Motourage

Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill won the only race at the seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park yesterday after the second race was postponed due to the treacherous weather conditions

In the race, Hill got off to a flying start from second on the grid as he settled into third place and was instantly putting the pressure on title rivals Shane Byrne and John Hopkins ahead of him. On the fifth lap, Hill stole third place, but as Hopkins crashed out of the lead that elevated Hill to second place. He was then able to put a move on Byrne to take the lead, and then following a short Safety Car intervention, he edged out an advantage to take his first win at the Cheshire track. Michael Laverty meanwhile was running down the order on the opening lap after a problem with his launch control at the start, but he worked his way up to finish some solid points in sixth place on the second Swan Yamaha.

The second race of the day has been rescheduled to the Cadwell Park August Bank Holiday round.

Tommy Hill, Swan Yamaha, 1st:
“I just pushed on in the race; it was never going to be easy but it feels great to have the Swan Yamaha back on the top step of the podium. The conditions weren’t the best with the rain but I just had to keep my concentration and just make sure I didn’t crash. I think the team probably wanted me to slow down but I just didn’t want to lose that win. I knew I could get into a good rhythm and I was taking a few risks to stay ahead of the others, especially after the safety car but it was enough to break them.”

Michael Laverty, Swan Yamaha, 6th:
“The race was disappointing for me, especially to finish sixth when we knew we had potential to be on the podium. I had a bad start as I had a problem with my launch control off the line and it meant I dropped outside the top ten and I had to work my way back up. When the safety car came out I lost temperature in my rear tire and then it took a few laps to regain it which meant I lost ground on the others and had to settle for sixth. We have been fast all weekend but sixth means we scored points for the championship and we remained inside the top six in the standings which was the priority.”

Samsung Crescent Racing’s John Hopkins slid out of the opening race at today’s rain-lashed British Superbike Championship round at Oulton Park in Cheshire while leading and on course for a win. Although uninjured, he was unable to continue; and with high winds and rain battering the circuit, the meeting was abandoned before the second race. Hopkins’ teammate Jon Kirkham rode well to secure a ninth-placed finish and sufficient points to lift him into seventh in the BSB Championship Standings.

After promising much, race day at the seventh round of the 2011 BSB Championship was hit by strong winds and rain. The only BSB race was run in wet conditions but, as he promised, Hopkins started well; leaping off pole position to take the holeshot. Hopkins was building a lead when he was unlucky enough to crash at Lodge Corner on the seventh lap.

Kirkham had started that race from 13th, and, after finishing lap one in 14th, fought his way back to ninth to score some solid Championship-bolstering points.

The meeting was abandoned after the race stewards and team managers met to discuss the safety implications of continuing the meeting in such inclement conditions. All agreed, the meeting had to abandoned and the lost races will now be re-scheduled as part of the August Bank Holiday meeting at Cadwell Park.

John Hopkins:
“Going into that first race, I was feeling confident. I got off to a decent start and I gave it a lap-or-two to find my feet, during which time Shane Byrne came past. My objective then was to make a clean pass on Byrne and to build a lead. I wanted to make a break and avoid any havoc that might come later in the race.

“I was doing nothing adventurous when I slid off at Lodge Corner. Our data-logging showed I was 3km/h slower than my previous entry speed and I was in fact braking lighter, but the front just went away. Sometimes in racing that’s just the way it goes.

“My only regret is that we didn’t have that second race so I could make amends. But I agree with the decision to abandon. I’ve still plenty of positives to take away from the weekend and I’m very happy with how my bike and the team are performing. We’re still in a very strong position in this championship.”

Jon Kirkham:
“The conditions today were treacherous and I just wanted to finish that first race. There wasn’t much to it other than to do my best. I’d have liked to have ridden a second race as well as we’d worked on some settings for a better wet set-up and I was sure I could get a good result with a bit of a push – but I respect the decision.

“So, on balance; a positive ride for me today. To score some vital points and to jump back up to seventh in the standings isn’t a bad outcome.”

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“A dismal day. The rain and winds robbed us of what could have been a spectacular day’s racing. Nonetheless, Hopper showed us his true potential this weekend, topping every practice, qualifying; then leading the race. He’s shown he means business and is a serious contender for the Championship. He was extremely unlucky to crash; he was doing nothing wrong as all of our data showed us it was situation normal in the cockpit. Hopper was just victim to the variability in the conditions.

