Phillip Island – For the Team Pro Ride Real Game Honda is good to be back home. We missed the paddock at the World Superbikes, after a long period out of it but also so much investment in a racing structure that can bring us results and finally allows us to develop a long-term project. New team, new bike, new rider. The team project for 2012 has become a real thing in a few weeks and at the end we are at the doors of the first round with the target of using these 2 precious days of official tests at Phillip Island to “assemble” all the package for next Sunday: rider+bike+team staff. Easy job.
But we like challenges. And the more this challenge is hard and difficult, the more we like it. However, at the end of the day, for our joy, everything found its right position faster than we expected. Raffaele de Rosa was not riding since the Valencia Moto2 round last year (November the 6th) and had never rode a 1000cc bike before in his life. E quickly at his first day, with the ordinary anxiety that is part of the start-up of any challenge, has found himself quite well with his Fireblade. When we see him coming back from the first laps, we see a young man that smiles. He’s having fun. And so are we. For his it is a new class, for the team it is the restarting of a job that was unfortunately and surprisingly stopped a couple of years ago. The team, together with the talent of De Rosa, got a good first working day: that kind of day with so much homework and with so much will of working hard.
“It was nice feeling riding a 1000cc, so much power, I had never rode a bike like this before, so powerful. The most for me until now was a 600cc and honestly I thought that the bike weight would be more evident, but actually it isn’t something that one feels quite a lot. Of course one feels that the bike is really big, but this is not an obstacle, actually it was very nice, I enjoyed riding it and had a lot of fun. The idea today was making laps, but I was not riding for some time and I got a bit tired, mainly because some muscles you work only when you ride, and today I felt them again. Concerning the bike, we started working on it, but there are a lot to test and to work on. However the important is to go step by step and at the end it is what we are doing. I liked the bike a lot, we didn’t have any problem and then we could use properly and effectively all the time we had today. Usually this is something that doesn’t happen when the team is new, the usual would be facing some trouble, but it didn’t happen. I’m happy.”
Marco Nicotari, technical director:
“I am quite impressed with Raffaele’s performance, taking into account that he had never rode a 1000cc until today and it is from Valencia last year Moto2 round that he didn’t ride. He didn’t knew what he was about to face today and the result was much better than what I was expecting. We had also to deal with some rust for the time we were out of the Superbikes, there was more than a year since I worked on a Superbike configuration for the last time. So I am happy for what we could accomplish today. But there are for sure so much work ahead, we are very far from our aim, and tomorrow we must find a better lap time. I think that if we can improve a second, we may be able to even fight for some points at the races. The situation is clear: Raffaele has made a great job and we still need to cut some sharp ends of this bike to give him more confidence. And I guess we can do it.”
1. Carlos Checa - 1’31.947
2. Max Biaggi – 1’32.132
21. Raffaele de Rosa – 1’34.400
Picture by Kel Edge
Pro Ride Motorsports officially communicates, after 1 year in the Moto2 World Championship with the rider Max Neukirchner, its plans for 2012. The Tuscan team will take part of the World Superbike Championship running the Honda CBR 1000 RR, with the Italian rider Raffaele de Rosa, a great promise for this season. De Rosa has ridden in the World GP at the classes 125, 250 and Moto2 and he is one of the main young talents on the track. Pro Ride has accomplished a 3-year project, which started with the construction of the Performance Center at Lucca, an unique structure, complete and independent to build and tune racing bikes, suspensions, engines and electronics in a high level, serving the team itself and privateers. A structure that today can make projects, build and develop any part for a racing bike.
The team counts on the support of an important group of technical partners, and this group has been constructed during the past 15 years and today it is the support for the development and assistance for our bikes. Pro Ride will be actually the only team using electronics HRC at the World Superbikes. The team has the factory support of brands like Giannelli, GB Racing, Carbonin, Mechanix, Beta, Rizoma, DID, Nissin, Showa, Valter Moto, Motorex and many others. The project has also the sponsorship of some Italian companies and the main sponsor is Real Game, a Lombard company from the bets and electronic games area with an important story. We would like to thank its owner, Stefano Volpe, for trusting on us and dedicating so much passion and professionalism when dealing with our proposal.
The Pro Ride plan is to confirm itself as a Superbike team and increase the value of our own brand, advertising not only our partners but also ourselves and corroborate our Honda profile. An single company in Italy, where a team from a World Championship works also for privateers, taking to them the same professionalism and high quality that we take to our rider on the World SBK. And working side by side with brands to whom we have prepared a marketing plan and strategies to show their brands to the world. Pro Ride has a lot of aims this season and we hope to develop at the most the potentialities of our rider, of the bike, the brands that are with us and of Pro Ride itself both as team and company.
