Martin Jessopp

PTR HONDA is proud to announce its strongest ever line-up in the World Supersport Championship for 2012 with 3 teams including Riders PTR Honda

Performance Technical Racing (PTR) is the organisation behind the highly successful Parkalgar Honda team that won 12 races and scored 29 podiums between 2008-2011, finishing runner-up in the Championship in 2009 and 2010.

There are five riders in the team and they will operate under three different team names:

PTR Honda will feature hot American talent Patrick ‘PJ’ Jacobsen and the experienced South African Ronan Quarmby.

Bogdanka PTR Honda will run with the UK’s super-fast Sam Lowes and South Africa’s promising young star Mathew Scholtz.

Riders PTR Honda will compete with former British Superbike star Martin Jessopp from the UK.

Polish rider Pawel Szkopek – on an identical PTR supplied customer bike – will compete for Bogdanka Honda PTR, giving the Polish coal giant three bikes on the 2012 grid.

PTR Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “PTR goes into 2012 with its strongest ever line-up of riders with all of them capable of top 10 finishes in the World Supersport Championship, there is no weak point. After missing out on the World Championship in 2009 and 2010, this is our best chance to win the title with one of our riders.

“Riders PTR Honda will be represented by BSB and Macau star Martin Jessopp. He’s got the speed and talent to make an impact on the World Supersport Championship.”

“All our riders will receive exactly the same machinery and support. PTR operates an open-book policy where all riders share and learn from information, data and technical assistance. It means all have the same opportunity to perform on one of the best World Supersport race bikes in the world.”

The three PTR teams will be at Almeria in Spain on 19th-20th January for a pre-season test before travelling to Phillip Island in Australia for a further test ahead of the opening round of the Championship at the same circuit on February 26th.

Martin Jessopp is stepping up from British Superbikes to compete in the World Supersport Championship on a race-proven PTR Honda in 2012.

Martin, 26, from Yeovil in Somerset, is a proven front runner in the British Superbike Championship with a pole position and fourth place finish to his credit while riding for Riders Ducati. He has British Supersport experience and recently finished second at the Macau GP in 2011.

Motorcycle retail chain Riders will continue to back Martin in 2012 as it joins forces with front running British based team PTR Honda – the organisation behind the successful Parkalgar Honda and Bogdanka Honda race teams (runner-up in the World Championship in 2009 and 2010).

Martin will get his first outing on his PTR Honda early in the New Year at a private test in Europe before a further test at Philip Island in Australia ahead of the opening round of the 2012 Championship at the same circuit on 26th February. For more information and to follow Martin and PTR visit www.performancetechnicalracing.com.

Martin: “I am over the moon to have 2012 all sorted. I said at the end of the 2011 season my objective was to get into the World Championship and Supersport was my best opportunity.

“I sat down with my team and Riders and we wanted a squad at the sharp end of the Championship so I would know I had a good bike and proven package. The British Based PTR team was my number one choice and to get a ride with them was brilliant – it’s not often that a racer gets his first choice so I can honestly say I could not be happier.

“There is no expectations at the moment but I will put plenty of pressure on myself as the season approaches. I just need to go testing and complete loads of laps and learn the bike and develop my relationship with the team.  It is all new to me and I need to go out there and get up to pace.

“Having a fast team mate like Sam Lowes on the same PTR Honda will be excellent. I enjoyed a bit of craic with Sam at Magny Cours this year when I was a wild card entry and he was helping me out then with some advice and ideas. That’s a big help and a fantastic support from him and the team. I can’t wait to get riding.”

PTR Honda Team Manager Simon Buckmaster is delighted to have Martin on the team. He said: “Martin has speed, talent and ability. PTR has the team, bike and experience at World Championship level. It is a big step up for Martin but he is determined to be a success and we will do all we can to help him reach his potential.“

Martin Jessopp achieved second place behind fellow team mate Michael Rutter at the Macau Motorcycle Grand Prix with Ian Hutchinson taking third for an all-British podium.

Although Rutter had the advantage of pole position, it was Hutchinson who stormed off the grid and into the lead off the start, followed by Rutter, John McGuinness on the Roadhouse SMT Honda 1000 and Jessopp. McGuinness got by Rutter in the run down to Lisboa, with Jessopp following suit.

While Hutchinson set about pulling away from the pack, Jessopp, McGuinness and Rutter were engaged in a three-way battle, with McGuinness dropping back to fourth by the end of the second lap. Rutter was on a charge though, and up to second a lap later having passed Jessopp at Lisboa, and taking the charge to the race leader.

Closing up to Hutchinson on lap 4, Rutter made his move at Lisboa to take the lead. As Rutter set about putting some track between him and his rivals, Jessopp passed Hutchinson to go second.