“I was happy to see JK put in a good ride, too. It may not seem so dazzling – ninth – but it was a strong, mature ride in difficult conditions and it achieved what was needed, JK’s back up to seventh in the Championship. From there, with some decent results, he can yet make the top-six in time for the Showdown.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship:
1 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
2 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.492s
3 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.669s
4 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +5.755s
5 Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +6.789s
6 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +7.128s
7 Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +13.055s
8 James Westmoreland (Motorpoint Yamaha) +18.699s
9 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +18.960s
10 Scott Smart (Moto Rapido Ducati) +21.619s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings:
1 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 214
2 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 182
3 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 165
4 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 129
5 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 121
6 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) 111
7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 91

John Hopkins made history on Monday when he became the first American to win a British Superbike Championship race. And the Samsung Crescent Racing rider’s victory at Cheshire’s Oulton Park circuit came straight after his previous inclusion as the first American to stand on a BSB podium, with second place in the first race. It was a highly successful outcome for the Suzuki GSX-R1000-mounted team in the second round of the series as Hopkins’ team mate Jon Kirkham raced to two fighting seventh place finishes.

The substantial points haul elevates Hopkins to fourth in the BSB Championship, inside the all-important top-six Title Fighters. As well, with two podiums, Hopkins netted five podium credits moving him into the joint lead of the Podium Table. Kirkham, too, moved up the points standings to eighth, significantly now just six points adrift of the Title Fighters. Inclusion in the top six Title Fighters is vitally important for Championship success as only the top six in the points standings qualify to compete for the title of British Superbike Champion over the final three rounds of the season.

John Hopkins:
“That was good, really good. It’s an awesome track, I really enjoyed riding here, but as well what great fan support. It’s been 11 years since I last won a race – that and all that’s happened to me over the past few years meant that this was one emotional win. I was definitely teary-eyed on the podium. I couldn’t be happier.

“The racing, as before at Brands Hatch, was intense; there was carnage at times. But with my motocross background I can endure that. The first race went well and I started well and went with the leaders. At the end of the race I got into second and I had to ride for the finish at that point, but that’s never a satisfying feeling.

“So I knew I wanted to win the second race. Curiously that race didn’t go so well early on and I dropped back after the start. I regrouped but still had a lot of work to do to catch the two leaders, so I was definitely the man who gained the most when one of them crashed bringing out the pace car. Even after that it came down to a three-way battle. But the bike felt so good I knew the win was possible. I took the lead with two laps to go and never looked back. A big thank you to the crew for this weekend. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Jon Kirkham:
“I was very pleased with that first race. I’d left myself with a lot of work to do after qualifying 16th yesterday. To come through, picking them off one-by-one, to take seventh felt really good. I had a second row start then for the second race, but I got a terrible start, so I had the hard work to do all over again. I got up to Michael Rutter in sixth but was struggling to find the grip to get past him, so I had to settle for seventh again. It was a great weekend, though. Being in the team camp with all that was happening with Hopper was exciting enough, but to find myself mixing it up with the likes of Shane Byrne felt fantastic. I’m really looking forward to the next round.”

Jack Valentine, team Manager:
“What a tremendous weekend. Hopper was brilliant, taking his time to learn the track and working hard with his crew to find the set-up on his bike that made these results possible. With every ride he built on the success of the last. At Brands Hatch last weekend he learned just how tough BSB can be. This weekend he applied those lessons. Oulton Park is not an easy track to master, not by any measure, so his performance this weekend shows he’s very much a contender for this Championship.

“JK has been brilliant as well. We mustn’t forget he’s virtually a rookie to BSB; he’s never before traded positions with the country’s elite riders, but he was doing that this weekend. For him to take the fastest lap in the second race as well – that’s icing on the cake. And equally important, he’s doing all this while looking so smooth, so controlled – and fast!
“We can’t be anything less than delighted with the outcome this weekend. This is a big reward for our new sponsors Samsung, for Fixi and Drive Business as well as our long standing sponsors, without whom we wouldn’t be here. Lastly, it has to be said that these results are never possible without the team also performing at their best and I want to give huge credit to both riders’ crews; they’ve truly excelled this weekend.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship:
Race 1 Results:
1 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
2 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +4.150s
3 Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +4.336s
4 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +4.646s
5 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +4.684s
6 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.105s
7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +13.582s
8 Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +16.637s
9 Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +19.108s
10 Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +19.452s

Race 2 Results:
1 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing)
2 Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.221s
3 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.521s
4 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.633s
5 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +1.026s
6 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +2.930s
7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) + 2.949s
8 Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +7.183s
9 Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +7.326s
10 Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +7.293s

Championship Standings:
1 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 70
2 Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 59
3 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 58
4 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 56
5 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 45
6 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 35
7 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors Ducati) 34
8 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 29

Kawasaki British Superbike team MSS Colchester Kawasaki achieved its best ever British Superbike finish with Stuart Easton taking second place in an action packed second round at Oulton Park. The Scot now lies second in the BSB Championship, a tremendous achievement considering the newness of the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R.

