It doesn’t seem so long ago when the BBC was home to all of the World’s greatest sporting tournaments, but their commitment to motorcycle racing in particular has diminished in recent times.

While they still show live coverage of  the MotoGP in full, even that is often tucked away on the red button if there is something that the corporation believes to be more popular broadcasting at the same time.

The World Superbike and British Superbike coverage is practically non existent and if it is being shown is seldom, if ever promoted by the channel.

Not every motorcycle fan has access to the excellent British Eurosport live coverage of such events, but it is worth remembering that these championships, particularly World Superbike are streamed live from the official websites of those sports.

From several years of personal experience watching sport or much else for that matter on a lap top is never quite the same as watching it on TV, particularly so if you have the latest HD flat panel variety.

Recently The Times reviewed a product called Veebeam, this is a box that transmits whatever you can see on a PC screen onto your home TV, the added benefit being that if it is being streamed or recorded in HD, that is how it will show on your TV.

The Times article suggests;

“This nifty device wirelessly transmits anything you can see on your computer screen onto your TV – no wires, no clutter, and takes only a few minutes to set up. The unit itself is sleek and unobtrusive and the signal is even effective through a wall. The new HD model streams up to 1080p for a crisp, clean and colourful picture and optical audio output allows you to enjoy your surround sound.”

With technology advances in digital broadcasting changing the way that we already watch TV, and streaming and video quality vastly improving all the time, perhaps the Veebeam represents the future of home entertainment.

Priced at just £139, the Veebeam appears to be a luxury that many of us cannot afford to ignore.

Buy it now

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Partage propulse par ebuzzing

After scoring maximum points from his dominant performance at Phillip Island in Australia in round one, Carlos Checa will be champing at the bit to get his Althea Ducati back on the track, but how will the Ducati fare on the Donington circuit?

It is fair to say that Checa was in similar form at the same circuit on the opening day of last season although he only managed to win one of the two races on that occasion, but he failed to show anything like that performance throughout the rest of the season.

The rest of the 2011 World Superbike pack led by current World Champion Max Biaggi will be keen to improve on their own points tally, so expect another exciting showdown at Donington Park.

As always there will be TV coverage from British Eurosport throughout the weekend and at this British GP weekend the commentary team will be joined by former champions and fan favourites Carl Fogarty and Neil Hodgson, who have managed five World Superbike titles between them.

It is a welcome return to Donington Park, the scene of the first WSB race 23 years ago, having missed out on last years calendar while improvements were being made to the track.

The last time the championship visited Donington, in 2009, Ben Spies dominated proceedings, winning both races. This time around British fans will be hoping it is one of the five British and Irish riders who triumphs on the newly refurbished circuit. With James Toseland (BMW Motorrad Italia) out with a wrist injury, Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport), Jonathan Rea (Castrol Honda), Leon Camier (Aprilia Alitalia), Eugene Laverty (Yamaha World Superbike) and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing) will all contest the round.

Live TV coverage starts on British Eurosport 2 at 1445 on Saturday, with commentators Jack Burnicle and James Whitham on-site at Donington to catch up with riders and teams before Superpole qualifying gets underway.

On Sunday from 1115 both Superbike races and the Supersport race will be LIVE on British Eurosport 2, while coverage will also be available in high definition on Eurosport HD. All the action will be LIVE online via Eurosport Player.

TV times for Donington:

Saturday 26 March

1445-1610 LIVE Superpole on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 27 March

1115-1630 LIVE on British Eurosport 2

1130-1200 Superbike Corner (interviews & latest news) on Eurosport HD

1200-1300 LIVE Superbike race one on Eurosport HD

1300-1415 LIVE Supersport race on Eurosport HD

1700-1745 Superbike race two on Eurosport HD

There will be six British riders on this year’s grid following the musical chairs that the end of season always brings and World Superbike welcomes Eugene Laverty who joins the Yamaha Sterilgarda team, stepping up from the World Supersport Championship where he raced last year.

Two British riders who have moved on from WSB this season are Cal Crutchlow who moves up to MotoGP and Shane Byrne who returns to British Superbike.

The winner of last season’s opener at Phillip Island, Leon Haslam, will race this season alongside former double champion Troy Corser aboard the BMW Motorrad Motosport.

After finishing ninth on his return to the World Championship last season, former double champion James Toseland will be racing for the factory-supported BMW Motorrad Italia team.

Remaining British riders Leon Camier (Aprilla Alitalia Racing), Jonathan Rea (HANNspree Ten Kate), and Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) all remain with the same teams from last season.

