Tark
24-08-2005, 09:23 PM
Testing time for Talbot and Chadwick
MRO Powerbike Championship
Rds 9&10, Knockhill, 29-30th July 2005
With RiOT Racing’s Mark Talbot’s (19) guest ride in the European Superstock 600 support race at the Brands Hatch round of the World Superbike Championship only a week away, the team opted to use the ninth and tenth rounds of the MRO Powerbike Championship at Knockhill as a test session for his big event. Instead of piloting his usual Suzuki GSX-R 1000, Talbot rode the Yamaha R6 he’ll be aboard next week, graciously loaned to him by R6 Cup contender Daniel Hegarty. The move meant that it would take a minor miracle for Talbot to finish in a points-scoring position this weekend, the R6 giving away a huge amount of horsepower to the rest of the field, but there was no question in the mind of the rider or team that it was the right thing to do. As he was unfamiliar with the Scottish circuit, RiOT SuperTwins rider Ricky Chadwick (39) also elected to enter the team’s Aprilia factory RSV-R into the Powerbike races and pick up some valuable additional track time.
By his own confession, Talbot has only just started to come to terms with his usual Suzuki GSX-R mount. The R6 is much more akin to the bikes he rode in the Steel Frame 600 championships during 2004. Right from the start of Saturday’s two qualifying sessions Talbot looked at home on the bike. Making continual improvements, Mark ended the day in 20th place out of a field of 26 riders. All of the contenders behind him were on larger, more powerful machines. Perhaps more tellingly, Mark’s time of 55.861 would have seen him qualify in 12th place for the National R6 Cup race which was run at the track in June – and the riders in that race were all aboard 2005 machines, whereas Mark’s bike is a 2004 model. “Dan’s R6 is a nice bike to ride” said Talbot afterwards. “I feel really comfortable sliding the back end. My big problem is how hard to push – I don’t want to crash before Brands Hatch”.
Talbot’s two races on Sunday had a predictable outcome. Despite some fine battling through the corners, the R6 was simply outperformed by the larger 1000cc machines along the circuit’s main start/finish straight to leave Mark finishing in 21st and 20th place respectively. However, the young Cumbrian made every effort to show what he could do. An excellent start to the afternoon outing saw him keeping six other riders behind him with the final couple of laps coming down to a straight fight with Suzuki-mounted Joachim Ritter. Despite Mark putting in all the hard work to get ahead in the twisty sections, all Ritter had to do was open the throttle of his machine to cruise past Talbot on the final drag to the finish line. Again, Mark’s best lap time of 55.901 would have seen him finish June’s R6 Cup race in 11th place.
Afterwards, Team Owner Jorge Vairinhos declared himself happy with Talbot’s performance. “I’ve no complaints this weekend. Mark has delivered everything that we’ve asked of him. If he can start next weekend from where he’s left off this weekend, there’s no reason why he can’t pick up a Championship point or two.” Similarly, Talbot left the track looking forward to his first taste of international competition. “Bring it on!” he grinned.
Ricky Chadwick’s excursion into Powerbike territory over the weekend was an event-filled affair. He had to retire from Saturday’s second qualifying session when the exhaust of his Aprilia caught fire – probably as a result of the suspected flooded engine he had encountered earlier in the day. He retired from Sunday’s opening race after 5 laps having had the chance to check out some suspension alterations and then used the second race to sit behind his teammate Talbot and offer some advice on his riding style, finishing 21st.
MRO Powerbike Championship Rd 9 (Knockhill) - Qualifying
1. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) 52.662
2. Scott Shand (Suzuki) 52.738
3. John MacDonald (Suzuki) 52.933
20. Mark Talbot (Yamaha) 55.861
25. Ricky Chadwick (Aprilia) 57.473
MRO Powerbike Championship Rd 10 (Knockhill)
Race 1 – 12 laps
1. Scott Shand (Suzuki) 10:41.799
2. Anthony Czyzewski (Suzuki) 10:45.258
3. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) 10:45.491
21. Mark Talbot (Yamaha) 11:25.476
RET. Ricky Chadwick (Aprilia)
Race 2 – 12 laps
1. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) 10:41.665
2. Scott Shand (Suzuki) 10:43.173
3. John MacDonald (Suzuki) 10.43.281
20. Mark Talbot (Yamaha) 11:26.859
21. Ricky Chadwick (Aprilia) 11:28.749
2005 MRO Powerbike Championship standings
1. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) - 276pts
2. Pete Baker (Suzuki) - 124pts
3. John Anderton (Suzuki) – 118pts
38. Mark Talbot (Suzuki) – 7 pts
MRO Powerbike Championship
Rds 9&10, Knockhill, 29-30th July 2005
With RiOT Racing’s Mark Talbot’s (19) guest ride in the European Superstock 600 support race at the Brands Hatch round of the World Superbike Championship only a week away, the team opted to use the ninth and tenth rounds of the MRO Powerbike Championship at Knockhill as a test session for his big event. Instead of piloting his usual Suzuki GSX-R 1000, Talbot rode the Yamaha R6 he’ll be aboard next week, graciously loaned to him by R6 Cup contender Daniel Hegarty. The move meant that it would take a minor miracle for Talbot to finish in a points-scoring position this weekend, the R6 giving away a huge amount of horsepower to the rest of the field, but there was no question in the mind of the rider or team that it was the right thing to do. As he was unfamiliar with the Scottish circuit, RiOT SuperTwins rider Ricky Chadwick (39) also elected to enter the team’s Aprilia factory RSV-R into the Powerbike races and pick up some valuable additional track time.
