NICKY HAYDEN CONFIRMED TO VISIT ISLE OF MAN FOR 2011 TT RACES

MotoGP star to Experience Mountain Course with Arai Parade Lap

Arai sponsored Nicky Hayden, the 2006 MotoGP World Champion, has confirmed that he will attend the 2011 Isle of Man TT Races, fuelled by Monster Energy as part of the event's Mountain Course Centenary celebrations.

His scheduled visit, on Wednesday 8th June, will include an Arai Parade lap with five-time 2010 TT champion Ian Hutchinson and five-time Australian 500cc World Champion Mick Doohan. He will also start and present the trophy for the Monster Energy Supersport Race 2, before he begins his preparation for the British MotoGP round at Silverstone on Sunday 12th June.

The charismatic American, known as the 'Kentucky Kid', currently races for the Ducati Marlboro Team in the 2011 MotoGP championship with team-mate Valentino Rossi and finished on the podium in the second race of the season at Jerez following his 9th place at the opening round at Qatar.

Hayden is the youngest AMA Superbike champion in history, winning the title at the age of 21 in 2002, a year that also included victory in the Daytona 200. He moved to MotoGP in 2003, winning the Rookie of the Year title in his debut season and ending the season fifth overall.

He finished 3rd in the 2005 Championship, the year he also won his first race at Laguna Seca in the USA. He won the MotoGP Championship in 2006, clinching the title in the last race of the season at Valencia.
"I'm really looking forward to going to the Isle of Man. I've been to pretty much every kind of motorcycle race you can imagine-the Daytona 200, the Jerez MotoGP, the Anaheim Supercross, the Namur World Motocross-but I've never been to the Isle of Man or any other real street race. The TT is just one of those events that every race fan wants to see eventually."

Commenting on his visit to the Isle of Man he said:
"I'm really looking forward to going to the Isle of Man. I've been to pretty much every kind of motorcycle race you can imagine-the Daytona 200, the Jerez MotoGP, the Anaheim Supercross, the Namur World Motocross-but I've never been to the Isle of Man or any other real street race. The TT is just one of those events that every race fan wants to see eventually."

You'll love it Nicky! 

Photo courtesy of www.petercallisterttphotos.co.uk for more information and news on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

Time for some lid-lovin' - SHIFT-IT HELMET RE-FRESH KEEPS IT CLEAN!

New spray joins comprehensive range of helmet care products

The Shift-It range of products are designed to look after that essential part of any motorcyclist’s kit – the helmet.

Shift-It is employed by the technicians working on the Arai British Superbike Race Service team and is also used and recommended by the Ron Haslam Race School to keep all of the Arai Chaser helmets used by students there in brand new condition. Further recognition has recently been bestowed on the brand when it took a ‘RiDE Recommendation’ in the magazine’s April issue.

New for 2011 is Shift-It Helmet Re-fresh. Formulated to eliminate odours and bacteria caused by body moisture, one application of Helmet Re-fresh (simply spray the interior and leave to dry in a well ventilated area) leaves a clean, spring fresh fragrance ready for the next ride. Available in 50ml bottles, Shift It Helmet Re-fresh has an RRP of £2.99.

A ‘Re-fresh’ on the entire Shift-It range

Anti-fog Spray            RRP: £2.49
A specially designed spray that prevents fogging on the inside of the visor.

Helmet Lining Sanitiser        RRP: £6.99
Neutral PH, formulated to help remove odours and bacteria, plus a non-aerosol dispenser safe to carry anywhere.

Helmet & Visor Cleaner        RRP: £2.99
Easily removes insects, road grime and grease leaving a streak-free finish. If used regularly will help repel rain from the visor.

Polishing Cloth            RRP: £1.50
Two lint free polishing cloths per pack, specially made for use with all Shift-It products.

Helmet Polish            RRP: £2.99
Designed to protect against abrasive dust and UV rays, leaving a high-gloss lustre on paintwork.

Helmet Grime Buster        RRP: £2.75
A soft and non-scratch sponge that removes tough grime and dirt from helmets and visors. Can also be used on leather garments with a suitable cleaning solution.

Visor Wipes            RRP: £.069
Fuss-free removal of insects, road grime and dirt, and easily carried in a pocket when out on a ride. If used regularly will help repel rain from the visor.

Helmet Care Kit            RRP: £14.99
The Shift-It Care Kit includes Helmet Polish, Lining Sanitiser, Visor Cleaner and Polishing Cloth – everything you need to look after your helmet!

