Performance Parts News Update: Akrapovic 'Heritage' exhausts now in, Harley equipping XR1200 with Remus...

Welcome to the second Performance Parts Ltd News Update. We've always got lots of new parts arriving and we're always getting 'developments' from our suppliers and the industry. Here's a round up of our current news:

Akrapovic 'Heritage' products now in stock!

Got one of these?

CBR900 Fireblade 92>99
ZX-7R / RR 96 (all models, all years)

YZF 750 (all models, all years)
FZR1000 Exup 89>95
1000 Thunderace 96 (all models, all years)
GSX-R 1100 89>92
1200 Bandit 96>05

Now you can get one of these: (but only at Performance Parts, probably not anywhere else. In the World.)

Akrapovic- All top five BSB racers use 'em

We've commisioned Akrapovic to make systems for the older models listed above and we have them in stock! The systems will also retail directly through us to keep prices low and reflect the one-off nature of this situation. Call 01788 869 100 or email : info@performanceparts-ltd.com for further information.

Harley Davidson UK to supply Remus Powercone System with the XR1200

We're pleased to annouce that Harley Davidson UK, from July 1st, will be supplying a road legal Remus Powercone System with all new XR1200 machines. The system looks great, sounds mean, (has that satisfying Harley 'Thump Thump' sound) and offers tremendous added value when buying a new bike.

Harley Davidson XR1200 - now with Remus Powercone - supplied!

Scooters - 'trend' of beefing up your commuter increasing

Scooter new sales are doing well. The cheap, quick and easy twist-and-go commute is ticking a lot of boxes for people in today's tough climate.

Scooter-commuters are choosing to beef up the output of their machines and Akrapovic and Remus exhaust systems are selling well. These exhausts look rather nice, too...

Remus - adding some 'oomph' to your commute

And finally - just in:

ZX-10 Remus Okami - see our website for further details. 

Remus Okami - looking good on the ZX-10

 For more information on the hundreds of performance parts we have for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd - Bionics for your bike - Better. Stronger. Faster...

SWAN YAMAHA'S HILL VICTORIOUS AT OULTON PARK

Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill won the only race at the seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park today after the second race was postponed due to the treacherous weather conditions.

Hill takes the chequered flag at a wet Oulton Park

In the race Hill got off to a flying start from second on the grid as he settled into third place and was instantly putting the pressure on title rivals Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and John Hopkins ahead of him. On the fifth lap Hill stole third place but as Hopkins crashed out of the lead that elevated Hill to second place. He was then able to put a move on Byrne to take the lead and then following a short Safety Car intervention he edged out an advantage to take his first win at the Cheshire track. Michael Laverty meanwhile was running down the order on the opening lap after a problem with his launch control at the start but he worked his way up to finish some solid points in sixth place on the second Swan Yamaha.

The second race of the day has been rescheduled to the Cadwell Park August Bank Holiday round.

Hill said: "I just pushed on in the race; it was never going to be easy but it feels great to have the Swan Yamaha back on the top step of the podium. The conditions weren't the best with the rain but I just had to keep my concentration and just make sure I didn't crash. I think the team probably wanted me to slow down but I just didn't want to lose that win! I knew I could get into a good rhythm and I was taking a few risks to stay ahead of the others, especially after the safety car but it was enough to break them."

Laverty said: "The race was disappointing for me, especially to finish sixth when we knew we had potential to be on the podium. I had a bad start as I had a problem with my launch control off the line and it meant I dropped outside the top ten and I had to work my way back up. When the safety car came out I lost temperature in my rear tyre and then it took a few laps to regain it which meant I lost ground on the others and had to settle for sixth. We have been fast all weekend but sixth means we scored points for the championship and we remained inside the top six in the standings which was the priority."

A dissappointing 6th for Michael Laverty

Team Manager Gary Ekerold concluded: "Today it was very difficult in those conditions however the team adapted better than we have had previously in similar situations and both riders had the pace to challenge for our first 1-2 finish of the season. It was great for Tommy to win and Michael would have been up there too I believe had it not been for a problem. It was disappointing to have the second race cancelled but now we look forward to Brands Hatch and the triple-header round we will now have at Cadwell Park."

Performance Parts Ltd are pleased to sponsor Swan Yamaha and provide them with Akrapovic Systems. For more information on Swan Yamaha please visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk and for more information on the hundreds of performance parts we have for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd: Bionics for your Bike: Better. Stronger. Faster..

