Glenn Irwin Clinches Third In Title Race For Be Wiser Ducati
The Be Wiser Ducati team ended their 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship campaign at Brands Hatch today with Glenn Irwin ensuring it was a successful conclusion to the season as he clinched third place overall in the final championship standings.
After his superb win in yesterday’s opening race, the 28 year old from Carrickfergus lined up in third place on the front row for the opening 20-lap race where the sunshine of the previous day had been replaced by damp and dismal conditions.
However, although he completed the first lap in seventh place on the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R, he soon found himself slipping down the order and at one stage he was as low as 12th. The Ulsterman soon regrouped, however, and was rewarded for his efforts with a solid seventh at the chequered flag.
The result saw him line up in 12th place on the fourth row for the final race of the season held in heavy rain but a poor start left him with plenty of work to do. A chassis change to the machine didn’t work either resulting in him being down in 17th in the early stages, although he was up to 15th but pulled in to retire just before half race distance.
Despite today not going to plan, his race win yesterday was ultimately enough for him to clinch third place overall in the series, his best result in the three years of contesting the championship.
Younger brother and team-mate Andrew, meanwhile, started the day’s first race around the 2.43-mile GP circuit from second place, alongside Glenn on the front row, and was challenging for a podium when his hopes were dashed as he crashed at Graham Hill Bend on lap two bringing his race to an early and abrupt end.
It meant he had to start the second race from the fifth row of the grid, but a good start saw him move up to tenth at the completion of the first lap which was where he remained until half race distance when he was pushed back to 11th. He retook tenth on lap 12 but unfortunately crashed out for the second time when he fell on the penultimate lap. Despite the unhappy end to his season, the 24 year old finished in 17th overall after only contesting two thirds of the season.
Glenn Irwin: “After yesterday’s race win, it’s disappointing to end my term with PBM and Be Wiser Ducati with only a seventh place finish to show for my efforts and it was especially frustrating as we’d made a chassis change which unfortunately didn’t work out in the way that we’d hoped. The positive is that the race win on Saturday gave me enough of a buffer to clinch third place overall, something which I’m over the moon with. Retiring from my final race with PBM was a real shame but a massive thank you to them for everything they’ve done for me over the last three years.”
Andrew Irwin: “We had good pace in the wet today and in the first race I felt comfortable and confident that I could have stood on the podium but unfortunately I made a small mistake and crashed out. Conditions for the second race were worse and from having an awesome bike in race one, I had very little grip at all and the crash in race two came out of nowhere. It’s not how I wanted to end my time with PBM and Be Wiser Ducati but I’m very grateful for the opportunity and I can’t thank them enough. It’s arguably the best time in the paddock and they’ve been great since day one, so I wish them well for 2019.”
Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been a disappointing way to end the season but, on the plus side, it was nice for Glenn and the team to clinch third place overall. Obviously, you always want to win but third is a good result and a small bonus all things considered. It’s just a shame the day went the way it did after the race win yesterday but conditions were very difficult today and for Andrew to have a double DNF was a great pity. Both riders had a good Saturday but a poor Sunday but that’s the way racing goes sometimes so with a new project to look forward to in 2019, we’ll regroup and come back fighting.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Two (20 laps)
1 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
3 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)
4 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
5 Christian Iddon (BMW)
6 Peter Hickman (BMW)
7 Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)
DNF Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Three (20 laps)
1 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
3 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)
4 Christian Iddon (BMW)
5 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
DNF Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)
DNF Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)
Final Championship Standings (after 12 rounds)
1 Haslam 699pts
2 Dixon 629
3 Glenn Irwin 588
4 Brookes 584
5 Hickman 577
6 Ray 551
17 Andrew Irwin 90
For further information, please visit www.pbmuk.net and www.pbmuk.net
More, from a press release issued by Smiths Racing Team:
Top Tens For Hickman And Barrier At Brands Hatch
Gloucester-based Smiths Racing BMW wrapped up their 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this weekend with a string of top ten results which meant that Peter Hickman ended the year in a fine fifth place overall in the standings.
Strong throughout the three free practice sessions, running in the top six in each, Lincoln’s Hickman duly took sixth place in yesterday lunchtime’s qualifying session around the 2.43-mile GP circuit and it saw him line up on the second row for the 20 lap race later in the day, the first of three held across the weekend.
The benefit of a good qualifying position could again be seen as Peter immediately slotted into fourth place on the Smiths BMW S1000RR and two laps later he moved up to third having overhauled Tarran Mackenzie. By lap eight, he’d been pushed back to fifth but only two seconds covered the top six for the majority of the race and he ultimately crossed the line in fifth place.
The warm sunshine of yesterday had been replaced by wet and gloomy conditions today with Peter’s result from the previous day seeing the 31 year old start the second 20 lap race from fourth place on the grid. However, a slide at Graham Hill Bend on lap one saw him drop down the order all the way back to 13th but from that moment on he continually moved forward and with a number of riders falling foul to the conditions, his perseverance was rewarded at the chequered flag with a good sixth place.
