Sean Neary: Ducati 848: Race Report – Round 6 – Donington Park

Here's the race report for Held-wearing Sean Neary's exploits at Donington:

Sean Neary - edging nearer the podium

 Firstly I need to thank all my sponsors for putting in further funding to allow us to complete the season. As ever I am humbled by the support but I now feel in a position where I can get the results to repay them.

After some strong results at Oulton Park myself and the Team were in a positive mood for Donington Park. In addition to that my bike had spent the weeks post Oulton Park at the JHP Ducati Coventry Workshop to resolve the power issues we were experiencing at Oulton Park. My engine was built by Jeff Green at GTEC Performance and there was no doubt that the engine was built to a fantastic standard. However that is only half the job and the bike has to be built correctly to ensure the engine can perform to its potential. Rick Hackett at JHP found a number of issues with the bike including a cracked exhaust manifold, blocked air tubes and a faulty power commander just to mention a few of the issues. With the assistance of JHP we gained another 10BHP which is an unbelievable gain in a one make series like the Ducati 848 Challenge. Massive thanks to Rick at JHP and also Jeff Green for building a bullet proof engine at the start of this season. It’s a little frustrating that we didn’t resolve the other issues earlier in the year as I’ve no doubt the season to date would have been very different had the bike been set up in this way. You live and learn as they say and it's safe to say I will never make a mechanic!

Held wearer Sean Neary- on it!

Practice on Friday at Donington was a complete washout so I went and did a few laps to ensure we had a good wet setup if needed. Qualifying on Saturday was interesting to say the least due to the mixed weather conditions. I opted for full wet tyres which in hindsight was a big error as the track was dry for the last 10 minutes of the session. I held 5th until the last 5 minutes when the teams on the dry tyres pushed me back to 12th which is as to be expected.

The bike was absolutely fantastic and credit to everyone involved as this is now a completely different bike to what I have been riding and I now spend my laps with a beaming smile as I still can’t believe the increase in performance!

Race 1

I would have been better off getting my Mum to perform the start which I did in race 1!!!! Absolute shocker which saw me 20th in turn 1. I fought back to 7th and had a great race long battle with Deane Brown and Daniel Fowler. I missed a gear on the final lap which put paid to my challenge for 6th place. Given the start and the work I had to do I was reasonably happy with the final result and still buzzing about the performance of the bike. I also set the 7th fastest lap of the race meaning a promotion on the grid for race 2.

Race 2

A much better start saw me 6th on lap one. I managed to get back past Ben Field on lap 2 and began to close in on the leading group. As I remember thinking we were in the hunt for some serious podium action I lost the front at the final turn on lap 2. Absolutely gutted does not do justice to the way I feel after that. These boys are the quickest in the country so I have to ride on the limit to be in with a chance. I don’t think my front tyre was quite up to temperature as they held us on the grid for a while but that said this was down to rider error, so I hold my hands up. I must say the Held Clothing kept me in great condition and I didn’t end up with a scratch. The Held Evo suit has had contact with the tarmac on more than 5 occasions over the last couple of years and they are still in 100% condition to protect me.

I was disappointed for the Team as for the first time this year that bike is capable of winning and I really can’t fault the effort of all involved. That’s racing as they say so we move on!

Assen is 2 weeks away and I can safely say I have never been so excited for a race in all my life! The bike is an absolute joy to ride and I am confident we can be challenging up front. Get me on that ferry now!

Thanks all

Sean #10

For more on Sean please visit his website

For more on Held, please visit ours!

Held wearer Joe Burns: Disappointment turns to joy at Silverstone 200.

This weekend Silverstone was the scene for the Moto GP Hertz British Grand Prix and one of the support races, the Silverstone 200, this is run as two 100Km races and allows entries from BSB, Superstock 1000 and Superstock 600.

Held wearer Joe Burns

The team arrived with a bike that was rebuilt following the Cadwell Park race meeting and Joe set to work in free practice and then qualifying, the result being 13th fastest and 11th fastest respectively. 

