Racing News

Date	Author	News
18/08/2008	Author	Rob Fastest Newcomer at UGP Rob returned from the Ulster Grand Prix with mixed feels after it was cancelled due to the terrible weather North Ireland suffered on Saturday. He commented ‘There was no other option but to cancel the races as the weather was so bad.’ Rob was really disappointed as he was consistently the fastest Newcomer in all dry Practice sessions. That was even more impressive when you consider the other newcomers Matts Nilsson, Jamies Hillier, Ollie Linsdall, Christian Elkin, and Colin Wilcocks. Rob Ended up posting the fastest Newcomer time of 3:37.164 wiith an average of 122.689 mph. Qualifying him 15th in the main Ulster Grand Prix Superstock race. With only the well established big team riders in front of him. He felt due to the wrong gearing on the Cross Lane MOT centre Suzuki GSXR 1000 he could have pushed for 125-126 mph lap in the race. But sadly the race never ran. Rob did race on Thursday in the Dundrod 150 national race aboard his Robinsons of Rochdale Triumph 675. He new this was going to be difficult as his triumph is a standard engine and he would be racing tunes bikes up to 750cc. He was hoping for a top ten finish. The race went better than expected with Rob quickly slotting into 3rd and chased Jamies Hillier. But he was unable to make any impression on the 3sec gap finishing 3rd with Ollie Linsdall winning. Rob Commented ‘Although my Triumph is very good there is no substitute for the power the two bikes in front had at high speed circuit like this. I was really looking forward to returning the favour in the Superstock race in which my Cross Lane MOT centre Suzuki was a match for any bike.’ Rob would like to thank Noel Johnston and everyone at Dundrod & District motorcycle club for the invite to this awesome race track. Also would like to thank sponsors Dave Cottrell of Cross Lane Mot Centre, Robinsons of Rochdale, Kais Perforamance, MTC Exhausts. Big thanks and for James Mcbride, Stuart McNulty, and Dad Phil Barber the pit crew. Without these rob wouldn’t have been able to compete. Rob is still looking for a tyre sponsor next year. If he does secure something Rob might be forced to retire so if anyone his interested please contact him on 07920060338.
09/06/2008	Bullet	Rob Exceeds expectations at TT After a bad start to Rob’s TT. The next 4 races would exceed everyone’s expectations including Rob’s. Superstock race: The weather wasn’t brilliant as it was cloudy but very hot and humid, also damp under the trees. Rob set of 65th on the road and quickly set a fast pace doing an 118mph average first lap aboard his Dave Cottrell Suzuki GSXR 1000. But he was struggling with his visor steaming up due to the humid conditions so was having to mess with his visor throughout the race, opening for slow sections and closing it for fast sections. Not letting that hinder him, he pushed on at good pace to finish the race in 27th doing a 118.896mph average lap on his last lap achieving a Bronze replica for finished within 110% of the winners pace. Junior Supersport race 1: This race was 2 hours after the Superstock race. The weather had improved ahead of the race but Rob was worried about tiredness as he had never done 8 laps of the TT course in one day. Rob set of on his Robinsons of Rochdale Triumph Daytona 675 and again set a fantastic pace lapping at over 115 mph in his first lap. Rob seemed really relaxed and maybe this was helping him do these fantastic laps. He eventually finished 26th lapping at over 116mph average in his final lap again achieving a Bronze replica. Junior Supersport race 2: Again Rob would be racing the Robinsons of Rochdale Triumph Daytona 675. The weather was good but a little windy at the start line. Rob seemed confident that he could better his previous race 1 time. He set off, and immediately his sector times to Ramsey where really good. But unfortunately Rob faced and strong head wind on the climb up the mountain and as the Triumph is only a standard road bike rob suffer more than other with speed and lost a lot of time. He still rode well to finish 29th with a fastest lap on the last lap again of 115.2 mph still achieving a another Bronze replica . Rob was really please so far as he had been in the top 30 in all the races so far. Considering his start numbers of 59 and 65 this was a good result and Rob was at best hoping for only 1 replica and already had 3. Senior TT race: This was the big race at the end of the week and was the one everyone wonted so Rob was going to be up against it even more so with a start number of 62 with only 3 riders setting off behind him, which meant Rob would hit a lot of traffic if he set a fast pace. Rob still seemed relax and unfazed by the challenge. Rob did in deed set a blistering pace catching the first rider only 5 miles into the first lap and passing a further 2 on the same lap even though he had traffic he still managed a first lap average of over 119mph. Every lap was more of the same with Rob dealing with traffic and setting very fast times. He was also suffering with fuel shortages on the pit laps and having to half throttle the bike the last mile. Even so his pit stops which where performed by his dad Phil Barber, Ross and Stuart McNulty where excellent and helped him move up the score board. And by lap 4 Rob was 23rd. Rob then put the hammer down and brought the Dave Cottrell Suzuki home in 20th lapping at 120.6mph average on the last lap Again achieving a Bronze replica. Top 20 was an awesome achievement and even the organisers commented. To get 20th from 62nd in only his first year on a 1000cc was remarkable. Rob also now joins a very elite group of riders that have broken the 120mph average barrier. And he will tell you that is every TT riders aim. Rob would like to thank Robinsons of Rochdale, Dave Cottrell of Cross Lane MOT Centre, KAIS Performance, MTC Exhausts, Speedcom, Stuart & Ross McNulty, his Dad (Phil Barber), and his Fiancé Anna Berry. All these people are very special to Rob and without all these people Rob would never have been able to achieve this remarkable result.
27/05/2008	bullet	first couple of sessions of TT 08 Rob wasn’t too happy during the first untimed session on Saturday as the bikes suspension where to hard. After a conversation with Andy White of KAIS performance about what to do with the suspension, Rob made some major change to both bike on Andy’s advice for Monday nights first qualifying. Rob first went out on the Dave Cottrell Suzuki GSXR 1000 as he was keen to get as many laps as possible on this bike as he has no experience on a 1000 at the TT. Rob was really pleased with the changed made and did 113mph lap from a standing start and bedding new brake pads in. On his second lap he did 115.5mph lap his quickest ever lap of the TT. Next he was out on the Robinsons of Rochdale Triumph Daytona 675 , again he’s was please with the changes made and was impress how much better the bike was to last years. From a standing start Rob did 110mph and on his second did 111.1mph. These times are enough for him to qualify for all his races next week. This is a great result to go that fast so early on in practice week. Rob didn’t go out on Tuesday nights practice as it was very wet and as the races won’t be run in the wet there’s was not point. PRB racing would also like to wish James McBride a speed recovery after his crash at gorse lee on Monday nights practice. Rob has his fingers crossed for good weather on Wednesday.
20/03/2008	bullet	2008 news Hi All, Another session is about to get underway so this the first mail shot of 2008. This year Rob will race as the 2008 North West ACU 1300cc Champion. From his impressive results at both Aintree and Three Sisters meeting, Rob was crowning the NW ACU Champion. (Please see attached picture of rob receiving trophy with Daughter Katelyn) The major news for 2008: After a good first 2007 with Dave Cottrell the owner of Cross Lane MOT station in Radcliffe. Dave increased is sponsorship for 2008 by purchasing a new Suzuki GSXR 1000 2008 model. This is great news for Rob which should enable him to achieve even better results for 2008. (Please see attached picture of Rob with Dave and the new bike). Rob intends on doing the North West 200 the major road racing in Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man TT races, he also intend on doing the Ulster Grand Prix in Northern Ireland for the first time this year. In between he intends on committing to his local clubs at Aintree and Three Sisters circuits. And other national meeting the first of which will be this easter weekend 22nd & 23rd March at Donington Park in the National MRO Superstock series. Rob would like to thank the following sponsors for continuing there support for 2008. Robinson Triumph of Rochdale who will supply a Triumph Daytona 675 for the North West 200 