SportBiKeZ

Jonas Folger claimed points for the Red Bull MotoGP Academy by opening his tally at Misano.

Red Bull MotoGP Academy rider Jonas Folger took home his first World Championship points at Misano, in only his second race in the 125cc class.

The German made his debut at the previous round in Brno, and this
time out was able to finish a creditable fifteenth from the seventh row
on the grid. Folger´s cause was aided by a number of crashes in front
of him and a mature ride for the youngster, whose lap times got faster
as the race went on.

The 15 year-old will now continue his unique preparation project for
an eventual full-time arrival to the World Championship, with the
possibility of participation in some of the remaining five races of the
2008 season.

Forget the Falco, this is the bike Aprilia should have built...

While we never thought much of the Aprilia SL1000 Falco, this Falco-based café racer does look interesting. The fairing has been stripped away, revealing that 60-degree v-twin, and the stubby tail unit, custom-made exhaust and single, round headlamp all look butch and purposeful. If it were ours, we’d get it painted black. And then ride it downtown late in the night…

Australian rider Russell Holland has proved to be fast and competitive since the start of his new experience in World Supersport, despite having to learn a new track every weekend in his rookie season. After three races and one test session in Vallelunga with the experienced HANNspree Honda Althea team, Russell Holland illustrates his season so far and what the future holds for this promising young Australian rider.

"This year is certainly an initiation for me... new tracks and a new lifestyle in living in Europe by myself on top of World Championship competition has been a real challenge but I'm trying to appreciate this experience as I know everyone here has had to go through it and in the future I'll be laughing about the challenges along the way".

Tell us about the latest round at Brands Hatch, England..

"Well, this was a weekend to forget in many ways. For our team it is incredible the bad luck we had. But the circuit was amazing and I can say I really enjoyed riding it although it's a track that takes some time to link the turns together and get a flow going. On Saturday afternoon we caught the worst of a small rain shower that interrupted qualifying. I was on my best lap when the rain came and then in the final 5 minutes when the track had dried we just couldn't find a gap in the traffic and couldn't improve. So on Sunday we were set to start from 15th but on the warm-up lap I had a clutch failure, just pure bad luck. This forced us to start from the spare bike and from the back of the grid in 37th place. We got a great start in the race but from the third lap it began to rain and got heavier in the next 5 laps. On the 8th lap the race leader Robbin Harms crashed then I crashed on the same turn whilst in 15th place... The race was red-flagged immediately after this, my bike was too badly damaged to return to the pits as the rule says you must. Because of this I could not restart even on my spare bike. A frustrating end really".

About the loss of Craig Jones

"After retiring from the race in Brands I witnessed Craig's crash and you cannot imagine a crash like that happening, it was very strange. I knew him reasonably well and he was one of the boys and a nice guy. It is sobering when something like this hits someone you know. My heart goes out for the family and close friends of Craig".

Back to business, how did the partnership with HANNspree Honda Althea come about?

"I started the year in the Superbike class and we achieved some promising results early on when we had a chance to test on the circuits. I'm proud that we finished in the top ten (9th) at the 2nd round, my home race in Australia. It was not so easy as the championship moved back to Europe but we did manage three more point scoring finishes before the mid-season (13th Valencia, 13th Monza, 15th Utah). I'm now really happy to be competing in the Supersport class with HANNspree Honda Althea. It was strange to change classes mid season but my superbike team's future was not clear and the Althea team needed a rider after Tommy Hill was injured. This change was a positive one for sure because I can continue with Honda and the Althea team has experience running at the front in Supersport".

What was your debut like? How did you feel about the new experience?

"I think the debut at Misano was a good lesson in Supersport. Launching straight into a race meet and learning a new bike is pretty exciting. I was riding with too much of a superbike style initially. We just kept chipping away and by the finish of qualifying we were 7th... ok for the first go. Unfortunately in the race I crashed out being too eager to catch the leaders after a bad start. I lost the front end on a turn we'd had trouble with all weekend. Had I been more patient we probably could have made a great result there as the race pace was not so fast".

What about the Vallelunga Test, how much did it help?

"Obviously every track this year is new to me and Vallelunga was a very challenging circuit so I'm glad we could test there. The first part of the track reminds me of Assen a little with fast change of directions. We achieved a lot there with me adjusting to the bike better and just general set-up too".

Let's talk about Brno, your best finish so far this season...

