UNSTOPPABLEBMW NZSBK 2011: RUAPUNA

BMW Motorrad

BMW NZSBK 2011

The Ultimate Riding Machine

RIDER’S BRIEFING

ON TRACKBMW RIDERS ARE PUTTING IN A SUPERB EFFORT IN THEIR 2011 SUPERBIKE! CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE CHASE

Welcome to issue 3 of the Unstoppable newsletter

I was lucky enough to be at Ruapuna Raceway for the third round of the Championship last weekend. It was great to be able to be right alongside the teams, sharing with their accomplishments and sometimes frustrations.

Jeff Gray BMW put together a fine display for the event, with showroom versions of the S1000RR alongside the two race teams. It’s great to have the BMW Dealer network supporting the NZSBK challenge.

Both Adair BMW Racing and M1 Motorsport have put serious effort into making sure they are in the running for this NZ Championship, and small setbacks seem to drive them harder.

The first race was fraught with technical issues with both BMW riders finishing outside the top ten. John crashed heavily during qualifying and this carried technical problems into the race, while Sloan had a problem with his clipon which led to him the pit lane to get resolved.

For race two, the changing weather conditions meant decisions were to be made whether to run on wet tyres, this had the teams rushing to sort out their choices. Some teams went with wets, the others on slicks trusting the track to dry out; the latter was the correct choice.

This also left some short fuel loads as the number of warm up laps as increased. The first and second placed machines just got home, with Andrew Stroud in first position running out of gas on the final few hundred metres of the home straight.BMW Riders Sloan Frost and John Ross had a great run in race two, with Sloan in third place for the best part of the race keeping Nick Cole behind him, and John in fifth. Sloan was passed by Nick on the second to last corner, leaving him with a fourth place finish and John Ross in fifth place. A great result for both riders, and a very exciting race.

So, it is onwards and upwards for both riders to Hampton Downs Motorsport Park in five weeks time.

Don’t forget to subscribe for the email delivery of the Unstoppable newsletter, including reports and insights from the BMW riders.

There are links within the Newsletter to take you to some fantastic offers currently running on new BMW Motorcycles until the end of March; check out the BMW Motorrad NZ website and see what is available.

To all the wonderful people we met at the circuit, a big thanks for supporting NZSBK and the BMW teams.

Ride Safe

John Glasswell

CONTENTS

SLOAN FROSTRuapuna delivers mixed

fortunesfor Frost

14

JOHN ROSS

Accident damage and changeable

weather overshadow John’s home

track advantage

16

TURNINGPOINT

Sloan Frost on a flyer at

Ruapuna

22

TEAM

Meet riders and teams

campaigning BMW

machinery in this year’s New

Zealand Superbike

Championship

6

CIRCUIT PREVIEW

Ruapuna: Home of the New Zealand

Grand Prix

10

TURNINGPOINT

John Rossis all

concentration during

Superbike qualifying on

Saturday afternoon

4

CALENDAR

Come and see the

action first hand at tracks

around New Zealand this

summer

20

TURNING POINT: JOHN ROSS, QUALIFYING

TEAM

NUMBER ONEM1 MOTORSPORT HAVE A WINNING COMBINATION OF YOUTH AND EXPERIENCE WITHIN THEIR GARAGE

RIDER: SLOAN “CHOPPA” FROST

With an off-road background beginning with his first race at eight years old, and continuing with a range of New Zealand and Australian motocross titles, Sloan’s switch to road racing in 2005 saw him walk away with a debut win in the Pacific Motorcycle Club series at Taupo.

By 2008 Sloan was competing in his first full New Zealand Superbike Championship, and for 2011 will be headlining the M1 Motorsport team, managed by Robert “Moggy” Ramshaw.

Sloan has his sights set on a top three finish this season onboard his BMW S 1000 RR, a New Zealand Superbike Championship title win in 2012, and then future entry into the Australian Superbike and AMA (American Motorcyclist Association) Championships.

TEAM MANAGER: ROBERT “MOGGY” RAMSHAW

I am delighted with the choice to ride BMW motorcycles this year. BMW was the obvious choice when I decided to put together a Superbike race team; I already have a BMW K1200GT as well as aN HP2 Sport, and after seeing the reviews of the S 1000 RR it was an easy decision.

M1 Motorsport is first and foremost a marketing company that uses a Superbike team to advertise. Our expectations are as much about our off-track activities (ensuring our clients are getting good value for money on their investments) as our on-track goal of getting the BMW on the podium in the New Zealand Superbike Championship.

I couldn’t be happier with the decision to run the BMW S1000RR. BMW New Zealand as well as Mount Motorcycles in Tauranga have been exceptional! The bike has been very easy to set up with minimal modifications from stock and we have proved time and time again that the bike is fast enough to win races, and lookout if it rains as the electronic package that S 1000 RR has puts the bike in a league of its own.

Robert Ramshaw.

