Brendan Roberts

www.brendan-roberts.com

It has been a turbulent few months for the 2008 FIM 1000 World Superstock Champion Brendan Roberts. Roberts was signed up to race for the Guandalini Ducati team for the 2009 season in the World Superbike series and after a huge crash at Monza, Roberts and the Guandalini team have parted company.

Left in a quandary on what to do Roberts attended the British Superbike meeting at Knockhill and had several talks with different team managers and an inviting option that came from the weekend was to replace the injured Dan Linfoot on the Stonebaker/NW200 Coca Cola Zero 600 Yamaha. Roberts made his return to the UK at Mallory Park at the weekend and contested his first ever British Supersport race and gained a very creditable fifth place.

Having never ridden a full spec Supersport machine before and the last time on a standard Yamaha 600 was in 2005 when he finished runner up in the R6 Cup Championship, it was a daunting task for the young Australian. The 23-year-old originally from Adelaide in Australia had to adapt quickly to a 600 having ridden a Ducati in World Superbikes this year and a Ducati in the European Superstock class during 07 and 08, the bike could not have been more different.

Struggling throughout the weekend and being of a bigger stature than most Supersport riders, Roberts had a big challenge on his hands. Fighting hard Roberts could only secure 16th place on the qualifying grid on the small and challenging Mallory Park circuit. He knew he had his work cut out but was eager to get back racing after 10 weeks absence due to his serious leg injury.

The heavens played into his hands and a downpour just before the race allowed the riders an eight minute wet session before the 25-lap race was due to start. With the track drying Roberts and team-manager Rob McElnea made the decision to run full dry tyres. The track was only drying slowly and after the first lap Roberts with sitting in 20th place. Each lap he fought hard and by around lap 12 the track was drying nicely allowing Roberts and fellow Australian Billy McConnell, also running on a dry tyre, the opportunity to put in some fast laps.

Cutting his way through the pack Roberts was back into racing form and was soon lying in a top ten position and getting faster each lap. Roberts was making the most of the dry conditions and was soon battling it out with his former R6 Cup rival McConnell for fourth place. Hindered by a back marker in the closing stages he was unable to find a way past but settled for a strong fifth place on his return to racing.

Commenting he said “So far this year it’s been a very strange year for me, I had a couple of very big crashes in World Superbikes which knocked my confidence. After my crash in Monza it was decided by mutual agreement that I left the Guandalini team. This left me with no ride and I wanted to ride somewhere I felt confident and on tracks I know well. I spoke with Rob at Knockhill and at the time the 600 of Dan’s was available, I was a bit worried about going back onto a 600 due to riding a 1000 for so many years now but weighing up the options it’s was the best thing for me.

I had a quick ride out on a standard 600 before Mallory but it was definitely a lot to get used to in two days! My qualifying wasn’t great and I was struggling with the times, with Mallory being so small it was also difficult to get a clear lap in. I was hoping for some kind of miracle for the race and the rain shower happened to be that miracle. I really enjoyed the race and it was good to have a battle with Billy again like the old days. I’d like to thank Rob Mac and Richard Baker for allowing me the opportunity to race at Mallory. I’m not sure what the plans are for Brands yet but hopefully I’ll be back out there again racing.”

The next race is at Brands Hatch from the 7th – 9th August.

Super sub’s Brendan Roberts and BJ Toal had a great race results at Mallory Park this weekend the 7th Round of the Visk British Superbike Championships.

After a frustrating two days of qualifying both riders were looking for some luck to change their weekend and it came in the shape of a thunderstorm just before the race!

This is where an experienced team and a couple of brave riders comes into play, with the rain easing and the track drying the latter stages of the race would need dry tyres it was the early laps where caution and patience was needed and both the guys had a good race plan.

 

Brendan Roberts NW200 Coca Cola Zero Yamaha R6 5th position

“What a great result, before the rain came it was going to be tough, I must admit the tyre decision was a bit scary but you have to trust your team and they got it perfect, from the 5th row on the grid we did not have much to lose, there was only myself and BJ on dry tyres and we both had a great race, big thanks to Spider and Karl for working hard this weekend”

 

BJ Toal Rob Mac Proride Yamaha R6

“That certainly brought a smile back to my face, I was up for a gamble with tyres as I knew it would dry fast, not sure about full dry tyres but trusted the team and got a great result so very happy, the dry line got wider and I could start passing some of the riders, coming from 24th on lap one to 6th at the flag was a real buzz”

 

Rob Mac

“From where we had qualified it was not too much of a gamble but the guy’s still had to have faith in the team and ride with their heads early on, they both were fantastic and turned around the weekend for the 600 team.

