!”
Noriyuki Haga returned to winning ways at the Nurburgring, with a stunning victory in race two at the Nürburgring. Haga got away well in the restart of race one, moving up to third place through the first corner. Quickly passing Carlos Checa on the privateer Ducati, the Japanese rider held second position until the end of the seventh lap when he unexpectedly lost the front. Unhurt, he hoped to be able to return to the track and returned to the box to fix a damaged handlebar but unfortunately damaged mufflers meant that it was too dangerous to continue and the team decided to retire. For race two Haga again got off the line like a missile, projecting himself to second position at the first corner. He soon got past Carlos Checa to take the lead and, after Checa’s unlucky crash a few laps later, the Japanese rider was able to gradually increase the gap between himself and Jonathan Rea, eventually crossing the line with more than three seconds of advantage to take the 43rd Superbike win of his career. With this win, Noriyuki celebrates the 110th podium of his career, moving ahead of Carl Fogarty (109) in the all time standings. Only Troy Corser has seen more success with 129 podiums scored to date.

“First of all I want to say how happy I am to be back up here. After the crash I went straight back to the garage in the hope that my technicians could adjust the bike so that I could continue but unfortunately there was too much damage to the mufflers and I had to stop there. We made some modifications to the front suspension and the bike behaved a lot better in race two. I maintained a strong pace for the entire race and was able to get the job done! I’m sorry for Carlos because it’s always great to battle against him. Now I’d like to repeat this result at Imola, Ducati’s home track.”

Jakub Smrz and his PATA Ducati DNF’d in the first race and finished 11th in the second. He resides 14th in the championship.

The WSB paddock now heads to Imola, with racing on September 26th.

For more news / information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

Pedrosa’s fourth win of 2010 overshadowed by sombre news

DANI PEDROSA, REPSOL HONDA
Race Position: First                         Championship Position: Second

“I WANT TO KEEP MY FEET ON THE GROUND ”
Dani Pedrosa rode a flawless race in Italy to take his second MotoGP win in as many weekends and claim the first back-to-back victories of his MotoGP career. The Repsol Honda rider led for all 28 laps of the San Marino Grand Prix at Misano, recording his fourth win of 2010 and the twelfth of his MotoGP career.

“Concerning the race, I want to say thank you again to my team for doing a great job. The whole weekend has been perfect: good practices, a very high pace during the race, and the second win in a row and the fourth of the season. I want to keep my feet on the ground though and just concentrate on one race at a time. The feeling on the bike is very good now and my goal is to continue in this way. But to be honest, after the sad news about Tomizawa I’m not really thinking about that at this moment.”

NICKY HAYDEN, MARLBORO DUCATI
Race Position: DNF                         Championship Position: Seventh

“IT WAS A RACING INCIDENT”
Nicky Hayden’s run of bad luck at the Misano circuit continued on Sunday; he crashed out on the second corner of the first lap after coming together with Loris Capirossi. Qualifying hadn’t gone well, due to a number of small issues and Hayden started from 14th on the grid; he characteristically shouldered the responsibility for his poor performance, and apologised to his team at the end of the session.

“This hasn’t been a great track for me over the last couple of years. I got quite a good start and made up some positions but on the exit of turn two when I got on the gas and opened up for the next turn I touched with Loris, who was closing his line a little. I’m sorry but it was a racing incident that can happen at any time and when you start so far back you tend to cross lines. The shifter was damaged and I had to come back in. All this is irrelevant though compared with what happened to Tomizawa. At the end of the day we are all brothers here. We have lost a talented kid with a great personality. I loved his style, his determination and the smile he always wore.”

COLIN EDWARDS, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: Seventh                 Championship Position: 10th

“I THOUGHT THE OUTCOME WAS GOING TO BE A LITTLE BETTER…”
Colin Edwards rode another strong race to finish in seventh position for the third time in the last four outings. The 36-year-old is confident he could have given Spies more of a challenge for sixth had he not encountered some small front-end issues. Edwards though moved into the top ten in the standings with his latest positive result and is just one-point behind Marco Melandri heading to round 13 at the new Motorland Aragon track in Spain.

