After a highly impressive debut season, 18-yearold Gino Rea remains with Beowulf Racing for another crack at the European Superstock 600 (STK600) Championship in 2008.

Gino quickly became the talk of the European paddock during 2007, taking a third place at
Valencia and wins in national-level races at Spain and the Czech Republic. The Beowulf ace took the accolade of best rookie Brit in this year’s championship finishing 12th overall with the only Englishman to better him being the vastly more experienced Greg Black. Lightning starts and a never-give-up attitude became the trademarks of his European debut season.

Prior to joining Beowulf, Gino had spent several seasons competing in – and winning – various junior motocross and supercross championships, culminating in the runner-up spot in the hotlycontested 2006 Bracken KTM Cup Championship. But it was when riding a race-prepared 600cc sportsbike at Mallory Park at the end of the same year that the youngster made the racing world sit up and take notice of his talent. With no prior experience aboard such a machine, Rea set pole position in qualifying and went on to win both races. It led to the bikers’ newspaper, Motorcycle News, tipping Gino as “One to Watch” in the future.

“This year has been a brilliant learning experience with one podium and 12th overall,” says Gino. “Now I have to put what I’ve learnt to good use and show that I can run up front in every race. I would like to be regularly on the podium, and if not, in the top 5. I have to do well next year to further my career, and I will be putting 110 percent effort into every race and my training. I can’t wait for the season to start and I must thank my sponsors, my family and the team for once again putting their faith in me as a rider.”

 

Race career:

2000:

YMSA Supernational (65cc) - 3rd
British Supercross NEC Birmingham (65cc) - 1st
British Supercross Exeter WestPoint (65cc) - 3rd

2002:

Premier Motocross Championship (85cc) - 2nd
Mini Olympics USA. Top half finishes in supercross, motocross and enduro

2003:

Future West Weston Supercross 85cc, best finish - 2nd
Dutch Supercross 85cc, two rounds: best finish 2nd

2004:

85cc South Yorkshire Supercross Summer Series Champion

2005:

Aprilia Superteens, missed 3 rounds - finished 10th.
Spanish CEV 125cc championship – entered final two rounds

2006:

Bracken KTM 660 Cup Championship - 2nd
New Era Formula 600 race, Mallory Park - qualified on pole and won both races.

2007:

European Superstock 600 Championship - 12th
Podium 3rd place at Valencia
National-level wins in Spain and the Czech Republic

Ex 125 and 250-MotoGP combatant Dan Linfoot joins Beowulf Racing in 2008 to contest
the European Superstock 600 Championship alongside teammate Gino Rea.

Inspired by the racing he saw both at the track and on TV, Dan’s career began in 2001 riding Minibikes. Just 12 months later he already had one national and six regional titles in the bag.

 

In 2003 he graduated to “proper” motorcycles, entering several 125cc championships at club level. Dan’s most prestigious victory being a win at the annual “Stars at Darley Moor” meeting.

For 2004 a move to the British 125cc Championship took place, finishing 24th overall with a best result of ninth. Dan was also crowned the North East Motorcycle Racing Club 125cc champion.

In 2005 Dan really stepped his pace up in the British 125cc series. He took four consecutive
second place finishes to finish fourth in the overall championship. He was granted a wildcard entry into the British 125cc Grand Prix, and finished ninth in a monsoon-like race. To cap the year off, Dorna awarded Dan an all-expenses-paid ride with the AJO 125cc GP team in the final two Spanish Championship races, finishing in ninth and sixth place respectively.

For 2006 Dan joined Team KRP to ride in the British 125cc series. After four races, two of which were wins, Dan had the opportunity to compete in the European 250cc Championship race at Vallelunga, which he won. This led to a further eight 250cc MotoGP wildcard rides with the English-based Winona Racing team, his best result being 17th at Mugello.

 

Dorna saw the potential in Linfoot and after Winona failed to secure the necessary sponsorship for their 2007 campaign, Dan was placed with the Italian outfit Team Sicilia, from the mid-season British GP onwards. Dan’s first race with the team was to be his best result, again at a monsoonlike Donington Park where he replicated his ninth-place finish from two years ago. Dan went on to finish the season in 24th place.

 

Looking ahead to a fresh challenge in 2008, Linfoot says: “I’m really excited about joining the Beowulf Team for 2008, and looking forward to working with a great bunch of guys who have the riders best interests at heart. I’m very thankful to the whole team for this great opportunity, and can’t wait to get the ball rolling in winter testing.”

 

Race career:

2001:

National Minibike Championship

2002:

National Minibike Championship – winner
6 Regional Minibike Championship Titles

2003:

Auto66 Formula/Production 125cc Championship
Stars of Darley Moor Formula 125 race - winner

2004:

British 125cc Championship – 24th
NEMCRC 125cc Championship - Winner

2005:

British 125cc Championship – 4th
ACU Academy Junior Cup – 2nd
British 125cc Grand Prix – 9th
Two entries in Spanish 125cc Championship – 9th & 6th

2006:

British 125cc Championship – 4 races, 2 wins
250cc MotoGP Championship – 8 races, best result 17th
European 250cc Championship race at Vallelunga - winner.

2007:

250cc MotoGP Championship – 7 races, best result 9th

Only 22 years old, but already the veteran of the team, Pat McDougall Returns to the Beowulf fold in 2008 to contest the British Supersport Cup.
Previously Pat has ridden for Beowulf Racing in both the 2005 European Superstock 600
Championship and the second half of the 2006 European Superstock 1000 season.

Pat began racing in 2003, finishing second in the BEMSEE Rookie 400 King of Clubs Championship.

In a highly impressive first year, McDougall logged 11 race wins, 15 further podiums and three lap records.

For 2004, he took his first stab at the R6 Cup. In what was essentially a learning year mastering 600cc sports bikes and road-based tyres, Pat scored a superb fourth-place finish in the MotoGP support round at Donington Park.

The following year, McDougall made his entry into the international scene, contesting the
European Superstock 600 series with Beowulf Racing. Impressing many with his gutsy riding and determined attitude, McDougall ended the series as top Brit in 16th place with a best finish of seventh at Brands Hatch.

Age restrictions in the class meant that Pat was forced to return to home shores for 2006, racing in the British R6 Cup. However, his links with the team remained and when the opportunity arose to ride the Beowulf Suzuki in the European Superstock 1000 class at the midway point of the season, the young hotshot jumped at the chance.

It was back to the UK for 2007 with McDougall landing his first Championship title. Pat won the 660 Bracken KTM 660 Cup series notching up 13 wins along the way. He was also seventh in the British Superbike-backed KTM Super Duke Challenge.

“It’s just like coming home, riding for Beowulf Racing again in 2008” says Pat of the coming
season. “I just can’t wait to get going in the new British Superstock 600 Championship. I am sure there will be some stiff competition but I am really up for it. I am going to give it my all in 2008. I would like to thank Andy Stone, Richard Baker and the whole team for giving me this great opportunity.”

 

Race career:

2003:

Bemsee Rookie 400 King of Clubs Championship. Finished second, taking 11
wins and three lap records.

 

2004:

British R6 Cup. Finished 22nd, fourth at British MotoGP support round

 

2005:

European Superstock 600 Championship. Finished 16th (top Brit), best result
seventh at Brands Hatch

 

2006:
Began in British R6 Cup, switched to FIM European Superstock 1000 Cup at
halfway stage whilst lying 11th.

 

2007:
Bracken KTM 660 Cup Championship – Winner
KTM Super Duke Challenge – 7th