V&J AND BEOWULF RACING BACK ON THE WORLD STAGE IN 2006
V&J owner Dave Hopgood says of his firm’s ongoing involvement with the
team: “This project has been vital for us as Beowulf race with the products we sell every day in our performance centres, from exhaust systems to brake fluid, providing us with a fantastic source of development feedback. We can do everything from a braided hose kit to a 200mph replica of the bike we actually run at the track, which is tuned and built by the squad for you to use on the road. It really has moved the supplying of performance products and tuning in Somerset on to another level. We even have an ex Suzuki GP technician working for us on the performance side, so we are really going for it.
You can follow the progress of the V&J machines by visiting the Beowulf Racing website: www.beowulf-racing.com. Reports are issued from directly from the track during each race weekend, allowing you to keep up-to-date with all the latest action.
We have supplied two of the latest Suzuki GSX-R1000 K6’s to the Somerset squad. In the hands of Team Manager and top UK tuner Andy Stone it has not been unknown for our bikes to outperform some of the top World Superbike machines in terms of outright top speed – hardly surprising when you consider that Beowulf are multiple race championship winners and hold four landspeed records.
V&J will again be making an attack on the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup during 2006 with our long-standing partners in motorcycle sport, the Shepton Mallet-based Beowulf Racing team.
The Superstock 1000 Cup runs at all the European rounds of the World Superbike Championship. Beowulf are fielding rider no 33, the 21-year-old Pat McDougall who also rode for the team last year in the junior European Superstock 600 Championship.
V&J rack up the miles
Another renewed association for V&J is the partnership with 3 times world endurance champions Phase One racing. The effort this Bridgwater based team puts into beating the worlds best works teams is unbelievable. We would go as far as saying they are probably the most successful privateer team currently running in motorsport and they are based on your doorstep!!!!!!! This year sees the return of double world champion and ex superbike rider Warwick Nowland to Phase one joining Damian Cudlin who returns to the team after riding for the works Suzuki Australia Team and Andi Notman who returns after a season sidelined by injury. The team will once again be riding the awesome Yamaha R1’S with lots of development from last year including trick parts and a massive horsepower gain so all looks good. As we have already said Phase One really is a giant killing effort and they can never have enough support, how about lending them your support by joining their supporters club for only £10, please send cheques to Bethan Perry, Phase One Supporters club, Moxhill House, Combwich, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 2PN. By joining take advantage of reduced price clothing and pay them a visit in the paddock at any of the World endurance rounds including the Le Mans 24 hours!!
For more information on Phase One visit www.phaseone.co.uk
V&J Hit the dirt
A First for V&J is a progression into the motorcross world with local star Paul Ayres. Paul will be riding his V&J Yamaha YZ250F in the South Somerset MX Club Championship as well as some National rounds. So what does owner Dave Hopgood reckon about grovelling around in the mud?? ‘This is a first for us, the motorcross market is something we believe we can really contribute to, however you have to have a representation at the circuits, Paul’s mature, quick and very dedicated to what he is doing so is a great ambassador for V&J. His racing at the weekend is also vital to what we sell during the week as he is Riding with kit we supply so we can give customers the best feedback about the products we sell, i.e. Motorex oils and the superb range of Kenny motorcross clothing, I’m really looking forward to getting to some of the rounds, however if it’s a clash with world Superbikes at Monza I might delegate the muddy field to one of the other guys.
Moto GP & World Superbike Weekends
V&J Superbikes and ToursAreUs are offering events in 2007 for the World Superbikes and the Moto GP's in and around Europe these are for the whole weekend why not take in the full hospitably package or just join the motor heads, for more details why not visit one of our stores or call ToursAreUs for more information, or even visit the ToursAreUs website at www.toursareus.co.uk and call them to book on 0845 052 5322 for just £50 Deposit towards your event, we also do a monthly payment plan at NO Extra Cost FREE...
32'000 Miles Around the World in 90 Days
In 2003 ToursAreUs was born after an ambition realised when Jane Holmyard and Graham Saunders met whilst riding their own bikes around the world in 2002, visiting 5 continents and 15 countries and covering in excess of 32,000 miles, in three months. Graham had been taking group tours abroad for a number of years before joining forces with Jane in business as well as at home.
The season may be over for Norton's Michael Hill, but the 125 rider (who now lives in London) will head off to Spain later this month to host a charity event as part of the final Moto GP at Valencia, Spain.
The 23-year-old, who is currently mixing his racing with presenting and broadcasting, has been asked to assist on stage at the Day of Champions at the final round in two weeks' time, and he hopes it will help to continue to boost his profile as he aims to expand his own team, Taboo Motorsport.
"I hosted the event at the British GP this summer and have been asked to go back next year, and then I took a call asking if I could help with this one. As I speak Spanish very well and knowing it was the final round, I had to jump at the chance," he said.
"It's all about getting myself seen, because at present I'm looking at options for next year. I enjoy the presenting, but obviously I love racing and intend to keep that up, and I'm also looking at which way my team can go for 2007."
Hill, who is the youngest rider / manager in the British paddock, has the ability to attract attention wherever he goes, and refuses to give up on his own dreams of racing at the highest possible level as well as taking his own team to World level at some point in the future.