Shift-It’s products contain no petroleum distillates so are safe to use on all helmet parts and visors and come in handy, pocket-sized packages so they’re easy to carry.

For more information on Shift-It Helmet Re-fresh, or the rest of the Shift It range contact 01782 569800 or visit www.phoenixnw.co.uk to find your nearest dealer.

GEORGE WHITE'S 'BLAST' OPEN WEEKEND GETS BIGGER AND BETTER...Arai riders and race service present at this Five Star dealer event.

George White’s annual season opener, ‘BLAST’, promises to be bigger and better than ever for 2011. Expect big names, bargains and entertainment a-plenty as the two-day extravaganza returns to the company’s HQ in Swindon on 16/17 April.
The eagerly anticipated dealer event of the year is always one not to be missed and this year is no exception. Visitors can kick off the Spring in style with a spectacular mix of mad deals and stunning action – all topped off with appearances from the cream of the racing crop.

Top riders from British Superbike Championship will head to Swindon for a final relaxed weekend before the 2011 season explodes into action at Brands Hatch seven days later. The line-up boasts Arai sponsored Relentless new-signing Josh Brooks and 2010 BSB Evo champion Steve Brogan, three-times BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, all-new Swan Yamaha pairing Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty, MSS duo Gary Mason and Stuart Easton, Motorpoint Yamaha mounted James Westmoreland, Glen Richards on his WRF Honda and fan-favourite Chris Walker. The “voice of BSB” Fred Clarke will also be on hand all weekend to interview the rider – many of whom will be sporting their 2011 team colours for the first time.
Away from the racing stars and autograph hunting, there are plenty of other activities to keeps visitors entertained. Arai will have their BSB race service truck and technicians present, so bring your helmet along and have it serviced by the same guys who’ll be doing the honours at Brands Hatch the following weekend.

Twelve-times World Trials Champion Dougie Lampkin will wow the crowds with his grafity-defying displays, while The Fuel Girls will perform their incredible fire-breathing routine hot off the back of their London shows. If that’s not enough, stunt demon Mattie Griffin will entertain with his awe-inspiring shows aboard his new BMW F800R. The Monster Chevy Pickup Truck will be making a special appearance dispensing FREE drinks for an hour on Saturday together with FREE Monster stickers for bikes and helmets.

For adrenalin-seekers wanting to take part in the action, George White will be offering the ultimate rush in the reverse bungee jump. A first for what has been acknowledged as the Best Dealer Event in the UK, the reverse bungee will get booked up quickly so visitors should arrive early to secure a place. For the kids, Honda will provide the entertainment in the form of My First Honda License, introducing children aged between 5-11 to the joys of motorcycling.
The core reason for any George White event is the bargains and this weekend won’t disappoint with boots from £1, gloves from 50p and jackets from £2. Early shoppers will find suits and helmets at crazy prices and one lucky winner will be able to choose ANY machine from the vast GW showroom to use for a year - with insurance and servicing thrown in for good measure.

This really is a weekend not to be missed, with fun and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy absolutely free. ‘BLAST’ will take place on 16/17 April at George White, Athena Avenue, Elgin Drive, Swindon. For more details visit www.georgewhite.co.uk - MCN Dealer of the Year.

Davy Morgan Racing continues support of Action Cancer

In 2009 the Davy Morgan #71 Road Racing Supporters Club was set-up to raise funds to help Davy with his road race budget.  One of the club members suggested that we should also look to support a charity as well and with Davy’s famous Pink Helmet the link was made with “Action Cancer” and their “Breast Cancer Awareness” campaign. The club proceeded to design a metal pin badge based on Davy’s Helmet with the Action Cancer Pink Ribbon on it. These were sold at race meetings throughout Ireland and the Isle of Man and we were blown away by the response. At the end of that year we were able to present Action Cancer with £5000 and a further £2400 pounds to Breast Cancer Charities in the Isle of Man and Southern Ireland.

 

For the 2010 season the club decided to continue Davy’s association with Action Cancer, but this time it was their "Get a Grip !" campaign, which supports men’s prostate cancer. The Pin Badge for 2010 again featured Davy's famous Pink Helmet, but this time it carried a blue ribbon and the "Get a Grip!" logo. It was not as successful as the first year, but it was not expected to be as a number of other riders used the same idea to raise money for their chosen charity. The club did however, thanks to the generosity of the road racing fraternity, raise more money for Action Cancer and a cheque for £1500 was presented at the Davy Morgan Golf Day sponsored by Belfast Honda at Knock Golf Club on the 25th March 2011.