Jessopp said “I’m really pleased, with Michael’s and my result, it is really special, and we are all thrilled. I am personally over the moon in achieving my first international road race title, and it was brilliant to make the podium alongside my team mate Michael.

We ran the bikes with a similar set up to BSB, during the first lap I did make a few mistakes and scraped my leathers on the wall pretty hard but soon settled down and took it in my stride.

From a team point of view it is amazing and is a great reward for all the hard work we’ve all put in over the year.”

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team return to Brands Hatch in Kent this weekend for the final triple-header round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and both Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp are aiming to end their season on a high with podium finishes.

The team scored top ten finishes last time out at Silverstone and as Rutter nears full fitness after breaking his ribs in a crash at Cadwell Park and Jessopp aims to bounce back from high-speed crashes last time out the pair are confident of a strong end to the season. The Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit proved a happy hunting ground for Rutter back in August when he achieved a podium finish, whilst Jessopp had his best qualifying performance before bad luck ruled him out of a potential top five result.

Jessopp said: “I am looking forward to Brands Hatch as it is a track that has always been a good for the Ducatis and I have been working on getting myself fit again for this weekend after the big crashes I had at the last round at Silverstone. We were on for some good results there earlier in the season and it was only really due to some bad luck that we didn’t get the results. I had my best qualifying of the season with a sixth place and then a wrong tyre choice and a problem in the last race meant we never showed what we were capable of. I think this weekend will be different though and we have been getting closer to the podium all season so we really want to get it this weekend.”

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati returned to full force at Silverstone last weekend for the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as Michael Rutter returned from injury alongside Martin Jessopp.

Jessopp said: “In practice we were doing ok and we were trying to find a way to get better grip for the races but in the third session I had a big 120mph crash at Farm but the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team worked hard so that I was ready to get back out for qualifying. I felt a bit beaten up but nothing serious luckily. In qualifying it wasn’t so much of an issue as you use the softer tyre and again we made it through to Q3 and the top ten shoot for pole. I was happy enough with seventh but then I made a silly error and did a lap then looked for some space; when I found it I had let the tyre cool and when I wound it up I lost the front at Maggotts and gave my ribs a good whack. In the races we were still struggling with grip and fought to ninth, but with the recent pace we have shown I was disappointed with that which shows how far we have come. In race two we went softer and it felt better, the only downside was that I was still learning how it felt as it was so different every lap. I was getting back with the leaders and then I had a monster high-side. It showed 105mph on the data when I hit the deck and I am feeling pretty beaten up right now. It wasn’t how we wanted the weekend to end but I know at Brands Hatch we will do everything to get back up there in the last races of the season.”   

Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team owner Phil Jessopp concluded: “Overall it was a good weekend for the team. Michael did well considering he was still suffering with his broken ribs so to finish with two eighth places and some good points was a good result for him. He showed he is an experienced, quality rider by putting in the laps when he needed to and racing as hard as he could despite the pain. I think for Brands Hatch, he will be fitter and therefore we should see him fighting as he was earlier in the season. Martin showed that he can really mix it with the leading riders and he did well despite three high-speed crashes over the weekend. He just needs to settle down to a pace at Brands Hatch and then hopefully he will be able to replicate the results that we saw from him at Donington Park. We are now looking for three great races at Brands Hatch to end the season on a high for everyone involved with the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team.”

The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship reaches the penultimate round of the Showdown at Silverstone this weekend and after a positive Donington Park round the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team are seeking further improvements in a bid to return to the podium.

Michael Rutter remained sidelined at Donington Park as he continued to recover from the broken ribs sustained in a crash at Cadwell Park and he is aiming to make a comeback this weekend. Martin Jessopp had a career best finish at the previous round as he battled to fourth place in the second race and is now seeking to go one better at the Northamptonshire track this weekend.

Jessopp said: “After Donington Park, Silverstone is a circuit that we think should be a good one for the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team. We just need to get the bike dialled in during free practice on Friday as that is where we can make the improvements that will put us in the position we need to be for qualifying. I think it is a hundred percent possible to have a podium finish at Silverstone as we know that we keep moving forward. I need to make sure that we take a few more chances in free practice so that we can have a qualifying session where we end up on the first two rows. I can then have a better chance of fighting with the leading group again like we did in the second race at Donington Park

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team returned to Donington Park last weekend for the tenth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship. Michael Rutter was still sidelined through the injuries sustained at Cadwell Park but for Martin Jessopp it was his best performance to date with a fourth place in race two.

Jessopp and the team had been working hard on set up throughout the three free practice sessions before qualifying on the third row in eleventh place for race one. Jessopp secured ninth place in the first race before an impressive race two saw him pass riders including defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and Josh Brookes to finish fourth, just over two seconds adrift of Jon Kirkham in the final podium position ahead of him.

