The Honda TT Legends team has completed its pre-season testing at the Magny Cours circuit in view of the first round of the 2012 Endurance World Championship, which will begin the next 14th and 15th of Apri with the famous Bol D’Or 24 hours race (which will take place, as usual, on the same French circuit). The team has successfully carried out two days of free practice that also saw all four members of its star-studded line-up riding together on the same track for the first time. John McGuinness, Cameron Donald, Simon Andrews and Gary Johnson got the chance to develop even further their understanding of the bike, and all four declared themselves pretty happy with the outcome of the test.

In the wake of a busy winter during which the team focused on the development of the new 2012 Honda Fireblade, the Magny Cours test gave them the chance to check on the efficiency of some new components as well as providing the riders with yet another opportunity to get even more familiar with the 4.4 km of the French track. McGuinness, Donald and Andrews had been there before, but to Gary Johnson this was the very first experience on the track that will host the first round of the season in just three weeks time.

Besides, the nippy mornings at Magny Cours also allowed the team to try out the cold tyre compounds, a test that will be especially usefull in view of the overnight stint of the Bol d’Or, when temperatures can go down to below 5ºc. Finally, on the afternoon of the second day, the four riders completed a successful race simulation. Click on the ‘Continue Reading’ link below to read the comments from the riders.

Continue reading: Honda TT Legends team ready for the Bol D'Or

....

0 comments

Check out this horrific crash that happened yesterday during round six of the British Superbike championship at Snetterton 300 circuit.

The incident involved Steve Brogan on the Jentin Honda and PR Kawasaki’s Simon Andrews on lap six at the Riches, when both riders got caught out by oil dripping from Alex Lowes’s MSS Colchester Kawasaki, slamming both riders into the barriers and the bikes ricocheting into the air and over the barriers.

Andrews has been diagnosed with fractured his right tibia and fibula, while Brogan suffered a shoulder injury.

So who won the races? John Hopkins took his maiden BSB win in race 1, while Ryuichi Kiyonari took the victory in race 2 after Hopkins put a very hard and controversial move on Shane Byrne on the last lap sending him onto the grass.

....

0 comments

The horrific crash during on lap 3 of Race 2 at Valencia that involved Kawasaki’s Simon Andrews and S.C. I. rider Vittorio Iannuzzo that left Andrews with a broken heel and bone in his left foot and the Italian with some heavy bruising to his hands.

While Andrews remembers only being hit from behind and ending up against the pit wall, Iannuzzo explained his version of the incident: “Andrews suddenly slowed at 290 km/h and I couldn’t do anything to avoid the impact.His left foot-peg split open my oil cooler, I took a hefty blow on my ribs and my hands but I managed to keep control of my Honda and stop on the grass almost at the end of the straight.”

Iannuzzo will be in shape for next week’s round in Assen, while Andrews due to his injuries will miss the BSB round this weekend at Thruxton and Howie Mainwaring will be stepping in for him in the MSS Colchester Kawasaki team.

....

0 comments

Yesterday’s World Superbike race 2 was marred by this horrific crash by Brit rider Simon Andrews who was subbing for injured Chris Vermeulen.

The high-speed crash on the straight left Andrews with a broken his left heel and the top bone in his left foot. He is due to fly back to the UK at the start of the week for further treatment.

Here’s what Simon Andrews had to say: “Race one was ok and in race two I got a good start and was finding decent rhythm. When Tom went passed I was hoping to stay with him and gain some places but the next thing I knew I was hit from behind on the straight and can’t remember much after that. The team are saying I am lucky as from what I’ve been told it looked pretty bad from the TV but my left foot is a bit smashed up and pretty painful right now. I have broken the heel and top bone of my foot and have obviously a few bruises to contend with but overall I’m ok. I’d like to thank the team for the opportunity to ride and how disappointed I am in having to end the weekend this way.“

....

0 comments

World Superbike race 2 in Valencia has been red flagged after a horrific accident by Simon Andrews and involving also Vittorio Iannuzzo.

The incident occured on the straight on lap four where Andrews crashed and ended up against the pitlane wall and his Kawasaki, while the Italian rider stopped himself further down the track and falling off his bike.

The doctors from the Clinica Mobile have reported that Andrews has suspected fracture to his right foot, while Iannuzzo has fractured his right hand and has heavy bruising to his chest.

The pitlane will open at 16:15 and aggregrate timing will be used for the re-start and heat 2 will be 20 laps.

Further info on the riders conditions as soon as we have it.

....

0 comments

MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Simon Andrews has been officially called in to replace injured Chris Vermeulen in PBM Kawasaki Racing team in this weekend’s WSBK round at Valencia.

Vermeulen recently had keyhole surgery to try to fix the problems afflicting his right knee after his crash during round 1 at Phillip Island and will have to sit out the Valencia race in order to try to be fit for the next round at Assen, on April 25.

The twenty-five year old Evesham rider tested the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R Superbike at Valencia
last weel and knows the machine extremely well.

In last weekend’s BSB Championship at Brands Hatch, Andrews DNF’d in Race 1 and took the 8th spot in Race 2.

Simon Andrews:

“I am excited by the chance of riding for the Kawasaki Racing Team in World Superbike this weekend. It was good of them to give me the chance to test before the race. It went well; we all worked hard and moved forwards. It was also good to have raced last weekend in BSB as I have already had a taste of competition. From a rider’s point of view it is good to work with the people they have in the KRT set-up.”

....

0 comments

Chris Vermeulen will miss the upcoming WSBK round in Valencia. The Australian rider who badly injured his right knee during a high speed crash in Phillip Island has yet to recover from his injuries, and infact the injury was more serious than what the doctors thought at the beginning.

Vermeulen tried to ride his Ninja ZX-10R in the first free practice in Portimao, but after only one lap had to withdraw and then headed to Belgium to consult with another doctor and underwent arthroscopic surgery to partially clean up the mess in his knee, but the damage is severe enough that it may require further surgery later in the season.

Vermeulen’s replacement in Valencia could be MSS Colchester Kawasaki’s Simon Andrews who tested the bike at Valencia for PBM team just three days ago.

....

0 comments

British Superbike rider Simon Andrews swapped his MSS Colchester Kawasaki for the Chris Vermeulen’s WSBK Kawasaki bike for a two-day test in Valencia.

Andrews stepped in to do some important testing for the WSBK team in place of the still injured Chris Vermeulen, who had withdraw from the Portimao round after discovering that he wasn’t fit enought to ride.

According to BSN website, Andrews was able to lap with almost equal times to those of regular rider Tom Sykes and that their lap times were not to far off Max Biaggi’s.

The Brit rider will returning to England to compete in the BSB Championship season opener at Brands Hatch this Easter weekend.

....

0 comments