The 2011 Ducati 848 Challenge is packed full of talent. Here are the riders who'll be pushing their 848 EVOs to the limit during the 8-round championship.
Mark Andrew #22
Age 28
Hometown: Lincoln
Occupation: Car Dealer
Team Name: TBC
Career History
· started racing 1990
· Age 8 – sand racing, Mablethorpe
· Age 16 – champion, Mablethorpe
· Age 17 – Aprilia superteens
· Age 18 – CB500 Cup competitor
· Age 19 - 28 – British Superstock competitor
· Age 28 – Thundersport Streetfighter A, 3rd in championship
Aaron Brown #81
Age 27
Hometown: Nuneaton
Occupation: Builder
Website:
Team Name: T.B.C. – Ducati
Manager: Aaron Brown
Sponsors: Ladybirds, Grayson Print & Design, M&S Transport, P.M.A
Career History
· Started racing 2003
· 2003 – Best newcomer at EMRA, 2nd in novice championship
· 2004 – R6 Cup competitor
· 2005 to 2007 – National Superstock Cup competitor
· 2009 – EMRA competitor
· 2010 – 848 Challenge competitor
Robbie Brown #34
Age 21
Hometown: Biddulph
Occupation: Telecoms Engineer
Website: www.robbiebrown.com
Team Name: RobbieBrown.com
Manager: Garry Szafranski
Sponsors: AGB Transport
Career History
· Started racing 2002
· 2006 - Virgin Media Cup competitor , 1 podium
· 2007 – Virgin Media Cup competitor, 3 podiums 3rd in championship
· 2008 – British Superstock 600cc, 4 race wins 2nd in championship
Jon Chambers
Age: 39
Hometown: Leeds
Occupation: Motor Trader
Website: www.thunderroadporsche.co.uk
Team Name: Thunder Road
Manager: Mark Benson
Sponsors: Thunder Road Porsche, Ducati Leeds, Elfranelle Contracts Ltd
Career History
· Started racing 1998
· 2003 to 2004 – RSV Mille Aprilia Challenge competitor
· 2004 to 2005 – BSB Superstock 1000cc competitor
Mark Cheetham #21
Age 38
Hometown: Ormskirk
Occupation: Technician
Website: www.johnhuntbolton.co.uk
Team Name: Mark Cheetham Racing
Manager: Mark Cheetham
Sponsors: Shorrocks Motorcycles, AGV, Berick, Moto Direct, MTC Exhausts
Career History
· Started racing 2001
· 2003 – New Era pro bikes competitor
· Ducati Monster S4r Challenge, 2nd in championship
· GSXR Cup, 2nd in championship
· Triumph Challenge, 2nd in championship
· 2010 – Ducati 848 Challenge, 3rd in championship
Ross Connolly #23
Age 29
Hometown: Blackpool
Occupation: Sales Manager
Team Name: Connolly Racing
Manager: Ross Connolly
Sponsors: Active Freight Management, Arata Exhausts, Silkolene Oils, FW Developments, DynoJet
Career History
· Started racing 1995
· Junior road racing competitor
· Junior superstock competitor
· Aprilia 250 Challenge competitor
· R6 Cup competitor
· 2009 – GSXR Trophy, 1st in championship
· Thundersport GP1 competitor
Darren Fry #1
Age 38
Hometown: Rugby
Occupation: Cement Manufacturer
Website: www.jhpracing.com
Team Name: Buildbase/JHP Ducati
Manager: Rick Hackett
Sponsors: Building, JH Performance
Career History
· Started racing 1999
· EMRA 600, 1st in championship
· Drayton Croft Open, 1st in championship
· 2002 – Supersport 600 competitor
· 2006 – Superstock Cup, 3rd in championship
· 2007 – KTM Superduke, 4th in championship
· 2010 – Ducati 848 Challenge, 1st in championship
Ricky Holden #55
Age 38
Hometown: Daventry
Occupation: Industrial Cladder
Career History
· Started racing 2000
· New Era & EMRA competitor
· 2006 to 2008 – Superstock Cup competitor
Jack Keen #14
Age 19
Hometown: Norwich
Occupation: Apprentice Carpenter
Website: www.havocracing.co.uk
Team Name: Team Havoc Racing
Manager: Trevor Maer & John Haynes
Sponsors: Havoc Racing, Tory Rymer, 152 Race Helmets, Arc-on Leathers, Herne Hill Motorcentre, In-Moto, John Hackett – Ducati Coventry
Career History
· Started racing 2006
· 2006 to 2007 Minimoto competitor
· 2008 – Winner of 3 separate minimoto championships
· 2009 to 2010 – Aprilia Superteens competitor, 5th in championship
Andy Kirkwood #11
Age 44
Hometown: Haynes
Occupation: Director
Team Name: Team Global Robots Ltd
Manager: Andy Kirkwood
Sponsors: Global Robots Ltd
Career History
· Started racing 1992
· Club racing competitor
· Northwest 200 competitor
· Manx GP competitor, best finish 5th
Jamie Poole #51
Age 30
Hometown: Kettering
Occupation: Mechanical Design Engineer