and TT for the Superport races. Kais Performance will also support Rob providing Suspension and Servicing for both bikes all season. MTC Exhausts will also providing exhaust and fueling product for the team all year. PLJ photo will also continue there support providing PR photos for the year. Warwick Motorcycles of Heywood providing some financial assistants for some spares. The Isle of Man Government for the support during the TT. Although Rob has some great sponsors the team still has yet to secure a deal for tyre for the TT this year. If a sponsor isn’t found this could seriously affect Rob’s performance. Rob could arrange corporate hospitality for the TT and advertise for any company that would be interested please see below PR figures for the TT 2008 below. 1. TT highlights are broadcast to 140 countries worldwide 2. TT highlights are available in 2billion households worldwide 3. BBC Grandstand show a 1 hour review programme of the TT each year which annually attracts 1million viewers which is exceptional for a one off event 4. ITV4 showed 1000minutes of TT highlights in 2007 5. The TT has it’s own dedicated press website with nearly 1000 members 6. 500 journalists were accredited at TT 2007 7. Blanket coverage in UK national newspapers – 42 million newspapers carried TT stories in the UK 8. National newspaper coverage generated in key European and global markets 9. Significant news agency attendance including Getty and PA 10. Coverage in all major world wide motorcycle magazines and websites 11. Overall equivalent value of print media coverage £4,000,000 12. The TT DVD is a motorsport bestseller and has sold out twice this year! It annually outsells the Moto GP, WSBK and BSB highlights So if anyone or company is interest please contact the team on 07920060338 or email postmaster@prbracing.co.uk
26/05/2007	Bullet	TT First Practice See link to LondonBiker.com for full report and video clip of the awesome triumph on her first flying lap down bray hill. http://londonbikers.com/news/2ceb437c-0780-4e47-bac0-0c2a94581394
28/05/2006	Bullet Barbie	Best result for Barber at Silverstone. Rob’s finish was the best finish yet in the European GSXR CUP he was a little disappointed with not achieving the podium but a catalogue of problems hamper him. See race Report
07/05/2006	Bullet Barbie	Barber finds Monza Tough Barber finds Monza Tough This weekend was the 2nd round of the Suzuki GSXR European Cup at World Superbikes, Monza, Italy. What an amazing place. But Rob was new he had his work cut-out here as Fabrizio Pirovano ex-world champion was going to be a wild card at his home track. But still rob was best of British.
23/04/2006	Bullet Barbie	Rob’s Best of British at GSXR CUP Rob emerged the best placed British rider in Qualifying, where he qualified 15th and also in the race, where he finished 11th at this weekends first round of the European GSXR Cup at the 3rd round of the World Superbikes in Valencia, Spain. See race report
04/04/2006	Bullet Barbie	Rob Barber’s Back Rob Barber’s Back in the GSXR European Cup PRB racing are pleased to announce that Rob Barber has been acquired by Suzuki Great Britain to represent them again in the GSXR European Cup at World Superbikes. This Year the championship will be run over the 6 round across Europe. See venues and dates below. 21-23 April : Valencia, Spain 5-7 May : Monza, Italy 26-28 May : Silverstone, GB 23-25 June : Misano, Italy 8-10 Sept : Eurospeedway Lausitz, Germany 6-8 Oct : Magny-Cours, France Rob finished joint 13th in the championship last year despite only finishing 3 of the 5 round that year. Based on what he has learnt from last year and Rob is hoping to be a real title contender. PRB racing have purchase a ex - Manx Grand Prix GSXR 750K5 from Paul Lawson (Black Bikeshop) Thanks to Paul for providing the bike at such a good price. Rob is hoping to visit as many of the GSXR Cup circuits as he can. And also race at some British race meeting. PRB racing are happy to announce that they have retain sponsorship with Andy White of KAIS Performance, Paul and Linda Jones of PLJ Photo, and David Dearden of Robinsons of Rochdale. But PRB racing are hoping to attract more sponsors to enable Rob to get the race practice he needs to become the GSXR Cup European CHAMPION. If any one is interested sponsorship at the prestigious World Superbikes or require more information, please contact: Email: team@prbracing.co.uk Phone: 09720060338