Moto Rapido Racing is a motorbike racing team, competing in the British Superbike Championship and British Supersport Championship, winning the 2023 Championship.
 | |
| 2024 name | Oxford Racing Products Ducati |
|---|---|
| Base | Winchester, England |
| Team principal/s | Steve 'Wilf' Moore |
| Race riders | British Superbike Championship: 21. Christian Iddon British Supersport Championship: 1. Ben Currie |
| Motorcycle | Ducati |
| Tyres | Pirelli |
| Riders' Championships | 0 |
History
editThe Moto Rapido Ducati team progressed to the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in 2011 after a season in the National Superstock 1000 Championship with Scott Smart.[1]
From then the team competed in many seasons with a Ducati Superstock 1000 including a maiden race win with Tristan Palmer.[2] They also entered the British Superbike class and every race improved their bike and results.[3]
In 2015 the team signed a deal with Lloyds British to compete in the Superbike class with Czech contender Jakub Smrž,[4] but after several good results, Smrz had a crash at the Snetterton Circuit, meaning he would be out.[5] American John Hopkins took his place as a replacement rider[6] and took the team to a record result at the final round of the 2015 season of 3rd place.[7]
In 2016 the team signed Danny Buchan[8] but after a successful start to the year in testing,[9] things didn't work during the start of the season. The team's replacement rider was Scotsman Stuart Easton,[10] but he also dropped out,[11] and Ducati test rider Alessandro Polita was the final rider of the season.[12]
For 2017 the team signed American John Hopkins to compete in the British Superbike class.[13] Hopkins was badly injured at Brands Hatch requiring extensive surgeries and physical rehabilitation that effectively ended his racing career. Thomas Strudwick also rode during 2017 in Motostar standard class.[14]
For the first half of the 2018 season, the superbike rider was Taylor Mackenzie, relacing injured Hopkins. The team and Mackenzie announced their mutual decision to part company at the Knockhill BSB round practice session on 7 July, due to the rider's poor results.[15]
For the second half of the 2018 season Tommy Bridewell succeeded Mackenzie as sole BSB rider. He was retained for 2019 finishing in third place with 636 points,[16] and again for 2020.[17]
References
edit- ^ "2017 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli". www.britishsuperbike.com. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Panigale takes maiden win in British Superstock 1000". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Season Best for Matteo in Superbike". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "We're back for 2015!". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Smrz out for 4 weeks after Snetterton Crash". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "John Hopkins as replacement rider". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Moto Rapido finish 2015 on a high". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Buchan makes Ducati switch with Moto Rapido for 2016 MCE BSB". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Moto Rapido BSB in Best shape ever". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "Easton returns to Ducati with Lloyds British Moto Rapido". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "BSB: Easton parts ways with MotoRapido Ducati". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "BSB: Polita joins MotoRapido Ducati". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "John Hopkins returns to Moto Rapido Ducati". www.motorapido.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-01-12.
- ^ "2017 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli". www.britishsuperbike.com. Archived from the original on 2017-02-21. Retrieved 2017-02-20.
- ^ BSB: Mackenzie and MotoRapido Ducati announce split Motorcycle News, 7 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2018
- ^ BSB 2019 Riders Points after final round Retrieved 26 February 2020
- ^ Bridewell sticks with Oxford Racing Ducati for 2020 www.crash.net, 4 September 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2020