1st qualifying session at Nurburgring
13-06-2008
First qualifying sees us in 6th (Dan) and 10th (Gino) places on the grid with 2nd qualifying and the race tomorrow. Dan used his qualifying tyre with Gino saving his until tomorrow. The weather has been erratic all day between wet and dry but the qualifying was dry. The weather will continue to be a gamble tomorrow for both 2nd qualifying and the race. The bikes are running well following the Misano test developments with 3rd and 7th positions in the speed measurements. All things taken into account we are in a good position at this point in the weekend and are looking forward to tomorrow.
StoneBaker Racing gets ready for Germany
11-06-2008
There might have been a five-week break since StoneBaker Racing (formerly Beowulf Racing) was last out in race action, but the Somerset-based squad hasn't been resting. With the next round of the European Superstock 600 Championship only a few days away Yamaha-mounted riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot, along with the rest of the team, have just completed a three-day test at the circuit of Misano on the Adriatic coast.
The purpose of the session was to familiarise the riders with the circuit (which the European series visits at the end of June), as well as providing an opportunity for machinery development, testing and running-in several new motors. The bike which StoneBaker Racing plans to enter into next year's World Supersport Championship was also present and received a considerable amount of the squads attention.
As none of the bikes were fitted with transponders, no accurate timings are available. However, both riders and Joint Team Owner Andrew Stone declared themselves happy with the weekend's developments even though some of the proceedings had to be carried out in the rain. On-board footage of the bikes on the track, with commentary from Linfoot and Rea, is available on the Video section of this website.
The fourth-round race in the 2008 European Superstock 600 Championship takes place at the Nurburgring in Germany on Saturday 14th June. StoneBaker riders Linfoot and Rea currently lie third and eighth respectively in the series standings. The race will be webcast live at www.worldsbk.com at 4.40pm, BST.
Dan Linfoot:
"The test at Misano was mega! I've been in need of wet practice as I have yet to ride a 600cc machine in the rain - so when the showers came down I was straight onto the track and racked up the laps. Although I was tasked with running the new engines in, they were plenty fast enough when I opened the throttle and an improvement over our previous Superstock machines. I also had a taste of our Supersport bike which was very fast! I am looking forwards to the Nurburgring although I will need to learn the track before I can really up my pace."
Gino Rea:
"It was good to get used to the track again and to learn the new corners at turns one and two. It was a shame it rained but we got close to a race set up, with only a few final changes to the suspension and gearing still to be tested. The team has been working non-stop and I would like to say thanks to them for putting in so much effort and hard work to get here. The new engine which I ran-in feels really strong, so I'm looking forward to testing it against the others at the Nurburgring. I can't wait to get out there!"
StoneBaker welcomes Maui Jim Sunglasses on board
11-06-2008
StoneBaker Racing (formerly Beowulf Racing) are pleased to announce that Maui Jim Sunglasses are to support the team in the World and British Superbike Championships.
Formed on the beaches of Maui in 1986, Maui Jim is recognised as one of the foremost leaders in sunglass polarisation technology and glare protection. The company now has twelve offices worldwide and plays an important part in the support and superior performance of world-class athletes wherever they compete including alpine snowboarding, surfing, paddle boarding, outrigging, equestrian and motorsport.
StoneBaker Racing team owner Richard Baker states: "We are hugely excited to have Maui Jim Sunglasses on board, who are the first sponsor to be added to our ranks since the team's recent name change. It has been our intention this year to broaden our sponsorship portfolio into areas the squad has not been associated with previously and Maui Jim fits that strategy perfectly. With StoneBaker competing in both the UK and the rest of Europe we look forward to promoting Maui Jim's brand and products across a number of their international markets."
Sean Collins, UK Sales Director of Maui Jim comments: "We are delighted to join forces with StoneBaker Racing in World and British Superbikes. We are confident that Maui Jim polarisation technology and glare protection will benefit the team and the riders at each race and we look forward to introducing the Maui Jim range of glasses to superbike supporters around the globe."
Further information on Maui Jim's range of sunglasses is available at www.mauijim.com.
Maui Jim will be out in action with StoneBaker Racing for the first time this weekend, as the team enters the fourth round of the European Superstock 600 Championship at the Nurburgring in Germany. Riders Dan Linfoot and Gino Rea (both Yamaha) currently lie third and eighth respectively in the series standings.
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.