Motorpoint Yamaha - BSB Washout

The 7th round of the British Championship held at Oulton Park in Cheshire had to be abandoned due to torrential rain, the organisers managed to run half of the scheduled races but eventually with the conditions deteriorating they had no alternative but to cancel the event.
 
The Motorpoint Yamaha team of Loris Baz and James Westmoreland brought their machines home in 7th and 8th place in first Superbike race held in very treacherous conditions.

Loris Baz

 Loris Baz Motorpoint Yamaha 7th position race 1
“I am happy to see the flag for that race! Many riders were crashing and the track was very slippy, after the pace car came out I thought I could go with the top six but they had better grip than me. I did not want to risk a crash so 7th was OK, we made some positive changes for race 2 but did not get chance to try after they cancelled the race. Brands Hatch next I can’t wait!”
 
James Westmoreland 8th position race 1
“It was pretty scary conditions for that race! I got a great start but had a few slides so was maybe a bit too cautious and lost some places, I could see riders crashing and really wanted to bring the bike home in one piece, it was the right decision not to continue it was getting bad. Brands Hatch GP track next one of my favourites!”

James Westmoreland

 
Performance Parts Ltd are proud to sponsor Motorpoint Yamaha and supply Akrapovic systems. For more information on Motorpoint Yamaha please visit www.robmacracing.com

For more information on the hundreds of performance parts we have for your bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd: Bionics for your bike- Better. Stronger. Faster...

OULTON PARK BSB: RAIN STOPS PLAY

Akrapovic equipped Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins suffered a crash in race one at a rain-hit 2011 British Superbikes championship meeting at Oulton Park today. Although uninjured, Hopkins was unable to continue in that race. With high winds and rain battering the circuit, the meeting was abandoned before the second race was run. Hopkins' team-mate Jon Kirkham rode well to secure a ninth place and sufficient points to lift him to seventh in the BSB championship standings.

John Hopkins - crashed while leading

After promising much, race day at the seventh round of the 2011 BSB championship was hit by strong winds and rain. The only BSB race was run in wet conditions but, as he promised, Hopkins started well, leaping off pole position to take the holeshot. Hopkins was building a lead when he was unlucky enough to slide off at Lodge Corner on the seventh lap.

Jon Kirkham had started that race from P13 and after finishing lap one in 14th fought his way back to ninth to score some solid championship-bolstering points.

The meeting was abandoned after the race stewards and team managers met to discuss the safety implications of continuing the meeting in such inclement conditions. All agreed the meeting had to abandoned and the lost races will now be rescheduled as part of the August Bank Holiday meeting at Cadwell Park.

John Hopkins: "Going into that first race I was feeling confident. I got off to a decent start and I gave it a lap or two to find my feet, during which time Shane Byrne came past. My objective then was to make a clean pass on Byrne and to build a lead. I wanted to make a break and avoid any havoc that might come later in the race.

"I was doing nothing adventurous when I slid off at Lodge Corner. Our data logging showed I was 3km/h slower than my previous entry speed and I was in fact braking lighter, but the front just went away. Sometimes in racing that's just the way it goes.
"My only regret is that we didn't have that second race so I could make amends. But I agree with the decision to abandon. And I've still plenty of positives to take away from the weekend. I'm very happy with how my bike and the team are performing. We're still in a very strong position in this championship."

Jon Kirkham: "The conditions today were treacherous, I just wanted to finish that first race. There wasn't much to it other than to do your best. I'd have liked to have ridden a second race as well as we'd worked on some settings for a better wet set-up, and I was sure I could get a good result with a bit of a push – but I respect the decision. 

Jon Kirkham: a fighting 9th in treacherous conditions

"So, on balance a positive ride for me today. To score some vital points and to jump back up to seventh in the standings isn't a bad outcome."

Performance Parts Ltd are pleased to supply Samsung Crescent Suzuki with Akrapovic. For more information on the hundreds of performance parts we stock for your bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd: Bionics for your bike - Better, Stronger, Faster...

Swan Yamaha back on the podium at Snetterton

The Akrapovic equipped Swan Yamaha team returned to the podium again at the sixth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Snetterton as Tommy Hill took an impressive second place in the opening race.

