Replacing injured John Hopkins in Fixi Crescent Suzuki has cost Peter Hickman his ride with British Superbike team MSS Bathams Kawasaki.

The Kawasaki team had issued a previous statement reporting that they did not release their rider to compete in the World Superbike event despite Fixi Suzuki’s team manager Jack Valentine’s saying otherwise, “I would like to thank the MSS BSB team for allowing him to ride this weekend.”

Apparently Hickman decided to personally take the opportunity of riding at an international level and seeing Hickman on a Suzuki (and a former BSB rivals bike at that) pissed Kawasaki off enough to send Hickman packing.

“Following his decision to ride a rival manufacturer’s machine at the Donington Park World Superbike event, Peter Hickman has breached his agreement with MSS Bathams Kawasaki. Neither the team nor Kawasaki Motors UK agreed to release the rider and the decision has been made to dispense with his services with immediate effect

MSS team manager Nick Morgan also added, “I have always believed that an agreement - whether in written form or even a handshake between two parties - is binding and, in my opinion, implies a high degree of mutual respect, in breaking this, we regard our agreement as void. We will now actively look for a replacement rider to compete alongside Michael Rutter to continue to give the Ninja ZX-10R good results and exposure. As a team we wish Peter every success for the future.”

Hickman scored a DNF and a 9th place yesterday at Donington and Suzuki’s Paul Denning had this reaction on Twitter when he heard about Hickman losing his ride, “MSS firing Hickman is a joke - how can you get fired from a job that doesn’t pay you a single penny and for which you have no contract??”

It is still unknown whether John Hopkins will recover enough from his Monza injuries to compete in the upcoming round at Miller Motorsports as he tweeted a couple of hours ago, “The condition of the Hip is unfortunately quite serious but further test results will determine just how serious ! More news to come soon..” and if Hopper isn’t fit enough, Fixi Suzuki already has a rider free from any binding contracts.

Kawasaki’s Tom Sykes has taken his fourth Superpole the season at Donington Park (what is he going to do with all those Tissot watches?) after Sylvain Guintoli broke his run at Monza.

The Huddersfield man stopped the clock in the third stint in 1.27.716 and broke Carlos Checa’s previous hold on the fastest lap record (2011) by three tenths of a second, while Leon Haslam maintained his second spot he came very close to giving BMW their first ever Superpole as he was less than a tenth of second from the Kawasaki rider.

Marco Melandri will be on the front row in third with his BMW performing better on race tires than on qualifiers, which happened to several riders. Max Biaggi managed to push out Silvain Guintoli from fourth in the final seconds of the session, but he’s suffering in the final two sectors of the track.

Next to Effenbert Liberty’s Guintoli will be Jonathan Rea who bettered his FP2 time by only three tenths, but it was enough to put him on the second row in sixth. Leon Camier took 7th in his best qualifying session so far this season, and since Donington doesn’t have super long straights his less powerful Fixi Suzuki isn’t losing in top speed.

Jakub Smrz who shone all weekend long ended up in 8th and one second from Sykes, he’ll have to fix that final sector which slowed him down during the final stint. For the first time in a year, Carlos Checa didn’t make it into SP3 and was 9th - his problem seemed to be at the Foggy Esses and he ran out of qualifying tires in the two previous stints, so he posted his best time on race tires which wasn’t enough to qualify on the two front rows.

Closing out the top ten was GoldBet’s BMW Ayrton Badovini ahead of team mate Michel Fabrizio who suffered a crash earlier in the day due to weakness in his arm (he underwent surgery before the start of the season) that came back with a vengeance with the cold temperatures at the English circuit, while Eugene Laverty was only 12th

WSBK Donington Superpole results:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′27.716
2. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′27.864
3. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′28.177
4. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′28.340
5. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′28.420
6. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′28.546
7. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′28.551
8. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 1′28.785
9. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′28.497
10. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′28.614
11. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′28.683
12. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′29.032
13. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′29.236
14. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1′29.319
15. Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′29.371
16. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′29.493
17. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′30.008
18. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′30.237
19. Peter Hickman (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′30.296
20. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1′30.402
21. Mark Aitchison (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 1′31.102
22. Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′31.540
23. Gary Mason (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′33.103