Website: www.jamiepoole.co.uk & www.motorapidoracing.com
Team Name: Moto Rapido
Manager: Steve Moore
Sponsors: To be confirmed
Career History
· Started racing 2000
· 111 total races: 48 2nd & 3rd finishes: 24 wins
· 2002 – New Era, 1st in championship
· 2003 – New Era, 2nd in championship
· 2004 to 2005 – National Superstock competitor
· 2010 – Triumph Triple Challenge TDG Cup, 3rd in championship
Dean Skipper #57
Age 41
Hometown: Dereham
Occupation: Company Director
Team Name: Closeprint Finance
Sponsors: Closeprint Finance, Trademate Windows, Seastar Superbikes
Career History
· Started racing 1989
· Various championships, including New Era
· 2009 – Holtrax Junior 1000 Tag Endurance, 1st
· 2010 – Holtrax National 1000 Tag Endurance, 2nd
Dan Hopkins #10
Age 25
Hometown: Bishop Stortford
Website: www.havocracing.co.uk
Team Name: Team Havoc Racing
Manager: Trevor Mair & John Haynes
Sponsors: Havoc Racing, Terry Rymer, Arc-on Leathers, Herne Hill MOT Centre, In-Moto, John Hackett racing, NGK Spark Plus, Lion Security
Career History
· Started racing 1994
· 1994 to 1997 – School boy MX competitor
· 2000 to 2003 – Minimoto Southern championships competitor
· 2004 to 2008 – British minimoto championship competitor
· 2008 to 2009 – Mnitwin championship competitor
· 2010 – MRO Supersport competitor
Clinton De Tarnowsky #68
Age 36
Hometown: Horley
Occupation: Motorcycle Technician
Website: www.phmotorcycles.co.uk
Team Name: Ohlins P&H Motorcycles
Manager: Paul Searle
Sponsors: To be confirmed
Career History
· Started racing 1998
· 1998 to 2003 – Battle of the Twins (South Africa) competitor
· 2005 – 620 Monster Desmo Cup competitor
· 2008 – 800 Monster Junior Superbike competitor
· 2009 – 1098 GP1 Powerbikes Supertwin competitor
Alan Walker #121
Hometown: Huddersfield
Occupation: Company Director for shopfit business
Team Name: To be confirmed
Manager: To be confirmed
Sponsors: To be confirmed
Career History
· Started racing 1989
· Raced Ducati's all his racing career. Started on a 857, then went onto 888, 955, 996, 999 4 valve, 2 valve 750 F1. Recently bought a 1977 MV Agusta 4 cylinder.
Dan Cruickshank #124
Age: 36
Hometown: Grantham
Occupation: Managing Director
Team Name: To be confirmed
Manager: Dan Cruickshank
Sponsors: To be confirmed
Career History
· Started racing 2007-2008.
Barry Poll #99
Age: 29
Hometown: Spalding
Occupation: Workshop Controller
Team Name: Pumpkin Patch Racing
Manager: Dan Cruickshank
Sponsors: Italia Moto and TInda-Lee
Career History
· Started racing 2002
· 2002-2007 - New Era Racing Club
· 2006 - Formula 400 Champion
· 2006 - Best New Comer in the Manx GP Ultra Lightweight Race
· 2007 - New Era Sound of Thunder Champion
· 2010 - 4th in 848 Challenge
Andrew McLeod
Age: 33
Hometown: London
Occupation: Consultant at Hewitt Associates
Team Name: AEM Racing
Manager: Eilidh McLeod
Sponsors: To be confirmed
Career History
· Details to follow
Peter Hasler #32
Age: 40
Hometown: Addlestone, Surrey
Team Name: Art of Racing (AOR)
Manager: Peter Hasler
Sponsors: To be confirmed
Career History
· Details to follow
Alexey Ivanov #61
Age: 19
Hometown: Odintsovo, Russia
Website: www.ducatistore.co.uk
Team Name: Ducati Manchester Racing
Manager: Andrew Thornburn
Sponsors: Close Motor Finance, Platt Forms
Career History
· Started racing: 2008
Mike Edwards #121
Age: 49
Hometown: Harrogate
Occupation: Professional Driver
Website: www.mike-edwards.net
Team Name: MSK Works.com
Manager: Alan Walker
Career History
· Started racing: 1982
· 4 British championships
· 1994 - NW200 Winner
· 1994-1995 - Macau GP Winner
· 2002 – Imola 200 Winner
· 1994-2005 – Various World Endurance Podiums
· 2010 – Harley Davidson Challenge – Runner Up
Leon Morris #2
Age: 24
Hometown: Stockbridge, Hampshire
Occupation: Engineer
Website: www.jhpracing.com
Team Name: Buildbase/JHP Ducati
Manager: Rick Hackett
Sponsors: Building, JH Performance
Career History
· Started racing: 2000
· British 125cc competitor
· 2006 - NG 600cc champion
· 2007 – R6 competitor
· 2008 – Superbike cup competitor
· 2010 – 848 Challenge – 2nd in championship
