HASLAM SEARCHING FOR DUTCH DELIGHT

Arai racer Leon Haslam is aiming for success in Sunday’s third round of the World Superbike Championship at the historic Assen circuit in the north of Holland.

Leon Haslam

 BMW’s Haslam has taken three podium finishes from the last three years at Assen and
is hoping to continue that run this weekend.

“Assen is a great track and one of my favourites,” said Haslam. “It’s a fast and flowing
circuit and there’s always a lot of British fans at Assen so it provides a great
atmosphere.”

After the opening two rounds – in Australia and Italy – the S1000RR rider is fourth in the
World Championship and arrives in Holland on the back of two podium finishes after
taking third place in both races at Imola three weeks ago.

“The Imola round was good for results but it was also very good for the consistent performance we found with the machine and Pirelli tyres throughout the weekend,”
continued Haslam. “I’m really pleased with the way the team is working this year and I’d
like to think our hard work will let us challenge for race wins soon and the world title.”
Haslam tested at Mugello in Italy on Tuesday and believes the BMW machine continues
to improve as he looks to give the German manufacturer a first win.

He concluded: “We are getting closer and closer to that first victory and if I get a chance
to win I’ll be taking it. At Imola I was only three seconds away from the victory so it’s all
very positive.”

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

ARAI APPOINTS MOTODIRECT AS NEW UK DISTRIBUTOR

Arai Helmet Europe has appointed MotoDirect as the new distributor for the UK. The transition of the distributorship, including the current stock, is expected to take place in May this year. 

Representatives from Arai and MotoDirect- UK's new Arai distributor

The innovative, individual marketing approach towards the Arai brand and the talent to understand and to anticipate product trends were decisive factors. Furthermore MotoDirect is a very well respected distributor and this together with the matching professional, yet passionate attitude towards the Arai brand, have made MotoDirect the first choice for the Arai distributorship.

As MotoDirect is highly experienced in developing premium brand business and building up the existing dealer network, customer and media relations, Arai firmly believes in expanding the Arai brand awareness and premium image in the UK even further in 2012.

Debbie Bullock (managing director MotoDirect):  "We are extremely proud that Arai Helmet Europe has appointed MotoDirect as their new UK distributor. With MotoDirect’s experience and passion we are sure this new relationship will strengthen both Arai’s and MotoDirect’s reputation for both quality and excellence."

Ingmar Stroeven (managing director Arai Helmet Europe): "The individual, personalized approach of MotoDirect immediately appealed to us. We strongly believe in the ability of MotoDirect to move Arai forward. As a highly respected distributor in the UK, MotoDirect adds additional value to the Arai brand. We are therefore confident that we will develop a long lasting, successful relationship."

For additional information about MotoDirect, please contact: Chris Day - chris.day@moto-direct.com / +44 (0) 1773 864435.

For additional information about Arai Helmet Europe, please contact: Sander van de Water - swater@araieur.nl / +31 33 25 410 10.

ARAI'S MARIA COSTELLO MBE JOINS THE COOKSTOWN/BE RACING TEAM FOR THE TT

IRISH Supertwins Champion John Burrows will be joined in the Cookstown/BE Racing team this year for selected events by one of the fastest ladies in the world - Maria Costello MBE.

Maria Costello MBE- back at the TT!

Burrows, having been selected by the Moira Motorcycle Racing Club to ride their Honda CBR600 RR in the Supersport class this year, decided to look for a rider to ride his own Yamaha R6, rather than leave it sitting idle in his workshop, and the Northamptonshire lady met all his requirements.

Burrows commented: "After Maria found out my R6 was available she made contact with me and after discussions I was delighted to welcome her to the Cookstown/BE Racing team. Maria will ride the Yamaha at the Cookstown 100, the Isle of Man TT and selected other national events after the TT. Before hitting the roads, Maria will get the chance to test the machine at Kirkistown.

"Maria is a very professional and fast rider and I'm certain she will be an asset to the team. It would have been a shame if the R6 had to sit and gather dust this season, it will be great to see it in action. I'm confident Maria will get some decent results on it and I'm sure her appearances on it will bring all my sponsors some extra exposure. It's a win-win-win situation. It's sizzling news as the team enters its second year with sausage producers Cookstown as title sponsor."