By his own confession, Talbot has only just started to come to terms with his usual Suzuki GSX-R mount. The R6 is much more akin to the bikes he rode in the Steel Frame 600 championships during 2004. Right from the start of Saturday’s two qualifying sessions Talbot looked at home on the bike. Making continual improvements, Mark ended the day in 20th place out of a field of 26 riders. All of the contenders behind him were on larger, more powerful machines. Perhaps more tellingly, Mark’s time of 55.861 would have seen him qualify in 12th place for the National R6 Cup race which was run at the track in June – and the riders in that race were all aboard 2005 machines, whereas Mark’s bike is a 2004 model. “Dan’s R6 is a nice bike to ride” said Talbot afterwards. “I feel really comfortable sliding the back end. My big problem is how hard to push – I don’t want to crash before Brands Hatch”.
Talbot’s two races on Sunday had a predictable outcome. Despite some fine battling through the corners, the R6 was simply outperformed by the larger 1000cc machines along the circuit’s main start/finish straight to leave Mark finishing in 21st and 20th place respectively. However, the young Cumbrian made every effort to show what he could do. An excellent start to the afternoon outing saw him keeping six other riders behind him with the final couple of laps coming down to a straight fight with Suzuki-mounted Joachim Ritter. Despite Mark putting in all the hard work to get ahead in the twisty sections, all Ritter had to do was open the throttle of his machine to cruise past Talbot on the final drag to the finish line. Again, Mark’s best lap time of 55.901 would have seen him finish June’s R6 Cup race in 11th place.
Afterwards, Team Owner Jorge Vairinhos declared himself happy with Talbot’s performance. “I’ve no complaints this weekend. Mark has delivered everything that we’ve asked of him. If he can start next weekend from where he’s left off this weekend, there’s no reason why he can’t pick up a Championship point or two.” Similarly, Talbot left the track looking forward to his first taste of international competition. “Bring it on!” he grinned.
Ricky Chadwick’s excursion into Powerbike territory over the weekend was an event-filled affair. He had to retire from Saturday’s second qualifying session when the exhaust of his Aprilia caught fire – probably as a result of the suspected flooded engine he had encountered earlier in the day. He retired from Sunday’s opening race after 5 laps having had the chance to check out some suspension alterations and then used the second race to sit behind his teammate Talbot and offer some advice on his riding style, finishing 21st.
MRO Powerbike Championship Rd 9 (Knockhill) - Qualifying
1. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) 52.662
2. Scott Shand (Suzuki) 52.738
3. John MacDonald (Suzuki) 52.933
20. Mark Talbot (Yamaha) 55.861
25. Ricky Chadwick (Aprilia) 57.473
MRO Powerbike Championship Rd 10 (Knockhill)
Race 1 – 12 laps
1. Scott Shand (Suzuki) 10:41.799
2. Anthony Czyzewski (Suzuki) 10:45.258
3. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) 10:45.491
21. Mark Talbot (Yamaha) 11:25.476
RET. Ricky Chadwick (Aprilia)
Race 2 – 12 laps
1. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) 10:41.665
2. Scott Shand (Suzuki) 10:43.173
3. John MacDonald (Suzuki) 10.43.281
20. Mark Talbot (Yamaha) 11:26.859
21. Ricky Chadwick (Aprilia) 11:28.749
2005 MRO Powerbike Championship standings
1. Jonti Hobday (Suzuki) - 276pts
2. Pete Baker (Suzuki) - 124pts
3. John Anderton (Suzuki) – 118pts
38. Mark Talbot (Suzuki) – 7 pts