Thanks goes to all those kind people who sold and more importantly bought the pin-badge’s in 2009 & 2010 and not only supported Davy, but also this very important and life changing cause. In 2011 Davy will continue to carry the “Action Cancer Logo’s" on his Arai Helmet, Leathers and Race bikes, to help promote the charity. The club will continue to sell the remainder of both badges at £3 each or £5 for the pair in the hope that once again the racing fraternity and beyond will show their generosity and help to support Action Cancer and their "Breast Cancer Awareness" and/or "Get a Grip !" campaign.

www.davymorgan71.com

www.whyarai.co.uk

WSBK ROUND 2, DONINGTON PARK, SUNDAY MARCH 27

Arai riders bag valuable points at the spiritual home of Superbike racing

LEON HASLAM, BMW MOTORRAD MOTORSPORT
Race One: 4th                       Race Two: 4th          Championship Position: 3rd

“I WAS GLAD TO SEE THE CHEQUERED FLAG…”
BMW’s Leon Haslam finished fourth in both races of the second round of the World Superbike Championship at Donington Park. Haslam led both races but endured contrasting fortunes on his way to the fourth place finishes, and to retaining third place in the World Championship. He led the opening 23-lap race for the first six laps and was only pipped for a podium finish on the very last lap to cross the line fourth and add to his third and fifth place finishes in round one in Australia a month ago. The Derbyshire rider hit the front once more in the second race of the day but then almost crashed on lap eight, running off the track and onto the grass at Coppice corner. He rejoined in ninth place and fought his way through to an eventual fourth place finish. Marco Melandri, riding for Yamaha, won race one, and Althea Ducati-mounted Carlos Checa race two.

“It’s not the sort of day I wanted but I’ll certainly take the points. After qualifying in second place, I really felt that we were in with a chance of winning. But it’s very early days for me and BMW and my expectations are maybe a little high at present. In the end I simply didn’t have the pace to win but the consistency is certainly starting to show now. In the second race I had a big highside at Coppice and went through the screen, cutting my neck, so I was pleased to see the chequered flag…”

JONATHAN REA, CASTROL HONDA
Race One: 5th                       Race Two: 6th          Championship Position: 6th

“OK IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH”
Castrol Honda rider Jonathan Rea was not entirely satisfied with the fifth and sixth place finishes he achieved at Donington Park, but believes they were the best he could achieve. Opting for the harder rear tyre in race one, Rea was involved in a number of battles but ran across the Esses on lap eleven, dropping back to ninth place before fighting his way back to fifth at the flag. His crew adjusted the engine mapping on his CBR1000RR for the second outing to provide more punch out of Donington’s Melbourne hairpin at turn 11, but it wasn’t enough to improve traction and Rea was forced to settle for sixth.

“We got through the weekend OK but five and six is not what we came here for and, by my own standards, ‘OK’ is not good enough. I’ve tried my best all weekend but I got duffed up a bit in race one and maybe could’ve finished a bit higher. In race two, I didn’t make any mistakes and rode as well as I could so it was frustrating when the other guys came past. We tried to use the softer tyre during the weekend but it tore up after ten or 12 laps so I’m not sure if it would have made any difference. We’ve got some work to do, I think – especially on the electronics side of things to get driveability off slower corners. Luckily for us, Assen hasn’t got the stop-go slower section that we have here, so I’m looking forward to getting there for a bit of flow.”
 
Noriyuki Haga had a blinding race one, looking much like his old self and carving his PATA Aprilia all over the track – he eventually finished sixth, just nine seconds behind the winner. Race two was less rewarding, and an error at the Redgate interrupted his rhythm; he ended up 17th at the flag.

Jakub Smrz (Effenbert Liberty Racing Ducati, pictured below) nearly won the first race, and was only overhauled by Melandri as his rear tyre faded in the dying laps. He rounded out race two in 8th place, and characteristically dealt with his near-win well; “Of course I am disappointed to not win the race but it was really nice and I am back on the podium, which is important. The feeling all the race was very good and the bike was perfect, in the end my rear tyre was gone and I could not push any more. Marco passed me and I did not want to risk anything in the end.”

World Supersport campaigner Broc Parkes qualified his Motocard.com Kawasaki on the front row and unlike some other riders was untroubled with significant technical issues in the race, although he lost traction from his rear tyre in the later stages. His top five finish left him in a solid second place overall. He was fairly pleased with his weekend’s work:

“We’re second in the championship overall and it was good to get some points again. We just didn’t have the pace from the start and I tried to conserve the tyre a little bit, because we were a bit concerned about tyre wear pre-race. I could see the group in front of me and I tried to stick with them but at the end I could not battle for a podium position.”

