More progress at Brno
08-07-2008
It's been another day of progress for StoneBaker Racing on the second part of their three-day test at the circuit of Brno in the Czech Republic.
Riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot both completed six sessions. Due to the rain yesterday, the track this morning was quite dusty and slippery but as more riders took to the circuit the dirt was blown away and grip levels improved substantially during the afternoon.
Gino Rea rode his Superstock machine throughout the day and concentrated on fine-tuning his suspension settings. Dan Linfoot rode the squad's Supersport machine for his first two sessions, adapting very quickly to the traction control system, before reverting to his Superstock bike and making gearing alterations.
The former teenager from Yorkshire turned 20 today and the team celebrated with a barbecue in the evening.
Both riders are keen to up their pace tomorrow but with mixed forecasts predicting both sunshine and showers at the track on Wednesday, the weather will need to play its part in the proceedings too.
Good first day's test for StoneBaker at Brno
07-07-2008
StoneBaker Racing riders Dan Linfoot and Gino Rea, along with Joint Team Owner Andrew Stone, all described themselves as "comfortable" at the end of the first of their three days of testing at the Czech Republic circuit of Brno despite having to contend with rainy conditions.
After two opening sessions in the dry this morning, the heavens opened and both riders completed another four sessions in the wet. The 3.4-mile Czech circuit has recently been resurfaced and is allegedly very hard on tyre wear, but the slippery conditions negated this for Rea and Linfoot.
Rather than running a fully wet set-up, the team elected to use dry suspension settings but with wet tyres. In this way, both riders will be prepared for any last minute changes of conditions - which the circuit is prone to - whilst on the grid preparing for the start of the sixth round of the European Superstock 600 Championship, which the track hosts in a fortnight's time.
The only minor disappointment for the two hotshots was that the team's Supersport machine was not used today. It was felt that the wet conditions would hamper the development of the bike's traction control system. However, with temperatures of 26°c predicted for tomorrow, it is likely that the Supersport machine will be on track alongside the Superstock bikes.
Battling top tens for StoneBaker at Misano
28-06-2008
The two-man StoneBaker Racing team of Dan Linfoot and Gino Rea overcame a tough qualifying session to secure two top ten finishes at Misano today. In scorching hot temperatures that rose as high as 33 degrees both riders kept themselves in the championship hunt with Linfoot scything his way through the field from 19th to take an impressive sixth place finish with Rea also moving up the field from 12th on the grid to secure ninth.
Having tested at the San Marino track at the beginning of June, the StoneBaker team arrived in positive mood fresh from their impressive performances last time out in Germany. Unfortunately in final qualifying the two riders did not show their usual pace with Linfoot unable to post a lap time due to a clutch problem. Meanwhile, Rea suffered a heavy crash exiting the final turn just four laps into the final session, which wrecked his number one bike and severely limited his time on track. As a result Rea secured 12th and a fourth row start whilst Linfoot had to start from 19th place on the 29 man grid.
In the ten lap race of the 4.226KM circuit located in the republic of San Marino, both riders made strong starts and from turn one began attacking the riders in front of them. With the European Superstock class being so hotly contested it was initially slow progress for the StoneBaker Racing riders, but the two men persevered and in the final three laps escalated themselves up the leader board to secure two top ten finishes and more valuable championship points.
Dan Linfoot, Race 6th, Championship position 3rd
"Considering I had to start from 19th on the grid I'm happy to finish up in sixth place. I got a good start and made up about three places going into turn one and then I got another two into the first complex. There was a fair bit of fairing bashing, but I managed to cross the line in 12th at the end of the first lap, which wasn't too bad.
"I worked my way up to ninth and then gained a place when Gino (Rea) ran on. From there I had about a five second gap to the two riders in front and I was able to reel them in and pass them. Having been so far back at the start that was all I could do and I feel that it was good damage limitation from a championship point of view. It's unfortunate about qualifying because I feel that if I'd been up the front and got away with them I would have been able to run the pace of the leaders, but all things considered sixth today was a good result for us."
Gino Rea, Race 9th, Championship position 7th
"I'm disappointed with the result to be honest. The crash in qualifying was a big one and it really did affect us because we had to replace the whole front end of the bike for the race and it just didn't have the same feel that I was used to.
"On the third lap in the race the front brake lever came into the handlebar, which forced me to run on and lose a hand full of places as a result. I got back into it and was pushing to catch the guys in front when the Ten Kate Honda rider, Sembera crashed in front of me and I had to slow down to avoid him.
"On a positive note I've kept seventh in the championship and the next race is at Brno (Czech Republic) which is a track I like so hopefully we'll be back challenging for the podium there."
Team Manager - Andy Stone
"Considering what we had to go through in qualifying this afternoon I think both guys rode really well in the race to achieve what they did. We've managed to get both riders home in the top ten, although I think podiums were possible today in different circumstances. We haven't had the luck this weekend, but we'll be aiming to get things firmly back on track next time out in Brno in three weeks time."
Sponsors
Team Beowulf Racing.
StoneBaker Racing contests the 2008 World Superbike European Superstock 600 championship with riders Dan Linfoot and Gino Rea.
We have just recorded our second-best result of the year with Gino Rea taking the runner-up spot at Brands Hatch. In the championship standings, Gino currently lies fourth and Dan fifth.
There is now a month-long break in the series before the action resumes at Donington Park between September 5th-7th.
