Recently in Zoe Burn Category

THE FIM has this morning announced the provisional MotoGP calendar for 2012.

Once again the season will kick-off under the famous floodlights of Losail on April 15, and end on November 11 at Valencia.

Silverstone will play host to the UK round on June 17, and the German GP will take place on July 8 at a venue to be confirmed.

SWAN Yamaha's Michael Laverty led team-mate Tommy Hill over the line in a shortened MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Cadwell Parkl today.

MLav led from lights to red flag at the Lincolnshire circuit after getting a quick getaway from pole position.

Third was the Relentless Suzuki by TAS machine of Josh Brookes, who's result was marred by an incident involving Michael Rutter.

TOMMY Hill starts from pole for today's MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Brands Hatch after shattering the lap record - while local boy Graeme Gowland leads the Evo class.

Hill secured the top spot at his local track with a hot lap of 1.26.360 onboard the Guisborough-based Swan Yamaha, ahead of this afternoon's race at the Grand Prix circuit.

And in the Mirror.co.uk BSB-Evo Championship, it was the WFR Honda of Gowland which was the cream of the crop, qualifying first in class and an impressive 10th overall.

SWAN Yamaha riders Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty are chasing victory as they head to Brands Hatch for a triple-header.

This weekend will see Round Eight of the 2011 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship roar into action at the Kent track with three races around the GP circuit.

Hill is looking to build on his win at Oulton Park last month as he heads to his home track, but he can expect to have Laverty snapping at his heels as both riders bid to reach the top six in the overall standings as the Showdown heads ever closer.
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THE factory Yamaha squad have this afternoon announced they will quit World Superbikes at the end of this season.

The shock announcement comes just 24-hours after the team celebrated two seconds and two thirds with riders Eugene Laverty and Marco Melandri at Silverstone.

It means both riders will be looking for a job come season end, and will surely come as a bitter pill to swallow for fans of honorary Durham star Laverty, who has so far posted an impressive rookie season and lies fourth in the champsionship.

THE region's newest arrival in the British Superbike paddock has revealed he has one plan for this season - to win the Mirror.co.uk BSB Evo Championship in his first attempt.

Barry Burrell - aka Bazza - of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, is now seeking help with sponsors as he bids to take the title this season.

With the season now at the half-way point, the Buildbase BMW pilot has revealed to Burning Rubber that he is still seeking sponsors to help him finish the season.

NORTH boys Graeme Gowland and Barry Burrell are looking good for a great potential battle in tomorrow's two Mirror.co.uk BSB-Evo races at Thruxton.

Gowland of Allendale, Northumberland, arrived back with the WFR Honda squad this weekend after missing the first three rounds after breaking his wrist in the first race of the year at Brands Hatch.

And now he is keen to make up for lost time, and has been a consistent top three Evo runner since he jumped back on board yesterday morning.

By Zoe Burn and Mic Archbold, Images by Full Throttle Imaging

ALEX Lowes stamped his authority on the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he stormed to pole at Thruxton this afternoon.

The Lincolnshire rider grabbed the top spot in his first qualifying session since joining the MSS Colchester Kawasaki squad just over a week ago.

Not only does it make Lowes' first BSB pole, but it is also the first time the team has ever had one of its bikes head the grid.

By Mic Archbold, Images by Full Throttle Imaging.

THE HM Plant Honda of Shane Byrne outpaced Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill in both of today's Free Practice Sessions at Thruxton.

Byrne came out strong from the outset, putting in a series of fast laps straight away, beating the Swan Yamaha of Hill by a quarter of a second at the end of the second session.

Byrne has already won four outings at this Hampshire circuit, three of which were in his title winning years, and he is keen to build on his victory at Croft two weeks ago.

SHANE 'Shakey' Byrne is back on top in the points standings after a commanding victory in the second MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Croft Circuit.

The HM Plant Honda rider more than made up for the disappointment of his bike blowing up while he was leading Race One earlier today as he sealed the win by almost two seconds.

Second man home was MSS Colchester Kawasaki's Stuart Easton, while Samsung Cresent Racing rider John Hopkins was third.