Category: Crew On Two

After a progressive but tough weekend at Brands Hatch three weeks ago, both James Rispoli and Shaun Winfield are ready to get back out on track at the infamous Cadwell Park circuit, to search for more Championship points.

The Lincolnshire based track plays host to the eighth round of the British Superbike Championship over this Bank Holiday weekend, and it certainly lives up to the action the Superbike riders provide.

2.1 miles in length Cadwell is a fast and flowing woodland based circuit, teamed with a tight and twisty section as the rider’s head home over the start finish line. Alongside that, Cadwell has the most fearsome jump in all of motorcycle racing, ‘The Mountain’.

‘The Mountain’ is the only place you will see fully blown 220 horsepower Superbikes fly through the air in formation. The section of the track is certainly a focal point for fans who flock to watch in their masses. Cadwell is a favourite for both fans and riders, and the Bank Holiday atmosphere adds to the occasion.

This weekend will see James Rispoli in a confident mood after making a major breakthrough with the setup of his Yamaha YZF-R1 last time out. In the break the team have worked hard to improve the setup of his bike ahead of the races this weekend, and he should be fully prepared to battle for points.

Shaun Winfield has been working hard on his fitness as he heads into one of the most physically demanding tracks on the MCE British Superbike calendar. The 23-year-old enjoyed a positive outing at Cadwell Park last year, taking a 20th and 18th place finishes in both races, and will be looking for more of the same this weekend.

Ahead of the weekend James ‘The Rocket’ Rispoli said: “Cadwell Park is probably one of the sickest tracks on the calendar, it’s the most aggressive and physical circuit we go to and it has everything, fast corners, slow corners and of course it has the Mountain!

“It is going to be a very difficult weekend all round because of how tough the track is, and for us we are already probably 150 laps down on a lot of our competitors as they have tested there, which makes it even more difficult. I am going into this weekend as I always do, I am really determined and I think the Yamaha could go well at this track.

“There has been a bit of a shake up with some more changes in the team before this round so we will assess that, but I want to keep moving forward and improve in every session because I know what I am capable of achieving. I want to finish the weekend with two strong finishes in the races and if we can do that then I will be happy.”

His team mate Shaun Winfield added: “I’m excited for this weekend at Cadwell Park, it’s a truly amazing circuit and one I really enjoy riding around. It’s a tricky place but when you get it right it’s a great feeling, I’m also looking forward to getting the Yamaha over the Mountain.

“Since Brands I’ve been working hard on my fitness to make sure I’m ready for the challenges that Cadwell will throw at me. The team have worked hard in the gap between races and I know the bike will be competitive, so I’m ready to battle and grab my first points of the season.”

Team Manager Gary Winfield summerised: “Cadwell Park is a great venue for bike racing, and we as a team are ready for the challenge it will throw at us. We have worked hard in the break behind the scenes on the bikes, and we have found further improvements that should help us this weekend.

“Both riders have been working hard on their fitness and are ready for the test that Cadwell will throw at them, it’s important for us now to start the final few rounds of the season strong, it begins this weekend at Cadwell and we are expecting two strong rides from both James and Shaun come Sunday.”

Photo credit to Gareth Davies.

Kiko Giles @MotoGPKiko

The British Superbike championship arrives at the famous Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire for round eight of the season. It will be the penultimate round before the Showdown starts so big points and finishing are the key. It’s Shane Byrne in form after a double at Brands Hatch, with Leon Haslam chasing hard after taking being winless since Knockhill. The Cadwell Park track is spectacular for fans, as it is the point in the season where both wheels are off the ground (intentionally) at the famous Mountain.

Shane “Shakey” Byrne is leading the championship after an incredible double at Brands. He has won three out of the last four races this year, and I wouldn’t bet against him extending that run this weekend. Shakey comes into the Cadwell circuit having had a total disaster at the track last season. Unbelievably, Byrne hasn’t won at the track since 2003, when he won his first title! Personally, I find that incredible! Don’t put it past him to end that run.

Leon Haslam returns to the Cadwell Park track for the first time since his HM Plant Honda days back in 2008, where he did the double. He comes into the round with a 25-point deficit to Shane Byrne and desperately needs to reclaim some of them points by taking wins, giving him an advantage going into the showdown with his podium credits. He finished 2nd to Byrne in both races last time out, so he has what it takes to run with the leader, but can he beat him? Only time will tell.

3rd in the championship is home to Jason O’Halloran, who has shown his skills in the 2016 season. The Australian who has fought back from horrific leg injuries after a Thruxton crash last year, has been something of a revelation this year, but this is the first time he would have been to the track on a BSB Factory Honda. His most recent result at the circuit is a 2nd to Danny Buchan in the Stock 1000 series, meaning the Aussie has the pace to go on to take another BSB win this weekend. Can he do it? The Honda rider will be looking to make it a special day for Honda, who are based in Louth, just down the road from the track.

