UNSTOPPABLEBMW NZSBK 2011: HAMPTON DOWNS

BMW Motorrad

BMW NZSBK 2011

The Ultimate Riding Machine

RIDER’S BRIEFING

BMW TO THE FORESLOAN LEAVES ROUND FOUR WITH A TROPHY FIRMLY IN HIS SIGHTS, WHILE JOHN MAKES WAVES IN AUSTRALIA

Round four of the NZ Superbike Championship at Hampton Downs had Sloan Frost placed fourth on the grid for this round. After a strong qualifying session on the BMW S1000RR, Sloan said the bike was performing extremely well and they had a good set up.

The weekend weather made for constant debate between wet and dry tyres, teams practising the changeover of wheels and tyres just in case the rain came down, but as race day progressed the track dried, and slicks were the order of the day. For both races Sloan had a great start and lead race one for a good number of laps. Race two was a great fight and showed determination and control of the bike with a superb second place finish, giving the M1 Motorsport team points for a second position for this fourth round.

This situation places Sloan in a good position entering the final round at Manfeild this weekend, with a second place in the championship a strong possibility for the inaugural year for BMW in the NZSBK competition

Team Manager Robert “Moggy” Ramshaw was in the No 6 pits with his arm in a sling, and nursing a fractured pelvis. After a start line incident at the Paeroa Battle of the Streets, Moggy had to really test the brakes of his BMW HP2 Sport race bike, when a rider stumbled on the start. We wish him all the best for a speedy recovery and thank him for his courage and support of Sloan and the M1 Motorsport team when still in “recovery mode”.

Unfortunately John Ross was unable to complete in the Superbike class after being subjected to the forces of nature and the Christchurch earthquake.

John left for Australia after the Ruapuna round to compete in the Australian Superbike Championship, turning up at Philip Island with his bike in a crate and a suitcase of spare parts. Then in true Kiwi spirit he proceeded to show the Australian racers the talent we have here, even assisting ASBK leader Glenn Allerton on the Procon Maxima BMW S 1000 RR with some components and information.

We are sorry we will not see John in the final rounds, but after the quake the team have other priorities, as you can imagine. Thanks for all the support and fantastic results, where he has showed the potential of a stock motorcycle in the preceding rounds. He tells us to be prepared for next year !!!

To all our fellow countrymen and women in the Christchurch region, we offer our sympathy and support, and wish you all the best for your futures. Look after each other. We are all with you.

Ride safe,

John Glasswell

CONTENTS

SLOAN FROST

Sloan and the S 1000 RR master changeable

conditions to take second overall for the

weekend

10

TURNINGPOINT

The lights have gone out and the Superbikes seem ready to launch off the track at Hampton

Downs

16

UPDATE

Sloan and John fill us in on their exploits since round three

of the Championship

at Ruapuna

6

CIRCUIT PREVIEW

Hampton Downs:

New Zealand’s newest circuit is delivering

superb Superbike

action

8

TURNINGPOINT

Sloan Frost catapults into the lead of race one

at round four of the

Championship.

4

CALENDAR

Come and see the

action first hand at tracks

around New Zealand this

summer

14

TURNING POINT: SLOAN FROST, RACE ONE

UPDATE: SLOAN FROST

BATTLE OF PAEROAM1 MOTORSPORT TAKES TO THE STREETS OF PAEROA DURING THE SEASON BREAK

With a five week break between rounds three and four of the Superbike Championship, the M1 Motorsport team decided to contest the Paeroa street race. It was a great event and allowed us to showcase all of our sponsors in front of one of the biggest crowds on the New Zealand racing scene.

The weekend was a huge success; I took out the BEARS class and scored second in Formula Paeroa, however the success was overshadowed by a scary crash involving team owner Robert Ramshaw in the first B.E.A.R.S. race as he tried to avoid a fallen rider on his BMW HP2 Sport.

'Moggy' sustained some serious injuries including a broken pelvis and separated shoulder, however you can’t keep a good man down and he was back to work within the week! It was also a great opportunity for us to regroup, tidy up the bike and get set for their home round at Hampton Downs.

UPDATE: JOHN ROSS

THE BIG O.E.JOHN FILLS US IN ON HIS RACING IN AUSTRALIA AND THE TEAM’S LUCKY ESCAPE FROM CHRISTCHURCH

Having finished the first three rounds of the New Zealand Championship with positive results, the Adair BMW Racing team and I set our sights on Australia and entry into the ProStock class of the Australian Superbike Championship.