Maria Costello MBE is the second fastest lady ever around the famous 37.73 miles Isle of Man Mountain Circuit, only bettered by Jenny Tinmouth. Maria has lapped there at an impressive 114.73 mph.

The 38-year-old has also twice finished on the Manx Grand Prix rostrum. Maria was third in the 2005 Manx Ultra-Lightweight on a RVF 400 while last year she finished third in the Manx Classic 250cc race on a Bob Jackson Suzuki.
2012 will see Maria make her third visit to Cookstown and the previous two have not been without success. In 2010 she finished third in the Supersport 400 race while last year she was second to Tom Llewelyn in one of the Supertwins events.

In addition to the Cookstown/BE Yamaha R6, Maria will also ride a number of other machines this season. She will have a Pr1mo ZX10R, a 650 Kawasaki, a Team Classic Suzuki XR69 and the Jackson T20 Suzuki.

Maria said: "Joining Cookstown/BE Racing is a great opportunity for me. It's a team with a proven pedigree so I know I'll have a very competitive R6 underneath me. I'd like to thank Steve Wheatman of Hol-Taj and the European Shoe Machinery Company for making the ride possible for me."

Cookstown/BE Racing's number one rider John Burrows will have a Suzuki 1000 Superbike, a Kawasaki 1000 Superstock, a KBM Kawasaki 650 and the Moira MRC Honda 600 at his disposal this year. In addition to Cookstown and BE, he has also retained the financial support of H2 Engineering, the Joni B Supporters Club, Wayne Acheson, Cavanagh/Kelly, Kronos Audio Visual and Cookstown Caravans.

Maria would like to add a huge thank you for the continued support of her sponsors: Hol-Taj, Pr1mo, ESM, Ratech Racing, Rock Oil, Draper Tools, Arai, Vmtek Suspensions, Wilbers, Pirelli, Racing Batteries, Radicool, Jap4Performance, Skidmarx, NGK, EBC, HEL, GBRacing, 1 Off Design, Knox, The Image Works, Able Labels, Alpha Powder Coatings, Daytona, Racebikebitz, Stomp, Pipercross, Christian Baker, Dallington Racquets & Fitness Club, DnG, Sparkes Management Support, Stomp, B&C, Webtech Software, Bournemouth Kawasaki, Hope&Social, Sauls of Spratton & Wiz.

Find out more about Maria's 2012 racing plans at www.costelloracing.com
Follow the pizza race bike blog at www.pizzaracebike.blogspot.com
You can also follow her on Twitter @Maria Costello @TheTruckThat

For more information about Arai helmets in the UK please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

Find us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/whyaraipage

The Leon Haslam Classic

THE second annual Leon Haslam Classic will be held at Wellingborough Golf Club, Northants.
on Tuesday June 12 with children’s medical research charity SPARKS hoping the £12,000
event donation of 2011 can be repeated. 

Haslam's buddy ex-boxer John Conteh- Tee shot packs a punch..

BMW’s World Superbike Championship rider Leon Haslam will host the event once more which is again expected to be a 30-team sell-out at the 18th century Harrowden Hall venue.

Wellingborough’s 6711-yard classical parkland course offers the competitive challenge before the evening’s dinner and entertainment in the lawn marquee completes the fun-packed day.

“Last year’s event was superb and a lot of those present have said they’re already looking forward to this year’s event,” said Haslam. “It’s thanks to everyone at SPARKS and at Wollaston BMW in Northampton that we could put the event together and get it to be a regular fixture on both the golfing and the motorcycle racing calendars.” 

Willie Thorne - switches from 6 holes to 18

In addition to Haslam and his 2011 team-mate and twice World Superbike Champion Troy
Corser, the event’s celebrities included Olympic stars Kris Akabusi and Derek Redmond, actors Kevin Whately and Warren Clarke, boxer John Conteh and snooker’s Willie Thorne.

SPARKS golf manager David Barker commented: “Being back at Wellingborough last year was really well received by everyone involved with SPARKS and a lot of the celebrities are keen to return this year for Leon’s event.”