Stuart Easton followed a third place race one finish with a second place race two finish

Having secured the new 2011 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R’s first podium finish in BSB with a third place in race one, MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Stuart Easton followed it up by going even better in the second race, leading for the majority of laps before finishing second overall. Having gained the holeshot, Easton fought off a determined Josh Brookes for nine laps until the Australian suffered a huge crash at Britten’s, firing his Suzuki in the air and narrowly avoiding taking out Easton. After the resulting safety car, Easton continued to lead the race before eventually being beaten into second by Suzuki rider John Hopkins.

Teammate Gary Mason also made strong progress having discovered a base setting in morning practice for his bike that allowed him to progress through the race and recover from a poor qualifying.

Stuart Easton, 3rd in race one, 2nd in race two. Championship position: 2nd
“For us and Kawasaki that’s two podiums and I lead the second race for a long time, so I can’t complain, but I’m just a bit disappointed that the pace car came out. Having said that I count myself lucky that Josh’s bike didn’t hit me, it was like a plane crashing over my head and was so close. We’ve had a fourth, sixth, third and second so far this season which has given the team so much confidence, we are really in the mix. Croft is a good circuit for me and I’m going there second in the championship.”

Gary Mason, 9th in race one, 10th in race two. Championship position: 12th
“Yesterday was hard for us and we didn’t qualify well. Overnight we completely altered the bike for warm-up and found a setting that I absolutely loved and from that we have just got stronger and stronger. The pace was a lot faster in race two and I was trying to hang in there but unfortunately the tire went off a cliff, but we can work with that and with this new setting I’m really looking forward to Croft.”

National Superstock 1000 riders Danny Buchan and teammate Howie Mainwaring dominated the early stages of the Superstock race, swapping paintwork before Mainwaring crashed on lap 11 while in the lead. Buchan looked set to repeat his stunning Brands Hatch debut win having taken over the lead but was overtaken on the last lap by Honda rider Tristan Palmer.

Danny Buchan, 2nd. Championship position: 1st
“That was a good race and I felt really comfortable out there but Tristan has a lot of experience and that counted for him today. I knew I was faster than him through the last sector so I thought I’d have a go there on the last lap but he protected his line well and to be honest I was thinking about the championship. Last year we had a few early non-scores and it affected our championship – two podiums in two races is a tremendous start to the 2011 season.”

Howie Mainwaring, DNF. Championship position: 11th
“I’m pretty gutted, as a team we had everything covered, first and second place, before my crash. I don’t think I did anything differently to the last lap but the rear let go and came round on me. Croft isn’t usually a good circuit for me but I’m going to make it one this year.”

Nick Morgan, team owner
“What a fantastic weekend, to come away from Oulton Park second in the championship is mega. For us as a team it is simply terrific, everyone is buzzing and got the results they deserved. Gary made some huge in-roads in race two, Stuart rode so well in both races and Superstock could so easily have been a double podium. And we have been lucky, that was so close with Stuart and Josh’s bike in race two, I was gutted that the pace car came out as he had built up a decent lead, but I’m happier seeing a pace car than an ambulance.”

Samsung Crescent Racing is heading north as it gets ready for the second round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park this weekend.

BSB rookie John Hopkins hopes to improve on his 5th-place Brands Hatch result

After the mayhem of the incredibly short Indy circuit at Brands Hatch, this weekend’s prospect is altogether bigger. The 2.692-mile course, set in the estate grounds of the former Oulton Hall, combines rolling contours with breathtaking high-speed sweepers to create one of the season’s most challenging circuits. After the close-quarters cut-and-thrust of Brands Hatch, this weekend will be about high-speed mastery; and for John Hopkins and Jon Kirkham, it’ll be about putting together two high-points-scoring rides as they look to establish themselves in the crucial top-six Title Fighters league.

