Brendan Roberts

DUCATI XEROX JUNIOR TEAM

Nuerburgring race (Germany), Sunday 15th June 2008 – Brendan Roberts today rode a fantastic race, to take his Ducati 1098R and the Xerox Junior Team to victory once again, and adding important points to his running total in the riders classification, which is still led by Xavier Simeon. Domenico Colucci finished the race in twenty-fifth position.

The battle immediately got underway in this, the fourth round of the Superstock 1000 Cup, with riders Brendan Roberts, Davide Giugliano and Xavier Simeon leading the pack from the start and fighting for supremacy throughout. Mid-way through the race Brendan completed a flying lap, in 1m59.970s, taking the record for the fastest lap. He was also the only rider in the Superstock category to lap in under two minutes during the weekend. On the final lap, the young Australian completed the job in hand, crossing the line first and replicating the success he saw in the opening race of the season in Valencia.

BRENDAN ROBERTS – “I am extremely happy as this is an important win for me and for my team. We have worked hard all weekend and we knew we’d be competitive when it came to the race. It wasn’t easy because Giugliano and Simeon were riding really well. I also made a couple of small mistakes because the rear wheel was sliding quite a bit but, by keeping my concentration, I managed to make up the lost time in just a couple of laps. I’m pretty pleased with the fastest lap too, although I think I could have gone even faster! Today we’ve gained some important points in the classification and we go on to Misano with the intention to fight once again for that place on the top step of the podium.”

Domenico Colucci had another difficult weekend which failed to reward him as he would have liked. Starting the race from further back on the grid meant that he was affected by the collision that took place on the first corner of the opening lap, which subsequently left him struggling to catch up.

DOMENICO COLUCCI – “Honestly I can’t wait to leave here as it has been a really disappointing weekend. On Friday I couldn’t get to grips with the track, then yesterday there was rain so I was unable to improve on my times. Starting from so far back on the grid meant it was impossible to catch up and I finished way back in the field. I am very disappointed and want to say sorry to my team, I just hope that Misano will see an end to this difficult period.”

Race results:

1.Brendan Roberts (Ducati 1098R Xerox Junior Team) in 22’17’’805 with an average speed of 152,059 km/h;

2.D.Giugliano (Suzuki) 0’’307;

3.X.Simeon (Suzuki) 0’’444;

4.M.Pirro (Yamaha) 8’’763;

5.M.Smrz (Honda) 9’’786….25.

 

 www.brendan-roberts.com

Brendan Roberts secured a comfortable fourth place in round three of the European FIM 1000 Cup Championship at Monza this weekend on board the 1098R Ducati. Despite suffering a number of mechanical issues this weekend at Monza the youngster was eager to gain a good result and keep him in contention for the overall Championship for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team.

The young Australian was hoping to leave behind the nightmare he had suffered at Assen a few weeks ago where he crashed out of the race whilst battling for the lead. Roberts struggled throughout the weekend at the ultra fast Monza circuit and after falling down to 22nd place in the first qualifying session after having problems with the quick shifter and also the throttle jamming, fortunately he was able to salvage eighth position on the grid in second qualifying.

A huge crash on the opening lap of the 11 lap race hindered Roberts’ progress to stick with  the leaders. With the problems throughout the weekend and his crash at Assen he had to secure a good points scoring position. The leading three managed to make a break from the chasing Roberts and although the Australian rider was pushing hard he was unable to make up the gap that they had pulled.

Speaking with Roberts he said “We had some pretty big problems this weekend with the bike and I only got one session where I was able to put in some consistent good times and gain eighth place on the grid. I got a good start but it was carnage into turn one and I had to roll off the throttle to avoid going down myself. I pushed hard to try and catch the leaders but decided that it was better to bring the Ducati home in fourth than not at all. I’m pretty pleased with the result after the weekend that I had and hopefully we can resolve these problems before the next race. I’m still lying in third place in the Championship and there are still many more races to go including the two British circuits Donington and Brands, which I have knowledge of from my years in the British Superstock series. Fingers crossed that I can still push for the title at the remaining rounds of the series.”

Autodromo of Monza (Italy), Sunday 11th May 2008: The Ducati Xerox Junior Team and Brendan Roberts take a fourth place finish at the first Italian appointment on the 2008 Superstock 1000 Cup calendar. Domenico Colucci, who was caught up in an incident at the first corner of the opening lap, was unable to rejoin the race.