Raffaele de Rosa, RIDER:
I am very happy to be part of this project, I like the way Marco Nicotari thinks and I believe in the way he wants to manage the team and on the conditions his company offered to me. I found at Pro Ride a family rapport and this is something elementary but unusual inside the pit garage and until now this was missing element for me. Changing championship does not scare me at all. I do not expect to be fast at the very first moment, but for sure I am looking for results and satisfaction. I would like to be one of the first among the “rookies” of 2012 and honestly I think this can be done. But as the World Superbikes is a new situation for me, I do not have much idea of the way the other bikes behave and the challenges I’ll face ahead. But I believe that Marco, with all his experience, together with the team, will be able to help me to take the best from our Honda. It would be perfect if Honda, with whom I made my best results on the 250gp – could give us some support. I am ready to Phillip Island: as it is one of my favorite tracks, I am coming motivated to take the best of my Fireblade!”
Ing. Marco Nicotari, Team Manager:
“After 3 long years of hard working, we are finally able to start the Team Pro Ride Motorsports where I wanted, in the World Superbikes. We made a different road last year with the Moto2 – that brought a new experience to my company, but we are finally here. At this moment there is not much to tell but much to be done. We are coming back to where Pro Ride has been created and with a lot of energy to represent our way of making races: bike and its development at first place.
Raffaele
is the rider we were looking for, a young man full of talent, values and strength. We re-start in a humble way, from the beginning and aiming to reach results, be professionals and for sure work together with our technical sponsors, brands that are with us for such a long time and have never left us during the hard times. We are happy with the possibility of making a precise job and giving Raffaele the working environment that he wanted. At Phillip Island we will see the way our bike will behave and we will then be able to make an accurate strategy for the season. It won’t be easy, the level is really high, but there are a lot of motivation. I feel at home. I would like to thank INFRONT represented by Paolo Ciabatti, the SBK Commission represented by Giulio Bardi and Pirelli, represented by Giorgio Barbier for the respect, the welcoming and mainly the professionalism”.
This e-commerce, that counts on not only brand new but also some used parts (but always revised by the supplier itself), rappresents the largest private collection of standard and HRC parts for the Honda CBR 1000 from 2004 to 2011 available nowadays.
And here we refer then not only to standard parts but also racing parts developed specially for the World Superbikes. Brands as Akrapovic, Ohlins, Kenny Roberts, Arrow, Giannelli, Pirelli, GB Racing, Showa and so many others.
Besides, Pro Ride Motorsports on-line shop offers to the customer many rare items and parts developed by our Performance Center only for the track and also a selection of products for some sportive bike models. The products are available to the entire European Community, North America, Australia and Asia.
Do not miss this unique opportunity of tuning your bike with the best products and convenient prices. Pro Ride Motorsports also rappresents many special parts brands, check back regularly for a variety of online and in-store discount offers and new exclusive products.
For more information:
On-line Shop: myworld.ebay.it/team_pro_ride_superbike
Commercial Partners Pro Ride Motorsports: http://www.proridegp.com/performancecenter_-31-En.html
For quotations, orders and general requests: info@proridegp.com
Pro Ride Motorsports informs officially that the company will not renew the collaboration with the German factory MZ for the 2012 World Moto2 Championship. On the next weeks we will comunicate to the press out plans for the next season. The Pro Ride-MZ rider Max Neukirchner has signed with the Moto2 team Kiefer the contract for 2012. We from Pro Ride wish all the best for him, we have lived a tough but very productive year, facing problems and achieving so many aims, and we are very proud of him. Go Max!
The Team Pro Ride Motorports, that was the structure of MZ Moto2 Team in 2011 and was also responsible for the bike and staff of Max Neukirchner will be presented at the 69o. Eicma International bike show in Milan, from the 9/11 to the 13/11. Max will also be there, making autograph sessions and taking part of the MotoLive event. Come to visit us and see closely a professional racing team and also the Pro Ride-MZ-FTR bike - Max's partner during this season to score many points and delight the Moto2 audience with the kind of emotion that only this class can offer. Come also to talk to our technitcians and engineers, that will be happy to explain to the visitors the fascinating world of racing!
Schedule:
From 09/11/2011 to 13/11/2011
Max's bike will be at the Hall 6 - stand H39 - Ognibene spa
Pro Ride racing structure and bikes will be at the Hall 22 - MotoLive paddock
Saturday 12/11: Autograph session at Ognibene stand 16h
Sunday 13/11: MotoLive at 12h15 (Neukirchner will make a lap at the MotoLive track and talk about his plan to 2012. UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY!)
Autograph session right after the MotoLive at Pro Ride structure - Hall 22
16h: last autograph session at Pro Ride structure - Hall 22
For further informartion: http://www.eicma.it/en/
Pro Ride Motorsports, an Italian company specialized in racing technology, has a complete racing structure that for the 2011 season of the World Moto2 Championship was the structure behind the Team MZ Moto2. This structure included Max Neukirchner bike and staff and almost all his technical sponsors, which are Pro Ride’s supporters. MZ was in charge of the bike and the staff of Anthony West, but we were also available to give him any support in case of a request from MZ direction.