The next Word Superbike championship round is at Assen, with racing taking place on May 17.

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

Australian former World Champion Mick Doohan confirmed to attend TT2011

Mick Doohan to complete lap of the course with Ian Hutchinson!

Former Grand Prix World Champion Mick Doohan, who won five consecutive 500cc World Championships in the late nineties, has confirmed that he will be visiting the Isle of Man for the 2011 TT Races.

His visit to the Isle of Man includes starting the Monster Energy Supersport 2 Race and presenting the trophies for the PokerStars Senior TT. He will also complete an Arai parade lap on a Honda Fireblade with 5 time 2010 TT Champion Ian Hutchinson on Wednesday 8th June as well as being a VIP Guest in the hospitality suite. He will be meeting fans on Thursday 9th June as part of the 'Day of Champions'.

The popular Australian is widely considered to be one of the greatest motorcycle racers in the history of the sport. Only Giacomo Agostini with eight and Valentino Rossi with seven have won more World Championships.

Riding for Honda, he won his first 500cc world championship in 1994 and dominated the class until 1998, winning five consecutive championships. In 1997, his most successful year, Doohan won 12 out of 15 races, finishing second in another two and crashed out of the final race of the season at his home GP when winning by more than six seconds.

In June 1996 Doohan was inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the sport of motor racing. In 1999, following an accident in qualifying for the Spanish Grand Prix, Doohan announced his retirement.

Commenting on his visit, Doohan said:

"I'm really looking forward to visiting the Isle of Man and seeing a race or two. I'm a massive fan of all bike sport and the TT Races has a huge pedigree and is obviously world famous so I want to go and see what all the fuss is about. I have a great respect for what those guys do there - I've seen some YouTube footage and its looks mad. I'm sure when I'm sitting in someone's front garden with a beer or a cup of nice English tea it will look even madder."

"I've had a great relationship with Arai over the years and they are pretty involved as an Official Helmet partner so it will be great to dust down the leathers and get a lap of the famous Mountain Course as well as having the chance to meet some fans."

Following his trip to the Isle of Man, Doohan will also be visiting Silverstone to see the British leg of the MotoGP Championship. He added:

"I'll be hopping over to Silverstone for the MotoGP race right after the TT to catch up with some old mates. I've never visited the place before and with all the new work they've been doing to the track and the pits it all looks pretty cool."

Paul Phillips, the TT and Motorsport Manager, Isle of Man Government, commented:

"This visit is a real coup for the TT organisation as Mick is truly one of the greatest and most flamboyant motorcycle riders of all time. His visit will really boost the profile of the event and generate even more media coverage and I'm sure that TT fans will enjoy meeting this Australian legend."

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

MotoGP Round 1, Losail, Qatar, Sunday March 20th - 21 March 2011

DANI PEDROSA, REPSOL HONDA
Race Position: 3rd Championship Position: 3rd

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE HAVE TO DO…”
Dani Pedrosa started the first race of the 2011 MotoGP season at a floodlight Losail racetrack riding hard – and was framing for the top step of the podium in the early stages. Once passed by teammate Casey Stoner, however he eventually faded into the clutches of Yamaha-mounted Jorge Lorenzo and ended up with the last rostrum place. Even though he is starting his campaign fit and well – for the first time in a while – the Spaniard was not happy with his result.

“I’m disappointed, not for the race I had, but for the physical problems I had again with my left arm. Already in practice I felt something, but I was not sure if it could be that bad, at the end I couldn’t grab the handlebar and in the last 7-8 laps I couldn’t use the clutch at all. I was just holding the arm and I was suffering a lot. I feel sorry for my team as well, because the bike was very good, fast, perfect also in the corners. I’m proud of how I've been riding, I’ve been fighting with Casey in this circuit as nobody else did in the past but at the same time I feel sad because I don’t know what the future will bring. I know we will go to Jerez in two weeks, where the bike will run very well, and I’m very strong and fast, but I don’t know what will happen.”

