If you thought that you had a bad day, two time British Superbike champion Shane “Shakey” Bryne will probably beat you.

The 2012 PBM Kawasaki rider and his family were involved in a head-on traffic accident early Monday morning, which luckily they all escaped injury, but when Byrne stepped out his damaged car he was was hit by another car.

Byrne tweeted: “Was in a multi car pile up early am, survived that in the pitch black, got out of my van, then got knocked down by another car!” and “Wish I could say I was joking, fortunately wife and children ok, suspected broken ankle turned out to be ok. “70mph head on smash, knocked down by another car after the crash and a sore ankle… Somebody was looking out for me!”

Reporting on his physical condition today, always via Twitter, he said “Just out of local hospital, my shoe got ripped off in the accident and one of the cut/grazes is pretty raw, toes look like small sausages ha ha.”

Some days it doesn’t pay to get out of bed …

Source | crash.net

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As expected John Hopkins will be skipping this weekend’s 9th round of the British Superbike round at Cadwell Park.

The Anglo-American rider is still recovering from the finger injuries and the subsequent surgery he had to undergo after his crash during MotoGP’s free practice at Brno where he was riding as a wildcard for Rizla Suzuki.

Samsung Crescent Racing Team Manager Jack Valentine said:

“Unfortunately Hopper’s hand is not healed enough to race this weekend, and while this is disappointing to us and the fans it is the right decision when we consider the upcoming Showdown phase of the championship. Hopper’s been in daily contact as he’s undergone intensive laser treatment and hyperbaric chamber sessions. He’s explained the external pins are expected to be removed on Wednesday, but of course the weekend is too soon after that for his hand to be sufficiently healed. We will, we suspect, lose a few podium points to our rivals in the Showdown, but to race a superbike at a track such as this when you don’t have 100% strength in your throttle and brake hand is simply too dangerous both to the rider and his competitors and would only stand to slow Hopper’s recovery from the injury.

Hopkins has been linked to a return in MotoGP next season, either with Rizla Suzuki or as Italian media is reporting with LCR Honda.

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Rizla Suzuki’s time lapsed videos must have impressed British Superbike EVO team Moto Rapido Ducati enough to have filmed their own, showing how they changed the engine on Scott Smart’s 1198R during last weekend’s Brands Hatch round.

Smart managed a 9th in race 1, a 5th in race 2, and another 5th in race 3, while WFR Honda’s Graeme Gowland came away with three 1st places.

Source | bikesportnews.com

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While World Superbikes will be going to the one bike rule in 2012 as a cost saving measure and hopefully fill up their grids that are also dwindling, the British Superbike championship has confirmed during this weekend’s Brands Hatch round that they are capping their technical regulations as an effort to significantly reduce costs, improve the show and make it easier for privateers to be competitive.

The series will adopt several EVO regulations, including a control ECU which outlaws electronic aids as traction control, launch control and anti-wheelie and introduces a rev limit.

Over a period of twenty four months MSVR has engaged in detailed discussions with teams, manufacturers and other interested parties to formulate the BSB 2012-2015 technical rules. During this period the broader economic climate continues to be difficult and within world motorsport there have been many examples of manufacturers and teams reducing their activity as a consequence.

In 2010 the lower technical specification EVO category was introduced, pioneering the use of a series specified ECU, with no traction control, launch control and anti wheelie strategies as well as a one bike rule.

The quality and quantity of teams and riders in the British Superbike Championship is at an all time high, however in order to develop it even further it is clear that decisive ground breaking technical regulations are required.

The full press release and a summary of all the modifications can be read here.

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Crescent Suzuki is going to wildcard at the World Superbike round at Silverstone at the end of this month. The British Superbike team that fields John Hopkins and Jon Kirkham in the series, who are currently 2nd and 7th in the standings after the rain disrupted Oulton Park round, will get their chance to go toe to toe with some of the best Superbike riders in the world.

For Hopkins it will be a return to WSBK paddock after his 2009 period with the now defunct Stiggy Honda team and injury packed season in the series. For the Anglo-American rider it will also be a very intense riding schedule; WSBK’s from July 29th to 31st, BSB at Brands Hatch August 5th to 7th, a MotoGP wildcard ride with Rizla Suzuki at Brno August 12th to 14th and then back to Cadwell Park, August 27th to 29th.

Crescent Suzuki’s team manager Jack Valentine regarding the WSBK wildcard partecipation said: “This is a kind of busman’s holiday. Taking a break from racing by going racing. But seriously, taking a one-off ride in the WSB series is a great way for our riders to further develop their bikes and practice some race craft without the pressures of the championship they’re in – and at the same time giving the fans and sponsors an extra run-out.

Source | bikesportnews.com

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She’s got class, looks and more importantly she’s fast, and Jenny Tinmouth will be making history as she will be the first woman ever to compete in the British Superbike championship this 2011 season.

Tinmouth 31, will be riding for Splitlath Motorsport and using factory backed Aprilia RSV4’s and will be fielded next to South African Hudson Kennaugh.

Jenny, who hails from Ellesmere Port, already has extensive racing experience both on track and on road. She started in the British 125cc Championshipback in 2003 and in 2010 won a British Supersport Cup race and finished a close third in the championship. She also set a new record for the fastest lap by a woman at the famous Isle of Man TT event and won the final round of the Hottrax British Endurance Championship at Cadwell Park last November.

Continue reading: Jenny Tinmouth to race in BSB Championship

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The cigarette paper manufacturer Rizla has decided to end its 7 year sponsorship with Crescent Suzuki British Superbike.

“After seven years we have made the difficult decision to end our sponsorship of the Suzuki BSB team,” stated Rizla Brand Manager Alison Williams. “I would like to thank all the past and present team members and riders for such a successful sponsorship. We wish the team the very best for the future.”

Rizla Suzuki will make its final competitive appearance at the Race of the Year at Mallory Park in Leicestershire this Sunday, October 19th, with Tom Sykes aiming to make it three victories in a row for the team at the annual event.

Source | Visordown

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