In order to expand our business, we would like to present to the entire media our company and our racing services and for that we will be presented at the EICMA show in Milan from the 9th to the 13th of November, with Max Neukirchner’s bike at the Ognibene stand (hall 6, stand H39) and also at the MotoLive paddock (hall 22) with our racing structure.
Pro Ride Motorsports ends the 2011 season with a positive result of its first year at Moto2 World Championship, which was a learning year for both rider and staff. Neukirchner found himself very confident with the Eng. Marco Nicotari technical management and also the Pro Ride staff found in Max the rider we had been looking for. The technical development we made with FTR was a great contribution to Pro Ride itself that leaves the season with a bigger background and all the data that can allow us to make a more competitive season in 2012. Max’s bike was the only one that made the entire championship with the 2010 chassis and even facing some problems that strongly disturbed the entire’s staff (including the rider) performance, Max made points at the 9 from 11 of the races that he finished. Besides our technical package were an unique combination at the Moto2 paddock (Nissin brakes, Giannelli silencers, Sunstar sprockets, Showa suspension, DID chains, Valter Moto special components, GB racing special parts and Titax levers) and each race, each new track, each different setting were made with the close assistance of all these brands, and there are certainly a lot to be done for the winter, aiming the 2012 season. And having the support direct from the factories were one step further to reach our aims. We will keep this package for 2012, still being the Moto2 with Japanese soul, Italian heart and English spine. And of course, a German rider.
We would like to thank to all our partners, not only the ones mentioned above, but also Mechanix, Mentani, Beta and Motorex, that believed on us for this amazing and beautiful challenge that is racing. We invite you all to come to see us at the EICMA show, where we can personally thank each one personally for a so productive year.
Eng. Nicotari declares after the last race in Valencia: “Max is not a common rider, he is a fighter with a heart. We grew up together this season, after each point, after each problem solved, and also after each lost battle. We became partners and friends. I was extremely happy to work with him this year and I hope that we left a seed on each track we have been together and next year I really want a good harvest in 2012! What he did today here in Valencia, after all the problems we lived the last rounds and during the season, was the motivation we needed to restart. I have many plans for the new bike and also for our company itself and I look forward the winter tests.”
Max Neukirchner: “I found at Pro Ride a safe place, where I could just trust my staff and open the gas. Marco is a great engineer and I am sure that next season we can do a lot together. Making a good result here in Valencia today was a matter of honor to me. It was a hard race, of course I wanted much more, but we found the way and I think that with the experience of this season we can make a better 2012!”
Neukirchner will be at the Eicma Show on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th, accomplishing the following schedule:
Sunday 13/11/11: 12h15 – 12h25 – Moto Live – MZ Moto2 bike will make a lap at the track on Moto Live arena followed by an interview with the rider.
Sunday 13/11/11: 16h: Autograph session at the Pro Ride structure – Hall 22 – MotoLive Paddock
Until the moment this press release was made, MZ did not present the renewal contract for the 2012 season to Pro Ride neither to Max Neukirchner. This will be decided in a meeting between Pro Ride and MZ at the Eicma show.
Official web site: www.proridegp.com
e-mail: info@proridegp.com
Communications Department: Thatiana Moure
e-mail: t.moure@proridegp.com
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OFFICIAL MZ PRESS RELEASE
Rain king Anthony West was in fantastic shape during the wet first day of practice for the Valencia Grand Prix. In damp and later on drier conditions of the first free practice session, the 30-year-old Australian MZ factory rider grabbed slick tyres just at the right time and stormed to eighth position. Team-mate Max Neukirchner had no other chance but to watch: The 28-year-old German missed the entire session due to a persistent clutch problem and could not even complete one flying lap. When the rain returned for the afternoon session, Neukirchner was back in the competition and rode to 24th place even though he was way behind his rivals with the set-up of his bike. His lap time in completely wet conditions however was meaningless for the combined lap times, where Neukirchner is down in 38th place. “I want to see both riders finishing in the points on Sunday. They owe this to the team”, said MZ CEO Martin Wimmer. “Their performances during this season show that the bikes are good enough for top 15 positions and it’s time that they deliver results again, since both went down in the last two races!”
Anthony West - 8. in 1.44,307 min.:
“The conditions were really strange today. It started wet and tried out, so I took slicks at the end of the first session. I only tried to survive but it worked out and I got a good lap time! In wet conditions in the afternoon, I didn't have a really good feeling with the front end and I couldn't push the way I wanted. I still might have gotten a better time, but I was slowed by other riders when it counted. The bike was okay, but we know where we can improve even further!”
