Taylor Mackenzie joins Moto Rapido Racing
2016 Pirelli National Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie will return to the 2018 British Superbike Championship this season, joining the Ducati dealership-based Moto Rapido Ducati team.
The team scored multiple podium finishes in last year’s championship with John Hopkins, who continues his recovery. The Winchester based team are now looking ahead to their opening pre-season test in Spain next month, determined to build on their previous campaign with further updates from Ducati Corse.
Mackenzie returned to the premier class in 2017 following a title-winning season in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship, where he lifted the title after winning six races and scoring a further two podium finishes.
Mackenzie said: “I had an up and down year last season; developing a new bike is always a difficult task, even more so in BSB when the racing is at such a high level. I managed to grab a fifth and a seventh place when I was fit. Unfortunately for me when the big improvements came with the bike I was forced to sit and watch so I didn’t get to reap the rewards of the development work that we’d done throughout the year.
“I’m really excited to be riding a Ducati, it’s my first time riding one and a different style of riding to what I’m used to but we’ve got plenty of testing to get stuck into before the season starts so I can get to grips with it. I rode with John at points last year and was always blown away by how fast it was so I’m very excited to get the chance to ride one.
“It doesn’t really feel that strange for us because we’re best friends off the track and we train and ride together almost every day. We’ve helped push each other to be better than we ever would have been on our own. When I won my championship two weeks before Taz there was no way on earth he wasn’t going to win his. People keep asking me if I’m worried about him being in the same class but it’s not me that should be worried because I know how fast he is!
“I’ve got a completely new challenge ahead of me with a new bike so I’d like to start with finishing inside the top ten and then keep chipping away all season. I’ve raced in BSB long enough to know how hard it is and there’s no guarantees with racing either so we’ll just keep our heads down as a team and work as hard as we can. Everything is in place for me to have my best year yet so I’ll be doing everything in my power to make sure it is.”
Team Owner Steve Moore commented: “We are very excited to have secured Taylor for the 2018 Superbike season. While the official Hopper news was recent, John had been keeping me updated of progress through winter and realistically we knew it would be asking too much to get back to racing so soon. Our plan was always Hopper for two seasons and while we kept the ride open as long as possible for him, I have to thank John for his honesty and making the tough decision not make the start of the season.
“So I had been speaking with other riders and Taylor had been on our radar since last year. I like the idea of a new generation of British riders bringing a new wave of talent into BSB so Taylor fits well with our plan. He clearly knows how to win a title as Superstock champion and his couple of BSB seasons are valuable experience.
“Now it’s time for him to be part of a team where the focus is entirely on him and his development. I’m sure we have the package of bike, team and technical ability to bring him to the next level and stand on the podium.
“We have a testing plan that starts in March in Spain which is when he’ll see the Ducati and meet the team for the first time. We have some more updates from Ducati Corse this season and I’m looking forward to the first test. We’ll be doing our best to continue our teams progress, score more points that last season and make Taylor a Superbike contender, which will probably mean I can’t afford him for 2019, but we’ll discuss that when it happens!”
Hopper update
We send our best wishes to John Hopkins on his continuing recovery… Words from the man himself:
“Hi all, hope everyone enjoyed the holidays & are having a great start to 2018 ! Just wanted to give an update on my long road to recovery.
“Although finally up and starting to weight bare, sadly run into complications with my right knee soft tissue damage & excess scar tissue in the joint.
Still may need more ops but regardless, sadly still have a long road to full recovery forcing me to miss the start of the 2018 season!
100% motivated & doing everything possible to ensure full recovery! Thank you to all friends, family, fans and sponsors for continued support!”
We are speaking to riders for the 2018 season. News soon…
Moto Rapido into Moto3 with Thomas Strudwick
Moto Rapido have expanded their MCE British Superbike paddock presence to run a Hel Motostar standard class entry with Thomas Strudwick in the hot seat.
Strudwick made his debut in the Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup, before progressing into the Motostar class. Now the youngster from West Sussex is looking forward to his 2017 campaign with the support of the Moto Rapido Ducati team.
“This is a new project for the team and I’m very pleased it’s happening. Thomas brings with him his racing team and family so he can be in familiar surroundings and to maintain their own programme with some fantastic support from his sponsor Case Electrical,” said team boss Steve Moore
“For a long time I have wanted to be able to mentor a young aspiring racer, so we are here to give them access to our Superbike staff as one team. We are all really excited to have Thomas join us for 2017 and I’m confident that we can make a difference both technically and professionally for him.
“I’m very pleased that some of our own sponsors (Motul, Solent Scientific, R&G, HEL) have come on board with help for him too. Hopper is very keen on this project to support our young talent and I’m sure Thomas can learn a lot from just being in the pit box and sharing some track notes – I know Thomas is excited to be Hopper’s team mate 2017.”
John Hopkins returns to Moto Rapido Ducati
Hopkins hunts 2017 MCE BSB success with Moto Rapido Ducati return.
American John Hopkins has secured his place on the 2017 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship grid after signing a new deal to return to the Moto Rapido Ducati team for the forthcoming season.
The Californian, who has previously been a MotoGP podium finisher, came tantalisingly close to lifting the 2011 MCE BSB crown in one of the most memorable season finales in history. ‘Hopper’ missed out on the crown to Tommy Hill by just 0.006s at Brands Hatch making it the closest ever championship title decider and is now gunning to be back in contention in 2017.
Hopkins had his first taste of the Ducati in 2015 when he joined the Winchester-based Ducati dealership run team mid-way through the season. Hopkins then went on to score the first ever podium finish for the Ducati Panigale R in the Championship as the team scored their first top three finish in MCE BSB at Brands Hatch.