In an upside down year that has seen him drop in and out of the top six in the title as well as the top 10 in races, Michael Laverty is 4th as it stands. The Tyco BMW rider and former GP star took his latest win in race two at Thruxton after Byrne’s early departure. Laverty won at Cadwell Park back in 2011 on the Swan Yamaha, which he later followed up with a 2nd place. If the Ulsterman can find the form he had five years ago, he is sure to be up there come MONDAY (Bank Holiday race day, don’t forget)!

Dan Linfoot is still waiting on his first BSB race win. After a mistake at Snetterton on the final corner whilst leading and a red flag whilst challenging Shakey in race two, Linfoot hasn’t finished in the top six, let alone step on the podium to gain podium credits, should he get through to the showdown. Cadwell doesn’t seem the track to see him recapture his form either, as recent results show his best finish has been a 7th. If anyone can turn it around though, then Linfoot is your man!

Richard Cooper has been a little bit off the boil recently with a podium drought currently sweeping into his side of the Buildbase BMW garage. The Buildbase BMW rider got another podium in race two at Brands Hatch Indy, but needs wins if he is to be there at the end of the season. The rider from Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, will be looking to make a return to the podium at Cadwell Park, after his 8th and 7th last season. Cooperman is without doubt capable of making a fist of things, but he is just three points ahead of in-form Luke Mossey, who occupies 7th in the standings.

The battle for the showdown is boiling up nicely, with 57 points being the gap from 12th to 6th, with five races left until the top six are locked in. It will be a dogfight, as returning riders like John Hopkins get back to the front, recovering from injuries and Danny Buchan getting back on a Kawasaki he enjoyed so much success with. These two aren’t really in the hunt for the showdown so they could really be decisive in who gets through. BSB is ridiculously close this season, and even riders like Laverty and Linfoot aren’t safe yet. Keep your eyes on Luke Mossey, James Eliison, Christian Iddon and the in-form Glenn Irwin to launch a big attack on the top six.

The BSB riders have also had a game of musical chairs during the three-week break. Howie Mainwaring-Smart left the Smith’s BMW to join the vacant seat at ePayMe Yamaha. Stuart Easton, who left the team earlier on in the season, joins Moto Rapido Ducati, who parted company with former Stock 1000 champion Danny Buchan. Buchan re-joins forces with MSS Tsingtao Kawasaki Racing, the team he rode for in 2014 on his way to Stock success. Ryuichi Kiyonari has also left the Halsall Bennett’s Suzuki team, who are yet to replace him.

You can find out what will happen on Sunday. As well as joining us for our live text commentary by Kiko Giles, you too can also watch it live, free to air on Quest! You can follow @PitCrew_Online for the live text commentary and also @MotoGPKiko for all things bikes and boring. If you are on Instagram, then you can follow ‘crewontwo’ for all the bike racing pics from across numerous series!

Thanks to Gareth Davies for the wonderful images he continues to provide.

It isn’t everyday you get to interview a top quality British Superbike racer but today, I spoke to Michael Howarth about his injuries, his past, present and future and other things such as the loss of bestfriend Karl Harris and MotoGP and WSBK this season. He said in one word that 2016 has been painfull, so be prepared to be amused (not by me); Michael opens up to me whilst he was having his haircut. Enjoy!

Who got you hooked into bikes and how?

Well I got myself into bikes, after I got injured in 2000 playing in Rugby League, as I was a professional Rugby League player at the time. I snapped my ankle and even though I recovered I just never really got back to where I wanted to be. If I’m honest I got bored, so I went out and bought the new SP1. I took it on a track day and started beating all these lads, little did I know they were a bunch of nobodies. I thought to myself, “Im Rossi” and that I’m off and going to be a big thing. I would never have picked any other sport. It wasn’t going to be snooker, because I actually have a penis! I had motocrossers since I was a kid so I’ve always been with bikes. I had road bikes from 1997 too.

What was the plan for 2016?

I got my own team back up and running with an old Shaun Muir Yamaha, the 2014 Josh Brookes bike. To get the team up and running properly would cost around 250,000 but I was getting nowhere near it. So then I took my sponsors, had a meeting with Tony Dexter and joined MotoDex BMW. However, then I completed two laps before sending myself to the moon and doing myself up. It was an odd crash because the bike was warmed up perfectly and everything.

What is the plan for the rest of the season?

Well I will be back at Cadwell Park, that is for sure. Whether I am on the pace or not is another matter. I’ve got a CAT scan on my hip so that decides what happens after. I might miss Donington because it is a bit too close with Oulton Park. Saying that, I might be alright because I didn’t ride Brands so I had time off.