Having avoided the collision of lap one, Brendan was in the leading group from the offset. In the fight for podium places, the young Australian battled hard against Smrz and Polita but then an error at the end of the straight from Polita meant that Roberts had to slow in taking the curve in order to avoid colliding with his rivals. Realising that he could not make up the lost time, Roberts preferred to ride the sensible race and take home precious points from his fourth place finish.

BRENDAN ROBERTS – “The first curve is incredibly slow and there are too many riders that push too hard, as happened today, resulting in falls that could have serious consequences for all of us. I managed to avoid getting caught up in what happened at the start and ended up in a battle with Smrz and Polita. I pushed hard on the first laps but the further into the race we got, the worse the rear tyre grip became. A couple of small mistakes and the fact I couldn’t open the gas as much as I hoped to, meant that I had to make a decision and so chose to stay safe and take a solid fourth place. I could be happier but I hope to pick it up again in Germany, a new track for everyone where I am sure we can do well.”

Domenico Colucci was unfortunately a victim of the accident at the first curve, along with a dozen other riders. A mistake by French rider Barrier forced many riders to take evasive action by riding around him off both sides of the track. Colucci, having made a strong start, came off on the grass and when he returned to the track he collided with Michele Pirro, the leader in that moment, damaging his bike to such an extent as to conclude his race prematurely.

DOMENICO COLUCCI – “I got a great start and was in the top five but then we immediately had a pile-up with bikes and riders falling all over the place. I chose to take to the grass verge to pass by and then rejoin the race but unfortunately when I put the front tyre back on the asphalt I hit Pirro’s bike which seriously damaged my machine. I’m really disappointed. In Germany we’re all seeing a track for the first time so the challenge will be new and I hope to do better.”

Race: 1.X.Simeon (SUuuki) in 20’14’’707 alla media di 188,854 km/h; 2.M.Smrz (Honda) a 2’’109; 3.A.Polita (Ducati) a 2’’147; 4.Brendan Roberts (Ducati 1098R Xerox Junior Team) a 6’’656; 5.M.Magnoni (Yamaha) a 10’’849…

Championship standings
1.Xavier Simeon 57 punti; 2.A.Polita 42; 3.Brendan Roberts 38; 4.M.Berger 34; 5.M.Pirro 30….21.Domenico Colucci 5…

 

www.brendan-roberts.com

It was a difficult weekend for Brendan Roberts and the Ducati Xerox Junior team at round two of the European FIM 1000 Cup Championship at Assen TT Circuit. After suffering a number of technical problems throughout the weekend on the Ducati 1098 R, Roberts crashed out of the race whilst in a dice for the lead.

After winning the opening round at Valencia a couple of weeks ago, Roberts and the team were in high spirits as they headed for the Dutch circuit and were eager to back up the race win that they secured. Sadly that was not to be the case; he only managed one full dry session without having bike gremlins, which caused issues during both qualifying sessions.

After altering the bike and changing all possible options he managed to get some decent time on track during the second qualifying session and took himself from 16th, gained in the first qualifying session, to fifth for the 13-lap race.

He gained a good start and held his position at the end of the opening lap. He was soon making progress through the pack and by lap three he was through to third, for a brief moment he got second but made a mistake forcing him wide across the dusty chicane putting him back to sixth. In a fight to try and regain his position he hit the throttle too hard too soon and high-sided and crashed out of the race on lap five.

A frustrated and sore Roberts commented “It was a nightmare weekend for me really from start to finish. We had a number of problems with the bike throughout the weekend and the mechanics couldn’t quite place the main problem and therefore they had to change as much as they could to try and solve it. As a result I didn’t get as much track time as I would have normally got and it put me on a little bit of a back foot. After my win the other week I was really keen to back that up with another good result and perhaps I was pushing that little bit too hard in the race. I had a brief lapse of concentration and that’s all it took, I was over the bars and sliding through the gravel trap. I was lucky as I knew the bike was near to me and thought it was going to collect me and cause me more injuries. I’ve got two very sore ankles, a damaged calf muscle and I also took a nasty knock to the wrist I broke last year. It’s certainly not ideal and not what I needed in the Championship, thankfully a lot of my main competitors also seemed to struggle in the race so I’m still lying in sixth in the Championship and there is still a long way to go. Hopefully things will be better for us in Monza in a couple of weeks time and I’ll be fully fit by then.”