Once again there will be LIVE coverage from every round on British Eurosport, with all European rounds being shown in high definition on Eurosport HD. Every Superbike, Superstock and Supersport race will also be available LIVE online via the Eurosport Player.

Presenter Tony Carter will front British Eurosport’s studio coverage and will be joined by guests Neil Hodgson, James Haydon and a host of other special guests throughout the season. Commentary duo Jack Burnicle and James Whitham will return for another season behind the mic, guiding fans through all the action.

Saturday 26 February

0400-0500 LIVE Superpole on British Eurosport 2

0730-0830 Superpole on British Eurosport

1930-2030 Superpole on British Eurosport

Sunday 27 February

0050-0200 LIVE Race one on British Eurosport

0215-0315 LIVE Supersport race on British Eurosport

0430-0530 LIVE Race two on British Eurosport

1000-1130 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

1400-1630 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

Max Biaggi - Aprilia 2010

Max Biaggi took victory in both races at the weekend for the Aprilia team at his home circuit of Monza and also set the record for the fastest superbike ever recorded in a straight line.  The Aprilia team are now leading the manufacturer’s standings for the first time.

Race 1

As the first race of the day got underway it was Biaggi who led the race as the riders headed into the first corner ahead of the the two Yamaha Sterilgarda riders James Toseland and Cal Crutchlow.  Leon Haslam followed in fourth position on the Alstare Suzuki with Leon Camier on the second Aprilia in fifth.

Haslam launched an attack on Biaggi on lap 4 of the race, briefly taking the lead after out-braking the Italian heading into Prima Variante.  Two laps later, Biaggi retook the lead as the riders headed across the start/finish line while Troy Corser on the BMW who had moved into third position from twelfth on the grid was shuffled backwards.

The Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea look set to challenge the leading rider after passing the Yamaha pair on the back straight to take third before losing the front end of his machine putting him out of the race and his bike over the tyre wall.

Cal Crutchlow was seen riding across the chicane escape lane after a near run-in with Haslam under braking going into turn 1 while on lap 13, Haslam made his move on Toseland to take second place.  However, Haslam made a mistake and ran wide letting Toseland back past followed by Crutchlow leaving the Suzuki rider back in fourth place.

Crutchlow then began his challenge on Toseland, taking second after passing the British rider on lap 14 but was unable to hold the position for long and gave Biaggi the chance he needed to create a bit of space between himself and the other front runners.

On the final lap, Toseland and Crutchlow were once again on the tail of Biaggi but the Italian continued a faultless race to take his seventh career win at his home circuit.  Toseland crossed the line to take second ahead of Crutchlow with Haslam in fourth.

Leon Camier finished in fifth position after starting in thirteenth position followed by Spanish rider Ruben Xaus on the BMW in sixth, Michel Fabrizio on the Ducati in seventh, Troy Corser in eighth, Tom Sykes for the Kawasaki team in ninth and Sylvain Guintoli on the Suzuki in tenth.

Here are the results;

1 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31′07.044 (200,504 kph)
2 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 0.247
3 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 0.297
4 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 0.958
5 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 4.493
6 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 7.343
7 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 7.369
8 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 9.344
9 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 15.338
10 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 16.761
11 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 16.921
12 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 22.231
13 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 22.602
14 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 22.742
15 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 26.266
16 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.415
17 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 26.968
18 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 36.964
19 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 51.646
20 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 71 Sakai D. (JPN) Suzuki GSX-R1000
RET 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR
EX 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R

Race 2

Max Biaggi took his Aprilia across the line to secure his second win of the day in front of his home crowd on the Aprilia in an incident packed second race.

The riders managed to make it cleanly through the Prima Variante but it all went wrong as James Toseland got sandwiched between Jonathan Rea and Michel Fabrizio, sending him and his bike down onto the circuit, Toseland was then caught up between his catapulting Yamaha and the Aprilia of Leon Camier. The British Rider was taken to hospital suffering from mild concussion while Rea, who was also injured in the incident, suffered a sprained ankle.  Ruben Xaus was another casualty from the same accident, managed to walk away unscathed but was out of the race.

Biaggi continued to lead the race followed by Troy Corser who had worked his way into second place from twelfth on the grid.  Tom Sykes had moved up to third position but was soon passed by both Haslam and Crutchlow.

Haslam was soon challenging for the leading spot, passing Biaggi at the Roggia chicane but once again the Brit made a mistake and the lead was retaken by Biaggi as they headed down the home straight followed by Crutchlow in second.

Haslam was nearly out of contention on lap 9 while coming out of the first chicane, as he was seen lifting off of his seat but miraculously regained his position although nearly taking Corser along with him.

