Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/327084
IN THE WIND P26 PTR TO WORLD SUPERS? P TR Honda World Supersport team owner Simon Buckmas- ter made the clearest indication yet this past weekend in Malay- sia that his team may go into the World Superbike class in 2015, while keeping a Supersport in- terest - or may even head back to British Superbike. Buckmaster had discussions with the British Superbike man- agement to see what would be available and is now looking at which options could be best for his team. "The point is a bit like Ten Kate, they are a Superbike team but they have not left Su- persport," Buckmaster said in Sepang. "I would not stop run- ning Supersport and I have the infrastructure to make the step to Superbikes. I could run two Superbikes, but the minimum is to run one. It could be World Superbike or BSB. I spoke to Gregorio Lavilla about it and he was quite receptive to the idea. I have spoke to both par- PHOTOGRAPHY BY GOLD & GOOSE Simon Buckmaster may field a World Superbike team in 2015. today," Crutchlow said via Twit- ter. "One of most natural talented riders I ever raced against. Great guy too. RIP." The deaths of Harris and Price promoted MotoGP racer Scott Redding to opt out of the parade lap he was scheduled to partake in on Friday. His Twitter feed also set off the long-standing debate as to the future of the TT. Price was a close family friend of Redding's. "I was shocked when I heard the news that Bob had been killed at the TT," Redding said in a press release. "He was a close family friend and one of the few people outside of my im- mediate family who supported me when I started out racing. I will miss him, as will many oth- ers in our racing family. Bob died doing something that he loved. I know we hear this all the time when tragedy strikes, but in Bob's case it was definitely true. He was no spring chicken, but a seasoned roads campaign- er who knew the risks, like all the riders do, but it's what he wanted to do. I respect that, as I respect everyone who takes on the challenge of the TT, but it doesn't make his passing any easier to deal with. "Then yesterday, we heard the tragic news that Karl Harris had also lost his life. Karl and Bob are both guys that I know and their deaths have hit me harder than I expected. Honestly, I'm devas- tated." Thus, Redding elected not to take part in the lap along with fel- low MotoGP stars Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith. "And that's why I won't be at the TT on Friday, not because I have anything against the Isle of Man TT, but because I pre- fer to mourn Bob in the places where I knew him best, not the place where he was taken from us," Redding said. "I wish all the competitors on the Island safe racing." continued on page 28