It meant he started the third and final race of 2018 from 11th and the fourth row of the grid but conditions had worsened considerably by the time the race got underway although he still completed the first lap in ninth place. Up to seventh at one stage, he slipped back to ninth on lap nine and this was where he finished to end the year in a fine fifth place overall.
Team-mate Sylvain Barrier took 16th in Saturday’s dry race and although the Frenchman failed to finish today’s opening race, he signed off his maiden season in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with tenth place in the final race of the year, his best finish of the season and he ended the year in 21st overall.
Peter Hickman: “It’s certainly been a mixed weekend weather wise and although we fell one place short of where we finished in 2017, I’m pleased with fifth overall and finishing as the top BMW rider once more. I qualified well, for once, and we were fast in the dry where I had the pace to win, but there was just one part of the circuit where I was losing a bit of time. The two wet races today were very hard work especially on the Indy part of the circuit so I’m happy enough with fifth overall and to be only 11 points adrift of third is a good effort. It was a challenging end to the season but everyone stuck together and we again showed just what a good team we are.”
Sylvain Barrier: “The two race days saw very different weather conditions but although I didn’t quite have the pace in Saturday’s dry race to finish in the points, I managed to do that today. Unfortunately, I had a problem with the quickshifter in the first race but the second and final race of the season was a lot better and it’s nice to get a top ten result and finish the season with my best result of the year. The team have been fantastic all year so many thanks to them for the opportunity in BSB and for all their hard work.”
Darren Jones, Team Co-ordinator: “We’re slightly disappointed to have finished in fifth overall but we were only 11 points short of third and still very close to where we were twelve months ago. It was a tough start to the season but the team worked well all year and once again proved themselves as one of the best teams in the paddock. Everyone gelled really well and we ended the year with some solid points this weekend. Today’s conditions were very tough but Pete did a good job, like he has done all year, whilst it was nice to see Sylvain finish inside the top ten and claim his best result of the year.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race One (20 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Ducati)
2 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)
3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
4 Andrew Irwin (Ducati)
5 Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW)
6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
16 Sylvain Barrier (Smiths Racing BMW)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Two (20 laps)
1 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
3 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)
4 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
5 Christian Iddon (BMW)
6 Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW)
DNF Sylvain Barrier (Smiths Racing BMW)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race Three (20 laps)
1 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
3 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)
4 Christian Iddon (BMW)
5 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
9 Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW)
10 Sylvain Barrier (Smiths Racing BMW)
Final Championship Standings (after 12 rounds)
1 Haslam 699pts
2 Dixon 629
3 Irwin 588
4 Brookes 584
5 Hickman 577
6 Ray 551
21 Barrier 19
For further information, please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk and www.smithsracing.co.uk
More, from a press release issued by McAMS Yamaha:
BRANDS HATCH ROLLERCOASTER FOR MCAMS YAMAHA
The final Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch proved to be a rollercoaster of an event for the McAMS Yamaha team as Tarran Mackenzie took another podium before sustaining a heavy crash to rule him out of the rest of the meeting. Josh Brookes had a frustrating weekend by his own standards and Matt Truelove had a rewarding fifth position in Pirelli National Superstock 1000.
In Saturday’s Datatag Extreme Qualifying both riders pushed through to the final Q3 sessions, Tarran positioning himself in an ideal front row start of third and Josh ninth.
In a packed schedule, the weekend’s opening race followed qualifying on Saturday and was run in good, warmish conditions. Josh was boxed out on just the second corner and had to battle through from twelfth on the first lap to an eventual seventh. Tarran made the most of his grid position to run strongly taking another impressive podium.
Disaster struck Tarran as he crashed in Sunday’s wet warm up bashing his head and straining his neck, whilst his Yamaha YZF-R1 was heavily damaged. In consultation with the team and with rain falling it was decided to sit out the two races due to the condition of the bike and Tarran’s weakened condition.
Josh Brookes continued his difficult weekend in the wet, ‘one-line’ conditions from his grid position to finish ninth but battled back strongly In the final outing for fifth.
For Rookie Pirelli National Superstock 1000 rider Matt Truelove it was a weekend to remember with strong pace in dry practice, a crash and his best finish to date. His race was held in very wet conditions with a high attrition rate but Matt kept his nerve to log his equal best result of fifth in this ultra competitive class.
Having already been crowned the Pirelli National Superstock 600 title at Silverstone last weekend, Ryan Vickers took yet another victory in what has been a dominating season.
Josh Brookes said: “After the double win here in the Summer I had high expectations but it just wasn’t to be, in either wet or dry. I’ve lacked the feel that’s crucial to push hard and it’s frustrating, I really wanted to end my time with the team on a high.”
Tarran Mackenzie said: “Obviously it was mega to get the podium on Saturday and I was hoping for more of the same today but I had a heavy old crash in warm up. I’m a bit battered and the bike was wrecked, so we made the decision to sit it out. The year has exceeded my expectations and the podiums have been coming, so I’m really happy with my Rookie year. 2019 will be time to step it up again!”