Dan Linfoot who had to sit and watch the races with his foot in cast was the first to praise his substitute at the same time wishing he could have been out on track! Dan will return for Cadwell at the end of August where hopefully he can resume his podium challenge”

Virgin Cup revisited
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
 
 
 

A reminder of the days gone by will be with the Rob Mac team for Mallory Park this weekend.

The Virgin Media Cup over the years has been a spring board for many of the new stars of British and World Championship racing in fact with Cal Crutchlow there is a chance of a World Champion by the end of the 2009 season.

So for Rob McElnea the mentor for the Cup Mallory will be very special, the Rob Mac racing team will support Brendan Roberts who was the runner up in the 2005 Virgin Mobile Cup will replace Dan Linfoot on the North West 200 Coca Cola Yamaha and BJ Toal the last winner in 2007 will run alongside Brendan for this Mallory event.

Along with Tommy Hill the inaugural Cup winner who will ride the Worx Suzuki Superbike and Billy McConnell 2005 Cup winner who is battling for the Supersport title with the Raceways Yamaha team there will really be a great showing of the Virgin Academy series.

 

Rob Mac

“It is amazing to see so many of our cup riders breaking through and with Cal potentially a World Champion!

Graeme Gowland, Tommy Hill, Billy McConnell, Brendan Roberts and BJ Toal have all made the big steps and have furthered their careers from our Cup and it is very satisfying for all of us.

Brendan and BJ will ride in the Supersport this weekend and will be well up for a battle; Brendan had been riding in the World Superbike series and BJ in the British Superstock series so both have a new bike for this weekend.

It should be fun to see how all the guys fair and Mallory will be a good opportunity for them all”

 

Brendan Roberts

“For sure the Virgin Mobile Cup gave me the chance to break through in the UK, I came over from Australia and battled with my Aussie mate Billy McConnell who just beet me for the win, since then I have never looked back and had a great time riding in the UK and Europe, to come back and have a blast on the Supersport bike will be great fun and I hope I can run with Billy again!”

 

BJ Toal

“With the Superstock series not running this weekend I had a chance to link up with Rob and have a run on a Supersport bike, we managed a test last week and I loved the Yamaha and can’t wait for the race weekend”

www.brendan-roberts.com

After his horrific first turn crash at Monza, Australian rider Brendan Roberts is still recuperating after the injuries sustained when he was struck from behind by another rider.

Here Brendan explains what he has been doing since the frightful crash “Well where do I start, since the crash at Monza I’ve been recovering at home in Europe. I would have liked to go back home to Australia but due to my leg injury, flying wasn’t possible.

Besides all the odd bumps and bruises I received, there were a lot of them; the major on going problem is a torn or punctured left quad muscle, which now has a pocket of blood which doesn’t seem to want to clear. A week ago I had one of the biggest needles known to man kind stuck in me; it went into my leg and through the muscle trying to drain what it could but this was to no avail. They have to keep an eye on this and may need to do a small operation if it doesn’t clear on it’s own. The muscle is slowly repairing itself and this week I have been able to start cycling along with the swimming exercises I’ve been doing at the beach.

I hope to return to racing as soon as possible, although it depends on the movement and strength as walking is still an effort at the moment. I’ll be going to Donington as a spectator, catching up with everyone I haven’t seen for while…anything to get out of the house and close to the action.

I would also like to wish Max a very speedy recovery and I’m just sorry that my bike hit him so hard, it was a very scary crash and I think something should be done with the first turn. I was struck from behind and the side which sent me onto the grass, I was trying desperately to try and slow down but nothing was happening, I laid the bike down but knew it would be crossing the path of the other riders and sadly it did. I hope everyone who was involved will be fit and back racing soon.

If you see me at Donington, do say hello and thanks to everyone for all their support and messages through my website, e-mail and texts. They are much appreciated.”

Message from Brendan’s Mum

Hi to all

I’ve just spoken to Bren, he is doing OK. He was discharged from Monza hospital on Monday night and travelled back to Perinaldo, where he has been living with Mirco and his family.

Mirco and a friend drove to Monza on Monday to pick up the motorhome then Bren and Amie. He was discharged only on the condition he had a MRI the following day on his leg, which he did.

