Ducati’s Haslam Describes Fastest Ever Lap Of Thruxton April 30, 2006
After completing the fastest ever lap of Thruxton on two wheels, Airwaves Ducati rider Leon Haslam has described in detail how aboard an Airwaves Ducati 999F06 you could achieve a lap similar to that which secured him pole position at the last round, exclusively for Airwaves Ducati Fan Club members.
“On the Airwaves Ducati I’ll go over the start/finish line in 4th gear before going down to 3rd for the first turn. Make sure you hold a tight line for when you change direction.
Next is a short shift back to 4th gear for the long left-hand bend up to Campbell, before …
MotoGP: Honda Benefits From Good Weather In Istanbul
Just twenty days after the latest race in Qatar, the Konica Minolta Honda Team is warming up its engines again for the third round of the MotoGP World Championship, on the brand-new circuit of Istanbul situated on the Europe-Asia border.
The sunny weather, characterized by a vernal temperature with a light breeze, have permitted a normal first day of free practice.
Temperatures have reached 20°C in the air and 27°C on the ground with a humidity rate of 15%.
The Honda RC211V has been the protagonist of today occupying the first five position of the Turkey GP provisional classification.
Makoto Tamada covered 22 laps …
MotoGP: Melandri And Elias Consistent On First Day
Marco is on the provisional front row whilst team-mate Toni Elias makes the second row, just three tenths behind pole position. The FORTUNA HONDA riders put in a solid showing on the first day of qualifying at the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix that took place in fine conditions at the Istanbul Park circuit. After a superb performance last season, Marco Melandri took an impressive victory at this circuit 12 months ago. The Italian rider started this season in good style also as he lapped consistently throughout the day to post the third best time. Team-mate Toni Elias was just 0.3 …
MotoGP: Suzuki MotoGP Makes First Day Progress At Istanbul
Rizla Suzuki MotoGP racer John Hopkins finished in a promising eighth place after today’s free practice for the Grand Prix of Turkey in Istanbul.
Hopkins (1′54.227, 41 laps) worked hard with his team to get the best out of his Rizla Suzuki GSV-R and Bridgestone tyres, and was pleased with the overall improvements made to the bike since the last race. He is sure that he can develop on today’s strong start during tomorrow’s practice and qualifying.
Chris Vermeulen (1′54.722, 36 laps) also made a good opening to the weekend and was equally satisfied with his progress today. The rookie Australian was …
MotoGP: Tricky First Day For Rossi And Edwards
Camel Yamaha Team riders Valentino Rossi and Colin Edwards spent the first day of practice for the Grand Prix of Turkey gathering important set-up data after encountering different track conditions to those they enjoyed last season at the Istanbul Circuit. With this year’s event taking place some six months earlier than the inaugural race here last October, overcast skies contributed to cool ambient temperatures of 20ºC and produced low grip levels on track, where Nicky Hayden (Honda) set the free practice pace with a best lap of 1′53.623.
Rossi adapted swiftly to the conditions in the morning and set the third …
MotoGP: Ducati Make Promising Start In Istanbul
Ducati riders Loris Capirossi and Sete Gibernau got their Turkish GP weekend underway with promising first-day performances at Istanbul Park, placing seventh and ninth fastest, just a few tenths off provisional ‘pole position’. In cool, overcast conditions the pair began laying the groundwork for Sunday’s race, round three of the 17-event World Championship, by working on machine balance for this fast, undulating and challenging racetrack.
Capirossi, making his first appearance here after missing last year’s inaugural Turkish GP through injury, ended the two sessions just 0.432 seconds down on fastest man Nicky Hayden, while Gibernau was only 0.656 seconds down, riding …
MotoGP: Kawasaki Confident Of Improvement In Turkey
While Shinya Nakano was disappointed to finish today’s free practice ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix of Turkey down in 13th position, the Kawasaki rider remains confident that tomorrow will bring a significant improvement in his lap time.
The traction problems that plagued Nakano during the Grand Prix of Qatar three weeks ago were again evident during both one-hour free practice sessions today, losing the Kawasaki rider vital fractions of a second at each corner.
The 28-year-old Japanese star also had problems at some of the slower turns on the 5.340km Istanbul Park circuit, where he was finding it difficult to make quick …
Drag Racing: Nitro Harley-Davidson Riders Ready For Thunder Valley April 27, 2006
Bristol Dragway to Host Second Nitro Harley-Davidson NHRA Exhibition They don’t call it Thunder Valley for nothing. After all, the quarter-mile track is carved out of a mountain.
That’s exactly why the riders of the AHDRA Screamin’ Eagle championship series are anxiously waiting for this weekend’s action to start. It’s a break from the national championship points chase, but it’s a chance to turn up the volume on the mountain. The sixth annual O’Reilly NHRA Thunder Valley Nationals kicks off Friday and will include the ultra-quick Nitro Harley-Davidson category. It is the second of three exhibitions scheduled for NHRA POWERade …
BSB: Hawk Kawasaki Confident For Oulton Park
The three Hawk Kawasaki riders are heading for the picturesque track of Oulton Park, Cheshire this Bank Holiday weekend (29th April 1st May), for round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. Dean Thomas (33), Craig Coxhell (23) and Peter Hickman (19) and looking forward to tackling the 2.7-mile circuit. Having tested with Thomas at the circuit last week the Hawk Kawasaki Team are confident they have found a good set up for the event.
Having scored two consistent top ten finishes at Thruxton over Easter weekend Thomas is keen to get to Oulton to improve his results. A track …
BSB: Byrne Targets Oulton Podium
Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne was fastest in last week’s official Oulton Park test and the Rizla Suzuki rider going to the fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the circuit this Bank Holiday Monday aiming for podium results.
The 29-year-old Zurich resident won the hearts of the Superbike fans by coming from the back of the grid at the last round and carving his way dramatically through the field to take fifth and eighth. He knows he can improve on those results if he can qualify near the front and is promising to give it his all in front of …