Gino Rea gains good track time and Superbike experience at Assen
13-04-2009
Gino started well in each of the two Dutch Superbike races at Assen today but in each race crashed. However the weekend and the two test days on Thursday and Friday, have been excellent in gaining track time and also time on his Ten Kate WSBK Superstock 600 bike (during the test days) prior to the WSBK round at Assen in two week's time. In Gino's words:
"Today was a bit of a disaster but there were many positives to take from it. After battling for 2nd I lost the front going into the third corner. After 2 years of road racing in 600's, it is the first time I've ever crashed in a dry race, but the positives from that race was I did a 1m 41.7s which was only 0.2 off the best time over the whole weekend from Shouten, and he was using dunlops. So for the second race we made a slight change to the front, and I was battling for the lead with Gareth Jones. We had a gap on Maxime Berger and the rest of the pack. I had more pace than Gareth so I was pretty relaxed waiting for the end of the race. Then unexpectedly, I went down in the exact same spot as before. I'm really gutted as I could have come away with 2 podiums but that's racing. I've enjoyed riding the 1000 and adapted well to it. Andy Stone has been helping me with set up over the weekend and there is a chance he will be coming to Spa this weekend to work with me and the duntep team (on a second Dutch Superbike race). I'm looking forward to learning a new track, hopefully I can repay the team with a podium they deserve!"
Sponsors
Team StoneBaker.
For 2009 StoneBaker Racing is sponsoring four riders. Dan Linfoot, Gino Rea, Christian Iddon and Pat McDougall.
Dan Linfoot has joined premier BSB team Rob Mac Racing Yamaha to compete in the British Supersport Championship.
Gino Rea has joined leading WSBK team Ten Kate Honda to compete in the WSBK Superstock 600 Championship.
Christian Iddon competes in the Supermoto World Championship with factory supported Team Motoracing KTM.
Pat McDougall competes in the BSB Superstock 600 Championship in privateer team Beowulf Racing.