Crutchlow was now free to challenge Biaggi until on lap 13 when his engine gave up and he was forced to take to the gravel trap.

Biaggi crossed the line to take his second chequered flag of the day 4.5 seconds ahead of Haslam and Corser. Leon Camier finished in an impressive fourth place despite getting caught up in the tangle at the start of the race followed by the Kawasaki of Tom Sykes in fifth.

Noriyuki Haga took his Ducati across the line to finish in sixth place ahead of Sylvain Guintoli in seventh, Jakub Smrz in eighth, Shane Byrne in ninth and Luca Scassa in tenth.

Here are the results;

1 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 31′07.122 (200,496 kph)
2 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 4.547
3 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 5.469
4 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 10.267
5 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 15.561
6 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 15.816
7 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 15.861
8 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Ducati 1098R 20.977
9 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 21.920
10 99 Scassa L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 21.974
11 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 27.152
12 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 29.315
13 77 Vermeulen C. (AUS) Kawasaki ZX 10R 30.858
14 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 47.160
15 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 48.824
RET 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1
RET 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R
RET 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R
RET 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR
RET 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R
RET 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1
RET 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR
RET 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR

Following two all-British podiums at the last round from Assen, fans have more reason than ever to tune in to British Eurosport 2 and follow the racing LIVE from start to finish next Sunday (May 9) from 9.30am.

Joining Eurosport presenter Tony Carter in the WSB studio will be former rider James Haydon and current BSB series leader Tommy Hill, while commentary will come from Jack Burnicle and James Whitham.

TV coverage includes WSB Superpole along with the Superstock 600 race broadcast live and in full on Saturday, followed by the two WSB races live on the Sunday programme.

Saturday 8 May – Superbike World Championship
1400-1500 LIVE Superpole on British Eurosport 2
1700-1730 LIVE Superstock 600 on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 9 May – Superbike World Championship
0930-1530 LIVE race day on British Eurosport 2
1100-1200 LIVE race one on Eurosport HD
1700-1745 Race two on Eurosport HD

Eurosport

Motorcycle legend Carl Fogerty has been confirmed as the guest pundit for British Eurosport World Superbike studio at the Assen round of the championship on April 25.

The 44-year-old, four-times World Superbike champion will join Eurosport presenter Tony Carter and the British Superbike rider Josh Brookes for the fourth round of the series for the six hours of live coverage from the Assen circuit.

Nicknamed the ‘King Of Assen’, Fogerty claimed 59 Superbike wins during his career, winning all but two of the Dutch circuit races between 1993 and 1999, with 15 podiums positions out of 16 races.

Every round of the Superbike World Championship is broadcast live on British Eurosport, including qualifying, while the European rounds are also available in high definition on Eurosport HD. The Eurosport Player will simulcast the live action from each round as well as providing extensive on demand coverage.

Saturday 24 April

1400-1500 LIVE Superpole on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 25 April

0930-1535 LIVE WSB Race Day on British Eurosport 2

1800-1830 Race One on Eurosport HD

1830-1900 Race Two on Eurosport HD

British Eurosport is available on Sky (Channel 410) and Virgin Media (Channel 521).

British Eurosport 2 is available on Sky (Channel 411) and Virgin Media (Channel 525).

Eurosport HD is a simulcast of Eurosport International and is available on Sky (Channel 412) and Virgin Media (Channel 522)

British Eurosport channels also available online via Eurosport Player: www.eurosportplayer.co.uk

Follow us on Twitter! @EurosportUKTV

Leon Haslam - Race One Winner at Phillip Island, Australia 2010

World Superbikes arrive in Valencia, Spain for the third round of the 2010 Championship, with Britain’s Leon Haslam at the top of the top of the leaderboard.

Haslam has been in incredible form so far this season and is at last fulfilling the potential that we all know has been there since his early days in motor cycle racing.

Even though he is not yet 27 it seems as though Haslam has been around forever, he must feel like a veteran racer at times! He was an outstanding contributor to British Superbike racing, always pushing for a title that managed to elude him, although he did finish the 2007 season in third and bettered that in 2008 finishing runner up in the championship.

His first full season in World Superbike with the Honda team now appears to have been a learning curve for Haslam, finishing sixth in the title race, but without a win in any of the rounds.

The first win in WSB finally came for Haslam in the openening round of this season in Australia, when he narrowly beat Fabrizio to the finish line aboard the Suzuki. He has consolidated his lead in the 2010 Championship by finishing second in each of the following three races.

Lets see what he can do aboard the Suzuki this weekend.

This weekends racing will be broadcast live on British Eurosport 2, coverage includes the Superstock 600 Championship race, currently being contested by the French Yamaha duo of Jeremy Guarnoni and Romain Lanusse.