How do you motivate yourself every morning to come back from your injuries?

Not raced since Karl’s death, I wanted to get back out there to ride with him, you know? Biggest thing that gets me is Morrison staff stacking shelves. They look so bored. I’m going to do something I enjoy! The doctor said I wasn’t going to walk since December but you can’t let a crash end your career when it isn’t career ending. OK, I broke my shoulder, knackered my hip and broke my back but it’s nothing that won’t mend.

Who are your sponsors?

Traction Chargers who do fancy battery chargers for Jaguar and Land Rover, based in Devizes. E-Dynamics who own 4/5 Volkswagen branches. Without them, I don’t race, it’s as simple as that. Because I’m chasing sponsors 24/7, I don’t have a day job as such. I could be rich and retired by now if I wasn’t a racer but there would be no fun in that.

Back in the early days, I rode for Malcom Ashley. In 2007, I was riding at Brands, when the front forks snapped on me at about 170mph. Tena4Men sponsored me, but then in 2008 they came on board as a title sponsor. It was my own team, I rode alongside Tristan Palmer. When that came to an end, I became a bit of a journeyman really. I couldn’t find anything proper. Riding a bike is easy, but finding sponsors is difficult.

Do you ever see yourself giving bike racing up for good?

Yes; Ive only got a year or so left in me now. I don’t see myself going to Superstock 1000 like Michael Rutter did. He is only doing that because nothing came about in BSB and also because he is more focused on the roads. He’s getting good prize money over on TT, he doesn’t need to do the BSB Superbike class anymore.

What will you do after bike racing?

I see myself in team management; I’ve done it before. At Tena4Men, as you know we ran Tristan Palmer, who got us a sixth place finish at Silverstone which put him 10th overall in the championship. In the future, I don’t see me running a BMW. It’s too expensive to run. I don’t really know what I would run until I sit down with manufacturers, but if I said one now, it would probably be the new Honda, because it so easy going and cheaper to run.

I tell you what, I’d love to bring Niccolo Canepa over to this country; he could win a British Superbike championship tomorrow given the chance. I don’t understand why he hasn’t been bought over before by somebody already. Canepa has done MotoGP, WSBK; he’s a bit lucky he isn’t going to prison like but it’s just one of those things aint it! I’d also like Kiyonari, me and him are good friends through Karl Harris, when they were teammates back in 2006. At Thruxton, Martin Halsall said to me will you go and have a word with him to sort him out, and I did! The talent is there but there’s just something not there for him. It’s been since the crash at Oulton Park with Shakey and he just hasn’t managed to shake it off yet.

Most rewarding thing about being a bike racer?

Well, you are doing the job you love and getting paid for it! I’m doing the thing that millions of people want to do. I aint stacking shelves at Morrisons!

Who do you see as the best young talent coming through?

Glenn Irwin. He has showed his talent; he’s got the podium to prove it. He’s come from nowhere, by which I mean people thought he would crash his brains out and get sacked half way through the season but he’s gone about his job properly and done what he needed to. He has kept his head and I’m taking all the credit for the podium because I said he would get one when I was talking to him that weekend.

Buchan hasn’t shone considering his Superstock 1000 success. He needs traction control and that would be WSBK territory. He really would do it over there.

Mossey is there or there abouts, he just needs to take his time and preserve his tyres. He has the pace to win if he sits behind Shakey and looks after his tyres until the end.

Linfoot will win a race without a shadow of a doubt. Dan will stay with Honda next year if he has any sense, although I think O’Halloran may have annoyed him with that win at Snetterton.

Top 6 prediction in no order: Byrne, Haslam, Bridewell, Ellison if he can get the bike to work. It’s a free for all after that. It will be whoever can figure it out how to string some good results together.

Your greatest achievement?

Winning a SBK Cup race at Cadwell Park in 2006. I was fairly new to it at the time so if I had known it’d be last win I would have celebrated a lot more! I thought it would be expected of me to win again. I thought I’d be on my way. Cadwell anniversary this weekend will be alright if my body can hold together.

Karl Harris, best friend. How much did/does his death affect you?

Well at the time it destroyed me, as it would anyone, he was my best mate. I did a couple of BSB rounds after but I was lost; it was the first time I’d ever ridden in the championship without him and I couldn’t do it because he wasn’t there. He has inspired me to come back. I’ll never be a Karl Harris speed wise or results wise. The paddock misses him like mad. One of our best on-track memories was at Croft in 2006. F*****G Shakey Byrne cost me a podium after crashing at Knockhill in 2008; I was going to be third in race two but came 5th after he crashed and caused the red flags to come out! We (Michael and Karl) were both on the podium together at Croft anyway, it was a real joy. We had a proper crack in the paddock, we used to sneak off to my motorhome for cigarettes and then go around at night stealing everyone’s beer!