“It was a good race and another seventh has put me back in the top ten in the championship. I made a good start and managed to avoid any trouble at the first corner and I had a good early battle with Simoncelli. But I had the same problem I had all weekend and I was losing the front a bit on the brakes. I was trying to ride aggressively and I was happy with my lap times but honestly, I thought the outcome was going to be a little better than seventh. When Ben came by he was able to just pull away from me a little bit every lap. I tried my hardest to stay with him but once he’d gone I just settled for seventh. The race doesn’t count for much though when you hear the news about Tomizawa. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

HIROSHI AOYAMA, INTERWETTEN HONDA
Race Position: 12th                          Championship Position: 17th

Hiroshi Aoyama qualified 13th on the grid, with a gap of 1.338 seconds to pole and just about 0.5 seconds to sixth position. The improvement was better than expected for the 18 year-old Japanese and impressed him as much as the rest of the team. Speaking after the session he was reasonably content;

“The qualifying was interesting as we stayed with the old set up and we still were able to improve. Also the lap times improved more than I expected. The gap to the others in front of me got smaller and that is very positive for us. I don’t know how the conditions will be tomorrow, but I hope similar to today and that I can improve in the race.” 

Aoyama finished the race in 12th; his return to fitness continues.

SHOYA TOMIZAWA
As the MotoGP riders were finishing their race, the entire paddock was struggling to come to terms with news of the death of Moto2 rider Shoya Tomizawa, who had succumbed to injuries sustained in a high-speed crash earlier in the day. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and team.

The next MotoGP round is at the new circuit of Motorland Aragon, Spain, September 19th.

For more news / information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

ARAI RX-7 GP CRUTCHLOW REPLICA ARRIVES IN UK

WSB superstar’s stunning paintwork now available

Fresh from an incredible double victory at the Silverstone round of WSB, and lying fifth in the championship overall, Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow is now celebrating the arrival of his replica into stock at Phoenix Distribution, the UK’s Arai importer.
Cal’s bright black and green paint – designed by Nottingham-based Rich Art – is as wild as his riding style, with a full dose of Monster Energy branding giving his RX-7 GP replica the full ‘factory’ look.

 As ever, Cal’s not shy with his words; “I don’t hold anything back on the track, and neither does my helmet paint, which is absolutely mega. It’s great that it’s finally available as I’m always getting asked by fans when it would be here. It’s been a tough year, but the Silverstone result was fantastic and having my replica now available, things are just getting better and better”.

Arai’s RX-7 GP is a racing helmet considered by many as the benchmark against which all others are measured. Featuring a peripherally belted Structural Net Composite (SNC) shell, with hyper ridge strengthening in its lower section and wider aperture (plus larger visor) for better vision the RX-7 GP is the most technologically advanced motorcycle helmet Arai has ever produced. The RX-7 GP’s Air Intake Stabiliser Diffuser increases airflow through the helmet, while the Airflow Spoiler and visor brow ventilation ducts ensure suitable climate control for any situation. The five-position Air Wing reduces drag, turbulence and buffeting.

The Arai RX-7 GP exceeds ECE Regulation 22-05 and the new SNELL M2010 standard. ECE 22-05 represents the legal minimums for helmets in road use throughout the European Union while Snell M2010, introduced in October 2009, demands protective standards well beyond these legal minimums. The RX-7 GP easily surpasses ECE 22-05 and was the first helmet to meet Snell M2010, offering far superior head protection for motorcyclists.

The Arai RX-7 GP Crutchlow replica is available in sizes XS–XL and has an RRP of £589.99.

The Arai Difference

Without exception all Arai helmets offer a peerless fit; the Japanese brand’s reputation for quality, comfort and safety has recently been further reinforced as, for the 12th consecutive year, Arai came out top of the JD Power and Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. Also, Arai placed three of its helmets in the overall top ten – including the number one spot – of RiDE Magazine’s 2009 RiDER Power Survey, an exhaustive poll taken from 5000 readers, reported in the November 2009 issue.