The last time that Provec Racing (Kawasaki Superbike team) released a health update on Joan Lascorz was about fifteen days ago when they reported that the Spaniard who suffered a serious spinal injury (fractured 6th vertebra) during the post race test at Imola had left the Vall d’Hebron Intensive Care Trauma Unit and had been transferred to the spinal lesion ward and was waiting to be transferred to the Guttmann Institute to being his long rehabilitation.

The team has issued a new statement which says that the doctors have removed his tracheostomy tube as he is breathing on his own and that Lascorz is fully conscious and can talk with no problems and that he remembers everything about his crash at Imola - which will be in due time analyzed and explained publicly.

Joan has regained feeling and mobility in his arms and hands, however at the present has none in his abdomen or legs but when he’s transferred to the Guttmann Institute (on Monday May 14th) his spinal injury will be re-evalutated by his new doctors and therapists to program the recovery plan.

The team and family also thanked the doctors and nurses of the Vall d’Hebron hospital for the dedication and attention and all those who have been supporting then up to now, and thanking fellow riders Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam who mentioned Joan during the Monza podium ceremony, and also Lorenzo, Espargaro e Marquez and all the riders who supported Joan with their stickers in last week’s MotoGP race, and saying it was expecially moving seeing Espargaro and Marquez fight for the victory in Portugal with the banner “Animo Joan” on their fairings.

Source | motocuatro.com

One week after winning truncated race 2 at Monza (with all the controversy surrounding the entire round) Tom Sykes was back on top of the charts in today’s opening free practice at a cloudy and cool (12°C) Donington Park for the start of fifth round of the season.

The Kawasaki rider lead the top of the timesheets with a best lap of 1.30.756 in a tighly packed field of riders who were biting his tail, like fellow countryman Leon Camier who was just 0.069s adrift with his new title sponsor Fixi Suzuki.

Liberty Racing’s Jakub Smrz jumped up to third in one of his final runs and he was less than one tenth of a second adrift, while Goldbet BMW’s Michel Fabrizio led a small bevy of BMW’s, pipping both factory riders Marco Melandri and Leon Haslam. Max Biaggi disrupted the BMW’s by taking seventh with his Aprilia ahead of Goldbet’s Ayrton Badovini in eighth.

Last week’s pole sitter Sylvain Guintoli was ninth, ahead of Jonathan Rea who crashed out at turn 8 at the start of the session, but still managed to take 10th. Reigning World champion Carlos Checa also crashed at turn 8 and he was less than a half a second from the top of the charts.

Chaz Davies, Maxime Berger, Davide Guigliano, Eugene Laverty, Niccolò Canepa (riding with a broken foot and ligament damage) rounded out the top 16 with the Red Devils Roma Ducati rider 1.6 seconds off pace.

Peter Hickman who is replacing injured John Hopkins this weekend was 17th, while Loris Baz who is filling in for injured Joan Lascorz at Donington and at the US round, took his factory Kawasaki up to 20th. Gary Mason who got a call at the last minute is subbing for injured David Salom was 23th and last slot on the grid. WSBK rookie Lorenzo Zanetti also binned his Pata Ducati at the same turn as Rea and Checa.

WSBK FP 1 Results:

1. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′30.756
2. Leon Camier (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′30.825
3. Jakub Smrz (Liberty Racing Team Effenbert) Ducati 1098R 1′30.842
4. Michel Fabrizio (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′30.876
5. Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′30.895
6. Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) BMW S1000 RR 1′30.962
7. Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′30.976
8. Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet) BMW S1000 RR 1′31.075
9. Sylvain Guintoli (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′31.142
10. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′31.187
11. Carlos Checa (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′31.197
12. Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Racing) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′31.386
13. Maxime Berger (Team Effenbert Liberty Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′31.832
14. Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing) Ducati 1098R 1′32.009
15. Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 1′32.037
16. Niccolò Canepa (Red Devils Roma) Ducati 1098R 1′32.493
17. Peter Hickman (FIXI Crescent Suzuki) Suzuki GSX-R1000 1′32.674
18. Lorenzo Zanetti (PATA Racing Team) Ducati 1098R 1′32.739
19. Hiroshi Aoyama (Honda World Superbike Team) Honda CBR1000RR 1′33.277
20. Loris Baz (Kawasaki Racing Team) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′33.401
21. Mark Aitchison (Grillini Progea Superbike Team) BMW S1000 RR 1′33.722
22. Leandro Mercado (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′34.115
23. Gary Mason (Team Pedercini) Kawasaki ZX-10R 1′34.589

With David Salom also out of action for this weekend’s World Superbike round at Donington Park following his shoulder injury (micro fractures) picked up at Monza, Pedercini Kawasaki has decided that Gary Mason will be his substitute rider after a last minute call to the British rider.

Mason is another BSB rider who currently races for PR Racing/Quattro Plant Kawasaki after spending the last two seasons with MSS Colchester and this will be his debut in World Superbikes.

David Salom is expected to return to action for the sixth round of the season at Miller Motorsports Park (May 26-28).

It has yet to be officially confirmed but it looks like Loris Baz will be riding for Kawasaki’s World Superbike team in this weekend fifth round of the season at Donington Park.

The highly popular French rider will be replacing injured Joan Lascroz after Sergio Gadea’s one-off substitute ride at Monza.

Baz currently rides a Kawasaki ZX-10R for MRS Racing in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup series and is fourth in the championship, after getting a second place podium at Imola.

The official announcement is expected today so check back with us later.

UPDATE:

Kawasaki has officially confirmed that Loris Baz will be riding for their World Superbike team at Donington.

During Race 1 at Monza, Pedercini’s David Salom crashed out on the third lap at the Parabolica together with John Hopkins (a bone fracture to his right foot and some torn muscles in his hip) and Sergio Gadea while he was in 20th place - the re-start was then cancelled.

At first is seemed that Spanish rider had only suffered a dislocated shoulder, but it was enough to keep him out of the truncated Race 2. On returning home Salom underwent further medical exams - and according to a Pedercini press release - the check-up revealed that he had instead sustained micro fractures to his right shoulder compounded by a large hematoma to his shoulder bones. These injuries will keep him from competing in this weekend’s Donington Park round, but he should be back for the sixth round of season at Salt Lake City.

In the same press release, the team also informed fans that their Superstock 1000 rider Bryan Staring underwent successful hand surgery yesterday at the Suzzara Hospital (Monza) to reduce the both little finger fractures that he sustained during the second qualifying practice at Monza. Staring will be able to return to action for Misano round June 8-10.

This weekend’s World Superbike round at Monza will probably go down in history and it won’t be for the 25th anniversary of the series, but rather to the capricious weather and the tires.

After race 1 was finally cancelled for safety reasons, race 2 was further delayed as the Italian circuit presented itself once again dry with several wet patches and the rider again were unhappy with the conditions and unsure whether to race with the tires that Pirelli had specifically brought for this round.

The organizers mediated the situation, have decided that the race was dry, but shortened it to 16 laps, but leaving the final decision to race to the riders after they completed two warm-up laps. Once they returned to the grid Marco Melandri, Max Biaggi and Carlos Checa halted the start again, unsatisfied with the conditions of the Ascari and Parabolica while other riders stated that they could race, if they were careful.

Infront’s Paolo Ciabatti was to say the least upset (as were the booing fans) and proceeded to do a head count of who wanted to race and who didn’t, and with the yays outwaying the nays, another warm-up lap was decided telling those who were contrary that the race take place, could withdraw. At the end everyone lined up on the grid, minus pole sitter Sylvain Guintoli and Michel Fabrizio, who both suffered technical issues on their Ducati’s and David Salom who suffered a broken shoulder during his race 1 crash and John Hopkins who has a suspected foot injury.

