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British
Superbike 2008 |
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British
Superbike 2008 |
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British Superbike 2008 - Round Seven - Oulton Park |
Tom Sykes was long overdue a victory in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship having come close on several occasions and the Rizla Suzuki set the record straight with a dominant seventh round performance at Oulton Park where he completed the daily double. He had been on the pace throughout the weekend, missing out on pole by barely a quarter of a second, but with his team Sykes had worked hard to ensure that his bike was perfectly set for the two 18 laps races at the Cheshire circuit. Sykes made the running on the first lap of the opener which began in the damp but soon dried but was taken by James Ellison aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda who headed the pack for the first third when the Rizla Suzuki rider made the decisive move at Hizzy’s chicane. He was able to extend his advantage, taking his first ever Superbike victory by almost five seconds ahead of Ellison who was matching his best result while series leader Shane Byrne took third place on his Airwaves Ducati at the expense of HM Plant Honda rider Leon Haslam. “I was both delighted and relieved,” explained Sykes as he received the winner’s trophy, adding: “It was a tough race as there was a lot to think about with the track conditions. “With about ten laps to go I started to think, “This is it!” so I had to work hard and keep concentrating keeping the bike on line and bringing it back OK. I wasn’t able to really enjoy winning the first race because I knew that I had to go out there and do it all again.” Sykes was ready to take on all challengers in the second race and he had moved ahead of Haslam by the end of the second lap, but then was having to head off the fierce challenges coming in from Cal Crutchlow who was eager to make amends for an error in the first race which dropped him HM Plant Honda to sixth. The Coventry rider tried everything he knew to find a way through, but Sykes had all of the answers as he gave the Suzuki team their first winning double in the series since John Reynolds success at the Cheshire circuit in 2004. Sykes took the victory by inches, or officially 0.097secs, and he enthused: “This is something else, something special – a bit like waiting for the Number 10 but to come along – a long wait and then two come together. “I think I’ll celebrate with a brew and a piece of cake and I might even get some fast food on the way home and a lie in in the morning. Then I’ll start thinking about my World Superbike debut at Brands Hatch next month.” Byrne again had to settle for third, ahead of Haslam, but the champion of 2003 was not complaining as he extended to 312-213 points his lead over Crutchlow in the title stakes. “I tried as hard as I could to get second place from Cal and got ahead on the last lap but made a mistake and had to take third, but I’m not complaining having increased my lead.” Sykes moved third in the standings 176-174 ahead of Haslam. John Laverty continued his domination of the Daily Star Cup with a winning double aboard his Buildbase NW200 Ducati, heading off Martin Jessopp, on the Riders Honda, in the opening race and then Gary Mason aboard the Quay Garage Honda next time out.
-- Rizla Suzuki Report -- Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes won his debut and second British Superbike races in quick succession to claim an emotional double win at the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire today. Starting from third on the grid in the opening race, Yorkshire ace Tom led from lap seven and never looked back, winning by a dominant five seconds despite admitting to nerves as the laps ticked down and heavy clouds menaced the 2.69-mile circuit. In race two he took the lead on lap two and then maintained a slim advantage under enormous pressure to the chequered flag, riding with impressive composure and speed. He capped the day by setting the fastest lap in both races and moves from sixth to third in the title race. Rizla Suzuki’s Atsushi Watanabe matched his qualifying position finishing 13th in race one. In the second event he was forced to come into the pits and take his spare bike due to an electrical problem and fought his way through from 29th to 17th just outside the points. He now returns to Japan to take part in the prestigious Suzuka eight-hour race where he is targeting a podium finish next weekend. Rizla Suzuki and Tom step up to the challenge of World Superbike racing in two weeks time when he takes a wild-card ride in the massively popular Brands Hatch