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After qualifying in pole position, Relentless by TAS Suzuki’s Alastair Seeley produced yet another faultless performance today, winning the British Supersport race at Donington Park by more than five seconds.

The Ulsterman also took the fastest lap and will start tomorrow’s second Supersport outing from the pole position slot on the grid.

Alastair Seeley:
“The first two laps, Ben [Wilson] tried to break away, but I didn’t panic and made sure I used all of the track with fast-flowing lines. Then when I caught him I got that much drive onto the back straight, I wasn’t prepared to shutoff and try to get in his slipstream. I used more of the track and the curbs, pulled alongside, and it was a matter of who braked the latest. I probably ran in a bit too deep but it gave me the lead. After that I just watched my board. I could hear him for about a lap and after that I started to disappear and it gave me great satisfaction to see “plus three” and then “plus four” on my board. The wee bike felt really strong today and gave me a lot of confidence, so big thanks to the team and Suzuki.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“I’ve said it all before about Alastair Seeley, but pole position, convincing race win; and fastest lap is all he can do now. I have an idea for him tomorrow, but realistically all he can do is win and see if some of the other guys can get in the mix for honors. Wet or damp races would make it very interesting for us in both classes.”

British Supersport Race 1 Result: 1 Alastair Seeley [Relentless Suzuki by TAS]; 2 Ben Wilson [Kawasaki] +5.441sec; 3 Christian Iddon [Triumph] +7.342; 4 Paul Young [Triumph] +7.647; 5 Jack Kennedy [Yamaha] +7.813; 6 Jimmy Hill [Triumph] +14.898.

Relentless Suzuki’s Josh Brookes secured his place in the Top-Six Title Fighters Showdown at Cadwell Park yesterday with fourth place in the opening British Superbike Championship race and a second place in race three.

The Australian received rapturous applause for his performance in race two at Cadwell from fans who obviously believe Sunday’s controversial decision to exclude him from the results was harsh treatment after the incident with Michael Rutter.

Josh Brookes:
“I was a bit suspicious in the first race that we had a small tire problem and we wisely didn’t change anything on the bike for race two. The whole GSX-R Suzuki package worked so much better, and I was able to fight at the front and finish right on Tommy’s back wheel. Despite a few blips during the season, we always knew we were in with a chance of winning the title and we got the chance to prove that this weekend in the results. I’m really pleased how the weekend ended.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“What a weekend. I’m certainly glad that one’s over but I’m also delighted how it ended for us. We made life difficult for ourselves at the start of the season and had to play catch up, but the combined package of Josh Brookes and our GSX-R Superbike is more than good enough for the job. He’s coming strong at the right time of the season and even though we would have liked a few more podium credits, the man who wins races in the final three rounds will undoubtedly be Champion. Donington, Silverstone and Brands are strong circuits for Josh and we firmly believe he will be in there challenging for victories.

“On behalf of the whole team, we would like to pass on our deepest sympathy to Ben Gautrey’s family circle after the young man tragically lost his life yesterday at Cadwell Park. We’d also like to mention local men Wayne Hamilton and good friend of TAS Racing, Adrian McFarland, who also sadly lost their lives in separate road racing crashes at the weekend.”

BSB race two result:
1 Tommy Hill (Yamaha)
2 Michael Laverty (Yamaha) +1.700s
3 Shane Byrne (Honda) +3.460s
4 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +6.067s
5 Peter Hickman (Honda) +18.892s
6 Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) +23.495s
7 Martin Jessopp (Ducati) +24.300s
8 Graeme Gowland [Honda] +24.424s
9 Ryuichi Kiyonari [Honda] +33.228s
10 Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +33.534s

BSB race three result:
1 Tommy Hill (Yamaha)
2 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.632s
3 Michael Laverty (Yamaha) +1.582s
4 Shane Byrne (Honda) +2.013s
5 Peter Hickman (Honda) +2.664s
6 Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) +3.622s
7 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +8.039s
8 Martin Jessopp (Ducati) +17.537s
9 Graeme Gowland (Honda) +18.386s
10 James Ellison (Honda) +20.465s

British Superbike Championship standings:
1 Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 529
2 Shane Byrne (Honda) 522
3 John Hopkins (Suzuki] 518
4 Michael Laverty (Yamaha) 510
5 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 509
6 Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 508

After his Superbike victory on Wednesday night, Guy Martin rounded out his week at the Southern 100 in the Isle of Man with third place in yesterday’s Supersport 600cc race and second place in the Solo Championship Superbike event, run over nine laps.

