Maxxis is a star performer in national drift series
Under: Maxxis Sport on
19 October 2010
Posting wins in both wet and dry conditions and generating
plenty of the all-important smoke that enables competitors to notch
up valuable extra points, the Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyre was among the
star performers in the 2010 Maxxis British Drift Championship.
More than 60 of Europe's finest drift drivers contested
the five-round series, which was decided during a nail-biting final
event at Knockhill and saw Phil Morrison in the Driftworks S15
crowned champion by a three point margin. The opening round was a
major part of the hugely popular International Styling and Tuning
Show (ISTS) - one of the biggest events in the modified car and
tuning marketplace - and the teams put on a superb display around
Silverstone's legendary Stowe complex, which is traditionally used
for single-seater racing. An on-form Morrison made his
intentions clear from the outset, seeing saw off the challenge of
BDC veteran Simon Perry in the R33 GTS-T, while Danny Eyles of
Maxxis-sponsored Team Japspeed claimed the final podium spot ahead
of team mate Paul Smith.
In round two the Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyres were out in front,
soaking up the track heat to give maximum grip. The final was
a closely fought battle for the top spot between Danny and Team
Japspeed team mate Shane Lynch, with the judges eventually ruling
in Danny's favour. The series moved to Lydden Hill for round
three, where the teams had to contend with a mix of torrential
showers and bright sunshine, and once again the MA-Z1 Drifts were
superbly consistent. So much so, that Shane Lynch was able to
clinch victory and with it the championship lead in the Pro
Class.
Then it was on to Donington Park, where the organisers created a
testing circuit on the Launch Pad's smooth tarmac. Again the
Maxxis tyre coped better than the competition, both with the hot
weather and the heat levels generated by the challenging track
layout, as 2009 European Drift Champion Mark Luney demonstrated
some superb skills to post the win - his first in the Maxxis
British Drift Championship - and lead the series going into the
final round.
For the championship finale at a sun-drenched Knockhill
there were just a handful of points separating the title
contenders, so the stage was set for a thrilling climax to the
season. Unfortunately, Luney's Supra suffered an engine
failure, while Morrison triumphed over Lynch and Declan Munnelly to
set up a final against Eyles who, in a major upset, powered through
against Simon Perry. After another excellent demonstration of
his skills, Morrison won the round and clinched the title by just
three points from Perry, with Munnelly in third.
Just 21 points covered the top six and while outgoing
champion Steve Biagioni suffered teething troubles with the new
500bhp Subaru Impreza WRX, his Team Japspeed team mates
Shane Lynch and Danny Eyles put in some excellent performances
to finish joint fourth (with fellow Maxxis runner Mark Luney) and
sixth respectively.
"Sponsorship from Maxxis undoubtedly enabled the series to
move up a gear in 2010," said series spokesman and Team Japspeed
owner Paul McCallum.
"We had all the major drift teams/drivers on board so
there was a really strong field for both the Pro and Semi-Pro
classes, and the sheer variety of car and engine setups made for
some really close season long battles and a hugely exciting
championship - for both competitors and fans - which went right
down to the wire. The Maxxis MA-Z1 Drift tyre proved its
credentials yet again, as it coped brilliantly with the different
tracks and everything the British summer could throw at it.
We can't wait for 2011!"
Maxxis ACU British Motocross
Championship
In March Maxxis signed up as title sponsor of the ACU British
Motocross Championship for three more years, taking the deal
through to 2013 and giving the sport a major boost by providing one
of the world's strongest and most exciting national series with a
stable basisfor growth.
For this year's eight round series the organisers brought
in a new Superpole and three race per day format - an innovative
move which made consistency the key to success. Torrential
rain and running water across the track meant the final round at
Shropshire's Hawkstone Park had to be called off so, based on the
standings after seven events, Evgeny Bobreshev (CAS Honda) was
declared the MX1 class champion and Zach Osborne (Bike It Cosworth
Yamaha) won the MX2 class.
Maxxis also sponsored two factory teams in the series in
2010: Maxxis Henderson Insurance LPE Kawasaki, the official
motocross team of Kawasaki Motors UK, and the Samsung Maxxis Yahama
team. In the MX1 class 18-year old Ben LaMay riding for
Samsung Maxxis Yahama finished thirteenth of a 46-strong field,
just ahead of Gert Krestinov, the 20-year old rising star from
Estonia who joined the Maxxis Henderson Insurance LPE Kawasaki team
this season. In MX2 Maxxis sponsored riders Kristian Whatley
on the KX250F and finished in sixth out of 45 riders with Samsung
Maxxis Yahama's 20-year old South African Neville Bradshaw in
seventh.
Sixteen-year old Team Green rider Connor Walkley, who has been
working with the Maxxis Henderson Insurance LPE Kawasaki team and
has signed for them in 2011, had a highly competitive season which
concluded with victory in the MXY2 championship.
British Superbike Championship
This year Maxxis partnered MSS Colchester Kawasaki, the official
Kawasaki British Superbike team, with sponsorship designed not only
to support the further development of the team, but also to aid the
development of future Maxxis products.
With a double victory at the final race of the season at
Oulton Park, which was attended by some 45,000 fans, Honda's
Ryuichi Kiyonari took the 2010 British Superbike Championship and
his third crown. Over the 12 rounds MSS Colchester Kawasaki
riders Gary Mason and
Simon Andrews put in some solid performances to finish in 12th
and 13th position respectively out of a 47-strong field.
Isle of Mann TT Races
Maxxis was the Official Tyre Partner of the famous Isle of Mann
TT Races. This is another sponsorship initiative which is
part of the company's ongoing commitment to support motorcycle
sport and develop tyres to industry leading standards.
Branding of road racing legend
Ryan Farquhar's specially prepared Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R
Superbike in the Isle of Man TT, North West 200 and Ulster GP road
races was also part of the sponsorship deal with MSS Colchester
Kawasaki.
Short Track UK
Maxxis began its association with Short Track UK four years ago,
when Manchester-based Maxxis tyre distributor Triple A Racing
supplied tyres to a number of competitors. All riders have
been using the Maxxis 19 inch DTR-1 flat track tyre since the start
of 2009, when it was adopted as the control tyre of the ACU British
Short Track Championship. After another exciting season Aidan
Collins, nephew of 1976 World Speedway champion Peter Collins,
clinched the title with one round still to go after making it on to
the podium in every race and posting four
wins.
Maxxis British Sidecar-cross Championship
In anther thrilling seven race series, reigning champions Stuart
Brown and Luke Peters secured the title for an eighth time with 562
points. The battle for the remaining podium places was hotly
contested with Scott Wilkinson and David Keane winning out over Dan
and Joe Millard by just one point and Andy and Tim Breacher in
fourth.
"Our sponsorship of the British Drift Championship and
various motorcycle sports teams/events is not only helping with
product development, but is also a major part of our ongoing brand
awareness campaign designed to reach performance/tuning enthusiasts
as well as our core motorcycling audience," says Maxxis
International UK's managing director Derek McMartin.
For further information on Maxxis motorcycle tyres call Bickers,
a division of Maxxis, on 01394 604040.
Maxxis high performance car tyres are available exclusively
through Grouptyre, the UK's leading independent wholesaler.
For further information contact Grouptyre on 01928 706166 or
visit www.grouptyre.co.uk
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