CAL CRUTCHLOW, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: 11th Championship Position: 11th 

“MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!”
Cal Crutchlow made an impressive MotoGP debut at Losail, having started in front of Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards on the grid. Hampered again by the nasty left little finger injury he suffered during the pre-race test in Qatar less than a week ago, Crutchlow rose to the occasion brilliantly, fighting for the top ten for most of the 22-lap race. He was right on the back of a group battling for ninth that was headed by Nicky Hayden, Hiroshi Aoyama and Hector Barbera; but Barbera proved tough to overtake and Crutchlow lost contact with Hayden and Aoyama with three laps remaining. He was rewarded for his determined performance when he swept by Barbera on the final lap to finish 11th.

“I’m pretty happy with that and honestly I’d have liked to have got a top ten after how well qualifying went. I couldn’t keep up with the group that included Nicky and Aoyama because it was tough to pass Barbera. They passed and I then overtook him to chase them, but he got me back immediately and let them get away because his pace dropped off quite a bit. I was happy to be in the fight for the top ten for as long as I was and the experience gained is invaluable to help me progress in MotoGP. I wanted to finish and get a race under my belt, so it was mission accomplished. The next couple of races will be tough because I don’t know the circuits but I’ll be doing my best!”

COLIN EDWARDS, MONSTER YAMAHA TECH 3
Race Position: 8th Championship Position: 8th

“I HAD A COUPLE OF MOMENTS…”
Colin Edwards made a blistering start from 10th position on the grid and was looking to force his way into the fight for the top six when he lost time by running slightly off line at the second corner. Dropping back into 10th behind Crutchlow, he quickly moved up to ninth to launch a pursuit of Ben Spies. He closely followed his compatriot for the opening five laps, the 37-year-old setting a consistently fast pace in the mid-1.56 bracket. He shadowed the fast starting Hector Barbera until lap nine when he moved into eighth position. But he’d lost too much time trying to overtake the Spaniard to maintain the pressure on Spies and finished eighth.

“That was the best I could do and I’m happy with the way I raced. A top eight is pretty good considering the speed of the guys in front of me and I was pretty much where I thought I’d end up based on practice. I got a good start and thought the only way I’ve got any chance of getting a top six is to take a few early risks. I went round the outside at the first corner and made up a couple of places. But I had a couple of moments, one when I nearly ran into Ben, which wouldn’t have been a good move. I thought I might have had something for Valentino early on but even when he’s not 100 per cent he can still ride pretty good.”

NICKY HAYDEN, MARLBORO DUCATI
Race Position: 9th Championship Position: 9th

“I CAN’T BE HAPPY WITH THE RIDE, BUT I CAME FROM DEAD LAST.”
Nicky Hayden had a tough weekend to kick off his season, but after starting from the fifth row he rode a good comeback race, steadily increasing his pace and finishing ninth after a series of great passes.

“I got a bad start in the race, and then when De Puniet crashed, I just about ran over him and had to come to a complete stop. I’m happy I didn’t run into him, but that was a bad break, because I was dead last with a gap to the next person. I started picking my way through, and once I got into ninth, I got into a decent rhythm and started doing my pace. It’s been a tough weekend for me on and off the track, but everybody around here is working to the maximum. I can’t be happy with the ride, but I came from dead last, and my fastest lap was my last one. We’ve got a lot of work to do, but it’s just one race, and no one can say we weren’t trying.”

HIROSHI AOYAMA, TEAM SAN CARLO HONDA GRESINI
Race Position: 10th Championship Position: 10th

“IT WAS A SHAME, I WANTED A GOOD RACE.”
Hiroshi Aoyama, the last ever 250cc world champion in 2009, didn’t have an easy first race for his new team, but battled through and earned the last place in the top ten.

“I had a tough race because of the start; De Puniet crashed in front of me and I lost precious ground on the group. Then I got my pace together and recovered positions but it was a shame because I wanted to have a good race. Anyway, I am still happy because I am sure that we will improve in the next race. My feeling with the team is perfect, we are getting on great and they believe in me, which is important if we are to grow together. I want to give them positive results and excitement.”

Karel Abraham, Team Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati
Race Position : 13th Championship Position : 13th

“MY PHYSICAL FITNESS IS OKAY, BUT I HAVE TO WORK ON MY HANDS.”
Czech rider Karel Abraham, making his MotoGP debut on the Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati was in good form and finished 13th, earning 3 championship points in the process.

“I had problems with the brake on lap two. I ran off the track and almost hit the gravel. I lost contact with the group in front of me and unfortunately I wasn‘t able to catch them. My physical fitness is okay, but I have to work on my hands because in the end of the race I lost some time due to lack of strength.”

Round 2 of MotoGP is at Jerez, Sunday 3rd April.

Pictures courtesy of Peter Callister www.petercallisterttphotos.co.uk

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