SPARKS – SPorts Aiding medical Research for KidS – has donated more than £22m to medical
research since 1991 to tackle a wide range of conditions diagnosed in babies and young
children.

The SPARKS golf calendar includes events at Woburn, Sunningdale, Loch Lomond, The Grove, Celtic Manor, La Manga, Wentworth and Turnberry and its golf day hosts include Harry Redknapp, Steve Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent, Sir Trevor Brooking and Matt Le Tissier.

The 2012 SPARKS President is former footballer and keen golfer David Ginola while Sir Geoff Hurst MBE is a Life President along with one of the charity’s founders, Jimmy Hill OBE.

For further information regarding the Leon Haslam Classic please contact Chris Herring;
chris.herring1@virgin.net / tel: 07721 935351.

ARAI’S RIDERS GET READY FOR PHILLIP ISLAND WSBK SEASON OPENER

A strong Arai line-up looks set to battle for WSBK title.......

The waiting is finally over and the World Superbike season roars into action this weekend with racing in Australia at the legendary Phillip Island 4.5km circuit.

Arai has an impressive line-up of riders in the 2012 series, including Leon Haslam, Jonathan Rea, Hiroshi Aoyama, John Hopkins, Jakub Smrz and Davide Giugliano all wearing Arai’s benchmark RX-7GP and all raring to go!

Leon Haslam 2012 design

BMW's Leon Haslam, supporting a brand new design on his Arai RX-7GP and celebrating 25 years of wearing Arai, concluded last week’s three day test at Phillip Island finishing third on the final day and reported the S1000RR to be the best it had felt in all his time with BMW.  Unfortunately on this week’s official test Leon crashed exiting the last corner and has been diagnosed with a fractured right tibia and this may affect his participation in the weekend’s WSBK opening round.

Jonathan Rea design

Two more Arai stars Jonathan Rea and Hiroshi Aoyama team up this year and lead the charge for the Honda World Superbike team. Rea starts his fourth season on the Fireblade and, following an injury-blighted 2011, the 24-year-old is looking forward to a consistent title challenge this year. Japanese ace Hiroshi Aoyama, the 2009 World 250cc champion, joins the team following two years as a Honda MotoGP rider. 

Hiroshi Aoyama design

Crescent Fixi Suzuki rider John Hopkins, who provided a thrilling finale to last year’s British Superbike series, will miss the first race due to a broken hand sustained in a high side crash last week. Drafted in for John is Australian rider Josh Brookes who has been racing in BSB for the last couple of years and has previously raced in both the World Superbike and Supersport championships.   
  
Czech rider Jakub Smrz, who had his fair share of bad luck in 2011, stays with Liberty Racing Team Effenbert for the 2012 season and making the move to WSBK is Davide Giugliano who partners the 2011 championship winner Carlos Checa in the Althea Racing team.

In World Supersport, Arai will support numerous riders including Broc Parkes who finished 4th last year and switches team and bikes to ride for Ten Kate Racing Products on the Honda CBR600RR.

All of Arai’s riders will once again be wearing the Arai RX-7GP, a helmet considered by many as the benchmark against which others are measured.  Featuring a peripherally belted Structural Net Compose (SNC) shell, with hyper ridge strengthening in its lower section, a wider aperture with larger visor for better vision and a five position Air Wing to reduce drag, turbulence and buffering, the RX-7GP is the most technologically advanced motorcycle helmet Arai has ever produced and easily surpasses ECE 22.05 and was the first helmet to meet the new Snell M2012 standard.

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

ARAI'S 'NITRO NORI' HAGA FIRED UP FOR MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP WITH SWAN YAMAHA

We're delighted that Arai rider Nori Haga is coming to BSB. The OFFICIAL anouncement happened today, putting an end to the rumours...

The Swan Yamaha team has today (Monday) confirmed that World Superbike sensation Noriyuki Haga will be completing their line-up for the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he permanently replaces the injured Ian Hutchinson for the forthcoming season.

One of our Haga Replicas

Fans’ favourite Haga is famous for his flamboyant riding style with much of his World Championship success in the past powered by Yamaha. Japanese ace Haga joins the MCE BSB Championship with the Swan Yamaha team following a record of 43 race wins in the World Championship, finishing runner-up in the title race on three occasions (2009, 2007, 2000) and securing third in the overall standings in an additional four seasons (2008, 2006, 2005, 2004).