TEAM

SOUTHERN STARSADAIR BMW RACING HAVE THEIR SIGHTS SET ON MORE THAN JUST THE N.Z. SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

RIDER: JOHN ROSS

They say that experience is the best teacher, and with time spent in trials, motocross and speedway racing, Christchurch based rider John Ross has certainly been schooled well for his attempt at the New Zealand Superbike Championship title in 2011.

A dream offer from father and son duo John and Dennis Adair to pilot their S 1000 RR racebike this season will see John sure to make an impressive debut in the Superbike class, before his entry into the World Superbike Support races at Phillip Island in February.

CHIEF MECHANIC: SCOTT BROWN

Straight off the showroom floor the BMW has very good performance in power and the added advantage of traction control and ABS making for a good starting package. We are running the!BMW with a Arrows exhaust, a Power Commander and Ohlins suspension, making this basically stock bike into a contender on the race track.

For this weekend (Ruapuna) thanks also goes too Rodney from Jeff Gray BMW for supplying us with a new front disc at short notice after John tried his hand at dirt tracking in qualifying and found that it wasn't such a good idea at 150km/h.

With the South Island rounds now completed, there is no break for the team as we!are off to Australia for the first two rounds of!the!Australian!Superbike Championship, the first being at Phillip Island which doubles as the first round of the World Superbike Championship; a busy time its going to be!

Scotty

!

CIRCUIT PREVIEW

RUAPUNAHOME OF THE NEW ZEALAND GRAND PRIXThe Christchurch round marks the halfway point of the Championship this year, and the Ruapuna circuit (the longest and most complicated we visit) always puts on a great show with F.I.M. recognised New Zealand Grand Prix races for each class on Sunday afternoon.

Our guide to the track is local S 1000 RR rider John Ross.

“A flying lap at Ruapuna starts by hurtling down the straight in sixth gear, heading into turn one at a speed faster than I want to know about. I hit the brakes as late as I can to allow myself to slow just enough to turn the bike into the corner while changing down four gears.

Out of turn two (Flexoplas) I’m hard on the gas shifting up two gears with the BMW hovering the front wheel under acceleration all the way to Pothole (turn three). I shift down to third, slam the bike on my knee around the left, then crack the throttle as I pick the bike up. It wheelies as I hit the rise in the track heading towards the hairpin.

I brake hard and shift down two gears, ride slowly around the hairpin to get the bike turned as fast as possible so I can give it a handful of throttle on the way out. I change up

to third gear as the track does a bit of a zigzag through the infield.

Approaching the turn seven right hander, I chop down into second gear. This corner is the key to the next three; a perfect line through here makes for a very fast lap. As I tip the bike into the next left my elbow brushes the curb, and I turn the bike as early as I can so I can accelerate into Carousel (turn nine). I sweep around the long kerb with a constant throttle, looking to get a good drive out and down the short straight.

From here the track turns right and I change down to second gear for this corner, the back end drifting slightly under engine braking. Next up is the double left and into the Dipper, holding second gear the whole way, on my knee and pushing the front as hard as I dare. Out of the dipper I shortshift to third gear, holding as much throttle as I can over the bumpy section through the slight kink.

Into the the final corner I have the bike leaned over as far as I can get it. As I hit mid corner I allow the bike to run wide and then start to accelerate as the track opens up. I tuck in behind the fairing and head towards the start finish line where I finish my lap.

Powerbuilt International Raceway at Ruapuna Park

Length:

125cc Grand Prix lap record:

600cc Sport Production lap record:

Production Superbike lap record:

3.44 km (including dipper)

1:38.979 @ 124.755 km/h, Cam Jones, January 2009*

1:32.136 @ 134.410 km/h, John Ross, Feb 2011*

1:30.007 @ 137.083 km/h, Andrew Stroud, Jan 2009*

CIRCUIT PREVIEW

*From available records

Turn 4 - Hairpin45 km/h

NUMBERCRUNCHWE SPEEDCHECK JOHN ROSS OVER A LAP AT RUAPUNA

*Dry track. Figures are a guide only

Finish line250 km/h

Turn 14 - The Rock sweeper85 km/h

Turn 3 - Pothole120 km/h

Turn 12 - The Dipper60 km/h

Max speed270 km/h

Turn 2 - Flexoplas75 km/h

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

Pleased to be associated with M1 Motorsport

SLOAN “CHOPPA” FROST

WILD RIDERUAPUNA DELIVERS MIXED FORTUNES FOR FROST

The 2011 National campaign has been somewhat of a rollercoaster as far as results have been concerned, and round 3 at Ruapuna was no different.

I got out on track on the BMW S1000RR for the first time on Friday morning. Coming on to the front straight and powering through the gears, the chain snapped and proceeded to slice through the BMW Shift Assist mechanism, ducktail, rear fender, swingarm and anything else in its path, finally whipping me on the back at around 230 km/h.

The team went to work on repairing the damage and tending to the bruises, and with a new Shift Assist unit from Jeff Gray BMW, we finally managed to get a single practice session in for the day.