John Hopkins:
“Last weekend was certainly a tough introduction to BSB. I guess it was everything I expected – not for one minute I have imagined this task to be a walk in the park – but it certainly brought it back to me that I have to take this job step-by-step.

“Oulton Park is the next step; quite a big one at that. I first visited the circuit a fortnight ago for a track day on a road bike, so that I’d get an idea of where it goes and what the challenges will be. And, oh yes, there are lots of ups and downs and no question you have to know where you’re going if you’re to get a fast lap time. I’m in no doubt, this weekend I’ve a lot of work to do.”

Jon Kirkham:
“After Brands Hatch, I want to bag two good finishes from this weekend. To not make the start of second race last weekend – because of one very small part – that was massively disappointing. So coming here I’m ready to pull in a lot more points.

“I feel for Hopper having to learn this place from scratch, but for me Oulton Park has to be my favorite track; I simply love this place. And tracks like this really show the difference between the true Superbikes and the Evo bikes in the class – which I rode last year – so I’m really looking forward to what I’m sure is going to be an exciting ride.”

Jack Valentine, Team Manager:
“Coming to Oulton Park the team has a lot of work to do. The past two seasons we’ve led into this round – this year the lads are equal 10th. That’s down to the manic nature of Brands Hatch and not a little bad luck. But both Hopper and JK showed they can do the lap times, they both took away a top-five finish and proved they can run at the front. So this weekend will be about hauling in as many points as we can to get the both of them closer to, if not in, the vital Title Fighters top-six bracket. That’s an intermediate goal, of course. Both our riders can, and will, be podium contenders, we’ve 11 more rounds to run, so much can happen.”

This weekend’s BSB round gets underway with free practice on Saturday, with qualifying Sunday. Race day is May Day (Bank Holiday Monday).

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

Howie Mainwaring finished in 5th place, allowing him to hold the number-two spot in the Supersport class

A difficult weekend for MSS Colchester Kawasaki, hampered by tricky track conditions, generated a mixed bag of results at Oulton Park.

There was formation flying in Superbike Race 1 as Gary Mason and stand-in rider Chris Walker circulated in close proximity to chalk up a solid 7th and 8th positions.  Gary put a fair but firm overtake on Chris at the end of the start-finish straight and the pair then closed in on Kiyonari forcing him into a mistake.

Race 2 was delayed as all the Superbike riders were given some vital wet practice after a deluge as qualifying had been completely dry.  After logging a good first race time both Gary and Chris moved up the grid for Race 2.  However, this was to no avail for Gary after he had to take the final grid position due to a warm-up lap front end problem, which needed checking, putting him behind the pace car.  He battled through the ranks but persistent problems forced him to pull into the pit lane leaving the team with some serious investigation to be done.  Chris had a poor start but got into his groove later in the race to finish in 11th position.

In Superstock, Howie had a very eventful race which mirrored his Brands Hatch performance by battling up to 3rd and then running straight on, resulting in him having to work extra hard to come back through to a creditable 5th place.  Howie beat the lap record by half a second and remains second in the series.

Chris said, “Overall I’m pretty happy with the weekend.  I was expecting top tens and I’ve learnt a lot about the bike and the team.  It would have been so easy to have slipped up in Race 2 but I just wanted a decent finish.  If I get the call up for Cadwell I’d be proud to be part of the team and I know wed be on the pace.”

A massively disappointed Gary commented, “Everything that could’ve gone wrong in that second race did go wrong.  I was frustrated to start at the back of the grid but at the end of the day we’d still have had to pull in I think.  If we’re looking for positives, Race 1 lap times pushed us up the grid and I know that if I could just get away better I could run further up the front.”

Howie added, “Man, that was so annoying running straight on.  We were definitely on for a podium up until that point.  I’m pleased I managed to salvage fifth and we’re still second in the Championship but it could have been so much better.  Still, not a bad weekend and it was good to be back up North as I had some good support.”

MSS Colchester Kawasaki team boss Nick Morgan summed up, “That was a tough weekend.  I’m disappointed for Gary but he had a solid ride in Race 1.  Chris was very workmanlike and we’re happy with his results, given that it was his first time on the bike.  Howie again had the ride of the weekend and his never-say-die attitude means we’re still second in the Championship.  So there were some positives but ultimately we need to do better as a team.”

Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Tommy Hill took second and third-placed finishes at Oulton Park yesterday to significantly extend his lead in the British Superbike Championship after three rounds, as team-mate Yukio Kagayama was an unfortunate victim of a first-race accident that left him unable to take part in race two.

