MIXED LUCK FOR TEAM COLIN APPLEYARD RIDERS

2/9/2010

OFF ROAD DAY IS HUGE SUCCESS

12/8/2010

Well over 300 people turned up to put their driving skills to the test at the Colin Appleyard Off Road Day held for the third year running at the Parkwood Outdoor Centre in Tong Village, Bradford on Sunday 1st August.

Customers were given the opportunity to put their own Suzuki 4x4 vehicles to the test or to try out a range of Suzuki Grand Vitaras and Jimnys provided by Colin Appleyard.  The exhilarating course through mud and water and with demanding climbs and descents, gave people the chance to try out the full off-road capabilities of the latest Suzukis.

Guests also had the chance to experience the thrill of a Suzuki rally car driven by Andy Chalmers and be a passenger around the extreme 4x4 course in a range of modified Suzuki Jimnys belonging to K.A.P. A free BBQ was on offer throughout the day for guests to enjoy once their stomachs had settled from all the excitement!

After taking their own vehicle around the course, one customer said “A big thank you for a great day. It was good to see what my Suzuki Jimny could do. I would not have made it to work last year without it.”

Following the success of the event Managing Director Robin Appleyard commented “It was great to see everyone enjoying this fantastic off-road experience and as in the past, it proved to be a fun day out for all the family – even the weather was kind! There is no doubt that last year’s bad weather has revitalised people’s interest in the 4-wheel drive market and with the latest range of low emission 4x4’s and the new look Grand Vitara, Suzuki are offering everything you need to be fully prepared for the winter ahead”.

MANAGER SEES POSITIVES FOR TEAM COLIN APPLEYARD

11/8/2010

The sun shone and the large crowd enjoyed a cracking day’s racing at Brands Hatch for Sunday’s round of the British Motorcycle Championship.  Whilst Team Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing riders enjoyed a mixed weekend, manager Robin Appleyard saw quite a few positives.

Once again Jack Kennedy did not ride to his full potential in qualifying for the Supersport 600 race, ending up fourteenth on the grid.  One or two minor changes were made to the bike’s set up after Sunday morning’s warm up and this made a big difference.  After an aggressive first lap he was soon passing the riders immediately in front of him and was up battling for seventh place and in touch with the leaders.  During those earlier laps he even set the fastest lap time.  Unfortunately at the start of the seventh lap he slipped off entering the Druids hairpin ending his race.

Afterwards Robin commented, “Jack was unlucky. I am convinced there was oil on the track following an earlier crash.  In total ten riders fell off during the race.  Having said that Jack is not making it easy for himself at the moment.  He needs to be more aggressive in qualifying.  He should be aiming for the front two rows for every race.  As his performances on race days show, he is perfectly capable of it.”

The team’s other Supersport 600 rider Ashley Beech again struggled all weekend qualifying thirty second.  Following concerns about the bike the backroom boys burnt the midnight oil and changed the chassis. It made little difference but he did manage to finish seventeenth, mainly due to riders crashing out in front of him.

In the 125cc Championship young Deane Brown put in a committed performance during the two days of practice to eventually qualify on the second row.  Robin Appleyard ordered a few minor changes to the set up prior to the race but this only left Deane struggling with the bike’s front end and he had little corner speed.  He did however stick to his task to bring the bike home in sixth place.

In hindsight Robin regretted his decision to make the last minute changes.  “Deane rode very well. I have to hold my hand up and say I should have left things as they were.  You never stop learning in this game!  Overall though, whilst the results didn’t go our way, we can take away positives from the weekend.”

Next up is the August bank holiday meeting at Cadwell Park where the team will be looking for improved results.

MIXED FORTUNES FOR TEAM COLIN APPLEYARD RIDERS

20/7/2010

After the washout at Knockhill two weeks ago Team Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing headed east to Snetterton in Norfolk for the seventh round of this year's British Motorcycle Championship. Whilst there were a few light showers during Saturday's practice, race day itself enjoyed a return to warm sunny weather. On the track it was a mixed bag for the team’s three riders.

