Latest news with #Milenco
Belfast Telegraph
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Davey Todd thrilled to ‘turn the tables' and mark himself as the man to beat at Southern 100
Todd won the first Superbike and Supersport races and narrowly missed out a hat-trick after he was forced to settle for the runner-up spot in the Supertwin race. The Yorkshireman set three lap records as racing commenced in perfect conditions around the 4.25-mile Billown course and Todd will now be focused on retaining the Solo Championship title in the feature Superbike race. Riding the 8TEN Racing BMW, Todd was a runaway winner in the Ellan Vannin Fuels Senior race, pulling away from Honda's Dean Harrison and establishing a new lap record for the race at 116.409mph. He won by 4.5s after seven laps, with Harrison 1.2s up on Manx racer Nathan Harrison (H&H Motorcycles Honda) in third. Michael Dunlop finished fourth on his MD Racing BMW, 6.8s behind Nathan Harrison, with Mike Browne fifth on his Honda. Todd was beaten twice by Dean Harrison in the Superstock races at the TT last month and was delighted to turn the tables on his rival. 'I love that bike, the 8TEN Racing BMW, the bike is fantastic and I've loved it all year,' he said. 'I finished second in the Superstock races at the TT to Dean, so it's nice to turn the tables in that one. 'I've been good off the start in general and it took me a couple of laps to get into it after the Supertwin race.' Runner-up Harrison is riding a different 1000cc Honda from the bike he rode to victory at the TT and said he had no answer for Todd. 'It's a little bit different to the bike I rode at the TT and I've stuck a couple of Honda Racing fairings on it,' said the Bradford man. 'The bike's wheelieing everywhere so we'll make a few tweaks for tomorrow and have another go.' Rob Hodson finished sixth on the SMT Racing Honda ahead of Paul Jordan (Jackson Racing Honda). In a scintillating H&H Motorcycles Supersport race, Todd and Browne were locked together throughout the seven-lap encounter. Dunlop, who started from pole on the Milwaukee Ducati, had been trying to close the gap in third when he retired from the race with two laps remaining. The leading duo broke away from the chasing pack and traded blows for the lead, but Todd broke the lap record on the Milenco by Padgett's Honda on the final lap with a speed of 111.544mph to take the win by 1.256s from Browne (BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha). Michael Sweeney finished an excellent third on his Yamaha after prevailing in a breathless battle for the last rostrum place, crossing the line ahead of Nathan Harrison, Jordan and Hodson. 'I'm just stoked with that and I really enjoyed the battle,' said Todd. 'It's always nice when you can win a race with a battle like that.' Hodson (SMT Racing Paton) capitalised when Todd (Milenco by Padgett's Paton) ran slightly wide on the final lap to win the opening Supertwin race, with Manx rider Joe Yeardsley 14 seconds adrift in third. Todd set a lap record for the race at 106.095mph. The Supersport B race was rerun at the end of the evening following a red flag crash involving six riders on the first lap. No injuries were reported. Veteran Ulsterman Paul Cranston won the race from fellow Northern Ireland man Dennis Booth by only 0.330s. It was Cranston's first win at the Southern 100 in 43 years. The opening Sidecar race was won by Manx brothers Callum and Ryan Crowe.
Scoop
22-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scoop
More To Come From Mitch Rees
Mitch Rees says his overseas racing endeavours have only just begun. While both the Isle of Man TT and Northwest 200 again feature in his broad ambitions for 2026, the reigning New Zealand Superbike Champion says he is keen to step into endurance racing. The Whakatane Honda dealer is about to return home from the United Kingdom after competing in the world's two major road course events, plus two rounds of the British Superbike Championship. 'It'll be good to see the shop crew again and relax a little. It's been a big 12 months.' He is proud to be fastest newcomer at this year's NW200 and TT – and the fifth fastest TT newcomer of all time. Rees was aboard a Honda CBR1000 stocker run by the famed Yorkshire team Milenco by Padgetts of Batley. 'With the lack of laps due to the weather, it was more about riding and learning the circuit rather than making massive set-up changes,' Rees says. 'You're never going to have a perfect bike around the TT course. 'It has a bit of everything, but towards the end of the event we were making more and more progress. 'Mega thanks to the team, especially Clive Padgett for taking me on. His experience with the event was crucial. 'I can't be disappointed at being fastest newcomer at the Northwest and TT'. Patchy weather during TT fortnight added to Rees' setup challenge. 'We got maybe just three completely dry laps during the whole of the TT.' But nothing has put Rees off making a return to Europe and says opportunities have been presented. 'Doors have opened and there are options. I'm talking to people. 'I've already been offered a supertwin for next year.' He is also keen to explore world endurance racing possibilities. 'It's on the radar. 'It would be cool to do the Suzuka Eight-Hour.' Closer to home, Rees is considering competing in selected rounds of the Australian Superbike series. As for New Zealand, 'I haven't planned anything yet'. He is keen to do the Suzuki Series but 'not sure about the nationals'. However, he says 'nothing is off the table'. Rees points out that his northern hemisphere plans will dictate his New Zealand summer programme and emphasises the importance of preparation. 'Because of the New Zealand championship, I missed those pre-season Northern hemisphere test days this year. 