Race one on Saturday afternoon ended very quickly for Joe, after just two laps the clutch failed, the first mechanical DNF of 2013, there seemed to be no obvious cause for the problem so a new clutch was fitted and the bike prepared for race 2.

Grid positions for race 2 are set by the fastest time set by each rider in race 1, this left Joe with a starting position of 16th on the grid. With 5 laps to go he was 4 seconds behind Hudson Kennaugh who was holding 7th place.

Joe set out to close the gap and at 1 second per lap he was right behind Hudson as they crossed the line, an excellent 8th place being the reward, plus a lap time that was 2 seconds faster than he has previously achieved at this circuit.

The team left Silverstone happy with the result, looking forward with enthusiasm to next weekend at Donington Park and of course the race meeting on 6th October at Silverstone. 




For more information on Held motorcycle leathers, motorcycle boots and motorcycle gloves please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Tough Day for Held wearing Joe Burns at Cadwell

Following the Oulton Park round at which the team broke Park Ferme regulations, we were required to appear before the stewards to explain our reasons, the end result was a loss of 50 championship points and a suspended 6 month racing ban.

Joe Burns getting some air at Cadwell

 Not the best start to our weekend at Cadwell Park, however Joe put all the event behind him and was 3rd quickest in his free practice group, Saturday qualifying was neither wet nor dry, and as the forecast for Sunday was dry we elected not to run in qualifying 1. 

As forecast Qualifying 2 was run in bright dry conditions and if Pirelli had not supplied tyres that proved to be too hard Joe would have been in his usual top 5 position. Sadly this was not to be, he experienced handling problems that dropped him to 15th on the grid. 

The tyre problem affected several riders with the worst problem being a delamination of the tread on a rear tyre. 

Race day was sunny and dry, Joe rocketed off the grid gaining two places before the first corner, by the end of lap 2 he was up to 11th place, a position he held for most of the race. Cadwell Park is a difficult circuit on which to pass, and Joe found that where he was carrying a lot of speed into corners he was being blocked by riders in front of him who were on the racing line but slower. 

Sadly the red flag came out on lap 9 of the scheduled 15 laps, just as Joe had taken 10th place. 

Post-race we stripped our engine as requested by the scrutineers and as expected no irregularities were found, our bike has been fully compliant to the regulations for the whole of this season. 

Simon Andrews was subsequently disqualified for making an unfair manoeuvre that resulted in another rider crashing, this moves Joe into 10th place in the results, making him 9th overall in the championship standings.

For more information on Held, the motorcycle gear chosen by Joe Burns, please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Fantastically flattering ladies leather motorcycle jacket

Fabulous functional motorcycle leather jacklet with soft D3O armour! We've have managed to create this leather jacket that is sporty and rider oriented- The 'Katy'. The leather is soft but substantial. The cut is flattering. The expansion panels on the leather jacket make the outfit perfect in terms of comfort. Black & White also available. RRP is just £269.99.

Flattering and fucntional- The Held 'Katy' ladies leather motorcycle jacket

This jacket goes with the 'Eboney' trousers, pictured below, retailing at around £249.99.

'Eboney' - Ladies leather motorcycle trousers

Here's the specifications of the jacket:

Outer shell
• soft cowhide

Lining
• detachable sleeveless thermal liner
(100% polyester)
• breathable mesh inner lining (100% polyester)
Fit/features
• 2 external pockets, 4 inner pockets
• internal cellphone pocket
• 2 hip adjustment zips
• soft collar

Protection
• revolutionary EN 1621-1 CE-approved
D3O™ adaptive shoulder & elbow protection
• special foam padding at back
• optional EN 1621-2 back protector
• Connecting zip

Sizes Ladies34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46D
Colours
black
black-white

For more on this combo check out pages 34/35 of our online catalogue: Held Online Catalogue
 

Product focus: The Held 'Sarina' ladies motorcycle jacket

This awesome ladies motorcycle jacket, retailing at just £179.99, looks equally at home on or off the bike- with an excellent fit around the curves with the superb lattice belt, a fabulous feel to the jacket with the beautiful denim and wonderful detailing leaving it looking very stylish.

