Honda (UK) has signed the fastest female on two-wheels to compete in the British Superbike Championship.

Honda (UK) has signed the fastest female on two-wheels to compete for its official team in the UK’s premier motorcycle racing series – the British Superbike Championship. Cheshire-based rider Jenny Tinmouth will be the only woman to race in the series in 2015, joining fellow riders Jason O’Halloran and Dan Linfoot on the three-strong Honda Racing squad.

Tinmouth – who has achieved many firsts for women in motorsport – has competed in the British Superbike Championship since 2011 and is the first and only female to have ever ridden in the series – an accolade for which she was awarded a Guinness World Record. Having previously run her own private team, Tinmouth will now join the official Honda squad, racing in the prestigious premier class aboard the championship-winning Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.

Tinmouth’s racing career also includes numerous successes at the world famous Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) road races, where she holds the current record as the fastest female around the notoriously difficult 37-mile course. Tinmouth broke the female lap record in her first year at the event and went on to break her own record the following year with an average lap speed of 119.9455mph – for both she received further Guinness World Records.

In 2012, Tinmouth received The Women’s International Film and Television Showcase, International Visionary Awards ‘IT Girl’ award for her commitment and dedication to her sport, siting her as an inspiration to women of all ages around the world. Tinmouth will begin her 2015 BSB campaign with Honda Racing at the first round of the 12-round championship at Donington Park from 4-6 April. To follow Jenny’s progress in the Championship follow Honda on Facebook and Twitter.

Nick Campolucci, Head of Motorcycles at Honda (UK), sees the addition to the squad as a natural progression for both Jenny and Honda Racing:

"There'll be a focus on Jenny because she's a female racer, of course. After all, she's the first and only woman rider to compete in British Superbikes. But she's a proven competitor and current Isle of Man TT lap record holder. Jenny joins the team on merit and we are very pleased that we have the opportunity to work with her. 

Honda has served up a number of firsts when it comes to broadening the representation of women in motorsport and Jenny is the latest female member of the Honda Racing family. She joins British motocross sensation Natalie Kane and Laia Sanz who achieved the highest ever placing in this year's Dakar Rally, by a female rider, finishing ninth overall in this year's race."

Jenny Tinmouth:

"I'm absolutely over the moon and cannot believe I'm riding for Honda Racing in the British Superbike Championship. The offer was totally unexpected. I went for a meeting with Nick (Campolucci) to discuss the season and had a few cheeky questions I wanted to ask about Honda helping me out with bikes, and when the offer came I couldn't believe what I was being asked. I went into the meeting thinking it would just be some help and came out as a full-time Honda rider. It's always been my ultimate dream to ride for the team and to have the opportunity this year is just amazing. I’m riding the Honda BSB bike for the first time during a team test in March and I can't wait."

Honda racing completes pre season testing.

The Honda Racing team has completed its final pre-season test at Magny Cours in France in preparation for the 2014 Endurance World Championship, which begins with the Bol d’Or 24-hour at the same circuit in just over three weeks time (26/27 April).

The team was blessed with warm and dry weather during the two-day event, giving the all-new rider line-up of EWC experts, Julien Da Costa, Freddy Foray and Sebastien Gimbert, plus reserve rider Jason O’Halloran, plenty of time to get to grips with the 2014 Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade SP machine.  

With a full schedule of 9am to 5pm track time and 450 laps completed, the team was able to work on fuel strategy and tyre selection, as well as finding a good set-up to suit all riders and achieving consistency in lap times. The Magny Cours test completes an extensive pre-season programme that has seen the Honda Racing team travel to Mireval, Albacete, Aragon and Cartagena as it steps up its EWC campaign in a bid to secure the 2014 title.  

Julien Da Costa
I feel very good after this test. I was saying to Neil earlier, I feel so at home on the bike already.It is speaking to me like we are a couple – we are like a man and a woman! The bike is veryeasy to ride and we have made a lot of improvements throughout the testing programme. Wehave a very good basic set-up and we’ve done a lot of fuel and tyre testing. Now we are able tolook forward to the race and we can use the practice sessions during the Bol d’Or week to focuson getting the set-up right for the conditions. We can definitely say that we have all done a goodjob!  