Saturday morning practice went very well, giving the team confidence going into qualifying to get on the front row. However it was not to be; with the track temperature skyrocketing in the afternoon and causing serious tyre issues, the M1 Motorsport team was left scratching our heads after qualifying ninth and on the third row of the grid.

It was a busy evening, taking a bit of a gamble on some new suspension valving and spring setup but we were ready to roll for Sunday.

The lights went out for race one and I got off the line well, progressing nicely through the field. I was up to fifth place when disaster struck; the right hand clipon came loose and moved. Even though the handle bar had been torqued to the correct specs, the nature of the circuit and the immense pressure that was going through the bars had managed to dislodge it. After a pit stop I finished in a!disappointing!15th place

I was determined to finish race two in a strong position but the weather caused havoc. The majority of the riders had chosen to race on slick tyres, but rain was falling as we headed out for the New Zealand Grand Prix feature race. I picked my way through the field up to third position, and in an epic race-long battle I held off Nick Cole for the final spot on the podium. He eventually passed me on the last lap and I decided that in the challenging conditions fourth was better than crashing trying to retake third.

Next stop: Hampton Downs, March 26th and 27th

Choppa

JOHN ROSS

WHAT COULD HAVE BEENACCIDENT DAMAGE AND CHANGEABLE WEATHER OVERSHADOW JOHN’S HOME TRACK ADVANTAGE

Round 3 of the New Zealand Superbike Championship and the final round in the South Island. In Saturday morning’s practice things were looking great and I had the fourth fastest time. We had yet to use new tyres so I knew we would improve in times and was confident I could qualify on the front row.!Heading into qualifying, I had just previously qualified my 600 SuperSport machine in pole position and broken the lap record. However my luck was about to change!

Before I was able to put a fast time in the Superbike Qualifying session, I hit a kerb and went over the handlebars of the bike, landing on my head and giving myself a concussion! The bike was a bit beat up so I left that in the capable hands of my team and went home to rest hoping I’d be ok for the races on Sunday.

Two laps into the first race on Sunday my gear lever broke due to being damaged the day before and I was stuck in fourth gear for the rest of the race! I managed to nurse the bike home to finish in 13th.

Race two was the New Zealand Grand Prix. I didn’t make a great start and was in eighth place out of turn two, the conditions being very difficult as a slight drizzle fell. I worked my way through the field into fifth place which was a pleasing result considering the incident the day before.!On February the 26th I will be riding my BMW S 1000 RR in the Australian Prostock class at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit in Melbourne. We are running as part of the Australian Superbike Championship support classes for the World Superbike round at Phillip Island that weekend.

It will be the first time I've raced or even been to Phillip Island so it will be an interesting experience as Phillip Island is a very challenging and technical circuit. I believe I will be able to adapt quickly to the circuit (as I will need to) to meet my high expectations in the Prostock Championship.!Our next ride in New Zealand will be at Hampton Downs which will be on my second BMW that hopefully arrives in time as we will leave my current bike in Australia.

Wish me luck!

John.

Jeff Gray BMW

Jeff GrayBMW Motorrad

Another great weekend of racing from John and Sloan with the stock S1000RR proving to be competitive against the more modified bikes in the Superbike class. We would like to wish John Ross the best of luck in the first round of the WSBK series starting in Australia on the 27th February.

Jeff Gray BMW Group are proud to introduce the BMW Motorrad range of motorcycles to their Christchurch dealership. As New Zealand’s only BMW Kombi dealership we are able to offer the full BMW experience with the ability to trade Bikes on Bikes, Bikes on Cars, Cars on Cars. Jeff Gray BMW and Mini is the only BMW Motorrad dealer located in the South Island for all newBMW Motorcycle Sales along with a genuine parts and service department.

Come and see the Jeff Gray BMW Stand at the third round NZSBK Ruapuna Raceway Saturday 12th and Sunday the 13th Feb or visit our fantastic showroom at 30 Manchester Street, Christchurch.

For more information on any New or Used BMW motorcycles from Jeff Gray BMWPlease contact Rodney Faulkner. DDI 03 363 7235 or 027 577 1156.Email: rodney.faulkner@jgbmw.co.nz

BMW MotorradBMW HelmetSPECIALS SERVICEJeff Gray BMW are pleased to be able to offer in store specials on the following items. Specials are limited to stock on hand.Don’t miss out on these fantastic deals.

Jeff Gray BMW Motorrad is currently the only authorised service and Parts agents in the South Island. We offer a fully equipped workshopfor all your vehicle servicing and repair requirements.

Our team is dedicated to providing you withquick and reliable service - all our technicians are factory trained to make use of the latest diagnostic technologies to ensure that you ride away satisfied.

Please contact our service departmentdirect on 03 363 7242 and our parts department direct on 03 363 7241 for all your parts andservice inquiriesBMW Enduro helmet

RRP $ 1025SPECIAL $799

BMW Sport helmetRRP $ 1100SPECIAL $799

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

(note corrected date)

TURNING POINT: SLOAN FROST, FRIDAY PRACTICE

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