Jessopp said: “I am mega happy with how the weekend turned out for the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team. It didn’t come as a massive surprise as I knew that the bike would work well on that track and that the improvements we have been making would put us in a good position. I knew if we could get away at the front then we could mix it with the Title Fighters. It took us time in free practice to get to where we needed to be and I qualified eleventh but at that point I was reasonably happy with that. We worked hard with K-Tech and took some big gambles after finishing ninth in race one and it worked! In the second one I made a decent start and was up there and having a good battle with Josh Brookes. Unfortunately that let Jon Kirkham get a gap but it was the best result we have had and the closest I have been to a podium finish.”

Team Owner Phil Jessopp concluded: “I am really happy with the weekend that Martin had with his best finish of the season in fourth. It wasn’t a big surprise as we knew that the track should suit the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati and we have seen him improve with every round. It was disappointing for Michael, we took the bike but unfortunately he was still in pain and now will have to try and return at Silverstone. The next round should also be a good one for us so we are hoping to end the season with some strong finishes and hopefully some podiums.”

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team are aiming to fight back at Donington Park this weekend for the tenth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as Michael Rutter bids for a return following his Cadwell Park crash, whilst Martin Jessopp aims to build on his previous solid finishes.

Jessopp has continued to build on his results and following three top eight finishes at Cadwell Park last time out he is eager to improve on his best finish so far this season of a sixth place at Snetterton.

Jessopp said: “Donington Park should be a good round for the team and we are improving and getting stronger all the time so there is no reason why we can’t continue that way this weekend. I need to have a good qualifying session and then that means I will be giving myself less work to do in the race. I think if we then get a good start then hopefully we can get away with the leading group and that should give us a good chance for some more strong finishes.”

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team endured a weekend of mixed emotions at the ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park as Michael Rutter was disappointingly denied the chance to challenge for the top six ahead of the Showdown whilst Martin Jessopp had his strongest weekend of the season to score three top eight finishes.

The team had a strong qualifying performance with both riders inside the top ten and into the final Q3 session. Rutter took a second row position in fifth, before suffering gearbox problems which the team worked hard to resolve before the race as Jessopp claimed ninth place.

In the opening race of the weekend, rescheduled from the postponed second race at Oulton Park, Rutter got off to a flying start in fourth, before moving ahead of Josh Brookes at Park on the opening lap to move third and more importantly ahead of his rivals for the top six, Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari. However Rutter’s title aspirations were prematurely ended as Brookes attempted a pass at Hall Bends, with the pair colliding and Rutter crashing out of contention and sustaining two broken and a further cracked ribs and injury to his collarbone. Rutter bravely attempted to race after being passed fit to ride, however it was in vain and the inevitable pain meant he retired from the second race of the weekend and was forced to watch from the sidelines for the remainder of the event.

Jessopp meanwhile came close to matching his best result of sixth earlier in the season with three determined rides to finish inside the top eight in the triple-header event. In the first race Jessopp had fought hard from his seventh row start to secure seventh place after Brookes was excluded from the result. In race two he was also able to match his result from the opener and then finished eighth in the final race to move thirteenth in the overall standings.

Jessopp said: “It was a good weekend, my best of the year really and it is all coming together for me and the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati now. Practice and qualifying were again where we needed to be. In the first race to come from where I qualified to finish seventh was a good result, but in the second race I didn’t get the start I needed but I made my way through but then the next group of riders had that gap over me. I am really happy with the progress we have made this weekend as we tried lots of changes and now we look to improving again in the final rounds.”

Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team owner Phil Jessopp concluded: “The whole team is obviously very disappointed of how the weekend turned out for Michael. He showed some fighting spirit to try and race on regardless but it was always going to be a huge ask and now we have to concentrate on him getting fit for the final rounds of the season. In contrast Martin had his best weekend of the season and we look forward now to the next round at Donington Park.”

The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati team are gearing up for the next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park this August Bank Holiday weekend as Michael Rutter bids to move inside the top six in the standings ahead of the Showdown.

Martin Jessopp had his best qualifying performance to date last time out at Brands Hatch with a second row start in sixth, which he followed up with a single top ten finish. Jessopp missed the second Cadwell Park round last year due to injury and now is determined to build on his best result of sixth.

Jessopp said: “I am looking forward to the weekend and getting back out on track at what is probably the biggest round of the season. I always like going to Cadwell Park; the atmosphere is always good and because I like my motocross I can’t wait for the Mountain. Hopefully we can get a strong set up there and run a good pace to try and get some more results that we know we are capable of.”