22 August 2010

The Ducati Motologic Racing Team depart Qld Raceway tonight in good spirits after finishing both the day's races on the podium. In front of a terrific crowd #27 Jamie Stauffer recorded the fastest lap time of the weekend in the Superbike class with a 1:10.581 sec on lap 4 of race 2.

With a 2nd placing in Race 1 and 3rd placing in Race 2, Jamie comes away from the event with a 2nd place overall for Round 5. 

Although entering the weekend determined to win both races, Stauffer is pleased with the results in general. Starting from 8th position on the grid was always going to add an extra challenge for Stauffer after his brief moment of angst with an unpredicted slide during his Superpole lap.

He admits his start in Race 1 was not ideal, however he weaved his way through the field like the experienced professional he is and although not quite able to catch Staring in time, his 2nd place finish has him smiling.

#27 Jamie Stauffer: "The weekend was really positive for us; we got a podium result for both the races, and learned a lot yet again about the 1198R. I didn't get good starts for the races so I had to work hard to get past quite a few riders, but my lap times are extremely consistent, the Ducati definitely has the speed so I know going into Phillip Island in a few weeks we will be even more competitive."

Race 2 saw Stauffer get a better start off the line, however he did have to work his magic one more time to move through the field and stepped onto 3rd place on the podium. Ducati Motologic Racing Team Manager Paul Free is pleased to see his team back on the rostrum.

Paul Free: "I am definitely happy with the results from the weekend although Jordan's crash did subdue the mood somewhat on Saturday. We are relieved that he should heal well with some rest. Sunday's races gave us some valuable information to look at and maintain the development path we are currently on with the 1198R, I am really enjoying working with Jamie and the Ducati, our development path is so steep at the moment and we are learning so much, "it really is exciting".

Overall, 2nd place for Round 5 of the championship and the fastest lap time of the event has provided some very definite motivation for the Ducati Motologic Racing Team as they look to the next round at Phillip Island which will be held in conjunction with the V8 Supercars as part of the L&H 500 in September.

In what can only be described as a mixed weekend at the track for Ducati Motologic Racing the factory Ducati team finished Round 3 of the Australian Superbike Championship without a result for #27 Jamie Stauffer after he did not finish either race on Sunday despite racing competitively in both races, even recording the fastest lap time in Race 1.

Stauffer's rookie team mate, #33 Jordan Burgess had a more successful weekend of racing overall as the developing rider finished 11th in Race 1 of the day, placing him amongst some very experienced riders. Although recording faster lap times in practice on Thursday on the 1198R, Burgess was still competitive in Race 1 recording a lap time of 1:12.847 seconds.

The developing Ducati team began the weekend strongly, leading the timesheets in practice. Qualifying on Saturday also placed the Ducati 1198R in a strong position to challenge for first place. Race day on Sunday appeared promising as the starter's flag fell on Race 1 and within 3 laps Stauffer had recorded the fastest lap time of the whole race at 1:10.470 seconds.

It was then that the two-time Australian Superbike Champion encountered an electrical gremlin causing his bike to stop. Stauffer was forced to return to the pits. It was Bryan Staring that took first place with his fastest lap time being 1:10.523 seconds.

The mixed results of Race 1 did nothing to deter the technicians as they set about preparing Stauffer's spare bike to compete in the second race of the day. Stauffer himself was eager to move forward from the first race and remain focused.

Stauffer was again extremely competitive in Race 2 recording his fastest lap at 1:10.456 sec on lap 6; however it simply was not his day. The #27 was again unable to finish the race on his spare bike when a clutch plate fractured causing the clutch to slip.

Jordan Burgess finished Race 2 in 16th place and has used the event as a significant learning experience.

#33 Jordan Burgess: "My weekend had some definite highlights as I recorded some strong lap times in practice and was able to finish 11th in Race 1 which was a solid improvement after my injury in Darwin. The second race did not go quite as well after we tried a different setting in the bike, only to finish in 16th place. I have learned a lot this weekend particularly from the team's experience overall so I have some very definite points to work on and discuss both with my technicians and my trainer."

#27 Jamie Stauffer: "I'm really disappointed this weekend, of course. No rider wants to come away from an event without points, but I know the entire team put their heart and soul into everything at the track and it really was just a string of bad luck for us on race day. My times in practice were the fastest of the day and I recorded the fastest lap time of Race 1 so I was going strong. I'm disappointed not to have gained more points in the series, but I really have to thank the team for their dedication. When things got tough, the team came together really well and just got to work. It was disappointing for everyone that we couldn't come away from the event as strongly as we began. There were some positives though and we will focus on those and look to the next round in Qld in August."

