848 Challenge rider profiles

The 2011 Ducati 848 Challenge is packed full of talent. Here are the riders who'll be pushing their 848 EVOs to the limit during the 8-round championship.

Age 28

Hometown: Lincoln

Occupation: Car Dealer

Team Name: TBC

Career History

·         started racing 1990

·         Age 8 – sand racing, Mablethorpe

·         Age 16 – champion, Mablethorpe

·         Age 17 – Aprilia superteens

·         Age 18 – CB500 Cup competitor

·         Age 19 - 28 – British Superstock competitor

·         Age 28 – Thundersport Streetfighter A, 3rd in championship

Age 27

Hometown: Nuneaton

Occupation: Builder

Website: 

Team Name: T.B.C. – Ducati

Manager: Aaron Brown

Sponsors: Ladybirds, Grayson Print & Design, M&S Transport, P.M.A

Career History

·         Started racing 2003

·         2003 – Best newcomer at EMRA, 2nd in novice championship

·         2004 – R6 Cup competitor

·         2005 to 2007 – National Superstock Cup competitor

·         2009 – EMRA competitor

·         2010 – 848 Challenge competitor

Age 21

Hometown: Biddulph

Occupation: Telecoms Engineer

Website: www.robbiebrown.com

Team Name: RobbieBrown.com

Manager: Garry Szafranski

Sponsors: AGB Transport

Career History

·         Started racing 2002

·         2006 - Virgin Media Cup competitor , 1 podium

·         2007 – Virgin Media Cup competitor, 3 podiums 3rd in championship

·         2008 – British Superstock 600cc, 4 race wins 2nd in championship

Age: 39

Hometown: Leeds

Occupation: Motor Trader

Website: www.thunderroadporsche.co.uk

Team Name: Thunder Road

Manager: Mark Benson

Sponsors: Thunder Road Porsche, Ducati Leeds, Elfranelle Contracts Ltd

Career History

 ·         Started racing 1998

·         2003 to 2004 – RSV Mille Aprilia Challenge competitor

·         2004 to 2005 – BSB Superstock 1000cc competitor

Age 38

Hometown: Ormskirk

Occupation: Technician

Website: www.johnhuntbolton.co.uk

Team Name: Mark Cheetham Racing

Manager: Mark Cheetham

Sponsors: Shorrocks Motorcycles, AGV, Berick, Moto Direct, MTC Exhausts

Career History

·         Started racing 2001

·         2003 – New Era pro bikes competitor

·         Ducati Monster S4r Challenge, 2nd in championship

·         GSXR Cup, 2nd in championship

·         Triumph Challenge, 2nd in championship

·         2010 – Ducati 848 Challenge, 3rd in championship

Age 29

Hometown: Blackpool

Occupation: Sales Manager

Team Name: Connolly Racing

Manager: Ross Connolly

Sponsors: Active Freight Management, Arata Exhausts, Silkolene Oils, FW Developments, DynoJet

Career History

·         Started racing 1995

·         Junior road racing competitor

·         Junior superstock competitor

·         Aprilia 250 Challenge competitor

·         R6 Cup competitor

·         2009 – GSXR Trophy, 1st in championship

·         Thundersport GP1 competitor

Age 38

Hometown: Rugby

Occupation: Cement Manufacturer

Website: www.jhpracing.com

Team Name: Buildbase/JHP Ducati

Manager: Rick Hackett

Sponsors: Building, JH Performance

Career History

 ·         Started racing 1999

·         EMRA 600, 1st in championship

·         Drayton Croft Open, 1st in championship

·         2002 – Supersport 600 competitor

·         2006 – Superstock Cup, 3rd in championship

·         2007 – KTM Superduke, 4th in championship

·         2010 – Ducati 848 Challenge, 1st in championship

Age 38

Hometown: Daventry

Occupation: Industrial Cladder

Career History

·         Started racing 2000

·         New Era & EMRA competitor

·         2006 to 2008 – Superstock Cup competitor

Age 19

Hometown: Norwich

Occupation: Apprentice Carpenter

Website: www.havocracing.co.uk

Team Name: Team Havoc Racing

Manager: Trevor Maer & John Haynes

Sponsors: Havoc Racing, Tory Rymer, 152 Race Helmets, Arc-on Leathers, Herne Hill Motorcentre, In-Moto, John Hackett – Ducati Coventry