For Hill, it was another day of strong performances: In race one, rival Stuart Easton led off the line and while Hill was never more than three-tenths-of-a-second behind, Easton’s late-braking-style prevented a pass. At the finish, Hill was just 0.058-seconds adrift.

Rain fell before the second race and so Hill rode conservatively, getting a feel for the conditions before passing several competitors to secure the final podium position. Significantly, Easton – his nearest rival in the point’s standings – elected to ride on a different tire-compound for this race and failed to find the grip he needed and so retired. Consequently Hill’s lead in the Championship has extended to 51 points.

Tommy Hill:
“I’m feeling really good, really chuffed with this result. The second race was a real test in ‘iffy conditions.’ There was a rush to get the adjustments made; changing the gearing, wanting to change the suspension; it was all very last-minute. I spent a bit of time getting a feel for the conditions and where the bike felt good. I didn’t know where Josh Brookes or Stuart was so it was a pleasant surprise when I came in to find I had those extra points over them. In all, a consistent weekend and I’m happy with that!”

Yukio Kagayama had qualified in seventh position, but for this morning’s warm-up, he made changes to his set-up that brought him up to fourth fastest. However, in the first race, he got a bad start and riding mid-pack was approaching Island Bend when he got hit from behind, causing him to crash at high speed.

The heavy fall left Kagayama winded and battered. However a subsequent X-Ray revealed a compression to his T7 vertebrae and Kagayama will now undergo a CT scan to get the fullest detail on his injury.

Yukio Kagayama:
“I was very happy with the changes to the set-up we made this morning and I felt a podium result would be possible. Unfortunately I didn’t make the best start in that first race. Then as I was turning into Island Bend I was hit from behind and crashed. The crash wasn’t a very comfortable experience and while I was winded at first I’m still very sore now. No injury is good, but I’m optimistic that I’ll be well enough for the next round at Cadwell Park in three weeks time.”

Jack Valentine – Team Manager:
“I’m very pleased with Tommy’s performance this weekend. In both races he rode intelligently; not making a pass in that first race when it would have been risky; and then playing himself in carefully in the second, taking no chances, but working hard and taking yet another valuable podium.

“Yukio was very unlucky again this weekend: He’d made good progress on his set-up this morning and looked good for some strong results. The plan is now is to see him back at Cadwell Park fit and rested. He’s starting to lose touch with that vital sixth place in the Championship but there’s still plenty of opportunity to turn his season around.

“Altogether a good weekend for Suzuki, though. To have three GSX-R1000s in the top-five is a great situation to be in – and congratulations to Michael Laverty on his win this afternoon. Now it’s onto Cadwell Park and hopefully more of the same from Tommy and hopefully a change of luck for Yukio.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship:
Race one:
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

Race two:
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

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings (after three rounds):
1. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 126
2. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 75
3. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 74
4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 65
5. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 63
16. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 25

Swan Honda’s James Ellison is already making good progress as he continues to recover from the broken femur he sustained at Thruxton two weeks ago.

Ellison had been setting the pace up until his crash in the final practice session, and now, following two operations, he is recovering in the Isle of Man as he strives to make positive progress so he can return to action as soon as possible.

Ellison said:
“I firstly just want to thank everyone for all their support since my crash; I really appreciate it and it really motivates me. It was tough after the accident as I was in hospital for six days and the morphine had made me feel really bad, just dizzy and sick which is one of the side affects. I had two operations, one to insert the rod and the other to stitch it back up.
I was so pleased to finally get out of hospital, my dad and wife Sarah had been staying in the motor home at the circuit, but I am lucky to have the best crew chief in the world and Mick (Shanley) came down from the team HQ and picked us up and drove us back to Kendal in the bus.
I am now over in the Isle of Man, as a few riders have said there are some really good people over here that can help me speed up my recovery. I have to thank Robin Croft from SMT, as he has played such a big part in organizing it, from getting the place to stay sorted here, to actually driving us over so he has been fantastic.
I am now in physio every day for about two hours, sometimes a little more. It is quite tiring but I can already feel the benefit of it and I am starting to get more movement back. I am due for some-ray in a few days which will hopefully show some progress. My goal at the moment is to get enough movement to start cycling again, even stationary so I can get the strength back. Once I have that then I know the riding won’t be that far away.
I will be watching the racing this weekend from Oulton Park, I am going to miss it but hopefully I can be back out there again soon.”

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.”