Jake Lewis to test Aprillia this Wednesday

New Zealand 2012 Superstock Champion Jake Lewis has spent the weekend at Snetterton Park in the UK at the British superbike round , making many contacts and looking for opportunities in BSB,

Jake has a test this Wedensday at Mallory Park for team GR Motorsport on their Aprilia RSV4 Superstock 1000, after meeting and working with Jake over the weekend team owner Brent Gladwin today has offered Jake a full day test on one of their two Aprilia RSV4s at Mallory,

"I am really excited about the opportunity to test for GR Motorsport on one of their RSV4s , just watching the racing here in the weekend you can't help but want to get out there and give it your best shot, I have to thank Brent for this opportunity and a special thank you to Johnny Hepburn from Timaru Metal recyclers for the contact with team owner Brent Gladwin" I will make the most of this opportunity on Wednesday , but before this team owner Brent is to put Jake through a full fitness test at the gym on Monday prior to the test Wednesday, "I will let you know how it all goes  including the gym !!" Said Jake

 

2012 Miller Motorsports Park World Superbikes: Superpole Result | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

2012 Miller Motorsports Park World Superbikes: Superpole Result | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

The first practice session of the 2012 Isle of Man

The first practice session  of the 2012 Isle of Man TT fuelled by Monster Energy got under way after a 40-minute delay due to a problem with the circuit communication systems, which left three of the sectors out of range.Shortly after 7pm, the first batch of newcomers went out on their controlled lap. Conditions were perfect with competitors greeted by clear blue skies and warm sun although riders were also made aware of melting and running tar at Guthrie’s.

Rider Liaison Officer Richard Quayle led them off the line accompanied by Jimmy Storrar, Karl Harris and Lee Johnston and he was followed by retired TT racer Keith Amor who escorted John Ingram, Jamie Hamilton, Michael Niblett and Gary Graves. Second rider liaison officer Johnny Barton was in the final group with Adam Child, German Stefan Holtz and Graham English.

After the lap Storrar said:“I wasn’t as nervous as I thought but it’s totally different on a bike to the laps I’ve been doing in a car – I kept expecting cars to be coming the other way!”

Johnston added:"That shouldn’t be allowed, it was absolutely awesome!”

Video :Isle Of Man TT 2012 Starts Today

Lewis named "Up and Coming Talent" for 2012 Awards

Current New Zealand Superstock Champion and 2011 125GP Champion 17 year old Jake Lewis received the "The up and coming talent -Road" award at the Motorcycle Awards in Queenstown last weekend. As part of the presentation Jake was able to send a video interview to NZSBK.com from Europe where he is competing in the European Junior Cup series where he is currently sixth in the points standings . 

Jake qualified in second at Round 2 in 

Monza , however the race was cut short due to weather conditions ,at the time of race end Jake was in the leading bunch.

NZSBK.com assisted Motorcycling New Zealand and Industry to present the awards and also produced the Video content for the evening. The awards  were also streamed live on the Internet. It is hoped that the awards once again become an yearly event.

Hassan heads to Australia for Queensland ASBK Round .

Jaden Hassan at Manfeild Pic: Des Hunt

Another Young Kiwi is overseas at the moment. Jaden Hassan will be riding in the third round of the Australian Supersport Championship next weekend in Queensland. Riding a 600 Yamaha for Blake McGrath , father of young Australian racer Josh McGrath  .

Recently turned 18 year old Jaden Hassan is not a stranger to the victory podium in New Zealand and is regarded already as one of the leading racers in New Zealand. Hassan has proven time and time again that he is a committed hard and fast rider. Recently at the first round of the 2012 Bridgestone Winter Series at Manfeild he lapped under the Supersport lap record on a cool track and worn tyres. 

Jaden travelled to Australia this last week and has already had an unofficial test at the track and sent us an update.

 After flying into Brisbane just as the sun set on Wednesday we were up well into the night fitting my suspension into the bike over here and loading the van up. 

Thursday was forecast for some afternoon showers but the morning was clear and no matter how cold Blake and Josh McGrath said it was, very warm. The middle of winter over here is almost our summer! After the usual riders briefing etc. my first session came around and having never been at the track before I was just rolling around testing the Dunlop control tyres and seeing where the track went. As it turned out its a pretty basic layout with alot of stop start type corners then some crazy fast sweepers off the front straight. Almost immediately the rear tyre started tearing up and over the 5 sessions we did during the day the only conclusively positive change we made was lowering the tyre pressures, the Dunlops don't like running hard.

But on looking at some of the other R6s they seem to have some radically different geometry setups so we will try some big changes next Friday for the official test day. Dave Cole has been talking to the Yamaha Race Mechanic over here so we can start with Kevin Curtains base setup to hopefully put us somewhere in the window.

Overall it was a positive day, we were just over 2 seconds off the pace on a very second hand rear tyre so with the shock a bit closer and some better tyres I'm looking forward to getting back out on track next week.

We spent this afternoon playing on the flat track and it should also be a good way to get in some training during the week.