 

Freddy Foray
I think we have done a good job over the last few weeks. The bike has been great from day one and the feeling has improved day by day. The lap times of all the riders are consistent with each other, which is very important for endurance racing. It is difficult to make a plan for the first race because it’s 24-hours, but we have a good foundation and if we can improve even more during the week before the race, I think we have a good chance.

 

Sebastien Gimbert
My feeling after the testing is good because our lap times are consistent with each other and the bike is going very well. I’m really happy because the whole team has worked really hard to give us a good bike. We’ve done a lot of testing and now I’m looking forward to the season beginning. I want to push for the race – we’re ready. 

Honda announces BSB entry team for 2014.

Honda (UK) confirms its official involvement in the 2014 British Superbike Championship with a three-strong line-up of riders competing under the Honda Racing banner in the Superbike and Superstock 1000 classes.

Former Australian Supersport Champion Jason O’Halloran and double Endurance World Champion Freddy Foray will form a two-man squad for the full Superstock 1000 Championship, competing aboard the new track-focused Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP machine in a tricolour design.

For four selected rounds of the British Superbike Championship, the Honda Racing team will be joined by current Endurance World Champion Julien Da Costa. The Frenchman will ride in the Superbike class at Snetterton, Donington Park, Silverstone and the final Brands Hatch outing as part of the continued development programme for the CBR1000RR Fireblade ahead of Honda’s planned full-time return to BSB in 2015.

The BSB line-up completes Honda (UK)’s racing activity for 2014, which also includes involvement in the Maxxis British Motocross Championship and the Pro Nationals series with Buildbase Honda and Putoline Apico Honda. Buildbase Honda will run a three-strong team in the MX1 class with Elliott Banks-Browne, Brad Anderson and Nez Parker aboard the Honda CRF450R, while Putoline Apico Honda will contest the MX2 class with James Harrison and Neville Bradshaw aboard the CRF250R.

The Maxxis British Motocross Championship kicks off on 16 March from Landrake MotoParc in Cornwall while the 2014 British Superbike Championship will begin on 21 April from Brands Hatch in Kent.

Neil Tuxworth – Honda (UK) Racing
While we’re obviously disappointed not to be defending our 2013 British Superbike title but we’re very pleased to have some involvement in the championship for 2014. Julien Da Costa competing in four rounds of the Superbike championship will enable us to continue developing the Fireblade machine ready for a full return to the class in 2015. We’re also excited to be contesting all rounds of the Superstock season with the new Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade SP. We’ve retained the services of Jason O’Halloran – who has won Superstock races for us before – and we’re also very pleased to welcome double EWC championship Freddy Foray to the team. It’s a strong line-up in road racing and we’re coming with a strong effort in off-road too in 2014. We’re looking forward to bringing home some positive results this season.

Jason O’Halloran
This will be my fourth consecutive season with Honda UK and my seventh year as a Honda rider (I spent three years with Honda Australia before I came to the UK). Honda has played a big part in my racing career so it’s great to be continuing with them for 2014. I’m looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead this season and I’m especially looking forward to racing the new Fireblade SP. With the new machine and Honda (UK) behind me I believe we have everything in place to succeed and I won’t be looking for anything less than a championship win. I’ve worked hard over the winter to prepare and I can’t wait to get started.

Freddy Foray
I’m really pleased to be back in the UK racing in the Superstock 100 championship and back with the Honda (UK) team, who I rode with for a few BSB rounds at the end of 2013. I can’t wait to race the CBR1000RR Fireblade SP and after a full winter test schedule, we will be well prepared for a successful 2014.

Julien Da Costa
I’m very excited to come back to British Superbikes, especially with the reigning championship team and machine. It is a fantastic opportunity for me to test and develop the new Fireblade SP and I’m really looking forward to the year ahead. I know it will be a tough challenge but I will do my absolute best to get on the podium before the final round at Brands Hatch.