Wednesday he took the results to a doctor in Monaco (Aussie Sports Doctor who worked with the Bris Lions) but it did not show very much as his upper left leg is so swollen - full of fluid - and white in colour - he now has to have another MRI in a week after he gets the swelling down. The doctor thinks he probably has torn muscles but does not think he will need to operate.

Whilst in hospital he had x-rays and there were no broken bones - but showed shadows on his lungs, severe bruising - he has to have another x-ray in a week for this.

Other than now being bored, now playing the play station, he is doing OK.

Here are some web addresses - you tube -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTUDoezbSqQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sockqCCiXsQ&feature=related

Will give you another update next week

Thanks

Di

After the start line crash in race one at Monza today I’ve just had news from Brendan’s mum that he has thankfully not broken anything, they are doing further x-ray’s and tests to double check.

Max Neukirchner has sustained some breaks and all of us would like to wish him a speedy recovery.

Thanks Carly

An excellent performance by Jakub Smrz in the first Qualifying Session on the Dutch Assen Circuit where Smrz has potentially qualified in second position on the grid. Jakub obtained an excellent 1.39.055 just 0.308 from provisional pole sitter, Ben Spies, (1.38.747). Brendan Roberts suffered with a few problems with the Ducati and is hoping he will improve on his time during second qualifying tomorrow, Roberts ended up in 21st position today with a time of 1.40.944.

PierFrancesco Chili

“We did a good job for Jakub Smrz who gained a very good time in the Qualifying Session, while we had some problem on front setting for Brendan Roberts. We’ll try to find a solution as soon as possible for give him tomorrow the best condition to improve his results.

We are confident for tomorrow and we hope to improve the performance of Brendan and to maintain the excellent performance obtained by Jakub Smrz keep in consideration the high level of competitiveness that has this year our championship”

RESULTS

1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1′38.747
2 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1′39.055
3 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1′39.128
4 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1′39.141
5 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1′39.238
6 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1′39.246
7 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1′39.265
8 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1′39.359
9 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1′39.506
10 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1′39.585

Team Guandalini Racing:Assen TT - Race Preview - 20/04/09

After the disappointing weekend the Guandalini riders in Valencia, the team are hoping for some good results at the fantastic Assen Circuit. The historic circuit, after the changes, has lost the magic that brought the title of “Temple of Two Wheels” although remains a wonderful circuit. In the past joy and sorrow have marked the career of Director Pierfrancesco Chili, including seven victories at Assed, four second places and two thirds. Last year, Guandalini’s Team got his best seasonal result with Jakub Smrz fastest on the track in the qualifying practice on Saturday and both races, sixth and eighth respectively in the two rounds. There are many expectations for Brendan Roberts after the positive signs shown in the race of Valencia. The young Australian rider has the potential to achieve a good result and it is time to demonstrate to everyone how good he is.

Mirco Guandalini

“Our Team leaves for Assen with the goal of bringing home the results we know we can get. We expect a good result from Jakub Smrz where here, last year, got two good results in both rounds. We need to capitalize on scoring from a championship. Same for Brendan Roberts who was taken by the Team with the knowledge of a good pilot, but for now has taken great pains and now that he also proves his true potential. Our results, at present, are far from what were our initial expectations, it is time for a quick reversal.”

Jakub Smrz

“I had problems in Valencia, Assen is track where I usually made my best results and I hope for same this year. In Valencia I didn’t feel comfortable on my bike and my team worked hard to try and make it right but we had problems. Especially front chattering was really bad for us. From 6 races I have 3 times 0 points which is really bad and I hope to get back where I should be, that’s top10. Honestly, I prefer the old Assen much better but I still like that track a lot and I am looking forward to race in Holland, where I spent lot of time in the past (racing in Dutch Molenaar team), I’ve got many friends and many fans as well. I just need some more good luck and get back my feeling on bike and I am sure Assen is track I could fight for podium.”

Brendan Roberts

“Assen has been a circuit I have liked since I first raced there, the flowing corners at the back of the circuit combined with the last corner chicane always brings out good close racing! My confidence is high coming from Valencia where I felt I rode much more aggressively throughout the weekend although the race results still eluded me. I’m really looking forward to the superpole, I have a better understanding off the Qualifying tyre and I hope to move more towards the front of the grid. This will be extremely important at Assen as the first section can get very tight and dangerous.”