round of the Championship. Rizla Suzuki then goes on to the eighth round of the British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland one week later. Tom: “It doesn’t get much better than this, to win my first race and then my second on the same day is a dream come true. A big thank you to my Rizla Suzuki team, every member deserves this success as it has been a big effort to get my GSX-R1000 performing so well – thank you one and all. “Race one was completely nerve-wracking. It seemed to be the longest race ever, the laps took forever and I had far too much time to think of what could go wrong, so I was relieved and overjoyed to get to the chequered flag and get the win in the bag. Race two was harder with all the pressure but I knew my Rizla Suzuki was good and controlled it from the front; it was the icing on the cake. “Brands Hatch WSB is next and my debut at that level of racing. My Rizla Suzuki is as good as any Superbike in the world and I can’t wait to rub shoulders with Bayliss, Haga and Kagayama, they need to look out, I’m going for the podium.” Atsu: “Well done to Tom and Rizla Suzuki for great results, this is very good news and makes me happy as well as big encouragement for future. “It has been a difficult day for me; the results are not what I want. In race one I ride as hard as I can and in race two I start from pit-lane on spare bike because of electrical problem and although overtake many people and ride faster than first race, I do not make into points. I now go back to Japan and Suzuka and hope for podium result in eight-hour for Suzuki.” Jack Valentine, Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “Brilliant, ace, mega, fantastic, awesome – any of those will describe Tom’s double win, take your pick. Well done to the Rizla Suzuki team and Tom on a fairy-tale performance, it is thoroughly deserved and well earned. I think now we have established Tom and the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 as race winners, there will be more to come. “Atsu did his best today but didn’t get the results he deserves. After he returns from Japan and the Suzuka eight-hour I am sure he will be up for the rest of the season, Tom’s victories today have lifted him as well. “Thank you to all the Rizla Suzuki sponsors and fans for all their support – this double race win is for you all to share with us. With a bit of luck there will be more champagne this season and wouldn’t it be great to taste it at Brands World Superbikes - come along and give us your support if you can, every bit helps!” -- Rob Mac Racing -- Karl Harris qualified his Rob Mac Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 on the front spot of the second row for round 7 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park, and looked all set for another strong race finish as he went in search of that elusive podium finish (20 July). The weekend had began on a high for the Rob Mac Racing team with Karl dominating the free practice sessions on Friday. Running a blistering pace at the head of the field, Karl demonstrated the full extent of the capabilities of the pairing of ‘The Bomber” and the Iveco Yamaha YZF-R1. Race 1 was declared wet before the grid lined up despite the dry track conditions. A result of the changeable weather conditions that plagued the proceedings all weekend, they looked set to besiege drama on the race. With the majority of the riders opting for a full Pirelli slick choice it was truly a race against time. Karl got away with the leading pack, chasing down Leon Haslam ahead of him in forth position. As the gap behind him grew in the opening laps, Harris continued to pressure for the positions ahead. Championship leader Byrne was playing catch up from a poor start having chipped away at the gap to the leaders, by lap 9 the gap was closing and Byrne was less than a second behind. As Harris went to make a move on Haslam into Shell Oils on the next lap he ran a little high up the cambered corner, Byrne made his move underneath him, the pair clashed leaving Harris falling uninjured to the tarmac. Although the incident caught the eye of the Race Director, the investigation that followed resulted in ‘a racing incident’ as a final verdict. With it all to prove in Race 2 Karl was reliant on another good start to get away with the leaders, however it was not to be. Caught up in the riders around him as they thundered into turn one, Karl had his work cut out having crossed the line in 11th on the first time of passing. A gallant effort saw Karl put his head down to move up the order, picking off places lap by lap, elevating himself into 7th position by lap 5. Michael Laverty occupied the track ahead but with over a second gap Karl had more work to do. With the gap