Haga has already celebrated success on MCE BSB Championship circuits at World level including podium finishes at Brands Hatch, Donington Park, Silverstone and Assen as the Japanese contender prepares for his first full season in MCE BSB which gets underway at Brands Hatch on Easter weekend (6-9 April).

And another of our Haga replicas

Haga said: “It is a new challenge for me to race in BSB and I am now ready for the new season with Swan Yamaha. I feel that after many years in the same series this will be a kind of restart to my racing career. BSB has grown a lot and I have big support from the fans in the UK, so I liked the idea of racing in the Championship. It will also be a return to Yamaha, where I spent so many years taking many wins and now I feel like I am going back to my family. I have won races with Yamaha before in the World Championship and now I hope that we can do it again in BSB. I don't know several circuits in England and the BSB Championship but I will do my best to get results this year for the fans, myself and for Yamaha. We will start testing soon and I am very excited to get back on track as we have big ambitions for this season. Finally I hope that Ian Hutchinson can recover soon from his injury.”

Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “It was a difficult situation for the Swan Yamaha team when Ian (Hutchinson) was sidelined with just four weeks remaining before we begin our pre-season testing programme. We then had to set out to find a replacement rider and the result for us could not have been better. We are absolutely delighted that Noriyuki will be joining us and we are now looking forward to welcoming him into the team. Noriyuki has such vast experience of racing a Superbike and during his career has always had a strong partnership with Yamaha and we are happy that we can continue that relationship this year. The Swan Yamaha team won the title last season and Noriyuki is really ready for the challenge of BSB and is coming to race here to win.”

Swan Marketing Manager Mark Alldred concluded: “We are thrilled to confirm the full team line up for the 2012 season after Ian’s unfortunate injury. We are delighted to welcome Noriyuki Haga to the team at this late stage. He has a fantastic pedigree at the highest level and will be a real contender for the championship this year. We have a great rider line-up at Swan Yamaha having signed two of the top riders in the championship. We wish them both the best of luck for the forthcoming season.”

Good luck to Nori from all at Arai. For more information on Arai helmets in the UK and to find your nearest dealer please visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

NEW ARAI AXCES II NOW AVAILABLE IN THE UK

Packed with Arai’s class-leading features...

The Arai Axces helmet arrived in 2010 and proved an instant, and consistent, hit offering as it did all the hallmarks of premium Arai quality, innovation and fit matched to a great retail price point. It opened the brand up to many riders who aspired to own an Arai, and was given the Value Award in the November 2011 RiDE Magazine Awards issue.

Axces II Classic Star

Debuted to the motorcycling public at Motorcycle Live back in November 2011, the new Arai Axces II builds firmly on the success of the original. Its features and benefits have evolved, and it remains attractively priced. It is now in stock and can be found in Arai Five Star dealers up and down the country.

The Axces II’s new Super Fibre Construction (SFC) outer shell has been re-designed with an enlarged aperture and SAI visor giving better peripheral vision. It uses Arai’s Hyper Ridge reinforcement around the helmet’s lower section, just as the MotoGP-spec RX-7 GP does, combined with a triple density inner shell.

Axces II Triubte

The sophisticated ventilation system has new-style front and rear Air Conductor vents, plus a three-position chin vent with larger intake holes, plus the usual brow vents in the visor. An extra top vent is available as an option. Arai’s lever release visor system ensures swift and tool-free visor removal and replacement in seconds, and its holders are aerodynamically recessed. The 2mm visor is Pinlock® ready and features a de-misting visor lock position.

Axces II Stage

The new luxury fixed inner liner features removable cheekpads, which are available in several thicknesses to create a custom fit. As used in all Arai helmets, the ‘Double D’ ring fastening system ensures correct strap tension at all times.

The Axces II is available in a wide range of designs and plain colours with sizes ranging from XS–XXL and an RRP of £349.99 for plain colours and £449.99 for designs.  For more information on the Axces II, or the rest of the Arai range call Phoenix on 01782 569800, or visit www.whyarai.co.uk 

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 13th consecutive year, Arai came out top of the JD Power and Associates Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study.