TAS Relentless Suzuki

TAS Relentless Suzuki News page for 2008




PRESS RELEASE

March 24th 2008

EASTER WEEKEND – IRISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP RACES

EASTER DOMINATION FOR RELENTLESS SUZUKI

Michael Laverty had to brave sub-zero temperatures at times while racing over the Easter holidays, but the Relentless by TAS Suzuki rider recorded a hat-trick of wins on Easter Saturday, also lifting the prestigious Enkalon Trophy for his efforts.

Having watched the weather forecast closely, team boss Philip Neill made the decision to fly Laverty in from Wales instead of travelling to the official BSB test at Snetterton. It was a great call, with his British championship performers filling the card at Bishopscourt, making it nine wins in only two meeting for the official Suzuki team.

Road racing star Bruce Anstey opened the team’s account only seven days previous with a fine treble in the MCRRCI event at the same venue, ably supported by new signing Cameron Donald, who had his own piece of success, with one win and numerous podium finishes.

Unfortunately the Easter Monday races at Kirkistown were halted due to adverse weather conditions, leaving the large holiday crowd very frustrated. Donald and Laverty posted pole and P2 times in the Superbike class and Ian Lowry was the pole setter in the Supersport class. He also held a race winning advantage at the head of the field in the Supersport race when the red flags came out, with Cameron Donald in third place.


Philip Neill – Team Principal
“These races were really only for our riders to have an early season shakedown, but I’m delighted with the results and the performances from the whole team. Last weekend was a local closed to club event and Bruce excelled, but this week we had all the main Irish Superbike riders on the grid, along with a handful of the Irish, British championship runners. Michael came here with big expectations from the local fans, but he delivered the goods on the all-new K8 GSX–R1000 Relentless Suzuki superbike.

Ian Lowry also proved why he’s regarded as the top rider in the British Supersport class, and our southern hemisphere riders, Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald, have gained major respect from the local fans this weekend. We’ve still got a bit of work to do before the season opener at the start of April, but winning is a great motivator and everyone in the Relentless Suzuki team can’t wait for the season to start.”

Michael Laverty
“I was prepared for the Snetterton test, but when I knew that snow was forecast, I was more than happy to fly home and race in the Easter meetings. The Relentless Suzuki team has a big following at home so it was nice for all four of us to be there supporting the local races. I’d never won the Enkalon Trophy before so I pleased with that and we’ve made more progress with the Superbike. It was a positive weekend for all involved with Relentless Suzuki.”





ENDS



Produced by Careva Publishing & PR
D5 Colvin House
Dundonald
BT16 1QT

Contact pr@careva.net
028 9048 6034
www.relentless-suzuki.com








April 7th 2008

Race News Release

British Superbike Championship – Round 1 Brands Hatch, Kent

SNOWED OFF AT BRANDS HATCH

There was bitter disappointment for everyone in the Relentless Suzuki team when yesterday’s opening round of the British Superbike Championship was abandoned due to heavy snow falling on the Kent circuit. Not the sort of weather any of us expected for April in the south of England, especially when the sun was shining back home in Ireland!

The opening round has now been rescheduled for the weekend of May 9/10/11. This is not ideal for many of the top teams in the paddock with the International North West 200 kicking off only two days later on May 13.

Up until the snow on Sunday morning, the Relentless Suzuki trio of Michael Laverty, Ian Lowry and Cameron Donald had been building themselves into strong positions in their respective championships. Laverty, who was returning to the superbike class on the GSX–R1000 K8 Relentless Suzuki posted a more than respectable 10th place on the grid for Sunday’s race.

Ian Lowry was taking a bit of time to build his confidence during the two days of free practice and qualifying but he did use the time wisely, setting up his all-new GSX–R600 Suzuki. Ian eventually finished 8th in qualifying.

New signing, Aussie Cameron Donald was making his British Superstock and Brands Hatch debut, but he put on a fine show also ending the qualifying in 8th place. This was Cameron’s first ever ride on the 2008 Relentless Suzuki superstock machine, showing many people why he must be respected on the circuit scene as well as the roads in 2008.

Philip Neill – Team Principal
“Obviously we are bitterly disappointed with the day being abandoned after such a promising start to the weekend, but I am also philosophical after gaining more track time with all our new Relentless Suzuki machinery. The atmosphere within the team has been great all weekend and we’ve brought everyone home in one piece. Sunday’s announcement didn’t suit anyone in the paddock but we will take positives from what we’ve learnt and move on now to Thruxton for round two.”