He almost had the consolation of setting a new outright track lap record for his 112.234mph effort on lap six of the Solo Championship race as he closed in on Michael Dunlop, but the youngster re-claimed the lap record prize on the penultimate lap.

It was a solid week for Martin, who, although disappointed at not taking the Solo title, was happy enough with his performance on Relentless Suzuki by TAS machinery at the Southern 100.

Guy Martin:
“I thought I’d be able to pull Michael back today in that Solo Championship race but Ryan kept showing me a wheel. Fair play to him though he rode well. That temperature made a bit of a difference today – it must have been the thick end of 25 degrees – but no excuses. He broke the tow and that was it. The 600 race was some battle. At one stage I was second and then I was fourth so I’m happy enough to get on the podium. It’s been a decent enough week. We would have liked more wins, but that’s the way it goes and the boys did a good job.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“We obviously would have liked that Solo Championship victory but you can do no more than break the lap record trying to do so. That tells you how hot the pace was, so fair play to Michael. Guy had a decent week: we got a win, which is always good for our sponsors, and three podiums demonstrates the pedigree of Suzuki’s GSX-R machinery.

“It’s more mileage and more information as we prepare for the Ulster Grand Prix in August and after a few weekends ticking boxes with his crazy mountain biking trips, Guy will be back super fit for the Armoy Road Races at the end of July. With the entry they are expecting it looks like being a cracking weekend of racing.”

Solo Championship [9 laps]: 1 Michael Dunlop [Kawasaki] 20mins 38.549; 2 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 20mins 42.601; 3 Ryan Farquhar [Kawasaki] 20mins 45.044; 4 William Dunlop [Honda] 20mins 52.539; 5 Cameron Donald [Honda] 22mins 05.138; 6 Dan Kneen [Kawasaki] 21mins 07.896.

Supersport Race: 1 Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] 18mins 58.558; 2 William Dunlop [Honda] 19mins 03.002; 3 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 19mins 03.644; 4 Cameron Donald [Honda] 19mins 03.824; 5 Dan Kneen [Honda] 19mins 22.186; 6 Conor Cummins [Kawasaki] 19mins 22.944.

Guy Martin will make a welcome return to pure road racing this week at the Southern 100 ‘friendly races’ on the Isle of Man in the UK with the Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing Team.

The Lincolnshire rider is a former Solo champion at the 4.25-mile Billown Circuit on the south of the Island, and after a successful Isle of Man TT – where he scored four podiums from five races on GSX-R machinery – Martin will be gunning for glory at what he calls his favorite meeting of the year.

Guy Martin:
“This is one proper meeting I love attending: It’s run the way a road race should be and the organizers and fans make it a special week for all the riders. I missed last year through injury, but it’s great to be back. It’s a mega circuit with some great corners: real road racing corners. The entry list is pretty strong this year but I’m sure we can be at the sharp-end fighting for some silverware on the Relentless Suzukis. It’ll be a busy but enjoyable week.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“The Southern 100 is a race we’ve not been able to attend as much as I’d have liked over the years. It has great history and from what the riders tell me, the event is run like clockwork. We know Guy is a big fan of the place and with the likes of Ryan, Cameron, Conor and the Dunlop boys there; it’s going to be like a mini-TT week. The weather forecast is good, which is important; so let’s hope Guy can put our GSX-R machinery on the top step. It would be a nice way to get the ball rolling on the run into the Ulster Grand Prix next month.”

Southern 100 Race Schedule:

Tuesday 12th July:
8.05pm – Corlett’s Trophies 600/1000cc Race [8 Laps]

Wednesday 13th July:
6.20pm – Total Oils Senior Race [8 Laps]
8.00pm – Radcliffe Butchers’ 600cc Race [8 Laps]

Thursday 14th July:
11.10am – S&S Motors’ 600cc Race [8 Laps]
3.00pm – Manx Gas Solo Championship Race [9 Laps]
8.30pm – Open Air Presentation in Castletown Market Square.

Guy Martin and the whole Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing team covered themselves in glory during yesterday’s Supersport and Superstock races at the Isle of Man TT with two podium finishes. The Lincolnshire rider took a hard-fought brace of third places on the team’s all-new GSX-R600 and GSX-R1000 respectively.

It was a day of lengthy delays, and although the Supersport race got underway at 10:45am, it was 8:20pm before the final press conference for the Superstock race was completed.