In race one Hill had been battling for the victory; leading the race in the second half before John Hopkins took the lead on the final lap at Riches. Hill was putting the pressure on his American rival but despite his best attempts he had to settle for second. Michael Laverty put in a strong performance to move from his twelfth place grid position through to fourth and score vital points for his title challenge. 

In race two Hill got off to a flying start but on the opening lap he crashed out at Montreal as he clipped the rear tyre of Ryuichi Kiyonari who was forced to slow in front of him when the lead changed. He was able to return to the garage, but wasn't back out on track in time before the red flag meaning he was forced to miss the restart. Laverty meanwhile took another solid finish in fifth with the pair now lying third and fifth respectively.

Hill said: "In the first race it felt good to lead the race but Hopper just had the legs on me down the straight and I couldn't quite get in his slipstream. I felt confident though for the win and he just pipped me on the last lap. I gave it everything I could and there was just nothing I could do to get back into the lead without it all ending in tears! In race two I knew we had the pace to challenge for the win and I got off the line well and maintained third position. We just went into Montreal and Kiyo stopped directly in front of me and there was nothing else I could do other than brake hard but I had nowhere to go. I got back on and there was some damage to the Swan Yamaha and unfortunately I couldn't make the restart as I hadn't made it back out before the red flag. I am gutted as I thought we could have won that second race and I desperately wanted to be out there rather than watching from the garage. We missed out in race two but next up we move on to Oulton Park where we set the pace before so I am looking forward to getting stuck in there."

Laverty said: "It has been a bit of a frustrating weekend for me as I didn't have the speed to challenge for the podium for the first time this season. I was reasonably happy with race one as I started twelfth so to recover to fourth and be running times faster than the leaders on the final laps was encouraging. We tried to fix the problems we were having with chatter for race two but there was still places where I was losing out. One of the places I had previously been able to make up ground was at Riches, but after the red flag incident it wasn't as easy on the restart. I had a few moments so I settled for fifth to avoid crashing as it was then two solid results for the championship. I am now looking forward to Oulton Park and trying to get back on the podium again."

Picture from www.mnjphotography.co.uk

For more information on Swan Yamaha please visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk

For more information on Akrapovic and  the hundreds of other Performance Parts we have for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd - Bionics for your bike. Better. Stronger. Faster...

Snetterton Points Haul for Gearlink Kawasaki

Both Gearlink Kawasaki riders, Ben Wilson and Jesse Trayler, brought more points home to the team from the two British Supersport races at Snetterton over the weekend. Wilson scored two second places while Trayler finished 15th in race one, improving to 10th in the second encounter.

Starting from a front row grid position in second place, series leader Ben Wilson got the hole shot in the 10-lap sprint race but was soon overhauled by Alistair Seeley who had started from pole. Seeley and Wilson quickly pulled away from the pursuing pack but although Wilson rode the wheels off the Gearlink Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R he was unable to stay in touch with Seeley who crossed the finish line some 7.6 seconds ahead of Wilson to claim the win.

Race two went much the same way and although Wilson hung onto the shirt tails of Seeley during the first half of the race he was again unable to stay with him and Seeley took the chequered flag for the win ahead of the Gearlink Kawasaki rider who collected 40 championship points for a brace of second places to retain a healthy 49 point lead over Seeley in the rider standings at the half way stage of the championship.
Meanwhile Jesse Trayler began the sprint race from row four in 16th place and rode well to complete the 10 laps in 15th position to pick up another championship point.

Jesse got away to a much better start in the second encounter and moved straight into 13th place before making his way forward to 11th and then 10th place with three laps remaining. On the final lap he was being stalked by fellow Kawasaki rider Luke Stapleford who showed him his front wheel at Murrays. But Trayler was not to be denied a top 10 finish and staved off the challenge on the dash to the flag, crossing the finish line 500ths of a second ahead of Stapleford.

Ben Wilson – "I am happy enough to get the 40 points and any other time I would be happy with a double podium. But we are out there to win and so it would have been better if we had been closer to him. Seeley has been strong all weekend and we haven’t really had an answer to him to be fair. So we will take the points from what is obviously one of Seeley’s stronger tracks and move on to Oulton Park and take it to him there."

Jesse Trayler – "We got off to a mega start in the second race and the little bit of a coming together in the first couple of turns benefited me. I did get mugged after that but we stood our ground and picked a few more riders off and had a good scrap with another couple of boys. It’s nice to finish on a high this weekend and keep it going after such a good result at Knockhill. It’s all credit to the team for their support and help this weekend and it’s nice to be able to bring some more points back to the team."