For more information on the Arai range call Phoenix on 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk

CARBON FIBRE ARAI RX-7 RC NOW AVAILABLE TO ORDER

Demand guaranteed to outstrip supply for one of Arai’s rarest helmets…

Orders are now being taken for the brand new carbon fibre Arai RX-7 RC, one of the most exclusive motorcycle helmets ever produced. A maximum of 300 per year will be manufactured for export, guaranteeing rarity and only 250 will be available in Europe. Retail price in the UK for the RX-7 RC will be £2099.99.

Expensive? Perhaps, but the Arai RX-7 RC is based on the technology used for the GP-6 RC Formula 1 specification car-racing helmet; it consists of an extremely stiff and light carbon fibre outer shell, reinforced with Arai’s Peripherally Belted construction. This system uses a reinforcing belt across the helmet, just above the visor opening, giving the outer shell even more strength and stiffness.

The carbon fibre used is extremely special; for the RX-7 RC Arai development engineers searched for a superior carbon fibre quality and finally found it in the aircraft industry, where the carbon fibre material (as used by Boeing) offered the qualities and properties they were looking for. The RX-7 RC’s outer shell is a mix of carbon fibre, Arai’s own resin plus Zylon, a material used for its strength and thermal stability and, obviously, does not come cheap. It takes Arai’s most experienced and skilled craftsmen a whole working day to produce each shell, working only by hand.

If the outer shell is a work of art, so too is the inner. The EPS liner has five different densities seamlessly combined in one inner shell and the RX-7 RC marks a completely new benchmark of manufacture in this respect. The features proven so thoroughly in the RX-7 GP are present; the wide SAI visor, improved diffuser ventilation, Air Wing adjustable spoiler and supremely comfortable Dry-Cool removable interior.

The result of all the R&D effort and new technology is a helmet substantially lighter; but also with massive inherent strength and integrity. Just like the RX-7 GP the RX-7 RC exceeds ECE 22-05 and the new Snell M2010 standard – it’s also the lightest helmet approved to Snell M2010 by a large margin.

The RX-7 RC is available only in carbon with a clear coat finish, sizes XS-XXL. Each Arai 5 Star dealer will have an allocation of three only and anybody serious about owning Arai’s ultimate expression of a motorcycle helmet should place their order rapidly, as demand is already high and supply so limited.

The Arai Difference

Without exception all Arai helmets offer a peerless fit; the Japanese brand’s reputation for quality, comfort and safety has recently been further reinforced as, for the 12th consecutive year, Arai came out top of the JD Power and Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study. Also, Arai placed three of its helmets in the overall top ten – including the number one spot – of RiDE Magazine’s 2009 RiDER Power Survey, an exhaustive poll taken from 5000 readers, reported in the November 2009 issue.

For more information on the Arai 5 Star dealer network, or the Arai range call Phoenix on 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

ARAI RACING NEWS-MOTOGP ROUND 11, INDIANAPOLIS, SUNDAY 29th AUGUST

Tough racing at the Brickyard, but Arai riders come out on top.

DANI PEDROSA, REPSOL HONDA
Race Position: First                         Championship Position: Second

“WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB”
Dani Pedrosa rode to an emphatic win at the Indianapolis Grand Prix, piloting his Honda RC212V to victory ahead of home hero Ben Spies and championship leader Jorge Lorenzo. From fifth on the grid, an on-form Pedrosa was fourth into the first corner and quickly set about dispatching his rivals, starting with Nicky Hayden on lap two and Dovizioso two laps later. With only Spies now ahead, Pedrosa relentlessly closed down the Texan and passed him at the start of lap eight before easing out a comfortable gap of 5.5s – setting the fastest lap of the race on lap 11 and then controlling the race from the front to come home 3.5s clear at the chequered flag. Pedrosa’s only real threat came from the circuit’s vicious bumps, which had caught out so many riders through the weekend, and the concentration-sapping heat, but the 24-year-old Spaniard was equal to the task and recorded his third MotoGP victory of the 2010 season. His 11th victory in MotoGP closes the gap by nine points to Lorenzo in the World Championship, his countryman’s lead now standing at 68 points with seven races remaining.

