Latest news with #WorldSuperbikeChampionship
Belfast Telegraph
04-05-2025
- Automotive
- Belfast Telegraph
Beaming Glenn Irwin on why runner-up finish in British Superbike opener ‘feels like a win'
Irwin's qualifying hopes were blown when he crashed on the Hager PBM Ducati, but the Carrickfergus man scythed his way through the field before getting the better of former champion Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati) for second place. Bradley Ray, the 2022 BSB champion, made a winning return to the series after racing in World Superbikes for the past two years. The Raceways Yamaha rider also smashed the lap record as he wrapped up victory in the opening race by just under two seconds from Irwin, who is concentrating on winning the BSB title in 2025 after announcing his retirement from road racing. Irwin will start Monday's 12-lap Sprint race (1.15pm) from second place on the front row and says he will 'take the fight' to Ray. 'It feels like a win, and I know Brad won the race and fair play because he did a great job… he knows he's very fast over one lap and used that strategy and broke the guys,' Irwin said. 'I don't have much to say other than a huge thanks to the team. 'We arrived here after three great tests, and some new parts – the same parts but just fresher – were put in for this weekend and the bike yesterday was so hard to ride. 'It was very slow, we tried to give it more power and then it was a monster – really couldn't understand it. 'So, then they changed the engine, they changed nearly everything they could change and then I threw it down the road in qualifying, which was completely my fault. 'The first thing I did was apologise to Jordan (Bird, team co-owner) when I came in, but we got the head down. 'I changed my training programme this winter and I feel very fit, very calm on the bike in that race, and we look forward to tomorrow. 'This guy (Ray) has done a great job to win the race and it's nice he's back in from World Superbike, but we will take the fight to him tomorrow.' Honda Racing's Andrew Irwin has been withdrawn from the rest of the Bank Holiday meeting after suffering a shoulder injury in a crash in qualifying on Sunday. Scott Swann, making his BSB debut for the Send My Bag by IWR Honda team, finished 12th, with Richard Kerr from Co Donegal in 16th on the ROKiT BMW. After the Sprint race on Monday afternoon, the final 18-lap race of the weekend is set for 4.15pm. In the Supersport class, Eugene McManus from Randalstown finished third on the MMB Racing Ducati in the Sprint race on Sunday. Luke Stapleford took a narrow win ahead of reigning champion Jack Kennedy from Dublin. Meanwhile, Jonathan Rea was left empty-handed as he made his return to the World Superbike Championship following injury at Cremona in Italy. The six-time champion has been out of action since sustaining multiple fractures to his left foot in a crash during testing at Phillip Island in Australia. Rea was 19th on Saturday, 16th in the Superpole race yesterday and 18th in Race Two. The 38-year-old said his comeback was more challenging than he had expected. 'It's been a tougher weekend than I expected, but I knew we had to start somewhere,' said Rea. 'The target of the weekend in my own mind was just to try and commit to racing, get passed fit and do my best to complete all three races with no mistakes. 'We completed that target. Of course, I wasn't as competitive as I wanted to be, but considering I was only fully weight-bearing and walking without my air boot three weeks ago, I can accept that.' Italy's Nicolo Bulega ( Ducati) won all three races from Toprak Razgatlioglu (ROKiT BMW) to increase his lead in the Championship to 34 points ahead of the Fifth Round, which takes place at Most in the Czech Republic from May 16-18.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Rea to travel to Italy 'with intention of riding'
Jonathan Rea is to travel to the fourth round of the World Superbike Championship at Cremona in Italy "with the intention of riding", his Pata Yamaha team has revealed. The Northern Ireland rider missed the first three rounds of the 2025 series at Phillip Island in Australia, Portimao in Portugal and Assen in the Netherlands after sustaining multiple fractures to his left foot in a crash while testing in February. Rea subsequently had successful surgery in Belfast and has been continuing his recovery at home. An update issued by his team indicated that the six-time world champion was to return "after consultation with his medical team in Northern Ireland, travelling to Cremona with the intention of riding pending official review with the FIM Medical Director on Thursday". The statement added that Rea "had left no stone unturned in his efforts to recover as quickly as possible from the injuries sustained to his left foot at the Phillip Island Official Test in February". The 38-year-old said he was "super excited" to be on the brink of a return to action. "It feels like a really long couple of months, but in the last 3-4 weeks I've maximised regaining strength and function of my left foot," he explained. The injury was a lot more serious than first expected and I just want to thank everybody that was behind me to get back on track, especially the fans and all the messages of encouragement. He added: "I feel confident and ready – Cremona is a track that I haven't raced at before but I was able to spin a few laps in testing last season. I'm just so happy to be back with my team and riding my Yamaha R1." Rea is in his second season with his Yamaha team after a disappointing campaign in 2024 which saw him finish 13th overall in the standings and secure a solitary podium finish at the UK round of the championship at Donington.