TV coverage starts on Saturday April 10th with WSB Superpole and the Superstock 600 race and on Sunday both WSB third round races will be shown live on British Eurosport 2.  Race one will also be shown live on Eurosport HD while race two will be shown delayed on HD.

On Sunday Eurosport presenter Tony Carter will host the WSB studio and will be joined by former WSB rider James Haydon and 2009 BSB winning team manager Colin Wright, the most successful British Superbike team manager of all time.

WSB 2010 Championship Round 3, Valencia, Spain.

Saturday 10 April

1400-1500 LIVE WSB Superpole on British Eurosport 2

1700-1730 LIVE Superstock 600 on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 11 April

0930-1530 LIVE  Full coverage of both WSB races on British Eurosport 2

1100-1200 LIVE  race one on Eurosport HD

1900-1945 Delayed race two on Eurosport HD

HD coverage from the second round in Portimao, Portugal begins at 11.15am on Sunday 27 with on-site news and analysis before race one gets underway LIVE at 12pm. Race two will be shown at 5pm.

If Eurosport HD is not part of your TV package, British Eurosport 2 will be on hand, showing the Superpole LIVE on Saturday along with live coverage of the Superstock 600 race.

British Eurosport 2 will continue its LIVE coverage of the event on Sunday with six hours of entertainment guaranteed, showing both WSB races live. Anchorman Tony Carter will be joined by fans favourite Neil Hodgson in the studio, ahead of his return to British Superbike racing. They will also be joined by James Haydon.

Motorcycle journalist Tony Carter says the event is a spectacle not to be missed:
“Portimao is one of the best circuits in the world for Superbike racing, all the guys are going to be bashing and racing elbow to elbow. After what we saw at Phillip Island, which not only gave us a pair of terrifically exciting Superbike races, but also Leon Haslam leading the world, Portimao is going to be fantastic!”

Race commentator Jack Burnicle says:

“A man to look out for next weekend will be Xerox Ducati’s Michel Fabrizio, who has an outstanding record – a first and a second – in his two visits to Portimao. But three of the Brits have also performed well here. Jonathan Rea almost won last year and finished twice on the podium, Leon Haslam was third as a wild card in 2008 and Shakey Byrne finished twice fourth last year on his Ducati, only just squeezed off the rostrum in both races.”

I am just hoping for to see more of what we saw in the first round and I am sure that round 2 at Portimao will deliver, whatever the final outcome.

Saturday 27 March
1500-1600 LIVE Superpole on British Eurosport 2
1800-1830 LIVE Superstock 600 on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 28 March
1030-1630 LIVE Superbikes on British Eurosport 2
1115-1200 LIVE Superbike Corner (race build-up) on Eurosport HD
1200-1300 LIVE WSB Race One on Eurosport HD
1700-1730 WSB Race Two on Eurosport HD

The seven-strong British challenge will be fronted by two-time former champion James Toseland who returns to the series for Yamaha after two seasons competing in MotoGP. Joining Toseland on the grid will be 2009 British Superbike winner Leon Camier who prepares to make the step up and see if he can replicate his championship winning form on the global stage.

Adding to wealth of British talent in the championship will be World Supersport champion Cal Crutchlow who makes the move to the series and will partner Toseland for Yamaha. The 24-year-old finished third in the 2008 British Superbike Championship, following this up by claiming the Supersport crown in his rookie season last year.

Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team), Shane Byrne (Althea Racing) and Leon Haslam (Team Suzuki Alstare) will complete the super-seven British line-up.

Once again the championship challenge can be followed on Eurosport and this season they will provide their most comprehensive broadcast package yet with LIVE coverage from every round on British Eurosport, high definition content on Eurosport HD and every race available on demand via the Eurosport Player.

From the second round in Portimao and for every European round of the Championship, viewers can also enjoy coverage in stunning high definition on Eurosport HD. All the action will be streamed LIVE on the Eurosport Player and for the first time, every race will be available as video on demand for those who missed it or simply want to watch again.

TV coverage of the first round of the World Superbike Championship 2010 at Phillip Island starts on February 27th and the scheduled times are as follows:

Saturday 27 Feb
0400-0500 LIVE Superpole qualifying on British Eurosport 2
0900-1000, 1215-1315, 1515-1615 & 2230-2330 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 28 Feb
0100-0200 LIVE WSB race one on British Eurosport 2
0230-0330 LIVE World Supersport race on British Eurosport 2
0430-0530 LIVE WSB race two on British Eurosport 2
0900-1130, 1400-1630 & 2000-2230 Highlights on British Eurosport 2