ASHLEY COMES OUT OF RETIREMENT TO BOLSTER M.A.R EFFORTS
28 March 2006 - M.A.R

The M.A.R trio of riders achieved all their objectives at the opening round of the British Superbike Championship season at Brands Hatch

Team principal Malcolm Ashley came out of retirement to substitute for Michael Howarth in the Superbike Cup.

Superbike Cup rider Howarth was unfortunately unable to race at the Kent circuit due to a broken ankle which he suffered following a collision with one of the Hawk Kawasaki riders the previous week at the official Snetterton test.

Ashley subsequently went on take the third quickest lap for the Cup riders with a time just outside the top 20 overall which he backed up with a fourth in the first Superbike Cup race.

While the track remained dry for the first race some showers just prior to the second made tyre choice a bit of a gamble. In the end the M.A.R team went for Intermediates front and rear which proved to be a good call as Ashley steadily climbed from 17th upto 13th overall at one point before a minor off cost him over 30 seconds on lap 20. In the end, he was forced to settle for a fine third in the Cup and a top 20 overall finish.

Speaking after race two Ashley said that he wasn’t expecting to have to dust-off his leathers so soon after going into retirement.

“It was really rotten luck for Michael breaking his ankle the week before the season started. Getting back on the bike I was a little rusty initially but quickly found my feet and I am pleased with my results considering it was a very last minute call-up. I had thought I wouldn’t be needing my leathers again so soon after retirement though.”

In the Superstock Championship M.A.R rider Paul Shoesmith did enough to make the “final” after a double-header qualifying to decide the final grid.

“The challenge for me at this point is to ride well enough through qualifying to make the main race on the Sunday. Even in the Superstock there are now over 50 riders fighting for a spot on the grid so to make the cut is the first step. From here I can start looking to move up the finishing order.”

In the Superstock Cup Richard Marchant also continues his very steep learning process having made the leap from 125cc machines to 1000cc at a circuit he had never been to before.

“Getting my head around the Kawasaki ZX10 having only ridden a 125cc in the past is a real challenge. To compound this I have not been to Brands Hatch before so I treated Saturday as an extended test. I made good progress and learnt a lot – so I’m looking forward to going to another new circuit (Donington Park) next week.”

Team boss Ashley said he was pleased with the progress his riders were making.

“All three of us did well over the weekend. Everyone is coming on in leaps and bounds (me especially!) which is what this team is all about.”

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