narrowed to a few tenths disaster struck as Karl began to rapidly lose grip in the rear of his Yamaha. As the following riders took the opportunity to catch the now struggling Harris, it was very apparent that his race was over, eventually losing out some of the valuable places that he’d worked so hard to make up to finish in a bitterly disappointing 9th. The team now move on to Round 8 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland on 8-10th August. Karl Harris: “I’m almost speechless. What a dramatic turn around to my weekend. Yet again I seem to be faced with some of the worst luck out there. Race 1 saw Shakey put in a very ambitious move, which resulted in me falling off, luckily I was unhurt but never the less, I didn’t get to prove my worth. I was making progress in Race 2 but struggling with a bit of grip, by mid race I had nothing and my race was over.” Rob McElena, Team Principal: “We are bitterly disappointed. From being the fastest on Friday our weekend has turned itself on it’s head. We really thought it was our weekend. Race 1 was just our luck this season, and the less said about that the better. Karl had no grip in Race 2 and we are left with our hopes shattered again. We had a really positive test at Knockhill earlier in the year so lets hope that Lady Luck follows us up to Scotland for the next round.” Truck Links Yamaha rider, Joe Dickinson fought a tough battle to salvage another handful of points from Round 7 of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park, Cheshire, today (20 July). Having qualified his Yamaha YZF-R6 on the last spot of the fifth row of the grid in 20th position, Joe had his work cut out to get into a point scoring position. Dry conditions greeted the grid and Joe got away in the middle of the pack, struggling to maximise any positions in the melee of riders around him. As the opening laps ticked by Joe started to make slow progress through the pack elevating himself into 18th position. The pack ahead were well over 2 seconds in front but Joe found his pace and consistently improved his lap times. By mid race Joe was in 15th place, fully focused on catching the gaggle of riders ahead. Having whittled down the gap he finally put himself in contention to contest a top 10 finish. A fierce battle ensued with Joe picking up a further two places as the race went all the way to the flag, missing out on a top ten finish by just 0.6 secs. Round 8 of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship takes place at Knockhill Circuit in Scotland on 8-10th August. Joe Dickinson: “The first couple of laps was a bit hectic with getting boxed in off the start. Once I got into my rhythm I knew that I was faster than the guys around me. By mid race I was just gaining on the pack ahead. Once I got onto the back of them I just needed to make up places, another lap and I could have made the top 10. I’m pleased but I needed to get a better qualifying and start to be up in the top 10.” Rob McElnea, Team Principal: “Joe had his best ride of the season so far. To see him make so much progress is exactly what we expect from him. We had a great test at Knockhill earlier in the year so hopefully with Joe riding high on his confidence again we can get the results we deserve.” -- Hydrex Honda Report -- Following on from his superb podium finish at the same track back in May, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison repeated the feat when he took the 1000cc Shaun Muir Racing Honda Fireblade to another second position at Oulton Park in Cheshire today. Starting from row two on the grid, the 27 year old from Kendal in Cumbria made some radical changes to his bike overnight and in the early stages of the opening race, led the field as he mixed it up with the Championship front runners. Going into the final laps, he was well placed but eventually had to settle for second place as the handling of his bike deteriorated. In the second race, once again Ellison made a great start to run in fifth position in the early stages before consolidating his position to end up fifth at the flag and in doing so recorded his best points haul of the seven rounds held so far this season. The net result is that Ellison lies in sixth in the Championship going into the next round at Knockhill in three weeks' time. For team mate Guy Martin, a disappointing qualifying performance didn't help the 26 year old from Kirmington in Lincolnshire, who also made some radical improvements to his machine before today's two races, and he gave a much better account of himself in the two 18-lap races. Whilst set for a points finish in the opening race he retired on the final lap with an electrical problem and in race two he was unlucky to miss out on the points after battling