Motourage

Michael Laverty scored his first BSB win of the season in race 2 at Oulton Park

Relentless by TAS Suzuki posted its debut victory in the British Superbike Championship Premier Class with Michael Laverty at the Oulton Park third round.

Laverty’s second-race demolition of the field in the British Superbike class demonstrated the progress Moneymore-based TAS Racing has been making with their GSX-R1000 Superbike already this season. And, after being virtually written off in the pre-season build up, both Laverty and Alastair Seeley now sit proudly in the top five in the current standings.

In race one it was Seeley who looked odds-on for his second BSB podium of the year, but a missed gear on the final lap allowed John Laverty to steal his thunder, which left the Carrickfergus man to narrowly pip his teammate to the line for fourth.

In race two, while Laverty was soloing to a superb victory, Seeley fought his way through from mid-pack to take 10 valuable points in sixth place.

Michael Laverty:
“That was a really nice feeling today. I just hope it goes a long way to being forgiven for my crash at Thruxton! It’s really strange because it’s probably the easiest I’ve had to ride to win a race, never mind so convincingly. It’s not often you get the perfect bike, but the boys gave me one today for that win. We still have a bit to go with the dry set-up on our GSX-R1000 Superbike, but we are getting closer every weekend and I’m confident we can be up at the front in the dry very soon – possibly as soon as Cadwell Park. The boys deserve this bit of success for all their hard work.”

Alastair Seeley:
“I am a bit frustrated about not getting on the podium in race one, but there’s no point in moaning about it. I missed a gear and fought back to fourth so we have to be pleased with that after a tough weekend at the previous round. In race two, I spun up going off the line and ended up bashing bars and fairings mid-pack. I got my head down and just tried to be smooth on the throttle and when I got onto the back of Josh Brookes he was all over the place. His tire was obviously in worse condition than mine at that stage, so to get past for sixth was a good result in difficult conditions. I’m learning all the time about this Superbike and I’ve stayed fit and healthy with the North West 200 just over a week away – so that’s a big positive.”

Philip Neill – BSB Team Principal:
“After all the hard work our team has put in, that was a pretty emotional day for me and I have to say, Michael’s win was probably one of the best rides I’ve ever seen – he really destroyed the field and was even comfortable putting in consistent quickest laps. It’s a great reward and a boost of confidence for the whole team and proves just how great a bike the current GSX-R1000 really is. I must obviously give credit to Michael, who I have always believed in, and this will be a real confidence booster for him.

“Alastair may be disappointed at missing out on a race-one podium, but the ‘Wee Man’ just continues to blow us away with his talent, enthusiasm and self-belief. Let’s not forget it’s only his second time out at Oulton on a Superbike and his comeback from mid-pack to sixth was phenomenal in race two: It also shows where he has come from when he’s disappointed not to be on the podium every weekend as a rookie.

“We really do have two genuine contenders this year, who are as good as anyone in the Championship, and we are delighted to have helped Suzuki retain top-spot in the Manufacturer Standings; it’s always good to do your bit.

“I must give a special mention to the boys in the garage who work a very tight schedule with our BSB and road racing commitments, so fair play to Leigh, Arnie and Davy Kertesz as they found an enviable wet weather set-up for our riders today. We’re not that far away in dry conditions either and this sets us up well for next week’s North West 200.”

BSB Race 1 Results:
1. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda)
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.058s
3. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +10.399s
4. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.843s
5. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.849s
6. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +11.073s
7. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +23.428s
8. Chris Walker (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +27.478s
9. Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) +35.997s
10. Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +36.709s

BSB Race 2 Results:
1. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS)
2. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +6.00s
3. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +11.333s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +16.029s
5. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +23.590s
6. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +27.258s
7. Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +30.287s
8. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +30.283s
9. Hudson Kennaugh (MAR Kawasaki) +32.463s
10. Adam Jenkinson (Buildbase Kawasaki) +54.950s

Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing is well prepared and looking forward to this weekend’s Bank Holiday British Superbike Championship meeting at Oulton Park – always a favorite with the Irish riders. After a tough weekend at Thruxton just two weeks ago, both riders, Alastair Seeley and Michael Laverty, will be looking to increase their points tally at the Cheshire circuit. Seeley currently sits just inside the magical top six in fifth, with Laverty in tenth and hungry for a debut podium this season on his Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike.

Philip Neill – BSB Team Principal
“We’ve worked hard in between rounds after a tough weekend at Thruxton, including a day’s testing at Kirkistown to let the boys try out different chassis settings. It gave them both an insight to what’s available with different set-ups, so it was a productive day and they both did around 80 laps of our local circuit. We are now ready for Oulton Park and are confident with both our wet and dry options.”

Michael Laverty is still not 100% after a topple at Thruxton

Michael Laverty
“I’m now two rounds into the championship, but it hasn’t quite gone according to plan so far. We have the pace to be running at the front on the GSX–R1000 Superbike, although I have yet to show my true potential.  At a recent test at Kirkistown I got to try a lot of chassis variations and learnt even more about my GSX–R. I have found an answer for one small area where I was weak, so it was a productive day for me. I’ve also been to see my Osteopath to get myself prepared for this weekend, as I needed a few tweaks after bouncing across the curbs at Thruxton. To be fair I got off quite lightly compared to a few others who hit them; my heel is still a little bruised and tender to walk on but otherwise I’m fine, so roll on Oulton Park.”