We are pleased to support Gearlink Kawasaki and provide them with Akrapovic systems, Galfer Brakes and ASV unbreakable Levers.

For more information on Gearlink Kawasaki please visit www.gearlinkracing.com

For more information on the parts we provide and hundreds of other Performance Parts for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com


Performance Parts Ltd - Bionics for your bike. Better. Stronger. Faster...

Akrapovic equipped HM Plant Honda victorious on new Snetterton 300

The HM Plant Honda team celebrated another race victory in the sixth round of the British Superbike Championship at Snetterton as Ryuichi Kiyonari took his second win of the season in the final race of the day.

In the opening race Shane 'Shakey' Byrne was running third before a safety car period and when the race resumed he moved through to eighth at Brundle on John Hopkins. He retook the position and Shakey then held a strong third place. Kiyo meanwhile took a fifth place finish, setting the fastest lap to put him on pole position for race two.

The second race was another frantic tussle as Kiyo got a flying start from the pole position to move second on the opening lap as Shakey tucked in to fourth before the red flag on lap eight. On the restart Shakey was third and Kiyo fourth by the end of the first lap with Shakey moving second ahead of Josh Brookes before closing in on race leader John Hopkins on the penultimate lap. Shakey pulled an impressive tight line through Coram to take the lead, but on the final lap Hopkins tried to pass into Oggies with the pair colliding and when Shakey rejoined the track he was relegated to fourth. Reigning champion Kiyo was third on the final lap after he had also moved ahead of Brookes on the sixth lap and when Shakey and Hopkins collided he stormed into the lead to take his first win since Oulton Park earlier this season.

Shakey and Kiyo - a good weekend

Byrne said: "In the beginning of the first race I was feeling really comfortable and was in touch with John (Hopkins) and Tommy (Hill). It was the first time I had done a long race run though and I was struggling with tyre longevity over the final laps. They were ahead and after the safety car I thought that it was better to take third and a Podium Credit than ending on the floor with a crash! The team has been working hard and in race two the boys had done such a great job to improve the HM Plant Honda Fireblade; by the restart I felt we had the pace to challenge for the win. It has taken us longer than expected to get up to the pace we needed this weekend and the HM Plant Honda Fireblade was feeling fantastic. The race had been pretty hectic and I had got in front of Hopper the lap before and I was obviously disappointed to be taken out. He has since apologised but I was a bit gutted really as I thought I could have won that second race for HM Plant Honda. We will have to try and get that win at Oulton Park now!"

Shane 'Shakey' Byrne - Championship leader

Kiyonari said: "In race one I was feeling more confident but knew we had to find something extra for race two. I am of course happy for the win in race two and I was lucky as I could have been third rather than first. I found it very difficult to pass Josh Brookes and then I tried to catch the leading group and I think with more laps maybe I could have. I am sorry for Shakey and John but we needed the win here for our championship especially after some bad results. Our hard work has finally paid off and my confidence is high so now I look forward to Oulton Park."

Kiyo- found form at Snetterton

Team Manager Havier Beltran concluded: “Overall it has been another good weekend for the HM Plant Honda team. Shakey had another strong finish in race one to take a podium and we were obviously disappointed that he didn’t take the win in race two as it looked like he could have won the second race. We are happy for Kiyo though as the win in race two will be a big boost to him and his confidence after the last couple of rounds. We are happy that Shakey still leads the championship and Kiyo is now fourth in the standings and are looking forward to the next round at Oulton Park.”

For more information on Honda Racing please visit www.honda-racing.co.uk

For more information on Akrapovic and hundreds of other Performance Parts we have for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts - Bionics for your bike. Better. Stronger. Faster...

Suzuki Crescent Racing - Hopkins wins at Snetterton 300

Akrapovic powered Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins took a win and a podium from the inaugural BSB meeting at the Snetterton 300 circuit today and with the highest points tally of any rider on the day, strengthened his position in the 2011 British Superbikes Championship.

After six of 12 rounds, the Suzuki rider is second to Shane Byrne by a gap of 19 points but significantly is just one point behind on podium credits.

