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Easton victorious ahead of Camier in four way thriller |
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Easton victorious ahead of Camier in four way thriller |
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-- Easton victorious ahead of Camier in four way thriller Stuart Easton snatched last lap victory in a four way thriller in the opening race of the final round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli at Oulton Park. It triggered a double celebration for the Flying Scot who earlier in the day had headed off the challenge of the newly crowned champion Leon Camier in the duel for pole start, and then in a hard-fought race, the Hydrex Honda again enjoyed the better of his Airwaves Yamaha rival. Easton is now well placed to challenge for the runner-up spot in the standings, going into Sunday afternoon’s two races just 39 points down on James Ellison, with 50 points to play for. The Saturday afternoon race was one of the best of the season, with the action, for real, being decided over a dozen laps of the Cheshire circuit after the initial start was red-flagged. Karl Harris crashed heavily at Island, suffering concussion and a sore back, but prior to that Graeme Gowland had spectacularly tipped off with his bike somersaulting into the lake. Racing resumed with Easton making a swift get-away but Ellison, riding Airwaves Yamaha was hounding him, and taking the lead at Hizzy’s – there was little in it, while behind them Tommy Hill, Simon Andrews and Camier were locked in a shoot-out for third. Ellison held the advantage into the fifth lap before Easton went through with Camier snatching second from his team-mate, leaving Ellison to deal with the determined Hill. Easton was riding hard to hold off Camier, but the champion found a way through at Lodge on the tenth lap prompting a dramatic, and effective fight-back. Easton traded places twice on the penultimate lap but it seemed Camier had done enough. The Hydrex Honda rider had other ideas, and with a move that his mentor, the late former champion Steve Hislop would have been proud of, Easton nosed inside at Hizzy’s chicane, grabbing the lead, and his second victory, taking the flag by 0.208secs. “That was a proper victory, beating Leon fair and square, but it was hard work, very difficult,” said Easton, adding “the bike is getting better and better and it would be good to take Sunday’s two race wins.” Camier had no complaints: “That was unbelievable, a great race. Stuart deserved his win.” Hill took third for the Hydrex team, ahead of Ellison with Sylvain Guintoli taking fifth from Andrews on the final lap. Julien da Cost ran just ahead of Ian Lowry, Chris Walker and tenth placed John Laverty while Gary Mason headed the Mirror.co.uk Cup finishers, just clear of Peter Hickman, Tommy Bridewell, Tom Tunstall and Martin Jessopp. Top ten finishers – MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli Race one – 12 laps Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda) 19m 21.434secs Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) +0.208s Tommy Hill (Hydrex Honda) +0.222s James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) +0.331s Sylvain Guintoli (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +13.129s Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +13.129s Julien Da Costa (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +13.599s Ian Lowry (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +13.837s Chris Walker (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha) +14.771s John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +14.815s |