Superb Held 'Sarina' motorcycle jacket for ladies

The jacket has a removable thermal lining with a soft collar, and vents on the chest and back for the warmer rides!

Here's the full spec: 

• Highly durable denim look outer shell fabric
• Detachable internal thermo lining
• Waterproof, windproof and breathable Z-liner membrane
• Cotton lining
• Reflective panels
• Soft D3O CE armour at shoulders & elbows (EN1621-1)
• Specialist foam back pad, upgradeable to CE armour (EN1621-2)
• 6 outside pockets
• 2 inside pockets
• Internal mobile phone pocket
• AIR-VENT zippers at front & back
• Sleeve cuff adjustments
• Waist side adjustments
• Soft Collar

You can see the full description and more pictures on page 113 of our online catalogue, here 

 

SUZUKI ROADSHOW COMES TO HELD DEALER KC SUPERBIKES

Suzuki GB's summer-long test ride roadshow enters the final month this weekend, as popular local dealer KC Superbikes take part in the nationwide dealer event on Saturday 3 August.

A wide variety of models from the 2013 model range will be available to test ride on the day, as Held retailer KC Superbikes test ride fleet will be bolstered by an additional fleet of demo machines provided by Suzuki GB.

Buy Held from KC Sueprbikes

Models available to test ride include the iconic Hayabusa and the legendary GSX-R1000, as well as the popular V-Strom 650 adventure bike and the award winning GSR750.

Also available to test ride is the newly launched Burgman 650 Executive luxury scooter, the award-winning Inazuma 250, the GSX650F and GSX1250FA tourers, the SFV650 middleweight naked and the M1800R performance cruiser.

KC Superbikes' Robin Mumberson said, "With Suzuki bringing along even more bikes to test ride, there really will be something for everyone, and no better chance to take a test ride. We've also got 20% off Suzuki clothing on the day too. We're really looking forward to seeing everyone who comes along."


A great chance to browse some Held Bike Gear whilst your there!
 
To book your test ride, call KC Superbikes on 01228 525024 and find them at 27 Church Street, Caldewgate, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA2 5TJ.

For more information on Held Rider Equipment please visit www.held-uk.co.uk

Testing race for Held wearing racer Joe Burns at Brands Hatch

 

Held wearing Joe Burns, currently 3rd in National Superstock 1000

Once again the English Summer delivered a hot race day, qualifying 1 and 2 took place on Saturday and Joe finished the day 2nd fastest behind Adam Jenkinson, a very satisfactory result. 

Joe did not get the best of starts and fell back into 4th place, however by lap 2 he had recovered to 2nd place and began to reel in the leader James East, on lap 5 Joe was in a great position to take first place, but East missed a gear causing Joe to touch his bike. The resulting damaged brake lever caused Joe to lose time, he could not brake as he would normally. 

This incident allowed Hudson Kennagh to take the lead and then Tommy Aquino passed Joe to take second place, with an ill handling bike Joe lost time to fourth place man Tristan Palmer with the net result that on Lap 14 Joe lost 3rd place, a great disappointment for him. 

Following the race Joe said; Brands looked to be one of my stronger circuits and I was pleased to qualify 2nd, the result is not what I expected, however I am glad that I finished in fourth and only dropped one place in the championship standings, it is very close with just 12 points between me and 1st place. 

Held wearer Joe Burns- not far off the lead!

The result drops Joe into third place in the championship, the gap is now 11 points to 2nd and 12 to 1st, at this stage of the season it is looking good. A satisfying result, the next race takes place at Oulton Park August 9/10/11.

To find out more information on the Held gear Joe Burns wears please visit www.held-uk.co.uk