Team mate Jon Kirkham struggled with grip issues in both races. He battled these to record a hard-earned sixth place in race one (just 5.5-seconds behind winner Hopkins), but crashed out of the restarted race two while trying to recover from a slow start. Kirkham has dropped to ninth place in the Championship but with the lower leaderboard positions being so tight he in fact only lies seven points outside the important top-six 'Title Fighters' that go on to battle for the Championship over the final three rounds.

Happy Hopper at Snetterton

John Hopkins:

"I'm happy; my Samsung Crescent Suzuki was brilliant today and I can't thank my crew enough for creating a bike that I feel so confident with. We got the biggest points haul today and that's really helped my Championship position; to be just one point behind Byrne on podium credits will do fine at this stage of the Championship.

"I must also say, again, that I really enjoyed this circuit. It's been so much fun. All of us riders said before today that it would create close and exciting racing - and it did. It also led to some bar-banging, quite literally and ultimately that cost both Byrne and myself the chance to win the second race. I'm sorry for the both of us on that; we both probably wanted that win maybe too much and in the heat of the moment you want to do everything you can to make that win happen."

John Kirkham at Snetterton

Jon Kirkham:

"I'm feeling pretty second hand after crashing at the Bombhole in that second race. It's been a really tough day's racing as I haven't had the rear tyre grip I need to do the job. Emotionally right now I don't feel so upbeat, but I guess if I can finish this close to the lead on a bike that's not yet 'mine' then what can come when we get the set-up sorted?!"

Jack Valentine - Team Manager:

"We had a cracking first race. Hopper proved his set-up was right by doing great lap times throughout the race and being able to manage his tyres so that he had what he needed to steal the win at the flag. In the second race it looked like he stood a chance of running away with the win, only for the race to be stopped because of a crash. With the race re-run as a nine-lap dash it became something of a banzai affair for everyone - hard passes were being made on every corner. We lost the win in all of that, but the podium finish is some consolation.

"JK's had a very testing weekend. He hasn't yet found a set-up that will work for him as Hopper's found on his bike. We're doing everything we can to make that happen. That JK can in the meantime make a top-six result like he did in race one is testament to his considerable skill. The re-run of the second race cost him more than it did for Hopper. He made his worst start of the weekend and crashed while trying to recover so many places over so few laps. I can understand his frustration, but as soon as we can solve his grip issues then I know he's going to be podium material again.

"We're looking forward now to Oulton Park in a fortnight's time, for our second visit - the venue of Hopper's first win. We'll be looking for more podiums and hopefully more wins again!"

For more information on Suzuki Racing please visit www.suzuki-racing.com

For more information on Akrapovic and hundreds of other Performance Parts we have for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Motorpoint Yamaha - Frustrating weekend at Snetterton

For the Akrapovic equipped Motorpoint Yamaha team of Loris Baz and James Westmoreland it was a weekend of mixed results and frustration, James suffered with a mechanical problem in race two putting him out on the warm up lap and Loris once again missed out on any luck handed out.

Loris Baz Motorpoint Yamaha 9th race 1 7th race 2

“I am pretty happy with the progress and the potential; I know I can get on the podium soon! In both races I had trouble on the first laps, in race one I was put on the grass and the second was ran wide when Tommy Hill crashed! Fighting back from a bad start was pretty good and I enjoyed my riding, finishing these races with good pace is giving me and the team good experience, I have the leaders pace so we need the luck on the early laps, I try again at Oulton”.

James Westmoreland 13th Race 1 DNF race 2

“Totally frustrated, we had a good pace all weekend and really felt that we had a good chance of a strong finish, a really messy first lap put that thought on hold and the bike broke in race two! It was one to forget and we are now focusing on Oulton Park the next race”

Rob Mac team manager

“Well that was a shame we were not part of possibly the best weekends racing we will see this year! The new track certainly delivered close action and I am sure we have converted some new fans from that show! I feel for Westy, he had a great build up and looked odds on for his best weekend, a poor start put him into the pack and he struggled to get the best out of the race. We had a mechanical problem in race two which is very disappointing and very rare, we will evaluate back at base.

Loris will get there, we are getting stronger and again if he can stay out of trouble in the early laps he has the pace for the podium, we head to Oulton licking our wounds but very motivated”

For more information on Rob Mac Racing please visit www.robmacracing.com

For more information on Akrapovic and hundreds of other performance parts for YOUR bike please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts - Bionics for your bike- Better. Stronger. Faster