The opening Supersport race was red flagged after less than two laps due to an incident at Gorse Lea. It was later restarted over a shortened race distance of three laps with Martin hovering in around the podium positions for the duration. And when others faltered, Martin was ready to pick up the pieces, giving Suzuki’s all-new GSX-R600 its second International Road Racing podium of the season.

The four-lap Superstock race got underway after a lengthy delay at 6:30pm, but the Isle of Man TT fans were served up a real exhibition of pure road racing. At the first checkpoint at Glen Helen on lap one, less than three seconds covered the top five, and by the end of the lap, Martin had forced his GSX-R1000 to the top of the leader board with a lap of 127.953mph from a standing start.

From there he got embroiled in a battle with John McGuinness and Michael Dunlop, eventually coming home in third place, struggling slightly in the latter stages to find the same level of performance he had done on lap one to challenge for the win.

Guy Martin:
“I couldn’t have taken the little 600 round there any faster today. When Cameron blew up in front of me I thought it was going to end in tears for both of us. I hit the curb trying to get round him, but a podium is a good effort for us. We’ll change a few things and see what we can do on Wednesday.

“In the Superstock race the early grip and stability was great and the bike was just mega. The whole job was coming easy enough and I wasn’t having to hang it out anywhere and I wasn’t bouncing off any curbs! I started to struggle a little bit in the latter stages with grip and stability – what you’d expect I suppose – so I was just glad to get it home on the podium. It’s not a shabby job at all. I haven’t won one yet but it’ll come. This is a proper team effort and all the Relentless Suzuki by TAS boys are a great bunch of lads.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“It’s been a long day obviously tainted with sadness, which is always the case when a competitor loses his life – so our thoughts and prayers are with Derek Brien’s family at this time. Two podiums is a strong day for us. Yes we are here to win but overall you’ve got to be happy with podiums at the TT. All you can do is make your package competitive enough for a podium finish; after that it’s really down to the circumstances of the race.

“A lot of things must be taken into consideration, but getting into a lengthy dice on the road didn’t help Guy’s chances of second place in the Superstock race. But that’s the way it goes sometimes, although it would make me consider our start numbers for next year. We used to dominate the Superstock class with the GSX-R1000 so it’s good to be back on the podium and also very pleasing to give the new GSX-R600 another international road racing podium, especially here at the TT.

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Alastair Seeley took Saturday’s only race victory at the rain-lashed Relentless International North West 200 and gave the all-new GSX-R600 Suzuki its first top step of an International Supersport podium this year.

And in the second race of the day – the Superbike event – Seeley came from the third row of the grid – again in soaking-wet conditions – to lead at the end of lap one. Unfortunately for the riders and the fans, the race was red-flagged on lap two when another rider’s engine expired, leaving a massive oil spill on the Coast Road from Church Corner to Juniper Hill chicane. Despite a lengthy delay – and the best attention from the organizers – the meeting was abandoned on safety grounds.

Seeley had been in prolific form throughout the week-long event taking Pole positions in both Supersport and Superstock classes, and despite an electrical problem forcing him to sit out the majority of Thursday’s Superbike session, the former British Superstock Champion and current North West 200 lap-record holder made the grid after a tremendous show of allegiance from British Superbike teammate Josh Brookes: While Seeley continued his North West 200 preparations on the Causeway Coast, Australian Brookes travelled to Kirkistown Race Circuit early on Friday morning to make sure the Seeley’s GSX-R1000 was ready to race following a late-night session from his crew back in the team’s Moneymore workshop. And only for the oil spill in the race, Brookes’ generous gesture would have played a significant role in the anticipated victory.

Alastair Seeley:
“That’s an International Road Racing victory to add to the British Supersport win at Brands for the new GSX-R600. It was a great race to be involved in and even more pleasing to beat what is basically a World Supersport specification Honda. I knew I would be stronger into the chicanes despite Cameron using traction control on his bike, as the brakes on the new GSX-R600 are one of its best features and that gave me a lot of confidence in the wet.

“In the Superbike race, the plan was the pick them off and get into the lead so I wouldn’t have to sit in anyone’s spray. The speed of my GSX-R1000 was far superior to Ryan and Michael’s bikes and the way it was set up, I was actually enjoying it spinning up down the big straights in the wet. I was ready to pull the pin and just ride my own race, so it was disappointing to see a red flag on lap two. I really felt like I was in control this week in all classes, and having felt so comfortable in the wet I think we’d have been hard to beat. That five of McCallen’s was definitely a big target.”

