Victory : Victory Vegas 2005 Arlen Ness Inspired Victory on 2040-motos

Moto blog

Rainy BSB tests are nothing new

THE combination of bad weather in the UK and a European testing ban means that most BSB teams will now start the season with very little track time. This sounds like a disaster for the top teams but history has proved this isn’t necessarily true and it sometimes doesn’t matter how much pre season preparation has taken place.  Back in 2002 Sean Emmett won on the IFC Ducati at the opening Silverstone round after first riding it in unofficial practice the same weekend. Steve Hislop took the other win on Pauls Bird’s well sorted Ducati. More recently in 2009, Leon Camier took an untested new model R1 Yamaha to victory at the Brands Hatch opener after GSE took delivery of the bike just the week before. Sylvain Guintoli won the other race on a well developed, well tested Crescent Suzuki. You could argue if no one has had testing then it is a level playing field but you have to feel for riders moving up to the superbike class in the world’s toughest national series.  Tyco Suzuki’s PJ Jacobson is one such rider but having spent some time with him over the past few weeks he seems to be taking it all in his stride. It may be the confidence of youth or maybe the fact he has won in every other class he has entered in his short BSB career, but I suspect he fancies at least standing on the Superbike podium at Brands (He also does a bit of ice racing which is not dissimilar to the this year’s UK testing).  The testing ban was implemented with all the best cost cutting intentions and if it had been any other year in the past decade all would be well. The teams may be feeling frustrated but the fans should be excited. With so many unknowns, the 2013 BSB opener at Brands Hatch could be the best ever!

Kevin Schwantz Once Again Wearing RS Taichi

It’s official – Kevin Schwantz will return to his early years of wearing RS Taichi. While Schwantz wore RS Taichi gear during several of his memorable seasons in the 500cc class, his partnership and success with Taichi apparel all started with his victory at the 1988 Daytona 200. And now that Schwantz and the Circuit of the Americas have settled their differences, the 1993 world champ took to the track in RS Taichi leathers again for the first time recently at the Circuit of The Americas media day, as newly appointed motorcycle ambassador for the circuit.

Xmas gift for Haslam fans

A LIMITED-EDITION Leon Haslam print has gone on sale and captures the moment the Alstare Suzuki rider took his first World Superbike Championship race victory – at Phillip Island, Australia on February 28 this year. Winning Start has been painted by Isle of Man artist Alan Perkin and the limited edition run of 250 prints are already selling on the online store of Leon Haslam’s website; www.leonhaslam.com. All of the prints are signed by Haslam and Perkin and are priced at £39.95. “Alan Perkin has produced a really nice painting and we wanted to get something out there in advance of Christmas and at an affordable price,” said Haslam. He continued: “The print has pride of place in my house, Phillip Island was my first pole position, my debut on the Alstare Suzuki and my first race win – a memorable start to a great year.” The print measures 630mm x 490mm and is available from the Leon Haslam website or by calling 01332 882584.