Max Neukirchner - 38. in 1:55,373 min.:
“I had a clutch problem this morning and I wasn't able to ride at all. In the wet session this afternoon, it was obvious that we had missed one session and that we were behind with the set-up of the bike. But the more I rode, the better I felt on the bike. In the end, a better lap time was within reach, but I made a mistake in the last corner of of my last lap!”
Result Friday:
1. Stefan Bradl / GER / Kalex / 1:41.777 min.
2. Randy Krummenacher / SUI / Kalex / + 0,329 sec.
3. Alex deAngelis / RSM / Motobi / + 0,911 sec.
8. Anthony West / AUS / MZ-RE Honda / + 2,530 sec.
38. Max Neukirchner / GER / MZ-RE Honda / + 13,596 sec.
Pictures at: http://mz.mediarace.de
OFFICIAL MZ PRESS RELEASE
MZ factory riders Max Neukirchner and Anthony West managed to further improve in qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix and conquered 15th and 16th place on the starting grid for the race on Sunday. Both riders had the set-up and the speed for an even better ranking, but just didn’t have the right timing and the luck to add all sections of the 5.5 kilometre track of Sepang to a faultless qualifying lap and to take advantage of the slipstream of other riders on the long straights. But they both have the potential to succeed in the race.
“Max performed brilliantly. To clock these lap times at his first race on this demanding track is remarkable. Anthony confirmed his good lap time from the third free practice session in qualifying, but didn’t improve. If he had found another three or four tenths of a second, he would have had a top ten finish”, said MZ CEO Martin Wimmer. “Luckily, the gap to the fastest riders is very small. Points are within reach for both of our riders!”
Max Neukirchner - 15th in 2.08,620 min.:
“I am quite happy with our progress and with the set-up of our bike, but w could have been a bit closer to the front on the starting grid. I was faster than yesterday and faster than this morning and we fine-tuned the set-up of the bike so I guess we should be content with what we achieved at our first Grand Prix on this track. But in the race, I want more than 15th position. I was able to push at the beginning of the session and felt comfortable on the bike, but when it counted in the end, I chose the wrong guy to get some slipstream – he was too slow for me. Whereas all the others went faster, I failed to improve my lap time in the end due to wrong timing. Now I hope for a good start in the race!”
Anthony West - 16th in 2.08,714 min.:
“We made a change for the beginning of the qualifying session that didn’t really work, so we went back to what we had before. But even at the end of qualifying, I didn’t put my laps together very well, so I am not really happy. At least I can do my times quite consistently, which should be good for the race. The other positive thing is that the Speed Up team helped us out with a new exhaust, otherwise I definitely wouldn’t be in the position I’m in. The biggest challenge tomorrow will be to survive the heat!”
Result Saturday:
1. Tom Lüthi / SUI / Suter / 2:07.512 min.
2. Stefan Bradl / GER / Kalex / + 0,212 sec.
3. Michele Pirro / ITA / Moriwaki / + 0,492 sec.
15. Max Neukirchner / GER / MZ-RE Honda + 1,108 sec.
16. Anthony West / AUS / MZ-RE Honda + 1,202 sec.
Pictures at: http://mz.mediarace.de
OFFICIAL MZ PRESS RELEASE
MZ factory riders Anthony West and Max Neukirchner had a good start at the Grand Prix of Malaysia. Despite suffering from headaches in the tropical heat after innocently crashing out of the Australian Grand Prix one week ago, Anthony West battled to 16th place. Team-mate Max Neukirchner, who had also been taken out by another rider in Australia, rode to 17th place just 0.07 seconds behind West. Since Neukirchner had never ridden on the 5.5 kilometre track of Sepang before, he is very confident to be able to improve much further in qualifying on Saturday.
Anthony West - 16th in 2:09.596 min.:
“I still have a headache from the crash at Phillip Island and the tropical heat doesn't help. But I am just trying to forget about it and ride the bike. It feels pretty good, but we have a problem with the exhaust. The new version is cracked so we had to mount an older one that doesn’t produce the same power. I am struggling to follow the other guys in a few places. It’s frustrating to know what the problem is but not to be able to fix it!"
Max Neukirchner - 17th in 2:09.672 min.:
“It is my first time on this track, but I liked it immediately. It suits my riding style, especially the fast sections. I am happy so far. 17th is a good start especially since there are many points on the track left where I can still improve as a rider!”
Result Friday:
1. Stefan Bradl / GER / Kalex / 2:08.464 min.
2. Aleix Espargaro / SPA / Kalex / + 0,022 sec.
3. Dominique Aegerter / SUI / Suter / + 0,086 sec.
16. Anthony West / AUS / MZ-RE Honda + 1,132 sec.
17. Max Neukirchner / GER / MZ-RE Honda + 1,208 sec.
Pictures at: http://mz.mediarace.de
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