Samsung Honda End Season with a Podium Finish at Brands Hatch

The Samsung Honda team returned to the podium in the final round of the 2012 British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.

Samsung Honda: back on the podium

Michael Laverty claimed third place in the second race of the weekend despite a hard battle to score the podium finish, whilst Jon Kirkham was eighth after forcing through the order after a tough qualifying session.

In the final race of the season Laverty was again on for the podium - dicing with the leading foursome - but was collected in a racing accident by fellow Honda rider Alex Lowes at Paddock Hill Bend on the final lap of the race. Kirkham would again finish a solid eighth.

The lone Samsung Honda Superstock 1000 rider, Gary Johnson - with team-mate Jason O’Halloran deputising in the Padgetts Racing Honda squad for this round only - finished eleventh in the final race of the season.

Michael Laverty: “It was nice to be back up on the podium but it was a hard second race. I struggled to get passed Alex Lowes; I put a couple of moves on him and he shut the door quite aggressively and nearly took us both down. Once he was out of the way I got into a good rhythm, but the two safety cars did make it hard work, but we pushed hard. The crash in the last race was not the way I wanted to end the season. My pace was a bit stronger and I was able to catch the leaders but I didn’t want to do anything rash out of respect for their championship fight. I knew that Alex was close to me, but didn’t realise how close till I saw his front wheel and then his bike took me down; he apologised, he wanted the podium as much as I did. It was been a bit of frustrating weekend but that’s racing.”

Jon Kirkham: “It has been a tough season, that started awesome but since my crash at Oulton Park it has been difficult for me. It wasn’t until Cadwell Park that we started getting back to where we needed to be. The final races of the season were better and we had three top ten finishes and got closer to the front and that was what we needed. Overall I am happy with this weekend and will take the experience and move forward.”
Havier Beltran, Team Manager: “It has been a challenging year without the results or the reward. Michael salvaged a podium finish and we turned some things around this weekend and that was the priority. Both rides felt stronger this weekend but it was too late for the championship. We will have a rethink now and start planning for next season.”

For further information about Honda, the Honda Racing team and its riders please visit
www.honda.co.uk or www.honda-racing.co.uk 

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Samsung Honda Racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

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Richards Wins British Supersport Championship

The Smiths Racing Triumph team ended their season in dramatic style with Glen Richards clinching the 2012 Motorpoint British Supersport Championship and team-mate Billy McConnell taking a superb double victory to end up third in the series for the Gloucester team.

But that only tells half the story as both Australians were involved in what's best described as one of the biggest cliffhangers ever seen in British motorcycle racing!
Saturday's 10-lap Sprint race was arguably one of the best races of the season with no quarter asked or given between the leading seven riders. McConnell led in the early stages before Richards and Christian Iddon overhauled him and when Glen hit the front on lap six, the championship situation was looking promising with Kennedy back in fourth. That meant the gap would have been 24.5pts with just 25 available on Sunday but Billy had other ideas as he still needed to secure third overall in the table from Iddon.

Glen Richards- Champion!

 The final two laps saw it get a little physical and as Billy crossed the line for his fifth win of the year, Kennedy squeezed by Richards on the run in to the line to claim second place resulting in Glen's lead being reduced down to 8.5pts with just the final race to go.

Sunday's 18-lap race started with Billy in third, Kennedy in sixth and Glen in seventh but it all went wrong for Richards on only the second lap when he missed a gear at Hawthorn and crashed out, seemingly handing the title to Kennedy. However, the Irishman's bike hit problems on lap eight and he retired to the pits, thus handing the title back to Glen and the Smiths team. Meanwhile, Billy was embroiled in a race long battle with Iddon and Richard Cooper which saw him get the win over Cooper as he secured third place in the overall title table.

Meanwhile, having qualified on the fourth row, Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship rider Johnny Blackshaw put in a solid ride to claim his eighth top-ten finish of the year. The Stretton youngster took a fighting ninth place to end the year in eighth place overall.

Glen Richards: "I really don't know how to describe this weekend, it's just been crazy and it's certainly been a rollercoaster. Both Jack and I have had bad luck during the course of the year and I wanted to win the championship in style so it's not the way I wanted to win it and I really feel for Jack but that's racing I guess. One minute you're up, the next down, and then back up again. I missed a gear in the second race and ran into the gravel so it was purely my fault and the title had gone so I think someone upstairs was looking after me today. To end the year as British Champion is superb and the team have done an awesome job all year so hats off to them."

