Gino Rea's day by day Diary - Day 3

The breakfast is China is amazing! They have about everything you can think of, including rice and noodles!!

We headed over to the track again and waited for the teams bikes and equipment to be unloaded from the storage cargos. The chinese are quite slow at things like this, they seem so relaxed and dont rush things. I, on the other hand was getting edgy and just wanted to be riding! Me and my two team riders set up all the boarding in the pit box, while my manager Andy and Yamaha guru Torlief built up the bike and set it up for me. They worked hard all day and as im sat here writing this, ready for bed, they are still working on it now. So a big thank you to them.

I attended some riders briefings and signed on, having to apply for a UAM licence. Luckily, everyone seems to speak good english so I didnt have to try my hand at Chinese.

Me and one of my team mates went for a run around the track for one last look before we ride it tomorrow. I have watched a video from last years race here and the top riders look real quick. It seems the man to beat is a 7 time Chinese and Asian supersport champion, who obviously knows the circuit like the back of his hand. I dont really know what to expect of the pace of the riders but we will just wait and see.

Tomorrow's free practice will just be about learning and getting used to everything. I have a new bike (Yamaha R6) and new track to learn, along with the older Dunlop spec tyres which I have never used. But I cant wait to get out there! Hopefully I can tag on to a fast rider like my team mate who knows the circuit to help me learn it quicker. We have one free practice in the morning then a qualifier in the afternoon. This is the same on Saturday, then on Sunday we have two 18 lap races! I've also managed to get my old race number which I had when I last worked with Andy, no. 44!

Its 8 hours ahead here and im still so jet lagged, I get tired around midday and keep thinking it would be 4am in England and i'd be tucked up in bed! So I might have to take a power nap between sessions!

I'll update on how the practice and qualifying goes tomorrow!

For more information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

Gino Rea's day by day Diary - day 2

After the spicy food from last night I decided to wake up early and hit the gym. Still well jet lagged, we headed for a big breakfast with the team to discuss plans for the day.

We went to the track to walk around it and discuss lines, gearing, suspension etc. with the team. By this time it was afternoon so we went for food then just done a bit of shopping to get some bargains! Back to the hotel to get showered up and down to the restaurant for some food, a bit of Italian this time, some lovely spaghetti!

Back to the hotel room for a go on the internet, to find out that Facebook, Twitter and Youtube are banned in China! So no updates there then. An early night for me as im pretty jetlagged, plan is to go back to the track tomorrow to sign on and help team set up. Think it will be a long day considering how much I want to go out and ride!

For more information on Arai Helmets please visit www.whayarai.co.uk

Gino Rea to Race in FIM Petronas Asia Road Racing Championship - his diary!

Gino will be sending us his account of his time in Asia - giving us an inside view as to what it's really like to be a racer, what he feels, thinks etc! Enjoy..

Day 1- Tuesday 8th December

I haven't seen much yet but it's been amazing so far! After a long 13 hour flight where me and Andy struggled to sleep we arrived in Hong Kong Tuesday 4pm (8 hours ahead of UK time). The team that I will be riding for- Yamaha Red Rooster Racing met us at the airport and took us to the ferry, which took us across the water to Zhuhai, mainland China. The first thing I noticed was how built up the area is, the buildings are huge and it’s fascinating to see.

We went back to the hotel with the team and got ready to go out for food. We turned up at a seafood restaurant, seafood has never been my thing but this was something special, something you don't get to see in the UK. Before going into the restaurant you walk to the end of the building, where there is an aquarium-like area.

There were loads of fish tanks, with every variety of fish you could imagine. There's a woman who politely asks you which type you want. You pick the fish you like and if you really want, you can watch them kill and cook it. That wasn't the big surprise for me, it was when I saw the other choice of food you can have, ranging from Crocodile, live Tortoise, live crabs, a choice of 6 chicken running about in a small cage, live eels, live frogs. You name it, it was there. I just opted for some rice and chicken! For an extra £1, a group of us (13) had a private room to ourselves to dine in. We finished up the meal and headed back to hotel for a good night’s sleep.

Lots for Gino to experience! more coming soon..

Arai NEC Auction Items Confirmed

Impressive list of motorsport memorabilia on offer in charity auction

Phoenix, the UK importer for Arai helmets, has released an impressive list of ten items that will be auctioned off at the NEC International Motorcycle and Scooter Show at 12pm on Saturday December 5.

The money raised will go to the MotoGP charity, Riders for Health. Since 2006, Phoenix and Arai have already helped raise over £15k for the award-winning social enterprise that strives to make sure all health workers in Africa have access to reliable transportation so they can reach the most isolated and vulnerable people with regular and predictable health care.