Guy Martin:
“It was a tough day for everyone involved and a week’s worth of effort for just one race. Unfortunately I made the wrong tire choice. To come away with eighth place is nothing to shout about but I am now going to the Isle of Man full of confidence; confidence in the blokes working on the bikes and confidence in the bikes themselves. It was a terrible day for the people who turned out to watch the racing, but a confidence-building day for the bigger picture – the bigger picture being the TT.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“The North West 200 has always been one of my favorite events on the calendar and as Ireland’s biggest sporting occasion. It’s a shame to see such a great event abandoned due to unforeseen circumstances. Mervyn Whyte and his team from the Coleraine & District Motor Club did everything in their power to save the day and must be commended for their efforts.

“On a positive note we had a strong showing from both our riders in practice and we won the only race giving us a 100 percent record for our sponsors Relentless, Suzuki and all our other team partners. It really was a masterful display from Alastair Seeley in that Supersport race giving Suzuki and the new GSX-R600 its first international road race victory. What is even more special is the fact that we were running the bike with very limited British Supersport specification electronics; unlike some of our main rivals who were running fancy electronic aids including traction control.

“We dearly wanted the Superbike race to run full distance as in all honesty with Alastair coming through from the third row of the grid to lead within a lap, there was no beating the wee Carrickfergus man, although it was the correct decision to stop the race and eventually abandon the meeting on safety grounds.

“Guy made a solid debut on the international roads for our team. Unfortunately he took a gamble with his intermediate tire choice in the Supersport race and with everyone else on wets – which was the correct choice – makes his eighth place an impressive finish given the conditions. More importantly for Guy is the fact that he now feels really confident with his three GSX-R Suzukis, which he now believes he can take to success at the Isle of Man TT Races in two weeks’ time.”

Supersport Results (5 laps – 8.9 mile circuit):

1 Alastair Seeley [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] 4mins 55.835; 2 Cameron Donald [Honda] +0.844; 3 Bruce Anstey [Honda] +14.081; 4 Michael Dunlop [Yamaha] +23.104; 5 Gary Johnson [Honda] +25.227; 6 William Dunlop [Honda] +28.845; 7 Ryan Farquhar [Kawasaki] +42.558; 8 Guy Martin [Relentless Suzuki by TAS] +58.777.

Fastest Lap – Alastair Seeley [lap 5] 109.155mph.

Alastair Seeley

Reigning North West 200 Superbike champion Alastair Seeley dominated last night’s opening practice sessions for this year’s Relentless International North West 200.

In overcast and blustery conditions, Seeley topped the Superbike leaderboard with a lap time of 4’31.148″ (119.094mph) and a trap top-speed of 190mph on his Suzuki GSX-R1000. The Carrickfergus man also headed the Superstock class with a lap time of 4’32.690” (118.420mph) and brought his Supersport Suzuki GSX-R600 home in second place (4’42.638”/ 114.252mph), just 0.1” off the top spot.

Alastair Seeley:
“I kept my powder dry as I was towing Cameron Donald round in the Supersport session, but I’m happy to be at the top of the timesheets at this stage in the Superbike and Superstock classes. Everything is working really well and the bikes are very stable, which is so important round here. Thursday is a longer session and we’ve a few more things to try with the bike and also with Pirelli, but so far I’m very happy.”

Teammate Guy Martin made his full road racing debut last night for Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing finishing sixth in both the opening Superbike (4’40.269”/ 115.214mph) and Supersport qualifying sessions (4’52.824”/ 110.278mph). The Lincolnshire man took ninth place in the Superstock class, which closed the opening night’s session, registering a time of 4’39.036”/ 115.727mph and he is also looking forward to tomorrow’s daytime session.

Guy Martin:
“The Superbike is mega; we’re right there with that one, and the Supersport bike is – yeah that’s spot-on too. Little problem last night, but nothing to worry about. On the Superstock bike we’ve a little bit of work to do and struggled a little last night with gearing, but all-day practice tomorrow and we should be good. I’m looking forward to a good run in the dry, and we’ll be right there hopefully for Saturday.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“It’s been a good start for us. This is obviously a tough week in general as many different aspects can determine how you qualify. We are in quite a unique scenario with two riders on three different bikes and bike set-up can be turned on its head in five minutes with a change in the weather. Our dry set-up is very good after the opening session and apart from a few teething troubles we are ready for Saturday, although as I say, a drop of rain could offer up a whole new challenge for everyone.”