Team Owner and Manager Paul Free: "Our weekend began positively as both Jamie and Jordan were posting fast times in the early part of the weekend. It was just a shame that the momentum in Jamie's case was cut short. It was great to see Jordan get up into 11th place in Race 1 especially in his first event since his injury. Overall, we learned a lot about the motorbike and tested many new ideas. We look forward to our next event on the Ducati armed with the information gained from Round 3 and to continuing the development path of the 1198R. The bike showed so much potential at Round 3 and good overall speed so I'm sure once we can get over some of these niggling problems Jamie will be the one to beat."

The next event in the series will be Round 4 at Queensland Raceway August 19-22. The Ducati Motologic Race Team will be there with a stronger team spirit than ever as we continue developing the Ducati 1198R.

Under a temperamental sky this weekend in Darwin the yet young factory Ducati team continued its racing campaign in the Australian Superbike Series with a strong overall result.

With the track temperatures reaching 46.8 Degrees for Race 2 and the high humidity never really abating it was hard going for everyone in the field. The Ducati Motologic riders and indeed the entire team were singing the praises of their new Fujitsu split system air conditioner fitted into the race team transporter courtesy of new sponsor Fujitsu General.

Ducati Motologic Racing has maintained its 4th position in the series after Round 2 despite not having the advantage of pre-event testing at the Hidden Valley circuit.

Arriving in Darwin only days before the event with the knowledge that the Ducati team's main competition had procured the circuit for private testing on the control tyre 2 weeks prior to the event, the determined Ducati Motologic Racing Team were not deterred and immediately set about their task. 

The two practice days on Thursday and Friday in lead up to the event should have given two-time Australian Superbike Champion Jamie Stauffer and team mate Jordan Burgess ample opportunity to acquaint themselves with both the Hidden Valley circuit and also the extreme heat of the Top End and gain valuable set-up information for the 1198R going into the weekend. However, much time was lost due to the torrential downpour on Thursday and the testing advantage of the other teams began to rear its head.

Team Owner and Manager, Paul Free was pleased with the progress made by the team all things considered.

Free: "I'm happy with Jamie and Jordan's performance with the little practice and setup time they had. Going into the weekend knowing that our main competition had already had 3 days testing at the circuit to setup their machines and gather information about the new Dunlop control tyre I wasn't too concerned as we had Thursday as an additional practice day to our normal race event, but when we were washed out on Thursday with a huge downpour and lost basically the whole day's practice I knew we were going to be up against it to bridge the gap to the other competitors. I am pleased with the development of the 1198R made this weekend and will look forward to the next event."

Race one, declared a wet race, proved to be a disaster for #33 Jordan Burgess when in extremely poor conditions he was taken down by another rider and spent the duration of the race with the medical team with a suspected torn ligament in his left knee. The horrendous weather conditions claimed one rider after another with 4 riders in total falling prey to the conditions before the red flag came out for a second time and the race was declared.

After a less than ideal race start and a subsequent mechanical problem Jamie Stauffer finished Race 1 in 10th place.

The second race of the day was much less dramatic and much more positive for the Ducati Motologic Team as the clouds parted, the sun once again beat down and the race was run, Stauffer this time finishing in a much more respectable 4th place. Although not getting off the start line well on his Ducati 1198R Stauffer finished strongly and will retain 4th place overall in the Championship.

Stauffer: "I am happy to remain in 4th position although I would have liked to have moved up further in the rankings at this round of course. The weather played a big part in everyone's weekend and we have located some issues to work on before Round 3 in Qld, but overall we are moving forward."

It was a very sore and uncertain Jordan Burgess who awaited clearance from the Racesafe crew as to whether or not he would actually be able to race in the second race of the day. The verdict was positive for Burgess and he was eager to get the 1198R back on the track. Race 2 saw an injured Burgess finish a solid 18th.

Burgess: "This weekend has been a little frustrating of course with a DNF for race 1 and an injury going into race 2, but on a positive note we take away from the weekend a lot more information about the 1198R. Hopefully the weather will be a lot more accommodating in Qld for Round 3 and we will be looking for strong results."

The Ducati Motologic Race Team will be racing next at Queensland Raceway on June 4-6 and with all the major teams going into the event on an equal footing with testing it looks set to be a successful round for the new factory Superbike team.

Two Ducati Motologic 1198R Superbikes just metres from an Army Tiger Helicopter; the stuff of dreams for many, but a thrilling reality for the factory Ducati team yesterday at Robertson Barracks.

It was an extremely rare opportunity afforded to the team and not one soon forgotten. The invitation from 1st Aviation at Robertson Barracks in Darwin was not one to pass up as two very different worlds of technology, performance and skill came together.