In the Supersport 600 Jack Kennedy rode poorly during practice to qualify back in 20th on the grid. He was clearly disappointed with that performance for he got off to a cracking start in Sunday's race and rode really well throughout, working his way through the field to eventually cross the line in 9th place.

Meanwhile his team mate Ashley Beech was unlucky to fall off during practice leaving him in a starting position of 23rd on the grid. In the race itself he was starting to make progress when he pulled in at the half distance complaining of handling problems.

Commenting on Jack Kennedy’s performance team manager Robin Appleyard said “Given his age and maturity Jack should be starting every race on the first two rows. Clearly his poor performance in qualifying was a wake up call for he rode as well as I’ve seen him on Sunday, clocking up some really impressive lap times and was up battling for sixth place towards the end”.

In the 125cc Championship problems with the track reduced qualifying to just one session but, as usual, young Deane Brown was on the pace and grabbed fifth place on the grid. Unfortunately in the race itself he lost his front end on a bump on lap two and crashed out.

His frustrated manager said “The bike was right and he was looking strong all weekend so this was a huge disappointment. He also missed a golden opportunity to make up ground on the Championship leader as he too failed to register any points”.

The team now has a three-week break before returning to Brands Hatch on the weekend of 7th – 8th August

FICKLE BRITISH WEATHER INTERVENES TO PAUSE PROGRESS OF TEAM COLIN APPLEYARD RIDERS

7/7/2010

Two weekends of racing has seen a complete contract in conditions.  Glorious summer weather brought the crowds out at Mallory Park of the fifth round of this season’s British Championship at the end of June.  As for the Team Colin Appleyard lads they were keen to get back to some serious racing after a three week break. 

Having said that, for the team's 125cc rider Deane Brown that was not quiet true as since Mallory he had taken full advantage of a wild card entry to finish 24th in the British 125cc Grand Prix at Silverstone.  Clearly the experience motivated him as he again rode an excellent race to notch up a third place finish.

In the Supersport 600 race Jack Kennedy once again showed his consistency to cross the line fifth.  After a long layoff through injuries Mallory also saw the return in the 600 race of Ashley Beech.  Clearly needing to get laps under his belt his times did gradually improve before overheating problems force his retirement right at the end of the race.

What a different seven days makes as Sunday's British Championship round north of the border at Knockhill was met by gale force winds and lashing rain.

In the end it was the weather that was the winner with the 125cc race being cancelled altogether and the Supersport 600 race being cut short.

For Team Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing and their 125 star Deane Brown in particular it proved to be a hugely frustrating weekend. Despite the tricky conditions it had stayed largely dry during qualifying and the young Scot had put in some cracking laps to qualify on the front row of the grid in third place.  Sunday's wind and rain was however horrendous making track conditions dangerous so the organisers had no other option but to cancel the race. 

The disappointed rider commented "It was so annoying as I was really looking forward to riding in front of a Scottish crowd.  I seem to go particularly well in the wet so was hoping for a fist full of championship points.  In the end though the organisers made the sensible decision."

The Supersport 600 race did actually get started but was shortened to 15 laps and then the course car came out which cut out a further four laps.  So instead of 25 laps the riders only completed eleven.

Having qualified in a disappointing 13th place Jack Kennedy did manage to force his way up the field to finish 9th in what turned out to be a bit of a cavalry charge at the end.  At Knockhill it is very difficult to pass and Jack simply ran out of laps in conditions that suited him.

Meanwhile his team mate Ashley Beech, on only his second race back, started to show improvement as he went on to cross the line in 17th place.

Team Manager Robin Appleyard commented "I can't remember conditions like that for a long, long time.  It was dreadful, we couldn't even take the team awning down at the end the wind was so strong.  On the positive side I was pleased with Ash's progress, he's starting to look like the racer we know he is after a very difficult time."

Next up the team is a trip down to Norfolk to Snetterton in two weeks time when everyone is hoping for calmer conditions.