Tom Sykes immediately took the lead and ran away leaving the BMW and Aprilia factory riders to dice it out until the 8th lap when the race was red flagged due to rain. The Kawasaki rider who had had a nine second margin over the rest of the field was awarded the victory and half points, 12.5 instead of 25. Leon Haslam took the second spot on the podium with Eugene Laverty in third, making it almost an entire British podium, even if Laverty is from North Ireland.

WSBK Monza Race 2 results:

01- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R – 8 laps in 14’08.800
02- Leon Haslam – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 9.709
03- Eugene Laverty – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 10.119
04- Marco Melandri – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR – + 10.294
05- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 10.527
06- Jonathan Rea – Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 10.638
07- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 10.899
08- Davide Giugliano – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 12.195
09- Jakub Smrz – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 13.199
10- Ayrton Badovini – BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet – BMW S1000RR – + 19.372
11- Hiroshi Aoyama – Honda World Superbike Team – Honda CBR 1000RR – + 24.551
12- Chaz Davies – ParkinGO MTC Racing – Aprilia RSV4 Factory – + 24.655
13- Maxime Berger – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198 – + 24.662
14- Lorenzo Zanetti – PATA Racing Team – Ducati 1198 – + 24.668
15- Leon Camier – Crescent FIXI Suzuki – Suzuki GSX-R 1000 – + 24.810
16- Leandro Mercado – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R – + 24.935
17- Niccolò Canepa – Red Devils Roma – Ducati 1198 – + 25.278

In this afternoon’s final World Superbike free practice at Monza, Tom Sykes when through the speed traps (in Max Biaggi’s draft) on board his Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R recording 339.5 km/h (210 mph)!

This new record beats the previous one of 334.8 km/h shared by Max Biaggi on his Aprilia RSV4 in 2010 and Michel Fabrizio on his BMW S1000RR, who recorded the same speed during yesterday QP1.

Accordingly to a Tweet unleahed on the internet by Italian journalist Fabio Di Palma, Guim Roda, team manager of the Kawasaki Racing team, has announced that the Ninja ZX-10R left available by injured Joan Lascorz will be ridden this weekend by former 125 and Moto2 rider Sergio Gadea. The 27 years old Spaniard will then take part at the imminent fourth round of the World Superbike Championship, taking place in Monza at the end of this week, but at this very moment it is unclear whether the choice is just temporary or definitive till the end of the current season.

Kawasaki Provec Racing has released a new statement (in Spanish) regarding the condition of its rider Joan Lascorz following his serious accident during World Superbike testing at Imola.

The new press release reports that Lascorz is now breathing unaided and is able to comunicate with family members and friends and has left the Intensive Care Trauma Unit of the Vall d’Hebron hospital in Barcelona and is currently in the spinal treatment ward.

The Spanish rider will soon be transferred to the Gutttman Institute just outside Barcelona, a specialized neurorehabilitation hospital to begin his long and difficult rehabilitation program.

“Joan Lascorz these days is showing progressive improvements in his physical condition, particularly in regards to his respiratory system. The Spaniard is conscious, and breathing without the aid of machines and is talking with his doctors and family.

Joan was transferred from intensive care unit and is now in the spinal injuries division at the University Hospital Vall d’Hebron and in the coming days, is expected to be transferred to the Guttmann Institute to continue his rehabilitation program.

Joan, his family and the team wish to thank again all the doctors, nurses and medical staff of the Hospital Vall d’Hebron, as well as all the people who have been close to Joan in these recent weeks. Special thanks also to the two Superbike winners at Assen, Sylvain Guintoli and Jonathan Rea, who dedicated their victories to Joan on Sunday. ”

Freddy Foray’s is riding in this season’s British Superbike championship for Quattro Plant Kawasaki Superbike Team.

Foray made a very promising debut during the opening round at Brands Hatch where he qualified 5th and finished 9th in Race 1. Take a look at this new and funny video that the French rider posted, describing his introduction into the British Superbike paddock. Enjoy.