'I now know how important they are.' There is also the need to complete time-consuming paperwork and Rees revealed this year's drawn-out process to complete all the necessary requirements. 'It took over four months to get all the clearances. 'The Isle of Man and the mountain course licence was pretty simple, but racing in Northern Ireland was a whole different matter. 'I only got approval to race the Northwest a week before the event.' Rees jokes he now has all the experience to set himself up as an international road race licence and insurance consultant. He also offers an interesting – and honest – insight into the realities of going racing offshore. 'You have to be winning in your own backyard before going overseas. 'You have to have that experience, otherwise it'll be even harder.' Money, of course, is the vital ingredient in any race venture, and Rees says be prepared to spend. 'I was fortunate with the position I was in, being able to get the opportunity to become part of an existing team.' To set up a NW200/TT venture from New Zealand is a $200,000 exercise, Rees estimates. 'Travel, approvals, buying the bike, setting it up, transport, accommodation ... it all adds up.' Once home, Rees' first track outing will be on July 5 – on a Kayo at the Edgecumbe Domain kart circuit – in memory of his late brother Damon and mateShane Richardson. 'It's a 120-lap memorial ride for Damo and Shane; 92 laps for Damo and 28 forShane. 'It's open to anyone, either as an individual or as part of a team.' There will be more details on social media closer to the date. Rees admits the loss of Richardson at Oulton Park in May cast a dark shadow andeven made him consider his own racing. He had enjoyed catching up with Shane at Oulton where they shared their news, thoughts and plans. 'His death was devastating. He was a mate. We'd spent time together that weekend. 'How do you attack your own racing after that? 'I had doubts but then Damo and Shane would have wanted the best for me.' Rees says the helmet design he later wore was a tribute to both of them, thanks to Vince from Ultimate Grafica.
ITV News
27-05-2025
- Climate
- ITV News
Isle of Man TT qualifying underway after rain disrupted opening day
Qualifying at the Isle of Man TT has officially got underway, with riders reaching speeds of ___mph during the opening session. It comes after the first day of the event was cancelled due to rain across the island, with doubts around weather conditions for the rest of the week. Heavy overnight and morning rain gave way to sunny intervals, allowing for a full-length session on the Mountain Course. All sessions were able to run this evening from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, giving riders the opportunity to test all motorbike classes. Leading the field were last year's double victors Ryan and Callum Crowe, with the Manx duo tipped for top honours this year aboard their sidecar. At 7:20pm, the Supersport and Supertwin session started, with most front-runners opting to go out first on their Supersport machines. Among them Dean Harrison (Honda Racing), Davey Todd (Milenco by Padgett's Motorcycles Honda), James Hillier (Bournemouth Kawasaki), Josh Brookes (Jackson Racing powered by Prosper2 Honda), and Ian Hutchinson (MLav Racing Yamaha). Two notable exceptions from the 'big four' were Michael Dunlop and Peter Hickman, who chose different paths. Dunlop led the session away on his MD Racing Paton, joined by Mike Browne (Boyce Precision Engineering by Russell Racing Yamaha), who quickly pulled ahead and led on the road. The evening concluded at 8:15pm with a 35-minute Superbike and Superstock session, giving riders a chance to complete two more laps of the Mountain Course. Brookes and Hind led the charge, followed by David Johnson (Platinum Club Racing Kawasaki), Jordan, Hillier (Muc-Off Racing Honda), and Phil Crowe (Crowe Performance BMW). Dunlop was out on his MD Racing BMW Superbike, while Hickman initially ran the Monster Energy by 8TEN Racing Superstock BMW. Qualifying continues until Friday 30 May, before racing begins on Saturday 31 running through to Saturday 7 June.
BBC News
26-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Hutchinson and Browne confirmed with MLav Racing
Sixteen-time Isle of Man TT winner Ian Hutchinson and Republic of Ireland Mike Browne have been confirmed as the riders for MLav Racing's debut appearance at the Isle of Man team is owned by former British Supersport champion and 10-time British Superbike race winner Michael Laverty and has competed in the Moto3 World Championship and Junior categories, including the FIM Junior GP Championship and British Talent will have both Superbike and Superstock BMW M1000RR machinery available for the Superbike, Senior and Superstock races, with Browne opting to concentrate on a Superstock-spec bike for all four 1000cc will also contest the two Supersport races on machinery that has yet to be 45-year-old missed the 2023 TT after suffering a stroke but returned last year with the Milenco by Padgett's team, securing 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th place clinched his second TT podium in 2024 thanks to a third position in the second Supertwin Killeagh rider finished inside the top 10 in all seven of his races."Anyone who knows me knows I've always loved the TT and even though I never raced the Mountain Course, it's the pinnacle of our sport," said team boss Laverty."Plans for setting up a new team started with a casual conversation back in September and although initially, I was approached to assist a team, the more I thought about it the more it made sense to do it ourselves. "My Grand Prix commitments keep me busy, and it's taken me a bit longer to get everything boxed off in terms of sponsors, team personnel and infrastructure, but I spoke to a couple of riders, getting Hutchy signed up first and then Mike."
