BSB 2018 – Round Ten – Oulton Park

Superbike Qualifying

Images by Dave Yeomans

RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon will start from pole position for Sunday’s opening race of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown at Oulton Park after setting the fastest ever lap of the Cheshire circuit, whilst his title rival Leon Haslam will start from the back of the grid.

The afternoon was filled with drama for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team as standings leader Haslam suffered a terminal technical problem which forced him out of action and to push the bike back to pitlane and sit out of the remainder of the session, meaning he will start last and 24th on the grid for race one.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Superbike Haslam Push — Leon Haslam suffered technical problems – Image by BSB

Then in the Q2 session it was fellow Showdown contender Peter Hickman who missed the cut for the final pole position shootout and the Smiths Racing BMW rider will start 12th on the grid in race one.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Superbike Glenn Irwin ImageDyeomans — Glenn Irwin

The final Q3 stage got underway with Dixon setting the benchmark to set the first lap time in the 1m:33s lap time this weekend, but the session was red flagged when Danny Buchan crashed out at Island, and the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider was able to walk away. He will start ninth on the grid for tomorrow’s opening race.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Superbike Jake Dixon ImageDyeomans — Jake Dixon

The session restarted and Dixon wasn’t done; he upped the pace again to set his fastest ever lap of Oulton Park to hold off the opposition and Josh Brookes looked set to join him on the front row.

However a flurry of last lap dashes put Tommy Bridewell on the front row for the first time with Moto Rapido Ducati with Luke Mossey completing the top three on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Superbike Brookes ImageDyeomans — Josh Brookes

Brookes was nudged back onto row two ahead of Showdown rival Glenn Irwin and Richard Cooper who led the Buildbase Suzuki charge to start sixth on the grid ahead of team-mate Bradley Ray and Tarran Mackenzie.

Jason O’Halloran qualified 11th just behind Andrew Irwin but ahead of Peter Hickman.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Superbike Ohalloran ImageDyeomans — Jason O’Halloran

BSB 2018, Oulton Park, Datatag Qualifying

Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) 1m:33.758s
Tommy Bridewell (Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.399s
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.450s
Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +0.520s
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.657s
Richard Cooper (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.812s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.862s
Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +1.359s
Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +2.111s

Jake Dixon

“To be fair I have always felt good around Oulton Park and the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki works well here. I said to the boys I felt good, so I got myself in some clear space and then the times just seemed to come. I pushed in the area which was slightly damp, but could see it was dry enough to have a go and I was so happy with that.

“We went out the second time and the my crew chief Glen said go and ride around and see what everyone else is doing and everyone went out and I just hung off the back again. I didn’t try to start with and then I did the fast lap, but I can’t thank the team enough as they put it all together I just pull the throttle back!

“It is tomorrow that counts so hopefully we can have two good races. I am not thinking about Leon to be honest; it is his to lose and I am just focusing on what I need to do.”

BSB STK1000

BSB Showdown Oulton Park STK Billy McConnell ImageDyeomans — Billy McConnell extended his series lead in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship with victory in the opening race at Oulton Park.

Launching off pole position, the Australian rider led from the front however the Buildbase Suzuki rider did not have any easy time as he was pushed throughout the 14 lap race.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park STK Ben Godfrey ImageDyeomans — STK1000 – Oulton Park

Alex Olsen was challenging McConnell for much of the race, however a fast charging Keith Farmer was able to climb from fifth place on lap one to second by the flag, ahead of Olsen.

Title contender Joe Collier had a tough race, running on at the chicane on the opening lap he slipped back outside the points but was steadily able to fight back through the field to take seventh.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park STK Fraser Rogers ImageDyeomans — BSB 2018 – Oulton Park – Superstock 1000 Race One – Fraser Rogers

Brayden Elliott finished 34th on his privateer No Bull Suzuki.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park STK Brayden Elliott ImageDyeomans — BSB 2018 – Oulton Park – Superstock 1000 Race One – Brayden Elliott

BSB 2018 – Oulton Park – Superstock 1000 Race One

Billy McConnell – Suzuki
Keith Farmer – BMW +0.431
Alex Olsen – BMW +0.677
Taylor Mackenzie – BMW +1.363
Josh Elliott – Suzuki +6.159
34. Bryaden Elliott – Suzuki +74.054s

Superstock 1000 Championship Points

Billy McConnell 239
Keith Farmer 233.5
Joe Collier 216.5
Josh Elliott 178.5
Alex Olsen 166

BSB Supersport

Ben Currie grabbed the holeshot on his Gearlink Kawasaki, however Seeley slipped through on the start on lap three before Kennedy took his turn at the front just a few laps later.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Supersport Start ImageDyeomans — BSB 2018 – Oulton Park – Supersport Sprint Race

Trading places throughout the race, Seeley and Kennedy were able to pull a small gap to Currie over the final third of the race leaving a last lap showdown between the two.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Supersport Seeley Kennedy ImageDyeomans — BSB 2018 – Oulton Park – Supersport Sprint Race

A strong move from Kennedy on the run to the final corner gave him the lead, however Seeley was able to out brake him into Lodge to claim his second win of the season.

BSB Showdown Oulton Park Supersport ImageDyeomans — BSB 2018 – Oulton Park – Supersport Sprint Race

James Rispoli took fourth place, with Bradley Jones fifth. Kennedy now extends his lead over Currie to 35 points with five races remaining this season.