Billy McConnell: "It's been a tough weekend and both races were incredibly hard with lots of close racing and wheel to wheel action. I had a bit of a coming together with Christian on more than one occasion so it's a shame he crashed but I'm very happy to have ended with another win. Both Glen and Jack deserved the championship and it's been a fantastic year in Supersport and whilst it would have been nice to have ended with the number 1 plate, it's great to end with a double victory. The team have been awesome so hopefully it will be my year in 2013."

Billy McConnell in action at Brands

 Rebecca Smith: "To be standing here as British Champions is a really fantastic feeling but it's fair to say it was a nerve-racking weekend from start to finish! We said all season that there were no team orders and that could be seen on Saturday although it wasn't exactly how we would have liked it as there were certainly a few heart-stopping moments. Adrenaline does a lot of things to people but we got two podiums from the first race and we were still leading into the final race so we still held the upper hand. What happened today is simply too hard to put into words and there were tears, both good and bad, but the eventual result saw the team take both wins and the championship. It means so much to everyone concerned with the team and we're all absolutely over the moon so a big thank you to every single person that's been part of Smiths Racing Triumph in 2012."

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Smiths of Gloucester racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

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SWAN YAMAHA SEAL THIRD IN 2012 MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

The Swan Yamaha team ended their 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship with a podium finish at Brands Hatch as Tommy Hill claimed a third place finish in the final race of the season to secure third in the overall standings.

In the second race of the weekend Hill was forced to settle for sixth place but in the last race of the season he fought through to fifth place, but as Alex Lowes and Michael Laverty crashed out on the final lap he was promoted to third. Noriyuki Haga ended his season with a pair of top ten finishes in ninth and tenth respectively.

Tommy Hill- Showdown didn't go as planned

 Hill said: “You have a lot of ups and downs in this sport. I have had a lot of downs throughout my career and last season it paid off. I knew it was going to be difficult this weekend and it has been a fantastic year but unfortunately for me the results at the start of the season don’t mean as much in the Showdown. The Showdown didn’t go so well for me and I feel deflated more than anything because of the bad luck. The facts are that everyone is riding hard and at the top of their game. Shakey is a deserved champion and we finished top three this year. I trained hard and gave it 110% and that was what is important.”

Haga said: “Today was difficult again and we tried for a good result. In both races I pushed hard but with a bad grid position it made it not easy. I want to thank the team for their support this season.”

Team manager Shaun Muir concluded: “I just want to say a big thank you to all our sponsors and everyone all season who have given such fantastic support. We have been beaten over the final three rounds of the season but we also want to congratulate Shakey on his success. We now look forward to a winter of hard work to ensure we come back in 2013 ready to fight for the title again. Thanks to Tommy, Nori, Wesley and James as they have all put in a lot of hard work over the last twelve rounds, as have the entire Swan Yamaha crew.”

For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk 

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Swan Yamaha racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd- 

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New Galfer brake pads- first user-review in!

 Latest compound Galfer Brake Pads- tested by our draw winners. Forst review in:

Difficult to make brake pads look sexy- but here you are :)

Reviewer:            Richard Vines
Make/Model:       Honda CBR1000RR-8
Braking System:  Standard master cylinders and callipers front & rear. HEL braided brake lines, Harris front brake lever, and standard rear brake lever
Previous Pads:    Honda OE pads front & rear. Fitted in February 2012, with 2,000 miles covered
Date Fitted:         18th September 2012
Usage:                 2x 20 minute track day sessions, Brands Hatch Indy Circuit
                            2x 370 mile (average distance) ride outs

Overall Impression:        
Excellent. Vast improvement over Honda OE pads. Would have no hesitation in recommending them, and will purchase them in the future

Bedding in:                   
The pads bedded in quickly, and even during this period were noticeably better than Honda OE pads. To quantify better, initial bite & progressive braking feel was much improved over standard

Comments:                       
These pads are excellent. I would go as far saying they’re also confidence inspiring (especially by comparison with OE pads). I fitted braided brake lines in February 2012. Whilst there was a mild improvement to the front, it made no difference to the rear brake – which I had written off as next to useless. The rear Galfer pads have improved my rear brake by 50-75%, in my own personal opinion. This means that it actually works (or at least is noticeable), and can be used with the desired effect mid-corner. 