Ever thought about road racing?

I want to do the TT, I always have. I could have done the NW last year but it does absolutely nothing for me, similar to the Ulster GP. All I want to do is the TT and set a 125mph lap, then I’d walk away happy.

What was the lowest of the low for you?

Got to be when I was at Oulton Park this year and I was out of action after only two laps, having been away and off the bike for two seasons. Next thing I knew I was flying in a helicopter. At the time it absolutely ripped me apart, however it didn’t take me long to get back up to full health.

MotoGP and WSBK predictions.

Hmmmm WSBK. I think Rea will win again this year. I really do. Tom will be a close second. It wont be Kawasaki next year; Ducati and that will come along a lot stronger, there is a new Suzuki next year too. Kawasaki have got it sorted for this year but I think next season, we will see the competition be lot stronger and more competitive. I don’t know what Ducati are thinking taking Melandri on. Its utterly ridiculous. I would rather see Eugene on the bike but Melandri is only there because Ducati are skint, after they’ve just given Lorenzo 30 million dollars for two seasons. They offered Casey that much to come back and ride for them; they told me when I went to test their new Multistrada Enduro bike. Marco is bringing a bucket load of money to the team, that’s the only reason they want him. What has he got left to prove? He might prove me wrong and make me look like a plant-pot but he’s not got the motivation to say ‘OK, I’m going to win a title’.

For MotoGP, I think the little man is going to win it. I think Keith and Jules were right when they said Lorenzo won’t win it. It only takes one more wet race for him to do what he has done at Assen, Sachsenring and Brno. I think it could be a close run affair this year with Marc and Valentino. Rossi can take it to him. It’s only going to take one mistake from Marquez. Rossi won’t get any help from Jorge. He wasn’t relying on it from Jorge anyway and Marc won’t get help from Dani. There’d be murders if it was ever found out that Marc and Jorge worked together again.

Have you ever fallen out with any racers; are there any you dislike?

Naaah! To be fair, I’ve never seen something that makes me want to dislike someone or brand them as dangerous. I had a big rivalry with someone in club racing. They all raced ex Troy Bayliss bikes and he was moaning about the bikes not favouring him. We had a battle once and we ended banging fairings. We shook hands after, no animosity or anything. We just said that’s what you call a proper race, a proper battle.

Top 3 BSB races:

Hill and Hopkins, Brands Hatch, 2011

Haslam and Lavilla, Cadwell Park, 2006

Haslam and Harris, Croft, 2006.

For more exclusive interviews you can follow us on Twitter @PitCrew_Online, and for all bike related posts you can follow @MotoGPKiko. To keep up with Michael Howarth, you can follow him @howie94! Thanks to Gareth Davies once again for the fantastic picture.

After parting company with Morello Racing in the National Superstock 1000 series a few months ago, I caught up with Ben Godfrey once again, to see how he is getting on riding back in his own team. The former National Superstock 600 podium finisher is only doing a selected few rounds this season, and will therefore not be in action at Cadwell Park this coming weekend.

How has your season been so far, obviously the parting with Morello wasn’t what you had in mind?

The season has been a good learning season due to the switch in manufacture change. We have had to learn a completely new style and characteristic of bike! I really enjoyed riding both of them. The Kawasaki is a real strong package but I’m really enjoying being in my own team again and loving the BMW. It’s hard to explain the difference between the two manufacturers but for me the way the power is delivered and the quality of the motorcycle! Also saying that, the Kawasaki is an excellent bike.

Any new sponsors and what are the plans for 2017?

I have a new main sponsor this year; Gary from led solutions and Sygnet signs. And we are really focusing on next season as this year we are taking all the track time as testing, hence why I’m racing in the NG road racing championship, and not full time in the BSB paddock. We have a great plan for next year and all looks extremely exciting, so hopefully we will have more on this soon.

Did you leave Morello on good terms?

We ended on good terms as things just weren’t working how I and the team wanted or expected to. However, I still keep in touch with the team and wish them all the best, we are still friends and we didn’t fallout. I’m still very good friends with my team mates from the team Fraser and Davey.

Explain to everyone just how much effort is required to be fast in the BSB paddock?

To make a great team it’s a huge effort from everyone. Everyone has to be on point, the chemistry when we are working together is very important. To be anywhere near the factory teams is a great achievement for myself and my little team! There’s 5 factory riders and teams in front: Mackenzie, Rutter, Elliot, Hutchy and Farmer.

You can keep up with all of Ben’s racing on Twitter, @Ben16Godfrey. You can also follow @PitCrew_Online, for more exclusive interviews from various motorsport series. If you don’t like to be entertained and like being bored, you can follow me @MotoGPKiko.