Credit Pictures to www.psp-bikesport.com

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www.carlyrathmell.com

 

TT Circuit Assen (Holland), Sunday 27 April 2008 : an unlucky race day for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team. Brendan Roberts fell during the fifth lap in which he was fighting against the leading pack while Domenico Colucci finished in eleventh place, taking home his first championship points of the season.

Brendan, caught up in a battle fraught with nervous tension, demonstrated his ambition by fighting from the start against race leaders Berger, Pirro and Corti. A few small errors committed by more than one of the front-running riders meant that the advantage changed hands several times. Under pressure from Simeon, Brendan pushed hard on the fast straight and then opened the gas too soon through one of the last curves. Losing the rear, the young Australian came off the track and was unable to complete the race.

BRENDAN ROBERTS – “In the first stages of the race we were all on edge. As a group we were entering corners quite slowly and so it was tricky but I felt I had the situation under control. I was sure I was able to fight for the win even though I lost traction a couple of times. Simeon was very close and so I pushed hard through one of the wide left-hand curves only to find that when I opened the gas again I came off track at high speed. Luckily we limited the damage in the sense that my main rivals didn’t finish either. The championship is still wide open and we will do all we can to get back on track so to speak at Monza.”

A difficult race for Domenico Colucci who failed to find the right feeling with the bike this weekend. Starting from further back on the grid he was able to make up a good number of positions to take a final eleventh place.

DOMENICO COLUCCI – “I want to put this weekend behind me as I wasn’t able to feel comfortable with the track or with the bike. In addition I had to visit the Medical Centre to take some painkillers for a problem with my hand. I tried to catch up but starting from so far back I was only able to do so much. One consolation is that I was able to take my first championship points of 2008.”

Results – 1.M.Berger (Honda) in 22’24’’450 with an average speed of 158,559 km/h; 2.M.Pirro (Yamaha) 0’’904; 3.X.Simeon (Suzuki) 2’’848; 4.A.Polita (Ducati) 4’’811; 5.A.Antonelli (Honda) 5’’481….11.Domenico Colucci (Ducati 1098 R Xerox Junior Team) 19’’898…

Championship standings after 2 rounds - 1.Maxime Berger 34 points; 2.X.Simeon 32; 3.M.Pirro 30; 4.D.Giugliano 28; 5.A.Polita 26; 6.Brendan Roberts 25…..16.Domenico Colucci 5….

www.brendan-roberts.com

Australian Brendan Roberts got his season off to a fantastic start this weekend in Valencia securing the first win of the season. Riding once again for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup on the Ducati 1098R the youngster dominated the weekend’s proceedings. Setting the fastest time in all but one session, he qualified in pole position, his first since 2006, setting the fastest lap during the race and confidently taking the race win.

Roberts who was fighting a serious wrist injury throughout 2007 showed his true form today and demonstrated why he was British Superstock Champion in 2006. He was unable to show his true colours last season but after training hard through the winter and also allowing more time for his wrist to heal he was eager to get back out racing again.

Having tested the Ducati 1098R only a few times prior to the first race it was the ideal start for Roberts and one he hopes to carry through the remainder of the season. In glorious sunshine at Valencia , Spain he gained a fantastic start and lead the race for the entire 13-laps. He was being put under pressure by Italian Davide Giugliano on the Suzuki who was keen to try and make a move on the Australian and go for the lead early in the race. Roberts, however, had other ideas and rode a smooth and very confident race bridging a gap of nearly four seconds by the time the chequered flag came out.

Commenting a delighted Roberts said “It’s such a nice feeling to be back on the top step of the podium again. This is my first win in the dry in the European Superstocks since 2006, after my injury last year I found it difficult at the majority of the races to fully push to my limits as I was still in a lot of pain. I’m so pleased for the team that I have been able to do this and that they had the faith in me to keep me on the Ducati again this season. They have all worked incredibly hard, all last year and this weekend and this is my thanks to them and I hope that it will continue through the season. I’m on such a high and really pleased that it’s started this way, I hope that I’ll be able to do the same again at the other races but I’m just taking one step at a time. My wrist is still sore and I’ve been told I’ll never get full movement back but now its feeling better so fingers crossed!”

