Date   Author   News   26/05/2009   Bullet Mug4you come on board Hi All, Please all help Rob's racing by buying a mug or a matt from http://www.mugs4u.com/39---rob-barber-17-c.asp This will really make a difference if everyone bought one product.   18/05/2009   Bullet Up’s & Downs for Rob at the NW200 Rob took part in his first race of the season on Saturday at Irelands International North West 200. Qualifying was plagued with suspension issue on the Dave Cottrell racing GSXR 1000, Andy White KAIS performance was on the end of a phone all week to help solve those issue. Rob eventually qualified 26th for the Superbike races and 32nd for the 600 Supersport race, which wasn’t bad as Thursday Qualifying was affected by rain. During the end of the Superbike practice the 1000 developed a serious clutch problem. Thanks to TAS Suzuki Rob managed to get a full set of clutch plates and was sure this would cure the problem for the races on Saturday. Saturday’s first race was the Superbike race. Rob made an amazing start and quickly got to the front of the B group and pulled away sadly the clutch issue reappears and the pack caught him on the second lap. Rob still held 2nd on group B when the red flag came out due to a fallen rider on the 3rd lap. The race was declared and Rob finished 17th overall which is his best result so far at the NW200. Next was the Superport 600 race aboard the Paul Lawson racing Suzuki GSXR 600. Rob knew he would have to work hard on this bike as it had a standard engine. Again Rob got a good start and worked his was up to 3rd in group B on the first lap. Rob battle throughout the race with around 8 other riders all of which had tune 600 race bikes. Rob eventually finished 26th with a lap 3 second faster than he has ever done on a 600. The race Rob was most looking forward to was next. The Superstock race, this race was the one that Rob would be most competitive in as his Dave Cottrell racing Suzuki GSXR 1000 was a Superstock spec race bike. Sadly Rob had to with draw from this race as his clutch problem was still not fixed despite the best efforts of Rob’s Dad Phil Barber to fix it. Judging by the results Rob would have defiantly finished in the top ten. The second Superbike and 600 races where cancelled due to bad whether so an up and down week for Rob but this meeting was always a shake down for the Isle of Man TT so from these result Rob is sure to put in a good performance at the TT where he will be riding the Dave Cottrell Racing 1000 and the Paul Lawson Racing 600 and also racing in the first ever Zero emission race the TTXGP on a battery powered AGNI Motors racing bike. This year Rob is sponsored by people and businesses in and around Bury. A long with his long term sponsors Cross Lane MOT Centre, KAIS Performance, and MTC Exhausts. Rob would like to thanks and welcome Roy Armstrong of Italsport of Bury. Without all these people Rob would not be racing. Rob would also like to thanks local Bury racers Dave Griffiths & Keith Ferrari for the help with getting bikes and bits through the paddock at the North West 200. Rob feels proud of the local people around him and would wont to live anywhere else.   22/09/2008   Author Successful weekends racing for Barber. Rob rode at the final rounds of his two local motorcycle racing clubs latest weekend. With some impressive results. After contesting the final rounds of these clubs last year he wonted to contest them again this year due to the amount of fun he had. Saturday saw the final round of the Aintree Motorcycle racing club at of coarse Aintree. The day started really good for Rob with win in the Superbike heat aboard his Cross Lane MOT centre Suzuki GSXR 1000. The Powerbike heat didn’t go as well due to him picking 24th peg out of the hat and only having 4 laps to get up to the front. Never the less he managed 6th. The Superbike final went quite well and saw Rob lead the first lap. But Mike Walker soon got up the front and broke the lap record. Tim Poole also piped Rob before the end of the race so he came 3rd. Although Rob had an old set of road tyres, and with all the main contenders having slicks on. Rob was confident of going with Mike Walker in the Powerbike race. He didn’t disappoint but after a few laps Rob’s bike looked all out of shape and was sliding around. Mike Walker again broke the lap record. Rob finished an impressive 2nd made even more impressive the fact that this was only his 3rd meeting at the Aintree circuit. Rob feels with a new set of slicks and the same weather he could possible challenge the new lap record as he was only 1 second away in the last race. Sunday saw the final round of the Preston & District Motorcycle racing club at Three Sisters Racing Circuit. Rob first raced with this club last year at persuasion of a good friend and commentator Gary Gardner. Since then he has boned with the racers organisers and marshals that attend there meetings and feel like part of a family a little like he felt in the early years of his racing at New Era under the careful eye of Brenda Schvia. He also wonted to silence people who say that you can’t ride 1000cc machines around the small circuit. Rob as well as riding his Cross Lane MOT centre gsxr 1000 would also be riding his Robinsons of Rochdale Triumph 675 in the Formula 600 class. First race was the formula 600 race and Rob was confident of a win in this class which is exactly what he did even if he was at the back of the grid. Next up was the 1300 open race this race wasn’t going to be easy as he had strong competition from Paul Turner and Julian Tillotson coupled together with the tyre on his 1000 being completely shot from the Aintree meeting. Still Rob had a game plan that he would use the power of the 1000 to get to the front and then he would use the brakes and power to make it as difficult to get past him as possible. Paul and Julian both made very good attempts at proving that a 1000 can’t win around the 3 sister’s circuit but they both failed and Rob won the race. The next 600 race was much of the same although Rob was pushing hard in this race to see if we could ride at pace on the 675 that would see him win the 1300 open race as he was thinking that the 1000’s tyres where now becoming dangerous. He did just that and set a quick pace wining the 600 race easy. Next up was the 1300 open race. The last race of the day and after the show of the first race there was still a very large crowd watching. Rob was not going to adopt the same strategy in this one on the 675 and immediately got his head down and posted some very quick laps to try and brake Julian and Paul’s advances which it work but not having a pit board was riding really hard until he nearly out braked himself going into the hairpin and allowing the 2 to catch-up a little. Then on the last lap he cam across 3 back markers who held him up again but Rob made short work of passing them and won the race with Paul hot on his heals. Rob still retains his unbeaten record at 3 sisters and increases his tally to 8. Rob would like to encourage all racers to give these two clubs and circuits a try, they wont regret it. Rob next and final event of the year will be the Dave Holland Festival on the 4th October at Cadwell Park. Dave Holland who sadly dead last year was a great mentor to Rob in his early years of his racing carrier and he would dearly love to be the first to win the Dave Holland trophy. So I’m sure there will be some more great racing from Rob   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