Career History

·         Started racing 2006

·         2006 to 2007 Minimoto competitor

·         2008 – Winner of 3 separate minimoto championships

·         2009 to 2010 – Aprilia Superteens competitor, 5th in championship

Age 44

Hometown: Haynes

Occupation: Director

Team Name: Team Global Robots Ltd

Manager: Andy Kirkwood

Sponsors: Global Robots Ltd

Career History

·         Started racing 1992

·         Club racing competitor

·         Northwest 200 competitor

·         Manx GP competitor, best finish 5th

Age 30

Hometown: Kettering

Occupation: Mechanical Design Engineer

Website: www.jamiepoole.co.uk & www.motorapidoracing.com

Team Name: Moto Rapido

Manager: Steve Moore

Sponsors: To be confirmed

Career History

·         Started racing 2000

·         111 total races: 48 2nd & 3rd finishes: 24 wins

·         2002 – New Era, 1st in championship

·         2003 – New Era, 2nd in championship

·         2004 to 2005 – National Superstock competitor

·         2010 – Triumph Triple Challenge TDG Cup, 3rd in championship

Age 41

Hometown: Dereham

Occupation: Company Director

Team Name: Closeprint Finance

Sponsors: Closeprint Finance, Trademate Windows, Seastar Superbikes

Career History

 ·         Started racing 1989

·         Various championships, including New Era

·         2009 – Holtrax Junior 1000 Tag Endurance, 1st

·         2010 – Holtrax National 1000 Tag Endurance, 2nd

Age 25

Hometown: Bishop Stortford

Website: www.havocracing.co.uk

Team Name: Team Havoc Racing

Manager: Trevor Mair & John Haynes

Sponsors: Havoc Racing, Terry Rymer, Arc-on Leathers, Herne Hill MOT Centre, In-Moto, John Hackett racing, NGK Spark Plus, Lion Security

 Career History

 ·         Started racing 1994

·         1994 to 1997 – School boy MX competitor

·         2000 to 2003 – Minimoto Southern championships competitor

·         2004 to 2008 – British minimoto championship competitor

·         2008 to 2009 – Mnitwin championship competitor

·         2010 – MRO Supersport competitor

Age 36

Hometown: Horley

Occupation: Motorcycle Technician

Website: www.phmotorcycles.co.uk

Team Name: Ohlins P&H Motorcycles

Manager: Paul Searle

Sponsors: To be confirmed

 Career History

 ·         Started racing 1998

·         1998 to 2003 – Battle of the Twins (South Africa) competitor

·         2005 – 620 Monster Desmo Cup competitor

·         2008 – 800 Monster Junior Superbike competitor

·         2009 – 1098 GP1 Powerbikes Supertwin competitor

Hometown: Huddersfield

Occupation: Company Director for shopfit business

Team Name: To be confirmed

Manager: To be confirmed

Sponsors:  To be confirmed

 Career History

 ·         Started racing 1989

·         Raced Ducati's all his racing career. Started on a 857, then went onto 888, 955, 996, 999 4 valve, 2 valve 750 F1. Recently bought a 1977 MV Agusta 4 cylinder.

Age: 36

Hometown: Grantham

Occupation: Managing Director

Team Name:  To be confirmed

Manager: Dan Cruickshank

Sponsors: To be confirmed

 Career History

 ·         Started racing 2007-2008.

Age: 29

Hometown: Spalding

Occupation: Workshop Controller

Team Name: Pumpkin Patch Racing

Manager: Dan Cruickshank

Sponsors: Italia Moto and TInda-Lee

Career History

 ·         Started racing 2002

·         2002-2007 - New Era Racing Club

·         2006 - Formula 400 Champion

·         2006 - Best New Comer in the Manx GP Ultra Lightweight Race

·         2007 - New Era Sound of Thunder Champion

·         2010 - 4th in 848 Challenge

Age: 33

Hometown: London

Occupation: Consultant at Hewitt Associates

Team Name: AEM Racing

Manager: Eilidh McLeod

Sponsors: To be confirmed

 Career History

 ·         Details to follow

Age: 40

Hometown: Addlestone, Surrey

Team Name: Art of Racing (AOR)

Manager: Peter Hasler

Sponsors: To be confirmed

 Career History

 ·         Details to follow

Age: 19

Hometown: Odintsovo, Russia

Website: www.ducatistore.co.uk

Team Name: Ducati Manchester Racing

Manager: Andrew Thornburn

Sponsors: Close Motor Finance, Platt Forms

 Career History

 ·         Started racing: 2008

Age: 49

Hometown: Harrogate

Occupation: Professional Driver

Website: www.mike-edwards.net

Team Name: MSK Works.com

Manager: Alan Walker

 Career History

 ·         Started racing: 1982

·         4 British championships

·         1994 - NW200 Winner

·         1994-1995 - Macau GP Winner

·         2002 – Imola 200 Winner

·         1994-2005 – Various World Endurance Podiums

·         2010 – Harley Davidson Challenge – Runner Up

Age: 24

Hometown: Stockbridge, Hampshire

Occupation: Engineer

Website: www.jhpracing.com

Team Name: Buildbase/JHP Ducati

Manager: Rick Hackett

Sponsors: Building, JH Performance

Career History

 ·         Started racing: 2000

·         British 125cc competitor

·         2006 - NG 600cc champion

·         2007 – R6 competitor

·         2008 – Superbike cup competitor

·         2010 – 848 Challenge – 2nd in championship

By Ben Cope