Items in order of auction:

White Arai baseball cap
Signed by Kevin Schwantz, Shinya Nakano, Noriyuki Haga, John Hopkins, Jakub Smrz

Arai tables and chairs with Arai espresso cups
4 x director chair complete with brushed aluminium table and Arai espresso cups

Jonathan Rea huge signed graphic
480cm x 275cm image ideal for a garage or workshop

2009 World Supersport Champion Cal Crutchlow signed side pods and picture

Arai 25 year signed TT flag
Signed by Arai’s TT riders

Arai RX-7 GP signed by Colin Edwards
Edwards replica (size M) signed by the MotoGP star at Donington 2009.

Noriyuki signed side pods and picture

Signed Steve Plater picture
A2 frame image of Plater kissing his daughter after winning the Senior TT

Freddie Spencer signed side pods and picture

25 year Celebration helmet
One-off, two-sided design helmet created to celebrate 25 years of Arai in the UK and 25 years of TT support. Worn by Gary Johnson in the 2009 Superbike and Senior TTs.

Crutchlow: World Supersport Champion! - 26 October 2009

Arai Racer Cal Crutchlow rode an intelligent race at the Portimao circuit, Portugal, in order to clinch the World Supersport title for Yamaha.





Crutchlow’s only title rival, Eugene Laverty, was on blistering form, setting the pace and taking the lead early on. Despite this, Cal’s point advantage meant that he did not need to try and stay with the Irishman but simply finish high up in the results.Having started well the Coventry man settled into a fourth position spot behind Lascorz until the third lap when the Spanish rider crashed out, promoting him to third.



He maintained his position until lap seven where he let Gary McCoy through at the end of the start finish straight and dropped back into fourth again. Crutchlow then tucked in behind McCoy and followed him home to the finish line for victory and the title of World Champions for himself and the Yamaha World Supersport Team.



Cal Crutchlow, Yamaha World Supersport Champion 2009:


"Fourth is the worst finish I've had this year! Obviously I've had a couple of DNFs but when I've finished fourth has been the worst. I just wanted to bring it home. I didn't need to push Eugene. He's been riding really well all weekend and keeping the pressure on me.


I didn't want to get into any battles, I followed Kenan at the start but his pace was just too fast so I let him go. I let Gary past then settled in behind him and let him bring me home for the race so thanks to him.


It's been a tough season and all credit to Yamaha they've done a fantastic job, I'm elated! I want to thank the team and all my sponsors for their support, and my family, my dad and my mum and Lucy my girlfriend who has put up with me!"



Cal will graduate to the World Superbike class next year, riding alongside fellow Brit James Toseland in the factory Yamaha team. WhyArai wishes to extend its congratulations to Cal, a thoroughly deserving champion.



For more Arai Helmet related news and information please visit http://www.whyarai.co.uk/

Gino Wins Superstock Title - 26 October 2009

Arai racer Gino Rea has clinched the European Superstock 600 Champion at the final round by a single point.Rea (pronounced Re-a) and his Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR entered the showdown at the Portimao circuit, Portugal, with just a three-point lead.

The race revolved around a duel between the main title protagonists, who throughout the race exchanged positions many times.

Despite Marci Bussolotti and Vincent Lonbois finishing ahead of him at the flag, Rea’s third place was enough to secure the title.

WhyArai congratulates Gino on a deserved championship.Follow Gino’s progress at www.ginorea.com

For more information and news associated with Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk

ARAI FIVE YEAR COMPETITION WINNER ANNOUNCED

William ‘Arthur’ Taylor will receive a brand new Arai motorcycle helmet every year for the next five years after winning a national competition.

With a fantastic prize value of £2,950, Phoenix, the UK distributor of Arai helmets, launched the competition in March 2009 for any customer who bought an Arai from its motorcycle range at either a Five Star dealer or a Hein Gericke store.

Mr Taylor, 60,(pictured, centre) a self-employed ground worker from Hornsea, was entered into the competition at his local Hein Gericke store in Hull when his wife bought him a helmet as a birthday present.

On receiving his new helmet, the lucky man said: “I was very surprised when I got the call. You enter competitions but never expect to hear anything back – I never win anything. To win a new Arai helmet for the next five years is just super. I’ve had Arais for the last 20 years and have always been impressed with them.”

Arthur, who rides a Honda CBR600RR, chose the range-topping RX-7 GP Aoyama replica as his first of the five annual prizes. This was presented to him by Hein Gericke Hull’s store manager, Mark Mitchell, and Phoenix’s assistant marketing manager, Luke Brackenbury.

For more information on Arai products or to find your nearest dealer, contact 01782 569 800 or visit www.whyarai.co.uk