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.

TEAM COLIN APPLEYARD RIDER TO RIDE IN BRITISH 125 GRAND PRIX

15/6/2010

Team Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing star Deane Brown has been given a wild card entry into next Sunday's British 125cc Grand Prix at Silverstone.  This is the first time the team has had a rider in the race since team manager Robin Appleyard rode the last of his GP races in 1996.

For the young Scot, who is still only 17, this is just reward for a very promising start to his British 125cc Championship challenge this season.  He has already notched up two, second places in his last couple of races which have followed on from two pole position starts in previous races.

Robin Appleyard said "We are all delighted for Deane.  He fully deserves this opportunity to test himself against the world's top 125 riders.  It also give him an excellent chance to get some valuable practise in at Silverstone ready for the British Championship round on the same track in September."

Silverstone is a fast track and the 125 riders will reach speeds of up to 140mph with their Moto GP counterparts topping 200mph.  Deane will be racing on the full Silverstone circuit used by the Formula 1 GP drivers.

COLIN APPLEYARD RESTRUCTURES MANAGEMENT TEAM

1/6/2010

Despite difficult trading conditions experience over the last 18 months, Colin Appleyard Motorcycles and Cars has weathered the storm in good shape.  The government’s scrappage scheme, for example, gave a real boost to car sales and on a recent visit to Yorkshire Suzuki Sales and Marketing Director David Seward congratulated the company on becoming the UK's No. 1 Suzuki car dealer.  Now the company is looking to invest in the future by strengthening and restructuring its middle management team.

Reporting directly to the board of directors the team now comprises Lee Morton (After Sales) Kevin Feeny (Motorcycle Sales) Dave Scott (Car Sales) Dave Evans (Finance & Insurance) Judith Parker (Servicing) Amanda Allan-Calleja (Accounts) and Tracy Cooper (Marketing and Administration).

Managing Director Robin Appleyard said: "This young team is at the very core of Colin Appleyard's success. Their commitment is total and their contribution immeasurable, we are very lucky to have the benefit of their expertise. Although relatively young many have been with us a long time and have progressed as the company has grown. Lee Morton, for example, joined 20 years ago straight from school as an apprentice technician. After completing his three-year apprenticeship he worked for a number of years as a fully qualified motorcycle technician in the Keighley Workshop before moving across to set up  and run the newly established Leeds workshop. This in turn led on to being appointed Service Manager for both bike dealerships before being promoted last year to Group Service Manager responsible for all the company's After Sales customer Care.

DEANE BROWN CLOCKS UP SECOND CONSECUTIVE PODIUM FINISH FOR TEAM COLIN APPLEYARD

26/5/2010

The large crowd that gathered at Cadwell last weekend enjoyed not only hot sunny weather but also some cracking motor sport.  Team Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing certainly contributed to the excitement as both the team’s riders followed their success at Oulton Park with two more excellent finishes.

In the 125ccc Championship Deane Brown closed the gap on the Championship leader, James Lodge, with another impressive performance.  He and Lodge dominated Saturday’s qualifying sessions and everyone expected Sunday’s race to pan out in the same way.  It didn’t work out that way!  Lodge got off to a poor start and in attempting to make up ground crashed out.  This left Deane to scrap it out with  two other riders, Taylor Mackenzie and Rob Guiver.  In the end, with the bike running a tad rich, the young Scot gave it everything but couldn’t quite pip Mackenzie and crossed the line in second just 0.1 second adrift. 

Afterwards his manager Robin Appleyard commented, “This was another great ride from Deane.  It is only a matter of time before he gets his first race win of the season.  As it is he’s gained 20 Championship points on his main rival and after the early season hiccups he’s now riding with a new maturity”. 

In the Supersport 600 race Jack Kennedy also had a successful weekend.  He was disappointed with his second qualifying session on Saturday afternoon which dropped him back from sixth to tenth on the grid.  He was however, soon back to his best during Sunday’s warm up, clocking up some great lap times.  Although he didn’t get off to the best of starts in the race itself he rode positively and quickly started to pick off riders ahead of him.  In the latter part of the race, whilst scrapping it out in a group of four other riders, the bike’s engine started to overheat and the lack of power held him up which meant he eventually crossed the line in sixth.

The Championship now takes a break before Mallory Park in four weeks time.  In the meantime both riders are off to Knockhill on Friday for a mid season testing session.

Team Manager Robin has also applied for a wild card entry for Deane in the 125cc British GP to be held at Silverstone in three weeks time.