| Ducati’s Neil Hodgson rode to victory
in the first 17-lap race at the sun-drenched 2.7-mile circuit after stalling his machine
on the grid and starting in last place. The race was reduced by one lap but the Burnley
rider had taken the lead by lap eight and was never headed. Hodgson finished second in
race two behind Chris Walker’s Suzuki, taking over the championship lead from John
Reynolds. Team Kawasaki stand-in Marty Craggill
provided the squad's only British Championship points of the weekend when the double
Australian Champion raced to tenth place in the first race at Oulton Park despite
suffering from a lack of grip from the rear end of his Team Kawasaki ZX-7RR.
But his hopes of an improvement in the second encounter
were dashed when he was punted off the track by a rival rider.
Craggill was Team Kawasaki's sole representative in the
event after Steve Plater decided to withdraw following a qualifying crash on Saturday
morning.
Plater, 29, crashed at the left hander of Cascades
suffering concussion, a black eye, three broken teeth and severe bruising to his neck and
back.
"I had intensive physio on Saturday night and again on Sunday morning but I was
just too stiff and sore to take part in the race. I am disappointed for myself and the
team and also for the fans who have made the trip to Oulton," said Steve who
hopes to be back in action in the British WSB round at Brands Hatch in two weeks time.
Craggill was disappointed with his placing after making a good getaway from the green
lights: "I got a great start but soon found myself struggling for grip and I
couldn't make any progress," he said.
His exit from race two capped a disappointing weekend for Team Kawasaki.
After a poor start Craggill had worked his way through the field and was lying in eighth
position on the tenth lap when a rival rider ran into him at the Hairpin and brought his
race to a premature halt.
"I had just passed him and I guess he was trying to get back the position when he
ran into me and I ended up in the dirt," said a dejected Craggill, who had been
standing in once again for fellow Australian Peter Gadded.
Team manager Simon Buckmaster was philosophical at the end of a frustrating weekend for
the team.
"It seems all our misfortunes came together. However we have to look forward.
Steve has no broken bones and he will be back on a bike as soon as possible. We have some
testing planned for Cadwell Park and we are trying every avenue to obtain a ride for Steve
in the World Superbike Championship event at Brands Hatch where he is looking forward to
following up his encouraging performance in his WSB debut at Hockenheim," said
Simon.
Results - Race one:
1 Neil Hodgson (Ducati) 26m 33.615s - 106.33mph,
2 James Haydon (Ducati),
3 Steve Hislop (Yamaha),
4 Chris Walker (Suzuki),
5 John Reynolds (Ducati),
6 Niall Mackenzie (Ducati),
7 James Toseland (Honda),
8 John Crawford (Suzuki),
9 Paul Young (Yamaha),
10 Marty Craggill (Team Kawasaki).
Race Two:
1 Walker 27m 56.030s - 107.05mph,
2 Hodgson,
3 Reynolds,
4 Haydon,
5 Hislop,
6 Toseland,
7 Crawford,
8 Paul Young (Yamaha),
9 Sean Emmett (Honda),
10 Michael Rutter (Yamaha).
Championship points:
Hodgson 254,
Reynolds 248,
Walker 233,
Haydon 215,
Hislop 168,
Mackenzie 114,
Toseland 101,
Crawford 100,
Plater 87
..Peter Goddard 37..Craggill 20.
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