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Rea to travel to Italy 'with intention of riding'
Jonathan Rea is to travel to the fourth round of the World Superbike Championship at Cremona in Italy "with the intention of riding", his Pata Yamaha team has Northern Ireland rider missed the first three rounds of the 2025 series at Phillip Island in Australia, Portimao in Portugal and Assen in the Netherlands after sustaining multiple fractures to his left foot in a crash while testing in subsequently had successful surgery in Belfast and has been continuing his recovery at update issued by his team indicated that the six-time world champion was to return "after consultation with his medical team in Northern Ireland, travelling to Cremona with the intention of riding pending official review with the FIM Medical Director on Thursday".The statement added that Rea "had left no stone unturned in his efforts to recover as quickly as possible from the injuries sustained to his left foot at the Phillip Island Official Test in February".The 38-year-old said he was "super excited" to be on the brink of a return to action."It feels like a really long couple of months, but in the last 3-4 weeks I've maximised regaining strength and function of my left foot," he explained. The injury was a lot more serious than first expected and I just want to thank everybody that was behind me to get back on track, especially the fans and all the messages of encouragement. "I feel confident and ready – Cremona is a track that I haven't raced at before but I was able to spin a few laps in testing last season. I'm just so happy to be back with my team and riding my Yamaha R1."Rea is in his second season with his Yamaha team after a disappointing campaign in 2024 which saw him finish 13th overall in the standings and secure a solitary podium finish at the UK round of the championship at Donington.
BBC News
21-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Injured Rea will not return in time for Portimao round
Jonathan Rea will miss the second round of the World Superbike Championship in Portugal in March as he continues his recovery from multiple foot fractures suffered in a crash during testing at the Phillip Island 38-year-old had already been ruled out of the opening round in Australia this weekend after he had fallen in the closing stages of Monday's first test six-time world champion will now miss the second race in Portimao on 28-30 March after Yamaha team principal Paul Denning provided an update on his condition."He's super disappointed but he's back home. He's seen a surgeon, and he's on it and doing everything he can to be ready as soon as he possibly can," Denning said."Jonathan, unfortunately has no chance of testing or racing at Portimao, in mid and end of March, they the two dates which are just too early for the complexity of the injury to heal."Rea will be hoping to recover in time for the third round of the championship, which takes place in the Netherlands on 11-13 Northern Irishman is in his second campaign with Yamaha after a disappointing debut season for the team in won six straight world titles with Kawasaki between 2015 and 2020 but opted to switch to Yamaha at the end of the 2023 season.
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
Rea out of Superbike opener after practice crash
Jonathan Rea will miss this weekend's opening round of the World Superbike Championship in Australia after sustaining multiple foot fractures in a crash during testing at the Phillip Island circuit.A statement from the 38-year-old's Yamaha Racing team said the six-time world champion had fallen in the closing stages of Monday's first test session."He was taken to the circuit medical centre before being transferred to Cowes for further assessment, where it was confirmed he had sustained multiple fractures to the left foot," said a Yamaha team statement."He will take no further part in testing or the race weekend."Rea is in his second campaign with Yamaha after a disappointing debut season for the team in Northern Ireland man won six straight world titles with Kawasaki between 2015 and 2020 but opted to switch to Yamaha at the end of the 2023 season.