Hopkins said: “To be back with the Moto Rapido team and on the Ducati again is something I am really so excited about. I enjoyed last season but I never felt as comfortable on the Yamaha as I did the first time I rode the Ducati in 2015. It’s such a great bike to ride and it really suits my riding style; I certainly hadn’t had as much fun riding motorcycles in a while until I had my first laps on the Panigale in 2015.
“I love this team and they were always one of my first choices for the new season. We had a podium finish together in 2015 and I know that they have come on leaps and bounds with the development since then. During my time with them previously there were several occasions when we were in guaranteed podium finishing positions until we had some minor technical problems because so much was so new, but now this bike is the complete package.
“My hopes are extremely high for next season and it is going to be one of the most competitive seasons ever I feel. We say it every year, but with so many riders from the World Championship on the grid, some new riders and some of the established contenders it is a stacked field of world class riders for sure. Our aim and focus is to go testing and then be there right from the start.”
Team owner Steve Moore commented: "This time I wasn't going to miss out on John so we started talking right after the last race of 2016. The last time he was in the team we had consistently great lap times and even our first podium. Importantly the fit with John, our team and the Panigale was perfect. John’s very aggressive riding style and the Ducati work well together so I will be expecting top results.
“BSB is going to be one of the toughest classes in any motorsport competition in 2017 with top class riders making up all the points scoring positions. It's a cruel class where being fractions of a second off put you at the back. I know we have the bike with some good updates for 2017 from Ducati Corse and a very good technical team, so I needed a rider who is very fast, is familiar with the pressure of the championship and loves the Panigale - so of course John was my obvious choice.
“Myself, the team and sponsors are very happy and I'm sure our fans will be too. We had a shocking 2016 but taking positives we have proven the bike’s speed and reliability plus tested many new parts. I'm really looking forward to John jumping on the 2017 spec bike and can't wait to go testing now.”
Moto Rapido BSB in Best shape ever
From BSN - David Miller
Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati boss Steve Moore believes his team are in their best ever shape going into this year’s MCE British Superbike season after two successful Spanish tests with youngster and Nando’s worrier Danny Buchan.
The squad did four days at Cartagena where Buchan was right at the time-sheet sharp-end before moving on to Guadix where the first day was full of snow. However, the sun appeared on day two and Buchan concentrated on a new brake setup and his pace on worn tyres.
“We are in really good shape, the best we have ever been without a doubt. We’ve done more testing than ever before. We had a lot of work to do with Danny as he doesn’t have that much Superbike experience but he has taken to it really well,” said Moore, speaking to bikesportnews.com from a ‘services’.
“We left Cartagena with a good setup and we went to Guadix to qualify that setup. It is easy to set the Panigale up for one specific track so we wanted to get the base setting for Danny as good as we could as two tracks.
“On the second day, as it was a little cold on the first, Danny did a lot of laps and then also finished the day with a race simulation on the SC1. Almost all of his laps were within four-tenths of his fastest so we were are really happy. It was also a good test of his fitness as you’re up at around 4000ft above sea-level.”
“We also had two engineers from a new braking company called TK come over from Italy. Danny ran their discs and really got on with them. They work with some Ducati teams in the Italian series, so that sort of support is nice to have. They are going to make a selection for him.”
Buchan makes Ducati switch with Moto Rapido for 2016 MCE BSB
Danny Buchan will return to the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in 2016, making a dynamic switch to Ducati with the Lloyds British Moto Rapido team after an impressive rookie campaign this year.
The 22-year-old from Essex, nicknamed ‘Boom’ Buchan, is one of the stand-out young British rising stars. A dominant 2014 National Superstock 1000 Championship title preceded promotion to the premier class in 2015, where he instantly impressed with his pace during pre-season testing and claimed two podium finishes at Oulton Park.
The Winchester-based Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati team celebrated their strongest campaign to date in MCE BSB this season, claiming their first podium finish at the Brands Hatch season finale and have already announced a support package with Ducati UK for their forthcoming campaign.
Buchan said: “This really is a great opportunity for me and I think the Ducati should really suit my style. It is a great feeling to have signed for the team at this stage of the year and I can’t wait to start working with them because they are a really close knit and hard working team so I feel that together we can achieve big things - we have seen how strong the Ducati can be towards the end of last season.
“I learnt so much during this year and my first full season in BSB. My approach to it did change slightly during the season where I was learning more and starting to set realistic goals and that is when the results started to come at the end of the year. I learnt a lot more race craft this season so I really think we can be stronger in 2016 because I can build on my previous experiences.
“We have a really good test programme already scheduled and we are all really behind this project - I feel the whole team is like a family. I have ridden a Panigale before when I was in Australia and I absolutely loved it, so I can’t wait to get on the Moto Rapido one for the first time. I want to thank Moto Rapido, Ducati UK and everyone else who has made this possible – I can’t wait to get started now!”
Team Owner Steve Moore commented: “2016 is set to be our best year yet, the continued backing and support from Lloyds British has allowed us to move forward and commit to next season early. We have had our eye on Danny for a while now because he really has taken some big steps forward in recent seasons and we are utterly convinced that he will really suit the Ducati. He knows all the circuits and now has Superbike class experience so the time was right to get his signature. We have a good base to start off with, so I think this is a really good match with a lot of promise. We truly believe that we have signed one of the biggest young talents in Britain right now and with our comprehensive winter testing programme, we will be ready for the start of the new season.”