StoneBaker square up to Schumacher at "Racedays" Magny Cours event
13-07-2008
StoneBaker Racing riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot found themselves up against some unexpected competition whilst competing in a "Racedays" endurance event at the Magny Cours circuit in France yesterday (Saturday). Along with a mixture of continental racers and road riders, seven-times F1 world champion Michael Schumacher was also in attendance.
Travelling across the continent from their test session at Brno in the Czech Republic last week, the team have been present at the track for the past three days. Their aim was to give both riders the opportunity to familiarise (or in the case of Rea, re-familiarise) themselves with the 2.7-mile circuit ahead of their appearance there at the penultimate round of the European Superstock 600 Championship in October. The three days have comprised of open track time mixed in with short races. Saturday's activities centred around a two-hour endurance race which had to be red-flagged and restarted towards its end. The StoneBaker duo took the win, with both riders completing two half-hour stints aboard their YZF-R6 Yamahas. Schumacher, who has competed in several motorcycle events in his native Germany this year, made a private entry riding a Honda Fireblade. The former F1 world champion took the decision to retire after completing the first third of the race with no problems.
There was further cheer for the team on Sunday when Rea won the Supersport race, despite having to set off from the pit lane after being asked to remove his bike's on-board camera just before the start.
The weekend marked the first-ever entry into endurance racing for the StoneBaker team who now face an endurance challenge of different type - the 14-hour trek back to Brno to prepare for the sixth round of the European Superstock 600 Championship which begins on Friday. Currently Linfoot lies third in the series standings, with Rea seventh.
Gino Rea:
"Saturday was the best day for me with the endurance race win. There were too many damp patches around the track throughout the test to concentrate on lap times though. I had a good run round with Michael Schumacher during the qualifying session and talked with him about lap times before we were due to go out on the track. He seemed like a genuine guy and appeared to be enjoying himself."
Dan Linfoot:
"The three days went pretty well, overall. It was definitely worth doing the test as I have never raced here before. Today (Sunday) we matched Gino's sprocket settings as well as stiffening up the front suspension. That helped a lot and gave a good increase in speed. I chatted to Schumacher a few times and he came over as a pleasant enough bloke. He's not a bad rider either, even though he is relatively new to the sport. Racing's obviously in his blood which I suppose is to be expected when you've won seven world championships."
Sponsors
Team StoneBaker.
The great race at the new Portimao circuit brings an end to our season in World Superbike Superstock 600, with riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot.
The season has been a success with Gino third and Dan fifth in the championship standings following three victories and five additional podiums in total. The results have also acted as a stepping stone to the riders for next season, with both securing high profile, career progressing rides for 2009.
Thank you for all of the emails, calls, texts and visits throughout the year. It has been much appreciated.