Alastair Seeley comes to Oulton Park this weekend fifth in BSB Championship points

Alastair Seeley
“Unfortunately my Thruxton results weren’t as great as I expected but I salvaged some points out of the weekend and I’m fifth in the championship so that’s a positive. I don’t think we’ll have the same issues again this season as there is no other circuit in BSB that has the kind of characteristics that Thruxton does – spinning the rear up in four and fifth gear.  I’ve been running, cycling and doing a bit of motocrossing on my new RMZ250 Suzuki to keep me in tip-top shape coming into this weekend. I also attended the final NW200 press conference at Stormont Buildings in Belfast where my GSX-R1000 superbike was on display, and it created plenty of interest with loads of pictures in the local press. Oulton this weekend is a fun track, and throws a bit of everything at us. I hope to be at the sharp end once again and bagging some solid points come race day.”

Relentless by TAS Suzuki will take the positives from a tough weekend at Thruxton during the second round of the 2010 British Superbike Championship today after overcoming practice crashes by both team riders.

Michael Laverty – 10th & 6th – and Alastair Seeley – 12th & 9th – battled courageously after qualifying crashes and a number of minor problems during both races, to score solid points that keeps them both in the top-10 and at the sharp-end in the Championship table as Seeley currently slots into fifth and Laverty 10th.

Relentless Suzuki's Alastair Seeley spent the weekend trying to find the correct setup and only managed 12th and 9th-place finishes

Laverty’s 10th place in race one, from row five on the grid, whilst riding around a serious rear tire problem, was a terrific performance, but his second race top-six finish could so easily have been a debut podium – losing out by 0.6sec at the checkered flag, this time from the third row of the grid.

Seeley took a gamble with set-up in race one and the series rookie battled to 12th place. For the second outing he reverted to his qualifying set-up, and although he found Thruxton a tough proposition on his full Superbike debut, ninth place keeps him well in the Championship hunt.

Michael Laverty:
“After the tire problem in race one, 10th place was a decent result considering the circumstances. Race two was much better, although I took a bit long to pass Alastair and my brother John, but my pace over the last 10 laps was the same as the leaders. With a good starting position today I could have challenged for the win, but again I can take a lot of positives from race day. We have the pace but just not the luck yet. We will regroup before Oulton with a test planned and come back even stronger. I would like to thank the whole team for their efforts this weekend; they have had to work so hard and endure a lot of setbacks.”

Alastair Seeley:
“I tried a different set-up for the first race but it didn’t work for me, so we reverted back to the old set-up for race two. It all hooked up a lot better and instead of the tire going off at half distance, we were right on the money until it deteriorated about four laps from the end. The track control works overtime around here and it’s a tough circuit to perfect your set-up on. At least we got more points in the bag and remain top-five in the Championship. Thanks to all the boys in the team as it’s been a tough weekend with all the travel problems and burning the midnight oil fixing bikes.”

Philip Neill – BSB Team Principal:
“It’s been a tough weekend for the whole team for a number of reasons, but we will take the positives from Thruxton. We haven’t come away with the results we had hoped for after a strong start on Friday, where the both boys posted top-three times, but we scored solid points today.
Both riders started the weekend with a lot of confidence but their crashes during practice set them back a bit and we also had our fair share of little problems – not least an all-night session for the boys to rebuild Michael’s bike after it’s excursion over the infamous Thruxton kerbs. With flights cancelled, Alastair also had a long drive to the circuit from Northern Ireland at the last minute, which isn’t ideal preparation, but something that couldn’t be avoided.
Michael needs a lot of credit for his efforts this weekend: He rode around a chatter problem in race one due to an out-of-balance tire, which in turn affected his grid position for race two. From the halfway point on in the second outing he showed us just why he is regarded as one of the most talented riders in the Championship, narrowly missing out on the podium.
Alastair had a Baptism of Fire on his first Superbike ride here, but it is a daunting circuit for even the most experienced riders and bike set-up is very specific. Maybe we fell into the trap of trying to find the perfect set-up but we have learned from it. I’m glad Thruxton is over and we can now focus on Oulton Park in two weeks’ time.”

Race 1:
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki)
2. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +0.818s
3. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +1.185s
4. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +1.510s
5. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +5.670s
6. Martin Jessopp (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +7.490s
7. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +9.154s
8. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +9.300s
9. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +9.493s
10. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +17.014s
12.  Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS)

Race 2 Results:
1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda)
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.391s
3. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +17.112s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +7.146s
5. Martin Jessopp (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +7.263s
6. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +7.789s
7. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +8.241s
8. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +10.378s
9. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +12.218s
10. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +12.240s

Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing is pleased to announce its rider line-up for the 2010 British Superbike Championship after Team Manager Philip Neill secured the signatures of reigning British Superstock Champion Alastair Seeley and fellow Northern Ireland rider Michael Laverty earlier this week.

Laverty needs little introduction, having secured the 2007 British Supersport title in Relentless Suzuki colors before spearheading the team’s maiden effort in the British Superbike Championship in 2008.

Seeley was something of a phenomenon during 2009, taking the British Superstock title with nine wins from nine starts on his GSX-R1000 Suzuki, before dipping his toe in the British Superbike pond as an end of season bonus.

Michael Laverty & Alastair Seeley

Both men will ride factory supported Relentless Suzuki Superbike machines with iconic Suzuki numbers – Seeley will run number 34 and Laverty number 7 for the 2010 season – and team manager Philip Neill is confident of immediate success.

Philip Neill:
“Not many teams can boast the services of two British champions, which we have secured in Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley.  It’s fair to say our plans for this season have taken a little longer than normal to finalise as we did our best to consider the requirements of our sponsors.

“With this in mind, 2010 carries increased expectations from TAS Racing and its riders, but I am more than confident, we have chosen the correct line up in order to meet these requirements.

“As a team we will enter our third term in British Superbike, and having already secured both the British Supersport and Superstock Championships, we are now ready to challenge the front running teams for the Superbike title. We fully believe the Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 is the correct tool for the job and with one year’s development behind us already, we will hit the ground running when our testing program begins in Spain during early March.”

Read more…