Thruxton Joy For Relentless Suzuki.


DONALD SEALS DEBUT PODIUM AS LAVERTY SHINES

Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing made a positive start to their 2008 British championship campaign yesterday at Thruxton, with a debut British Superstock podium for Aussie Cameron Donald in third place; a fifth placed British Superbike debut for the Relentless Suzuki GSX–R1000 in the hands of Michael Laverty, and last but not least, a hard-fought fifth place for Ian Lowry in the Supersport class.

Normally used to running only two riders in one class within the series, it was a busy day for the Relentless Suzuki team competing in four races at Thruxton. All eyes were on the team’s BSB debut and Michael Laverty did them proud after having to deal with tyre problems in race one. Cameron Donald has continued to impress everyone since joining the team and his podium will only add to his ever increasing profile in Relentless Suzuki colours. Ian Lowry ended a tough opening weekend with a positive result and the Moira man will have more to offer in the coming rounds.

Michael Laverty [BSB]
“I’m reasonably happy with today’s results; at least we have shown potential. In the first race the tyre spun two-thirds of the way round on the rim knocking the tyre out of balance and it was hard just to hold on. In race two I had a bit of a problem on the side of the tyre through the really fast curves, but the Relentless Suzuki was up to the job and only for that I could have possibly held on to the Hondas. Top five in the first meeting of the year is positive, and it was also satisfying to be the first Suzuki home in the second race.”



Cameron Donald [Superstock]
“That was a tough little weekend but I’m absolutely pumped with the result. That must be the happiest I’ve ever been with third place! I was confident all weekend that we could go quicker and although I qualified ninth, when the boys told me that Michael won last year from 12th on the grid that gave me even more confidence. That was my first race at a fast circuit on the superstock Suzuki and I just can’t wait now to race it at the North West 200. I’m pumped for all the guys in the team and I’m just rapt with this new bike!”



Ian Lowry
“I’ve had easier weekends in British Supersport, but along with the support of the whole Relentless Suzuki team, we worked hard all weekend and salvaged what was a respectable fifth place. It’s not where I want to be but it’s points on the board and Oulton, which is up next, is one of my favourite circuits.”

Philip Neill – Team Principal
“This was a good solid start to our career in the British Superbike Championship and we have already bettered the goals we set ourselves for each round of the series. It’s just a shame that we had a small tyre problem in the opening race, which unsettled the bike for Michael or we could have had two fifth places. We always knew that Michael was a better racer than a qualifier and he’s proved that this weekend on what is essentially a home-built bike. We still have a bit to do but I’m pleased nonetheless.

Ian Lowry had a tough weekend but it was good to see him pulling something out of the bag. The result doesn’t reflect his effort or lap times in the race, but again it’s a good solid start for Ian. Hopefully he can now regain some of the confidence that had him topping the pre-season time sheets in Spain on the all-new K8 GSX–R600.

What can I say about Cameron? He has produced a phenomenal result and just continues to impress everyone. He has been hired to do a job at the international road races for Relentless Suzuki but he has proved to everyone what he can also do on the circuits. It is surprising how comfortable he is, and to come from ninth in qualifying to a podium on his debut race with the team is just superb. He’s a guy who deserves a full time ride in the UK and it’s almost a shame we haven’t scheduled to do a full season of superstock with him.

Overall this weekend has been very positive for all three riders and I would like to thank all our sponsors, especially Suzuki and Relentless for making our superbike dream a reality.”


Results

BSB Race 1
Winner – Shane Byrne [Ducati]; 2nd – Cal Crutchlow [Honda]; 3rd – Michael Rutter [Ducati]; 10th – Michael Laverty [Relentless Suzuki]

BSB Race 2
Winner – Cal Crutchlow [Honda]; 2nd – Shane Byrne [Ducati]; 3rd – Michael Rutter [Ducati]; 5th – Michael Laverty [Relentless Suzuki]

Superstock 1000cc
Winner – Steve Brogan [Honda]; 2nd – Jon Kirkham [Yamaha]; 3rd – Cameron
Donald [Relentless Suzuki]

LOWRY SHOWS WORLD CLASS FORM

Ian Lowry put his GSX–R600 Relentless Suzuki on the top step of the podium at Donington Park earlier today, after a titanic battle with World Supersport riders Jonathan Rea and Andrew Pitt. It was a welcome return to the front of the pack for Lowry who spent the entire race mixing it with the Ten Kate duo crossing the line in third place.