for the lower leaderboard places. Superstock 1000 team rider Kieran Clarke followed up a seventeenth place finish yesterday with a fine points-scoring fifteenth position today on his debut for the team leaving him and team boss Shaun Muir pleased with the weekend's work. James Ellison: "I'm disappointed with the second race but obviously pleased with the first one, and I wish they'd been the other way round really. We've scored the most points we've scored all year in one weekend and we're getting closer to moving up the Championship and not that far away from the top three now, and for a private team we've got to be happy with that. I'm really happy with the way the team has worked and full credit to them this weekend." Guy Martin: "In the first race, I had an electrical problem on the last lap and had to pull in which was unfortunate as I was lying in fifteenth place. I'm still having some problems with the bike but hopefully our luck will turn soon. When the going gets tough, the tough get going." Shaun Muir (Team Owner): "I'm delighted with James in the first race and I'm happy with the weekend overall. We've scored our best points haul for the season which puts us in contention for the top three in the Championship. I feel we've made progress developing the bike to another level. Guy's problems have unfortunately continued this weekend with the electrical problem in the first race but I'm pleased with Kieran with a top twenty yesterday, and a points score in fifteenth today and now its roll on Knockhill." Kieran Clarke: "I'm just steadily building up and it's just a shame I was starting from so far back on the grid and had to pass so many people. I had to really weigh up the corners with me being a bit rusty on the bike but next time I should be a lot further up the grid and I'm hoping for a top ten at Knockhill." -- NW 200 Ducati Report -- It was a mixed weekend for the NW200 Ducati team at round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the picturesque Oulton Park circuit. Michael Rutter on the North West 200 F08 Ducati scored a seventh and 11th place respectively in the two 18-lap races. Team-mate John Laverty on the Buildbase NW200 1098R Ducati gained two extremely positive wins in the Daily Star Cup races, which also resulted in a stunning 10th and 13th place in the overall Championship results. In the mixed weather conditions at the Cheshire circuit throughout the weekend the two riders rode well through a difficult qualifying session, where the weather proved temperamental. Rutter secured seventh place and John Laverty gained 15th place on the grid. In the blustery, wet and sunny conditions it was difficult to get a consistent set of laps on the Ducati's and find the ideal set up for the two races around the technical 2.7-mile track. Rutter got boxed into the first corner during the first race and was lying in tenth place after the first lap. Dicing in the early stages with Billy McConnell, Rutter was soon sitting in a lonely eighth place at half distance, Karl Harris crashed out at Shell corner and Cal Crutchlow crashed at Britten's but re-joined. Sitting in sixth position Rutter began to suffer electrical problems with his Ducati and had to fight hard to bring the NW200 Ducati home in seventh place. Rutter gained a much better start in race two and held his qualifying place after the opening lap but once again suffered mid-way through the race with technical problems and fell back to 11th. A disappointed Rutter commented "It's a shame to have got the results I did today as I was on a real high after my win at Mallory the other week. Once again we struggled with the traction control, which we turned off for the second race, this made the bike a little quicker and also feel better in some parts around the track but on the flip side it also effected me in other places. We are going to look again at the problems and hopefully find a solution for Knockhill in a couple of week's time. I was pretty happy with my result in the first race but not the second and I want to be back near the front of the pack for the remainder of the season. I'm confident we'll get it sorted and look forward to be back dicing with the leaders at Knockhill." In contrast John Laverty on the Buildbase NW200 Ducati had a fantastic weekend and equalled his best overall position of tenth place in the first race and two extremely solid wins in the Daily Star Cup races. He now leads the Cup Championship by a massive 135 points from his nearest rival Martin Jessopp. Laverty was locked in a tight fast battle in race one with elder brother Michael, Scott Smart and James Haydon for ninth position, only being beaten to the line by his brother. John Laverty rode an extremely consistent race and was locked