We crated the S1000RR up and sent it to Phillip Island after Ruapuna, but with the Christchurch earthquake arriving the day before we were due to fly out, we were lucky that our flight on Wednesday was allowed to leave.

Arriving at the circuit for the first time, I qualified third and backed that up with a third place in race two - a result we were very pleased with considering my lack of experience!

The second round of the Australian Championship was held in Tasmania a week later; again we were fast straight away and the weekend looked really promising.Unfortunately we had a gear linkage bolt fall off which also damaged the quickshifter, seeing us D.N.F. race one and three, but we did score a great third place in race two

We’ve shown that we have the speed to be competitive and are now looking to compete in the rest of the ProStock championship in Australia. Unfortunately the earthquake has thrown a spanner in the works and bike has had to remain in Australia, meaning I won’t be riding it in the remaining rounds of the New Zealand Superbike Championship. We’re disappointed by this, but grateful for the support of all our sponsors and will see what the 2012 season brings.

CIRCUIT PREVIEW

HAMPTON DOWNSNEW ZEALAND’S NEWEST CIRCUIT IS DELIVERING SUPERB SUPERBIKE ACTIONHaving opened in October 2009 after more than a few tense years of planning and construction in a tricky climate (financial and otherwise), Hampton Downs is maturing into a liked and well appointed venue that is unlike any other in New Zealand due to its layout across rolling Waikato countryside.

BMW S 1000 RR rider Sloan Frost takes us for a fast lap:

“With the bike at redline in sixth gear I snap the throttle shut just before the start/finish line and brake as hard as I dare, letting the bike squirm and float toward the wall on the outside of the track, setting me up for a late apex into the right hand downhill turn one. I brush the inside ripple strip and apply the throttle smooth and hard as the bike begins to slide towards the outside of the corner.

I let the brake off early and turn in tight to open up turn two (a second gear right hander), then it’s a quick flick back over onto my left knee, opening the throttle and feeling the bike getting light as I crest the hill at turn three.

Turn four is Austin’s hairpin; it’s important to brake late and tip in quick here. I apex close in to the ripple strip on the inside of the corner then accelerate out in second gear all the way back up the hill. I leave the bike in second as I pop over the crest, and then I’m hard on the brakes, dropping downhill and tipping into turn five, clipping my elbow on the raised curbing.

I’m hard on the throttle out of turn five and shortshifting up to third gear to try to keep the front wheel down. I’ll momentarily get to fifth gear down the straight before changing back to third and braking hard for the sweeper.

I get my braking done before I enter the corner and trail the throttle on the way in. I’ll let the bike run deeper than most, then it’s hard on the throttle with the wheel spinning, knee clipping the grass on the inside as the exit opens and I head up the hill.

I shortshift through the gearbox to fifth before the jump at the top of the hill, holding it wide then selecting sixth as I flash past the flag to complete a lap of Hampton Downs

Hampton Downs Motorsport Park

Length:

125cc Grand Prix lap record:

600cc Sport Production lap record:

Production Superbike lap record:

2.80 km (International 2.8km configuration)

1:10.989 @ 141.994 km/h, A. Hoogenboezem, March 2010*

1:06.257 @ 152.135 km/h, Nick Cole, March 2010*

1:04.111 @ 157.227 km/h, Andrew Stroud, March 2011*

CIRCUIT PREVIEW

*From available records

Turn 1140 km/h

NUMBERCRUNCHWE SPEEDCHECK SLOAN FROST OVER A LAP AT HAMPTON DOWNS

* Figures are a guide only

Finish line260 km/h

Turn 2 - Coke Zero90 km/h

Turn 6 - LG140 km/h

Turn 5 - Barrel 5160 km/h

Turn 4 - Austins60 km/h

The Leap210 km/h

SLOAN “CHOPPA” FROST

CHALLENGERSLOAN AND THE S1000RR MASTER CHANGEABLE CONDITIONS TO TAKE SECOND FOR THE WEEKEND

The team arrived at the track on Friday with rain pouring down, meaning that the normal tent setup was not going to do. Fortunately the Hampton Downs crew had recently opened the new pit garages and we were able to set up undercover for the rest of the weekend.