“I’m really happy with this win and it was an especially tough one because of the heat. I didn’t make the perfect start but I was quite quick through the first few tight corners and stayed close to the leaders. My rhythm was good and even though Spies was strong in front, I was able to close him down and make the pass. I’m really pleased with the performance of my bike because it was fast on the straights and was also working well in the corners. When I was out in front it was quite hard to stay focused and at the end of the race I was really tired – but I’m very happy because last year I crashed when I could have won and now I have made up for it. There were many crashes this weekend and it would have been easy to make a mistake in the race – you only need to go a little off line and you can be on the ground immediately, especially towards the end of the race when the tyres are worn. I’ve gone past the barrier of two MotoGP race wins in a season so I’m very happy. We are doing a good job and I hope we can maintain this momentum for Misano. I want to thank the team and all the people around me for this win.”

NICKY HAYDEN, MARLBORO DUCATI
Race Position: Sixth                        Championship Position: Seventh

“I FINISHED UP WITH A HUGE HOLE IN MY LEATHERS…”
Nicky Hayden was out of luck at his home Grand Prix, the American losing his left knee slider early in the race; it is a small but crucial piece of equipment for riders because it helps them support the bike at full lean angle. As such racing on the limit was a near impossible task for Hayden, but he put in a valiant effort to bring his bike home in sixth place.

“I still can’t believe what happened – I am so disappointed. I was being careful over the first few laps because in that heat the track was very greasy. I lost the front slightly on the third lap and caught my left knee on a drain cover on one of the kerbs, right where the knee slider attaches to the Velcro. There are so many left-hand corners here... from that point on I had to take it really steady, I couldn’t push anywhere and finished up with a huge hole in my leathers. I am incredibly disappointed because we had the pace to put in a performance today.”

COLIN EDWARDS, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: DNF                         Championship Position: 11th

“THE TYRE CHOICE COST ME TODAY”
Colin Edwards had a tough afternoon at Indy after he was one of only four riders to select the hardest compound Bridgestone rear tyre available for the 28-lap race. With temperatures and humidity higher than at any stage during the weekend, Edwards hoped his choice would enable him to mount a strong showing in the second half of the race. But he opted to change to the softer compound tyre at the end of lap 11 and while his lap times instantly improved, the 36-year-old retired on lap 17.

“I went for the hard tyre because I’d done a 41.6 on that tyre on Friday and felt pretty comfortable and confident. I’d not been able to make the soft tyre last close to race distance. I’d started to have a problem after eight or nine laps with it, so with the temperature and humidity coming up I was getting excited about using the hard tyre. But I had a problem with edge grip from the start and was having an issue turning. I was riding on the limit but way off the pace so I pulled in for the softer tyre and did a few laps and my lap times were immediately better. The tyre choice cost me today but congratulations to Ben. He’s just riding at an amazing level and second in this field is something to be proud of.”

HIROSHI AOYAMA, INTERWETTEN HONDA
Race Position: 12th                          Championship Position: 17th

“I HAD TO FIGHT EVERY SINGLE LAP”
Hiroshi Aoyama made his return to MotoGP racing at Indianapolis, following the nasty crash at Silverstone in June where he fractured his 12th vertebra. In qualifying Aoyama impressed with a 13th position on the grid and he continued with this performance in the race, finishing the U.S. Grand Prix in Indianapolis in a very respectable 12th place.

“Under the conditions here at Indy it was quite hard to finish the 28 laps. I had to fight every single lap. I could stay with the other riders, but didn’t want to risk anything. I had to find a compromise not to go too far, over my possibilities, yet still have a good race. Surely we can be better than that when I am 100% fit again and I am looking forward to that so much.”

The next MotoGP round is at Misano, September 5th.

For more news / information on Arai in the UK please visit www.whyarai.co.uk