Due to an infringement with the rules, both Ten Kate riders were subsequently disqualified, giving Lowry the win – nothing more than he deserved after a masterful performance.

In the superbike class, Michael Laverty was unlucky to stall his machine on the line at the start of the sighting lap in race one. And having been forced to start the race from pit lane, the Toomebridge rider came from last place in turn one, to take a fine ninth place at the chequered flag. In race two Laverty was as high as third place before a fuel starvation problem forced him back into the midfield runners. He eventually retired to the team garage with a faulty fuel pump the post race prognosis.

Ian Lowry
“I’m over the moon with that and to be mixing it with top World Supersport riders is great. When I was in the lead I felt pretty comfortable but got a false neutral into the chicane and lost a bit of ground. I used the best of my tyre to get back onto Pitt and Rea. I was able to dice with Pitt but Johnny gave himself a bit of tyre for the end of the race and made a break for it. I shut it off with three laps to go as I wasn’t going to fall off trying to be a hero just because it was Andrew Pitt I was chasing. All the boys are over the moon and I want to thank them for the big effort this weekend. I think we showed that the GSX–R600 Suzuki is a capable package, even in top company. In the end we got the win, so it worked well all round.”



Michael Laverty
“I was a bit stupid to stall the bike in the first race, but ninth was ok and the result gave me confidence for race two. After qualifying well in the wet, I was hoping we might get a bit of rain for the second race. We had changed a few things on the bike and I was really comfy. I definitely had the pace to lead the race but after about six laps I started to struggle with grip and by lap ten I’d dropped back a bit. That’s down to me: I just need to work my set up to get the best out of the tyres for a full race distance. I ended up pulling out with a faulty fuel pump, and at first I thought we had a traction control problem, so I flicked a few switches but obviously nothing happened. It was a frustrating weekend, although it was awesome to see Ian up there mixing it with the Ten Kate boys.”

Philip Neill – Team Principal
“Ian’s ride was phenomenal today. He just proved how competitive the GSX–R600 Suzuki really is, and also how strong the British Supersport class can be, by running alongside two of World Supersport’s top riders. Rea and Pitt brought a bit of prestige to the series this weekend but all credit to Ian for mixing it with them. It’ll be a real confidence booster for him and he also proved all is not lost in the championship chase.

Michael was a bit unlucky today with fuel starvation problems in race two and being held back to start in pit lane in the race one after stalling his bike. On the first few laps of race two, Michael was superb and showed that we are nearly there with this bike – a podium can’t be too far away. He also showed grit and determination in race one coming from dead last and his lap times were good enough for top five. Again we can take a lot of positives from this weekend.”

Results

BSB Race 1
Winner – Shane Byrne [Ducati]; 2nd – Leon Haslam [Honda]; 3rd – Tom Sykes [Suzuki]; 4th – James Ellison [Honda]; 5th – Leon Camier [Ducati]; 6th – Cal Crutchlow [Honda]. 9th – Michael Laverty [Relentless Suzuki]

BSB Race 2
Winner – Shane Byrne [Ducati]; 2nd – Leon Haslam [Honda]; 3rd – Cal Crutchlow [Honda]; 4th – Leon Camier [Ducati]; 5th – James Ellison [Honda]; 6th – Tom Sykes [Suzuki]. DNF – Michael Laverty

British Supersport
Winner – Ian Lowry [Relentless Suzuki]; 2nd – Glen Richards [Triumph]; 3rd – Miguel Praia [Honda]; 4th – Steve Brogan [Honda]; 5th – Chris Martin [Kawasaki]; 6th – James Webb [Honda]

Championship – Richards [85], Brogan [65], Kennaugh [58], Lowry [52]

NEXT BSB EVENT [ROUND 5] – Snetterton, Norfolk, June 13/14/15
Fastest Lap – Cameron Donald [Relentless Suzuki] – 1:18.095/ 108.60mph

Supersport 600cc
Winner – Steve Brogan [Honda]; 2nd – Glen Richards [Triumph]; 3rd – Chris Martin [Kawasaki]; 5th – Ian Lowry [Relentless Suzuki]


Next round of the championship – Oulton Park, May 3rd to 5th