The power from the front brakes is noticeably stronger, although not as huge an improvement as experienced with the rear. Aside from additional braking power, where the front pads shine is in the contexts of feel, progressiveness and consistency. No matter what the weather is doing or the ambient temperature, they perform extremely well and inspire confidence – I know they will work, I trust them, and it’s one less thing to think about. I will buy these pads in the future!

For more information on Galfer and the other parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

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DISAPPOINTMENT FOR SWAN YAMAHA AT SILVERSTONE

The Swan Yamaha team leave the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Silverstone today following a disappointing weekend at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Defending champion Tommy Hill heroically tried to overcome a lack of grip in a bid to close down on his title rivals and despite issues the Kent ace fought to two seventh places, whilst Noriyuki Haga also struggled in both races to finish 16th and 15th.

Tommy Hill: Nightmare weekend

 Hill said: “It has been a nightmare here for us this weekend. The last two rounds of the championship we have been to, Assen and Silverstone, are tracks that are a different nature to the ones earlier in the year and we don’t want to make excuses but we have struggled with grip. The results we have had today are not what we needed for the championship and we have nothing to lose now.

Haga said: “It has been a big disappointment in both races today. We have tried many settings to try and find a good feeling but we cannot solve the issues we have had with grip today. We tried hard but it was not possible to improve. I now hope we can have a good result at Brands Hatch.”

Nori Haga- also suffered with grip

 Team owner Shaun Muir concluded: “This year the Showdown hasn’t gone our way but we need to finish the job we started. It has been a difficult weekend and we are now looking to salvage the best results we can from the final round. We have been the favourites all the way and in the space of eight days we have gone from hero to zero. It is disappointing for the team but now we just want to go to Brands Hatch and end the season in style.”

For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk 

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Swan Yamaha racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd- 

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Podium Finishes for Samsung Honda at Silverstone

Samsung Honda’s Michael Laverty returned to the British Superbike Championship podium at Silverstone as he pushed hard to close the gap to his rivals in the overall standings ahead of the final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks’ time.

In the opening race of the day Laverty took the lead on the opening lap but as he conserved the tyre dropped down the order to third. He then battled for the second place but on the final lap was edged out on the run to the line to take third. Jon Kirkham finished the race in twelfth after holding off challenges from Karl Harris. 

In race two Laverty was forced to settle for fifth as Kirkham finished a disappointing fourteenth. Laverty now sits in fifth place in the overall standings with just one round left of the 2012 season.

In the Superstock 1000 Championship it was disappointment for Jason O'Halloran as he was forced to retire from the race whilst running third with a broken gear lever. The result ended the Australian’s title hopes with just the final round remaining at Brands Hatch. Gary Johnson just missed out on the top ten with a twelfth place finish.

Michael Laverty: “The first race was as I imagined, in the early laps I tried to conserve the tyre and it was good enough to hang onto the podium finish. We have compromised on set up but it has been good enough to fight for the podium and hopefully with some more improvements between races we can come back a bit stronger and try and do the same again. After the nightmare of Assen it was a relief to be on the podium again today. In the second race I rode hard at the start but after five or six laps the grip went and that was disappointing."

Michael Laverty

Jon Kirkham: “I struggled with the tyre choice this weekend and we needed to find some more grip but we just ran out of time. I got a good start and then after the first half of the race I just went backwards.”

Jason O’Halloran: “It was a hard way to lose the championship but that’s racing sometimes. I was fast all weekend and gave it everything I had, but now the championship is over so I just have got to enjoy Brands Hatch and look forward to the break.”

Gary Johnson: “I was hoping for more than twelfth but we tried everything we could and now we need to come back at Brands Hatch and try and end the season with a good result.”

Havier Beltran, Team Manager: “It has been a disappointing weekend for the Samsung Honda team. As much as we were up there with Michael at the start of the race we were disappointed that we couldn’t maintain the pace until the end of the race. We still have some issues that we need to address and we are going to try something radical at Brands Hatch as we have nothing to lose now. It was also disappointing for Jason that we lost a bolt on the gear lever which forced him to retire. That is the Superstock championship gone for us now which is sad that it happened in that way.”

For further information about Honda, the Honda Racing team and its riders please visit
www.honda.co.uk or www.honda-racing.co.uk 

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Samsung Honda Racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd- 

Bionics for your Bike- 
Better, Stronger, Faster..