Relentless Suzuki by TAS’ Josh Brookes remains upbeat and confident going into tomorrow’s British Superbike races at Croft in North Yorkshire, despite narrowly missing out on the final Q3 qualifying session by a narrow .04″ margin.

The Australian’s Q2 time would have been good enough for the front row in Q3 – that’s how close it was in qualifying – and his ideal time was fast enough for second place on the grid – so he’s raring to go and looking to pick up strong Championship points tomorrow.

Josh Brookes:
“It looks and feels like we are a long way off but if we keep looking at the areas where we are strong, then there are lots of positives. For personal satisfaction it’s not that great, but providing the weather stays good, we have a couple of little changes to make in the morning. Once we get on the track tomorrow I know there’s a fair bit of time still to come from me and the bike. While the others seem to give it their all in qualifying, I hold a little bit in reserve so we have nothing to worry about. A bit of fine-tuning and we’ll be there.”

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“It wasn’t a great day for us but it’s hard to be down when your ideal lap time is good enough for P2 around Croft – which is a very difficult circuit to find the perfect set-up. I’m fairly satisfied with that performance, but obviously, like Josh, we are a little disappointed to have been bumped out of Q3 in the dying seconds by 100s-of-a-second – but that’s racing.

British Superbike Championship, Croft, Qualifying result:
1st – Shane Byrne [Honda] 1m:20.069s
2nd – Michael Laverty [Yamaha] +0.125s
3rd – Loris Baz [Yamaha] +0.195s
4th – Michael Rutter [Ducati] +0.749s
5th – James Westmoreland [Yamaha] +0.871s
6th – Stuart Easton [Kawasaki] +0.911s
7th – Dan Linfoot [Honda] +1.001s
8th – Tommy Hill [Yamaha] +1.519s|
9th – John Hopkins [Suzuki] +1.685s
10th – Peter Hickman [Honda]
11th – Gary Mason [Kawasaki]
12th – Josh Brookes [Relentless Suzuki by TAS].

The Northern Ireland-based team has enjoyed previous success at Croft, and team manager Philip Neill says his boys are fired up and ready to go.

Philip Neill, Team Manager:
“Alastair comes to Croft off the back of a decent run in the Supersport class on the all-new GSX-R600 Suzuki and Josh and his bike are good-as-new and ready for round three of the BSB series. We have had plenty of success at Croft in the past and the GSX-R1000 Superbike, as we know, works extremely well around here. As a team, we will look to re-group and all of us, including Josh, understand that it’s all about the Shoot-Out at this time of the year, so we’ll approach this round accordingly.”

Josh Brookes:
“Last year I didn’t have a great time at Croft but we had problems. This year I’m with a new team and I’m really enjoying riding for Relentless Suzuki and we’re making good progress with the bike. It’s not a matter of liking or disliking a circuit; as long as I’m riding my bike I’m happy. We know what we have to do this weekend: Be in the points.”

Alastair Seeley:
“I’ve had three podiums on the spin on the new GSX-R600 and I had a good time at Croft last year on the Superbike, so I’m looking forward to this meeting. Ben has been the man to beat so far this season in Supersport but we’ll go to Croft looking to ruffle his feathers and hopefully close the gap in the championship.”

Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing’s Guy Martin made an instant impression on his return to the Cookstown 100 Road Races in Northern Ireland yesterday after a seven year absence.

Although the Lincolnshire man’s main goal was to continue his pre-North West 200 development on his stable of GSX-R Suzukis, he left with three podium finishes and a new outright lap record of 90.932mph.

With limited qualifying time on Friday evening, Martin made the best of his second-row starts in all three events – two Superbike and one Supersport – around the tight County Tyrone circuit. All three races were blanket finishes and despite a little disappointed at not winning, the Scarborough circuit specialist is happy to have made giant steps forward with his Relentless Suzukis.

Guy Martin:
“We can’t be disappointed. We learnt a lot more about the bikes and set a new lap record, so job done. I’m a racer and I want to win but we are making progress and this weekend served its purpose. I didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks even though I felt comfortable, especially with the North West just a couple of weeks away. It’s always worthwhile getting a run out on the roads and between this week and last weekend at Brands, as I say, we’re making good progress.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“Guy pretty-much exceeded our expectations out there today and it was good to see how he handled himself on GSX-R machinery for the first time on the roads. It was a positive test and a worthwhile day for him and while we are still working on making little improvements to the bikes, we are pretty much ready for the North West 200.”