Race Results

1.Brendan Roberts (Ducati 1098 R Xerox Junior Team) in 21m17.585s;

2. D. Giugliano (Suzuki)         + 3.795s;

3. X. Simeon (Suzuki)             + 6.865s;

4. A. Polita (Ducati)                + 7.272s;

5. C. Corti (Yamaha)               + 7.680s

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATION

1. Brendan Roberts 25 points;

2. D. Giugliano 20;

3. X. Simeon 16;

4. A. Polita 13;

5. C. Corti 11

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Autodromo della Comunità Valenciana Ricardo Tormo (Spain), Sunday 6th April 2008 :
The Ducati 1098 R and Brendan Roberts celebrate today their first success of the 2008 season. The tradition of winning right from the opening round of the championship, started last year with Niccolò Canepa in Donington, is thus repeated again this year. Team-mate Domenico Colucci unfortunately came off during the first lap but was unhurt.
 

The young Australian rode a perfect race. A slightly late start meant that Brendan chose to wait a lap to see how the battle between Corti and Giugliano developed ahead. He was then able take the lead during the second lap and was more than capable of riding defensively to gradually increase his lead over second-placed rider Davide Giugliano. The 2008 Championship therefore gets underway in the best possible way for Roberts and his win is further proof of the talent he has already shown in previous seasons.
 

BRENDAN ROBERTS – “I am so happy with my win today and I dedicate it to my team. I didn’t make the best start but I was able to keep my concentration and quickly make up precious metres. I could see the battle up ahead and so I chose to take the lead early on in order to ride the race the way I wanted. Giugliano was extremely fast, managing to keep the pressure on me until just a few laps from the end. The bike was sliding a lot and by the last lap I couldn’t keep control as I would have liked but I was very careful not to make any mistakes. I am just overwhelmed that, after such a difficult season in 2007, I am back on the top step of the podium today. We have to carry on working hard of course as the season is long and the competition will be ready to fight back as soon as we get to the next round in Assen.”
 

Domenico Colucci’s race lasted just a few metres. The young Italian came off soon into lap one and, although thankfully unhurt, unfortunately leaves Valencia without points.
 

DOMENICO COLUCCI – “I don’t know how to explain what happened as I didn’t do anything out of the ordinary. The front of the bike went away from me suddenly and I couldn’t do anything about it. I’m very upset about how it turned out as, in my first race of the season, I hoped to at least be able to take some points. Now we just have to concentrate on the next race in Assen.”
 

 

Race Results
1.Brendan Roberts (Ducati 1098 R Xerox Junior Team) in 21m17.585s; 2. D. Giugliano (Suzuki) 3.795s; 3. X. Simeon (Suzuki) 6.865s; 4. A. Polita (Ducati) 7.272s; 5. C. Corti (Yamaha) 7.680s….
 

CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSIFICATION
1. Brendan Roberts 25 points; 2. D. Giugliano 20; 3. X. Simeon 16; 4. A. Polita 13; 5. C. Corti 11…

International Motorcycle and Scooter Show 2007
Organisers have announced an all-star line-up of big-name riders and celebrities due to attend the Show, including World Superbike Champion James Toseland, British Superbike (BSB) star Chris Walker, The Long Way Down’s Charley Boorman, legendary motorsport commentator Murray Walker, The BBC’s Hairy Bikers as well as a host of other racers from MotoGP, World Superbike and BSB.

The impressive array of stars scheduled to be at the NEC on various dates throughout the Show will be the closest thing you’ll get to an out-of-season race paddock, filled with the biggest names in motorcycle racing. British racing legend and soon-to-be MotoGP rider James Toseland will open the Show to media on the 22nd (press day), with Troy Corser and Leon Haslam joining in the fun. MotoGP rider and Valentino Rossi’s 2007 team-mate at Yamaha, Colin Edwards, is also set to jet over from the US to make an appearance.

This year’s Show takes place on the new dates of 23rd November - 2nd December (Press Day - 22nd November), in new halls 1, 2, 3, 3a & 4. Ticket prices have been frozen for a third consecutive year making the Show even better value. For more information visit the website www.motorcycleshow.co.uk.

www.brendan-roberts.com

Brendan Roberts had to settle for a disappointing sixth and seventh place respectively in the two National Superstock races at the final round at Brands Hatch at the weekend, 12th – 14th October. Roberts was hoping for a strong end to the season but it was not to be as he struggled to find a suitable set up on the Ducati 1098 around the tight 1.2-mile circuit.