 
Press Team Guandalini : press@daremake.com

Team Guandalini Racing:Valencia: Superpole- 04/04/09

The official qualifying during the morning ended with twenty pilots within 0.8 of a second from pole position through to 20th place. Guandalini team riders Brendan Roberts and Jacob Smrz both qualified for the Superpole session, with Brendan Roberts in 11th place immediately followed by Jakub Smrz  at 0.054 from the team mate and 0.345 from the leader Ben Spies.

Jakub Smrz in Superpole used the soft qualifying tyres, as planned, but suffered chattering problems, which only allowed him to reach 11th place, whilst Brendan ended up 15th having never used a qualifying tyre before.
 
Pierfrancesco Chili

“We are very happy with Brendan Roberts result in today’s Superpole, after the experience with the new bike and new tracks in the first two races. Our goal was also to reach a higher position with Smrz, as he did in Australia and Qatar. Unfortunately some setting problems slowed us down.”

Mirco Guandalini 

“Jakub in the first two races always started from the front row, but we was unable to capitalized a result, let’s see if starting from the third row will have a different trend. To tell the truth, from Friday and Saturday qualifying I was expecting a better result. I mention to Brendan that today showed us his riding value. I hope for a good result from both in the races. I regret for not taking part in the third Superpole session, but sometimes, this may happen with the extreme competition which was showed today.”

 Jakub Smrz

“During Superpole I suffered chattering problems, even if I ride to the limit I can’t go under 1.35’s. I tried to push harder but it was too risky and I didn’t want to fall. Tomorrow morning during the warm up session I’ll do my best to find the right feeling, together with my technicians I hope to set bike for the races.”

Brendan Roberts

“I felt more confident with the bike and I know the track from previous year, so my approach was more relaxed and I know where to focus my attention. I was very nervous for the superpole, especially the second mini session, because with the qualifying tyre I didn’t find the right feeling. For Tomorrow race I have to keep concentration for all the length and especially with the old tyre when it’s easy to make mistake.”

Valencia: Superpole : Results1 19 Spies B. (USA) Yamaha YZF R1 1′33.270
2 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati 1098R 1′33.955
3 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 1′34.082
4 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 1′34.259
5 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1′34.755
6 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 1′34.903
7 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1′35.056
8 7 Checa C. (ESP) Honda CBR1000RR 1′35.346
9 9 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 1′34.536
10 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 1′34.655
11 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 1′34.684 
12 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 1′34.742
13 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 1′34.823
14 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 1′34.863
15 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati 1098R 1′35.082 

Press Team Guandalini : press@daremake.com

Team Guandalini Racing:Valencia: Races- 05/04/09

Valencia - RACE 2

Jacub Smrz had a very bad start in Race 2 loosing seven positions in the first corners and another one during the second lap. The remaining length of the race was spent trying catch the front group but a problem with the front forks saw him gain no higher than 14th place, finishing just a 0.1 of a second from Jonaathan Rea.

On the other side, a good start from Brendan Roberts, enabled him to gain several positions on the first lap seeing him sitting in 12th place, but the consequences of the crash in race 1 and physical weakness slowed him down finishing the race 0.8 off Parkes in 18th place.

The next race is Assen circuit, where the team hope to get a good result.
 
Valencia - RACE 1

Race 1 to forget for Guandalini team caused by the crash of both pilots. During the first lap, Brendan Roberts was forced on the gravel due to Rea’s crash, loosing precious time to re-join the race. As back on the track Brendan starts riding constantly on 1.35.6 gaining positions from last to the group of ten pilots preceding him. On lap 12 his recovery was stopped on turn 8 by a high side. Pilot was taken in the medical centre in an ambulance and after a check up only few minor injuries were diagnosed and that he would be ok to ride in the second race. Jacub Smrz was riding in 13th position at the end of the first lap and after being passed by Max Biaggi. Trying not to loose distance from the proceeding pilots a low side caused by lost of grip in the front stopped his race.

Valencia: Races: Results

1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati
3 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki
4 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati
5 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda
6 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki
7 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha
8 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia
9 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati
10 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki 1 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati
2 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati
3 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Suzuki
4 55 Laconi R. (FRA) Ducati
5 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Honda
6 71 Kagayama Y. (JPN) Suzuki
7 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Yamaha
8 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia
9 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati
10 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Kawasaki
RET 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati  14 96 Smrz j. (CZE) Ducati 
RET 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati  18 24 Roberts B. (AUS) Ducati