All practice sessions were held in very wet conditions, and I was frequently at the top of the time sheets. However all the preparation the team had done in the wet conditions flew out the window when a dry line formed during our qualifying session. The session was red flagged halfway through and we took the chance to throw slicks on the bike (on a wet suspension setup), and then it was back on the track to set some fast times. The tyres only lasted four laps but that was enough to secure Sloan a front row grid position.

Sunday turned on some interesting weather and made the decision on what tyres to run and what suspension settings to run very difficult. But with a wealth of knowledge from Robert Taylor at CKT Suspension and the quick hands of Graeme Frost on the tyre changes, we were able to make the correct decisions giving us the best shot at the races.

When the race finally started, I leapt from the front row of the grid, tucking in behind Stroud and Bugden and taking the lead by turn three. With the track still wet in places I was forced to set the pace and feel out the conditions.

Andrew Stroud and Robbie Bugden came past about the midway point of the race, but I was able to challenge and repass them on occasion. Andrew took the win ahead of Robbie and I finished a satisfying third.

After an average start to race two, I made my way up to fourth by the end of the first lap, and set about chasing down Stroud, Bugden, and Nick Cole. With not much more then a second covering the four of us, Bugden lost the front at turn four and promoted me to third place. I managed to get by Nick Cole around lap 12 and started chasing Stroud, but by lap 15 my rear tyre had completely expired and I was forced to nurse the bike home, taking second place in the T.T. and second place overall for the meeting.

Mount MotorcyclesMount Motorcycles proudly selling and servicing BMW Motorcycles for 30 years

Pleased to be associated with M1 Motorsport

CALENDAR

BE THERECOME AND SEE THE ACTION FIRST HAND AT TRACKS AROUND NEW ZEALAND THIS SUMMER

The New Zealand Superbike Championship is bringing world class Superbike racing to a track near you this summer, so make sure you get along to see our riders in action.

The tracks will be open to spectators for practice and qualifying on Saturday, and two nail-biting Superbike races on Sunday. Between sessions, feel free to drop by the pits and have a chat to our riders - we’d love to see you!

You can find out more information about the New Zealand Superbike Championship at www.nzsbk.com

ROUND ONE:Timaru International Raceway (Levels), Falvey Road, Timaru, South CanterburyNearest airport/accommodation: Timaru, 13kmWebsite: www.southcanterburycarclub.org.nz

ROUND TWO:Teretonga Park Raceway, Sandy Point Road, Invercargill, SouthlandNearest airport/accommodation: Invercargill, 7kmWebsite: www.teretonga.org.nz

ROUND THREE:Powerbuilt Raceway at Ruapuna Park, Hasketts Road, Templeton, Christchurch, CanterburyNearest airport/accommodation: Christchurch, 10kmWebsite: www.canterburycarclub.co.nz

ROUND FOUR:Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Hampton Downs Road, WaikatoNearest airport: Auckland, 58km. Accommodation at the track, or Pukekohe (35km).Website: www.hamptondowns.com

ROUND FIVE:Manfeild Autocourse, Rata Street, Feilding, ManawatuNearest major airport: Palmerston North, 14kmAccommodation at Feilding (1km) and Palmerston North (14km)Website: www.manfeild.co.nz

ROUND THREE, CHRISTCHURCH11th to 13th February 2011

ROUND ONE, TIMARU 29th to 31st January 2011

ROUND TWO, INVERCARGILL4th to 6th February 2011

ROUND FIVE, FEILDING1st to 3rd April 2011

ROUND FOUR, HAMPTON DOWNS25th to 27th March 2011

TURNING POINT: SUPERBIKE T.T. START

This very special offer

has been extended until

30th June 2011

Produced by Championship Digital for BMW Motorrad New Zealand, M1 Motorsport, and John Ross©2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied without written permission from BMW Motorrad New Zealand.Click HERE to email for more information on our New Zealand Superbike Championship campaign. View the B.M.W. New Zealand privacy policy HERE

www.bmwmotorrad.co.nz

Thanks to our support partners during the 2011 New Zealand Superbike Championship.

BMW MotorradMotorsport

Premium partners:

Rider partners:

Jeff Gray BMWMOUNT MOTORCYCLESMOUNT MAUNGANUI, NEW ZEALAND

BMW Motorrad

BMW NZSBK 2011

The Ultimate Riding Machine