With a whole host of riders competing in the Superstock Championship, conditions on the track during qualifying were not ideal. With around 40 riders all competing for the pole position spot and only two seconds covering the entire field of 38 riders it was always going to be a tight fought battle to the chequered flag.

After qualifying in 12th position for the two races he ensured he got a good start for the first race and was through to ninth by the third lap. As the race progressed the pack were bunched together, staring up the exhaust pipe of Marshall Neil when Neil’s bike blew spraying oil all over the track and all over the chasing Ducati of Roberts. With a number of riders falling on the oil the race was red flagged and re-run as a 10-lap sprint. On the re-start Roberts gained a good start and was soon through the sixth position and fending off the chasing riders.

After a few changes on the Saturday night Roberts set the fastest time during Sunday’s morning warm-up, but with his low qualifying position he was going to always struggle to turn that into a strong race result. Fighting a hard race he was sandwiched between the two Yamaha’s of Jon Kirkham and Hudson Kennaugh and due to another red flag and the race being declared at 17-laps, Roberts could only secure seventh place.

A slightly disappointed Roberts said “It’s definitely been a tough year for me, I’ve struggled all year with my injured right wrist, which I sustained early in the year and it’s certainly had a knock on effect to my racing. It’s taken months for it to heal and is still not right now, I’ve been told by the doctor that it’s unlikely I’ll regain full movement in it. I’ve battled through the pain and got on with the job as best I could. We found it difficult to find a good set up for me at Brands and I made things harder for myself by qualifying in 12th place. I’d like to congratulate John (Laverty) on his first win of the season and also thanks to all the guys at the Buildbase team for taking me on half way through the year. They are a great team and it’s been a pleasure to ride for them. I fly back to Oz on the 21st and looking forward to the break. I’m still waiting to hear about next year but fingers crossed I’ll be back in Europe, thanks to everyone at the Ducati Xerox Junior Team and the Buildbase Team for all their hard work this season.”

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Carly Rathmell
www.carlyrathmell.com

www.brendan-roberts.com

Australian Brendan Roberts took his best result in dry condition today in the European series for the Ducati Xerox Junior team at Vallelunga Circuit, Italy. Roberts secured a strong fourth place at the penultimate round of the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, running in a good third position for the majority of the race the young Australian was forced onto the gravel on the final lap by Ayrton Badovini, losing him an opportunity of a podium position.

Looking strong throughout the weekend and setting a stunningly fast lap times in the wet conditions during first practice on Friday, he was eager to making up for the disappointing result he got at Lausitz Eurospeedway Circuit a couple of weeks ago. A time of 1.42.645 in first qualifying saw him sitting in provisional fifth position for the race, despite a faster time in his second qualifying session of 1.41.412 he ended up in sixth position on the grid for the 13-lap race.

On the ultra fast technical circuit Roberts secured a good start, which saw him hold his position into the first corner. As the leading pack broke away Roberts matched their every move and was stuck on the back of them and was ensuring that they did not make a break and bridge too much of a gap. Riding almost pillion to his team-mate Nicola Canepa, he was determined to secure a podium results and was consistently setting fast lap times to be able to achieve that.

By lap seven Roberts was through to fourth place when race leader Mark Aitchison crashed out allowing Roberts to gain a position and a foot on the podium. Fighting hard and shadowing his team-mate he was looking extremely smooth and in control. Running slightly wide into one turn allowed Badovini to slip underneath him but the Italian forced Roberts to sit up through the gravel trap into the next turn. Staying on the throttle Roberts was eager to regain the podium place but lost too much time and had to settle for fourth. He now currently lies in ninth position in the overall Championship standings.

Commenting he said “I’m pretty pleased with the result today as it’s been one of my strongest results all year in the European Championship. The bike felt really good and we found a strong race set up early in the weekend, which certainly help progress things today. I felt comfortable from the start and just settled into a rhythm. I was staying in touch with the front runners and I’m disappointed that Ayrton sat up on me and forced me to run wide, I had no where to go and had to go across the gravel. Luckily I kept the 1098 upright and brought it home in fourth place. I’m hoping for a strong result at Magny Cours next weekend.”

The final round of the Championship is next weekend at Magny Cours, France, 5th – 7th October.

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