The elite Tiger helicopter certainly takes technology to a whole new level, but in a speed challenge? There was little point testing the metal of the Ducati 1198R against the Tiger. The nimble Superbike winning hands down with a top speed of around 300km/hr; the Ducati 1198R would leave the Tiger behind (albeit very politely) as even without all its weaponry, the Tiger's top speed is in the vicinity of 270km/hr.

Two-time Australian Superbike Champion Jamie Stauffer and Ducati Motologic Racing team mate Jordan Burgess were nonetheless in awe of the spectacular machinery hovering just metres from their helmets.

Stauffer: "This opportunity has been fantastic; even just to be able to get up close to the Tiger helicopter and talk to the Army personnel about its capabilities is terrific. We also had the chance to go in the flight simulators which really gives you an appreciation of what these guys actually do and the skills they have. Everyone was really welcoming and it was a great way to begin our stay in Darwin for the Australian Superbike event."

The Ducati Motologic Race Team are extremely appreciative of the opportunity to get so close to one of the most technologically advanced pieces of equipment in the country and the welcome we received from the personnel at 1st Aviation at Robertson Barracks was fantastic.

Playing with Tigers is certainly a thrill, however it is back to the job at hand for the Ducati Motologic Race Team as Jamie Stauffer and Jordan Burgess place their focus squarely on the Hidden Valley Raceway for Round 2 of the Australian Superbike Championship this weekend April 10th and 11th.

The 2010 season of the Australian Superbike Championship is heating up going into Round 2 as the Ducati Motologic Race Team heads north to compete at Hidden Valley Raceway in Darwin on the 10th and 11th April.

The team are ready to race again after an extremely successful Round 1 which was held in conjunction with the World Superbike event at Phillip Island in February where the newly formed factory team achieved a podium on its first outing.

Jamie Stauffer raced his Ducati 1198R with apparent ease to take 3rd position overall and his team mate, Jordan Burgess, being but a rookie on a Superbike, impressed all involved by taking 9th place overall.

It has been 10 years since the Superbikes competed in the Northern Territory and only a select few in the field have experienced the searing heat out on the track.

Ducati Motologic Racing team owner and manager, Paul Free has himself raced at Hidden Valley and knows only too well the toll it can take on an unsuspecting rider.

Free: "One thing I can remember from '98 and '99 when I raced at Hidden Valley is that it was exceedingly hot out there on the bike, and we competed there in July. It is going to be of utmost importance that the riders get the appropriate rest and cooling off periods throughout the race event, or there will be some guys that will really struggle come Sunday's races. The Motologic workshop has been a hive of activity since Round 1. The knowledge gained from the first races of the year has given us a much greater understanding of the 1198R; we have since carried out a test session at Winton Raceway to gain information from a stop/start type circuit which was extremely beneficial for both our staff and riders. Technically, the bike will be very similar to how it was run at Phillip Island during the 1st round, and I am more than comfortable with the outright performance of the Ducati going into Darwin."

The Ducati Motologic Racing riders, two-time Australian Superbike Champion Jamie Stauffer and Jordan Burgess are communicating with their trainer constantly in the lead up to the event at Hidden Valley in order to be in peak condition to withstand the gruelling heat at the circuit.

Stauffer: "I am really looking forward to racing at Darwin after having a great first round at Phillip Island in a new team and on a new bike. It is exciting going to a track we have never raced at before and I am looking forward to rolling the Ducati Motologic 1198R out of the truck and putting in as many laps as possible to be in a strong position to win some races!

We have had time to make some changes to the bike since Phillip Island so we are moving forward in developing the 1198R to be a race winner."

Jordan Burgess is equally as ready to race after some strong testing.

Burgess: "I am really excited coming into the second round of the series for this year up in Darwin. Round 1 at Phillip Island was my first as a Superbike rider and my maiden run as a factory rider; so I'm happy to have that under my belt now! I kept improving over the weekend which was very encouraging for me and the team. Our test at Winton last week was extremely positive and we gained some good ground in terms of handling and set-up. We now move into the second round at Hidden Valley feeling confident of strong results. My training regime has stepped up a notch to handle conditions which will be thrown at us in the Top End. It's going to be pretty steamy so both Jamie and I will be employing some good techniques to keep us on top of our game for all the races. I've never been to the Northern Territory and we are expecting a good turnout so I can't wait to turn up the action for our Northern friends!"

With the heat intensifying both on and off the track, it will be interesting to see who can keep their cool at Hidden Valley Raceway on April 10th and 11th, one thing is for sure the Ducati 1198R is red hot and ready to race.