British Superbike Championship 2005 - Round 13 - Brands Hatch

The stakes are high as Gregorio Lavilla and Ryuichi Kiyonari power into the double race finale to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship but there were contrasting fortunes for them in free practice at the demanding Brands Hatch grand prix circuit.

Lavilla, riding the Airwaves Ducati, was consistently on the pace, ending the day second best only to his team-mate, and then by less than a tenth of a second, while hiws HM Plant Honda rival was feeling battered and bruised after high-siding spectacularly at Clearways during the morning session.

The Japanese rider, who starts the races with a 13 points deficit on Lavilla, was soon back on track again, but had to settle for eighth place on the leaderboard, almost a full second down on his title rival.

In the confidence stakes, Lavilla is well ahead. “I know the circuit well and enjoy riding it – the bike is performing well, although there is still a little work to do to have it at 100%. I am in a strong position and will be trying very hard to take the title now.”

If he succeeds, it will be the third time that the GSE Team, running this time around under the Airwaves banner, have won the British crown, and for Lavilla it will be remarkable in that he began the campaign only as a ‘stand-in’ rider for the team’s then injured rider James Haydon.

Lavilla impressed so much in that role that he kept the ride for the rest of the campaign, repaying their faith in him handsomely. “These things happen – I am very happy, you never know what is going to happen next in racing.”

He has still to confirm his future, but Haslam is committed to the team for next season when they will again be racing in Britain, while Kiyonari knows that he has been retained by Honda to race in the championship in 2006.

“I want to win the title – very important for me,” said Kiyonari, who knows that the destiny of the crown is not within his control – he can only go out and win both races, and hope that his Honda team-mates Michael Rutter, third in the rankings, and Karl Harris can pack the placings between him and Lavilla.

It should make for interesting action, with Rutter pledging to help his team-mate, and also to promote his own interests in securing a top ride for next season – he was third fastest on the leaderboard, ahead of Glen Richards, the Hawk Kawasaki rider who took a tumble, without injury towards the end of the session.

Gary Mason, riding the Stobart Honda, set fifth best time, ahead of Honda’s Karl Harris and Dean Thomas riding Hawk Kawasaki, with Kiyonari, lapping in a best 1m 27.727 eighth. James Hayden, Rizla Suzuki, and Jeremy McWilliams, riding the Stobart Honda for the first time since the Mondello Park round back in May, completing the top ten.

John Reynolds, the reigning champion, will miss the final action – he crashed heavily at Graham Hill on only his second lap, sustaining multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung and will be hospitalised over the weekend.

Rizla Suzuki Report

IZLA SUZUKI’S John Reynolds crashed out of the 13th and final round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch GP circuit today and will not be racing again this weekend - he is replaced for the Brands Hatch event by Suzuki’s Privateer Cup Champion James Buckingham.

Reigning Champion JR was on his third lap of the 2.6-mile circuit in morning practice when he crashed into the tyre wall between Druids and Graham Hill Bend.

Following a thorough examination at the circuit medical centre, he was transferred to Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford where Dr Krishan Bhanot confirmed he had broken ribs on his right side, punctured his right lung and broken his left collarbone. He is currently undergoing a series of comprehensive scans to search for any further injuries. Medical staff at the hospital are pleased with his stable condition.

Rizla Suzuki’s James Haydon was third fastest in the opening practice session and ended the day ninth overall after testing tyres and suspension parts on his GSX-R1000. James Buckingham crashed out of this afternoon’s practice session unhurt without posting a competitive lap time. Ducati’s Leon Haslam was fastest today.

Superbike racing starts at 1315 on Sunday, October 9th, at the 2.6-mile long Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports and then on Channel 4 one week later as a highlights package.

JR: “I don’t know what happened to cause my crash today, but I do know I didn’t want to finish my season this way. I’m in considerable pain from my broken ribs but the medical staff have been fantastic and I am receiving the best care possible, for which I am very grateful.”

James Buckingham: “I wish that this opportunity to race for Rizla Suzuki had not come about in this manner and JR was still able to race this weekend.”

James Haydon: “My thoughts are with JR right now and I hope he gets well soon.

“This afternoon we tested parts on my Rizla Suzuki and I am sure we can run fast lap times consistently on race rubber. Now it’s down to tomorrow and doing my best to get a good qualification and grid position for the races on Sunday.”

Robert Wicks - “I accompanied JR to hospital and I am pleased to say he is in good spirits despite his heavy crash. He’s bitterly disappointed to have finished his season like this, but in true JR style, he is already looking ahead and planning his recovery down to the smallest details with his doctors.

“JR’s been under expert care throughout, both at the circuit and at the hospital. The doctors are pleased at his stable condition. Today’s events have been a shock to the whole team and all our thoughts are with JR. James Buckingham has stepped onto JR’s Rizla Suzuki temporarily for this round and we look forward to seeing what he can achieve.”