BSB 2012 – Round Eight – Cadwell Park
The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship returns to Cadwell Park this August Bank Holiday weekend (25/26/27) for one of the biggest events on the calendar as the pressure mounts on the leading contenders in their quest for title glory.
Defending champion Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha), Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) and the spectacular high-flying mountaineer Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) have guaranteed their places in the title-deciding end of season Showdown but several of their rivals are lining up to keep their own title aspirations alive.
The Louth-based Samsung Honda team are aiming to consolidate their position in the title fight with Michael Laverty; he missed out on the podium last time out at Brands Hatch but following two positives tests is determined to ring in a double win to add to his tally following victories at Knockhill and Snetterton.
Laverty said: “Cadwell Park is the team’s home race so it would be great to pull off a top result; we did much of our pre-season testing there so should be a good event for us. I am ready to close the gap in the standings and I think we can do it as the Samsung Honda works well there. I may not have qualified mathematically yet for the Showdown, but in my eyes we definitely should so it is about getting the best results possible to secure that. I need to pull in the leading three riders this weekend so when we reach the first round of the Showdown we are in the best possible position.”
Other riders desperate to secure a top six slot in the Showdown include 2012 race winners Ian Lowry and Chris Walker, World Superbike legend Noriyuki Haga and Tommy Bridewell, who’s enjoying a sensational season on the Supersonic BMW. They will all be giving it everything this Bank Holiday weekend for wins and podium finishes in front of a huge Cadwell Park crowd.
The legendary ‘Party in the Park’ event features two MCE British Superbike Championship races and a further eleven support races.
British Superbike Championship
1:Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 266
2:Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 255
3:Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 246
4:Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 172
5:Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) 124
6:Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) 113
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship
1 Kennedy 243.5pts
2 Richards 234
3 McConnell 190
4 Wilson 175
5 Warren 129
6 Mossey 119
Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Championship
1 Farmer 131pts
2 O’Halloran 130
3 Cox 100
4 Storrar 98
5 Brogan 90
= Johnson 90
12 Medcalf 40
Metzeler National Superstock 600cc Championship (12 laps)
1 Burke 145pts
2 Rose 130
3 Dixon 110
4 Jackson 104
5 Lodge 82
6 Blackshaw 72
– Samsung Honda Preview
The Samsung Honda team are preparing for the eighth round of the British Superbike Championship at their home event at Cadwell Park this August Bank Holiday weekend.
During the calendar break since the previous round the team has completed two positive test sessions at Croft and Donington Park, with the team now ready to carry that momentum to Cadwell Park this weekend. Laverty is on the cusp of securing his position in the Showdown and Kirkham determined to return to action with a strong showing.
In Superstock 1000, Jason O’Halloran and Gary Johnson are eager for a determined performance at the team’s home round; the Australian is capable of snatching the lead in the standings with a win at the circuit whilst Johnson is aiming for his best result of the season.
Michael Laverty: “Cadwell Park is the home race for the team so it would be great to pull off a top result there. We had a good run out at both tests during the gap since the Brands Hatch event and we were able to work through lots of parts and did everything meticulously so we know where we are for the remainder of the season. We did improve our base setting and I think Cadwell Park should be a good track for us as we did much of our pre-season testing there. I am ready to close that gap in the standings and I think we can do it as the Samsung Honda works well around Cadwell Park. I just need to have a performance like we did at Snetterton and Knockhill. I may not mathematically have qualified yet for a place in the Showdown but in my eyes we should definitely be there and so this weekend is about getting the best results possible to secure that spot and with twelve Podium Credits still available we need to score as many of them as possible.”
Jon Kirkham: “It feels like it has been a long break since Brands Hatch but we have been lucky to have had tests at Croft and Donington Park to get some laps on the Samsung Honda before this round at Cadwell Park. That has kept us all up to speed and we did some good testing there earlier in the season and the lap times then on paper were a good starting point for us. Cadwell Park was the circuit where I had a good round last season and hopefully we can do the same at this round to get myself back up where we need to be. I am looking just one race at a time at the moment and the aim is to end the season strongly for Samsung Honda.”
Jason O’Halloran: “Cadwell Park is the one I consider my home round too as well as the teams so I have been really looking forward to it all year. I have actually only raced at Cadwell Park once and that was in 2010 but we did some pre-season testing there and had a good feeling with the Samsung Honda at the track. We had a good result at Brands Hatch and were able to close the gap in the championship and now are just one point off the lead so the plan is to have an even better round at Cadwell Park and come away with the championship lead.”
Gary Johnson: “It feels like a long time since I have raced at Cadwell Park but at the same time we did have a test there pre-season so I feel ready to get cracking. The team have gathered some more data from there when I have been away on other duties so I am hoping that we can use that to come back stronger as it is my home round too and I want to have a good result this weekend.”
Havier Beltran, Team Manager: “Cadwell Park is traditionally one of the biggest rounds of the year for the team as it is our home round and we always get fantastic support. The team have utilised the break since Brands Hatch to complete two positive tests and our aim is obviously to come out stronger this weekend. Michael is very close to securing his position in the Showdown so he is focused on podium finishes and Jon is hoping that this weekend he can return to the form that we saw from him at the start of the season. In the Superstock class Jason’s performance at the previous round means he can potential take the lead in the standings with a good result at Cadwell Park and Gary is constantly improving so we expect to see more of him this weekend.”