"This year has been full of 'frustrating Fridays' for me as I learn a new track every weekend whilst trying to give constructive feedback to the team. Brno was just like this so it was really good to finish the race and get a good result for the team and myself (7th place). I didn't really get a good feeling with the front there but we made a fairly smooth race and moved forward in the final laps, to finish 7th in the second race with HANNspree Honda Althea was fairly satisfying and I feel it has set us up to finish the year well".

What are your expectations for next year and the rest of this season?

"This year was always going to be a learning curve. The rest of the year will be no different but I believe I can continue to improve my performances and I will be working hard to get on the podium this year! I know I can make a strong championship next year whether in Supersport or Superbike. I have not made plans for next season yet. I have a great team right now and I'll do my best to use that to my advantage".

Ulsterman Eugene Laverty (22) will replace Fabien Foret in the Yamaha World Supersport Team for the Donington and Vallelunga rounds, as the French rider continues his recuperation at home in France.

Third in the 2006 British Supersport series, Laverty has more recent experience of 250cc GP machinery, but is pumped at the prospect of running in top-level 600cc racing. ”I'm really excited at the chance to ride a competitive Supersport machine”, said Laverty. ”Two years of riding underpowered bikes has led to two difficult seasons for me. For Yamaha to pick me up and offer this opportunity is fantastic, I'm over the moon! I can't wait to get to Donington and start working with the team to set up and get out on track".

James Ellison is on course to appear at Donington Park as a wildcard entry in a fortnight’s time for round 11 of the World Superbike Championship, despite injuries to his right hand that put him out of the Cadwell Park BSB last weekend.

Ellison had to sit out the two races on Bank Holiday Monday when an injury to his arm caused too severe during the F1-style qualifying session on Sunday.

Ellison picked up the injury riding on a Honda Enduro launch a week prior in Malaga alongside Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam.

Ellison said the ripped tendons in his lower right arm and hand were caused by the strain of riding and spent Monday in pit lane with a brace on his injured arm.

But Hydrex Bike Animal Team Owner Shaun Muir said the former Grand Prix and AMA star was still on course for a wildcard appearance at Donington Park for the up coming World Superbike round.

Muir told : “We are waiting on Friday night or Saturday morning to make our decision on James. That’s when the splinter is due to come off his arm, but he’s on a course of daily injections and there is no reason why the injury shouldn’t be sorted for Donington.

“As long as there are no repercussions of the injury, James will be fully fit for the World Superbike weekend.”

Garry McCoy is planning to make his return to motorcycle racing at the penultimate round of the World Supersport Championship at Magny Cours on 3rd to 5th October.

Garry McCoy has been out of action for over a month after suffering a horrific crash during the Saturday Free Practice session at Brno, Czech Republic.

McCoy collided with Ten Kate rider Andrew Pitt and lost control of his SC Triumph Daytona 675 and hit the Armco barrier.

The Australian suffered severe injuries including a broken T6 vertebrae and three broken ribs which affected his internal organs.

After travelling from Andorra to attend Craig Jones’ funeral, McCoy said:

“I still can’t take a full breath because of the broken ribs. One of my ribs broke in three places which has caused a lot of pain. With the broken vertebrae I have to wear a body cast which doesn’t sound too bad but for the first six weeks I have to wear it day and night everyday.

"I’ve only taken it off to shower and when I sleep I have to wake up first before I turn over!”

“After the six weeks are up, I then need to wear it for another two weeks but only during the day. I’m already looking forward to getting on the bike again. In a way I feel ready now but I know I’ll have to wait.”

More than 1000 people turned out to pay their last respects to racer Craig Jones at his funeral today with dozens of famous racers also there.

Jones, 23, was injured after an accident at Brands Hatch on August 3rd when he suffered severe head injuries, he died the next morning.

Jones’ coffin was decorated in the colours of the St George’s cross and marked with his racing number 18. His Parkalgar Honda CBR600RR was also brought to the church in Fotheringhay, Northants where speakers had to be set up outside the church due to the extensive crowds.

Riders who were there included Carl Fogarty, James Whitham, Troy Corser, Shane Byrne, Chris Walker, Broc Parkes and good friends Tommy Hill and Cal Crutchlow.

During the service tributes were paid by TV commentator and family friend Keith Huewen, Jones’ manager Steve Chick and a poem written by Jones’ younger sister Cassie was read out by Doris Valentine, wife of his former team boss Jack Valentine. Jones’ leaves long term partner Karen Atkins.