in a fraught dice on his Superstock machine against some of factory built machinery. Race two proved just as tough for the young Irishman and he finished fractionally ahead of Gary Mason to take another cup win, making his win tally to eight wins from 14 starts. A content Laverty commented "I'm really pleased with the results today, the Buildbase NW200 boys have worked really hard and it's nice to take the double win again in the Cup plus two good overall results. I felt happy all weekend with everything and the results just made it all worthwhile. It's sometimes tricky still being on a stock bike as the factory bikes obviously have the slight edge with speed and handling but the old girl did me proud today and I hope I'll be able to carry on with this form at Knockhill." -- R1 Cup Report -- Jon Kirkham took full honours to extend his championship lead at the end of a thrilling 12-lap Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup race at Oulton Park today (20 July). Lining up on pole position for the fifth time this season, Kirkham looked in confident mood sat astride the new blue liveried Metzeler Championship leader’s YZF-R1. As the lights went out, Kirkham took the holeshot with Ben Wilson in hot pursuit. Once again, Wilson would use all of his aggressive and determined riding style as he attempted to power the Yamaha closer to race leader Kirkham, but as the opening laps counted down and the gap pulled away, it was all that Wilson could do to stay with the hot pace that Kirkham had set. With Kirkham and Wilson focused on the track ahead an exciting dice for the final podium position unfolded that would only be decided as the chequred flag dropped. Richard Cooper led a five bike battle covered by less than a second. However, it looked as is the Co-ordit Racing Snetterton race winner was holding up the following riders and it wasn’t long before Nutt and Mason swept past. Oulton Park 1 race winner, Sam Warren slipped under Jack Kennedy and Richard Cooper in one deft move at Shell Oils for fifth on lap 7, only to lose the front end of the Mission Racing machine in dramatic fashion at Island Bend the following lap. Gary Mason was the man on the move, in his mind already standing on the podium for the first time this season, as he focussed on reining in Adrian Coates’ Stoneyford Conrete Yamaha. Just 0.2s separated the two combatants as they entered the final lap. With Coates’ concentration on Wilson for second, Mason made his move late on the brakes into Hizzy’s Chicane. Wilson was now in reach and Mason launched his Yamaha full-chat up Clay Hill and through Druids looking for the text-book pass at Lodge. However, Wilson’s pure determination kept his nose in front to gain his fifth podium of the season by 0.2s. Jon Kirkham took his fifth chequered flag of the season, a comfortable 1.9s of empty tarmac behind the 23-year old. A perfect start to the Autumn Cup and an overall extension to his Championship lead of 37 points. Round 8 sees the series move north of the border to Knockhill in Scotland (8-10 August). Jon Kirkham: "I got a good start and put in some fast laps like I had in qualifying. There were yellow flags out for a few crashes and it pulled my pace back a bit. I enjoyed the race and knew that they were catching towards the end. It's the first win for the second half of the season and the 'Autumn Cup', so a good place to be for this point of the Cup." Ben Wilson: "Jon got away from me early on and I pushed really hard to stay with him, he just had the pace on me though. I'm happy with second, though it's becoming a pattern and I'd love to break it with the win. I'd like to dedicate the race to the late Ollie Bridewell, my ex team-mate, this one's for you mate." Gary Mason: "It's frustrating to jump off a Superbike onto an R1 as the bikes are so different. To be honest I just need to get a bit more confidence at the beginning of the race and pull my finger out. I'm always strong towards the end of the race. I'm happy with that, all credit to Jon he rode hard from the start, I need to get away with him and who knows?" Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "Again we are graced with some great racing from the lads out there. Kirkham was dominant again but the guys behind were definitely catching. Ben put in a strong ride and Gary came good at the end for a well deserved podium finish. We were lucky that the weather stayed with us and gave the audience some thrilling action to watch right the way through the positions." Race Result 1. Kirkham, 2. B.Wilson, 3. Mason, 4. Coates, 5. J.Kennedy, 6. Cooper, 7. S.Wilson, 8. Shoesmith, 9. Bishop, 10. Neeves Championship Standings 1. Kirkham - 144, 2. B.Wilson - 107, 3. Warren - 92, 4. Mason - 85, 5. J.Kennedy - 75 |