Matt Truelove said: “It’s great to finish the season on a high with my best result so far. We’ve been on the pace both wet and dry, it would have been good to have been able to get away with the lead group but overall I’m chuffed with the way it’s gone.”
Team Manager Grant Bunting summed up: “It’s been an interesting couple of days for sure! On one hand we all wanted and expected a Championship attack with Josh. On the other side the progression of Taz has been a revelation, to the extent that he now expects podiums and I have no doubt he would have had more today had it not been for his crash. It was a great ride from Matt today and overall we are pleased with the way he has improved also. We are already planning and looking forward to 2019, watch this space.”
More, from a press release issued by JG Speedfit Kawasaki:
Leon Haslam Leaves BSB as Champion
After 12 rounds, Leon Haslam has taken his first championship title at the Bennetts British Superbike Championship for JG Speedfit Kawasaki during the Brands Hatch final today (Sunday 14th October).
Having been crowned champions on Saturday, Haslam and the team concluded their 2018 campaign in winning style on Sunday with the Derbyshire ace claiming his 15th first-place win of the season after taking victory in the opening race of the day.
After the warm sunshine on Saturday, the Kent venue was met with wet and gloomy conditions on Sunday with Haslam lining up in sixth place on the grid. Despite the treacherous conditions, no less than six riders disputed the lead and, at one stage, only a second covered the sextet.
Positions were changing regularly but Haslam ran consistently in the top three as he often disputed the lead with Honda’s Jason O’Halloran. However, on lap 17 Haslam resumed the lead and put his head down to pull clear, eventually taking the win by two seconds from the Australian. This was his 15th of the season and the first for Kawasaki on the GP circuit.
Fittingly, the 35-year-old started the 26th and final race of the season from pole position. Although the weather had worsened by the time it got under way, he completed the first lap in fourth place. As the race wore on though, Haslam had a number of ‘out the saddle’ moments and dropped back to sixth place but with the championship already won, the final race result of 2018 had no bearing on the overall outcome.
Meanwhile, having taken 12th in Saturday’s race, team-mate Luke Mossey signed off his season with 11th place in a difficult opening race although he was forced to retire from the second which meant he ended the year in 15th overall.
The meeting also marked the final round of the Hyundai Construction Equipment British Sidecar Championship with Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood taking fifth and sixth place finishes in the two races. The results placed them fourth overall in the final championship standings but second overall in the concurrently run F600 cup, an excellent effort in their first year in the 600cc capacity division.
Leon Haslam said: “It is such a crazy feeling knowing I’m British Superbike Champion; I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet. The year has been incredible and my whole team have given me everything and the best bike to do the job on.
“It was really important to me to continue in the same team with the same people and I think it has made a big difference. Everything just went according to plan this year and it really is an amazing feeling.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for their continued support and belief in me to make this happen. It is so special, and I’m almost lost for words.
“British Superbikes always creates great racing and all season I’ve battled with so many different riders and it is a credit to the championship. Thank you for all the memories.”
Luke Mossey said: “This year just hasn’t gone to plan and I don’t seem to have had much luck. I’m really disappointed with how it all panned out, but these things are sent to test us and make us stronger.
“I would like to thank the entire JG Speedfit Kawasaki team for their support over the last three years and I’m sorry we just couldn’t get the results this year as we have had in the past.
“I will look forward to re-grouping and focusing on next year now and coming back stronger.”
Ricky Stevens said: “We’re a little bit disappointed with the results this weekend. In race one we were held up by a bigger engine and were unable to get past them and join the front runners.
“Today, because of the conditions we made some changes to our front and rear suspension, but it didn’t quite pay off.
“Despite that we’ve enjoyed two strong finishes for the end of the year, roll on 2019!
“Congratulations to Leon and the whole Kawasaki team, we’re really proud and honoured to be part of this team and can’t wait to see what next year brings.”
Team Manager Jack Valentine added: “It’s been an unbelievable weekend and I think we’ve all done an incredible job. The whole team has given everything all season and they have been rewarded by Leon becoming British Superbike Champion. So much work and dedication has gone into this year and this result is thoroughly deserved.
“We’ve had a 100 per cent race finish and that is really important to us and that is down to Kawasaki with good reliable engines and our engine builders, Dynojet UK doing a fantastic job.
“Everything has just been so good, I don’t think we could work as hard again but I’m sure we will.
“It has been so good and I am so proud of Leon and all the team. We are so pleased and thank you to everyone that has supported us and to all our team sponsors. It is a great championship and we’ve had some fantastic racing this year.
“It’s great for Leon to go to World Superbikes as British Champion. Thank you to everyone involved!”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Final Standings
1 Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 699pts – 2018 BSB Champion
2 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki) 629
3 Glenn Irwin (Ducati) 588
4 Josh Brookes (Yamaha) 584
5 Peter Hickman (BMW) 577
6 Bradley Ray (Suzuki) 551
15 Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
Hyundai Construction Equipment British Sidecar Championship Final Standings
1 Kershaw/Clark (Kawasaki) 538pts
2 Ellis/Richardson (Honda) 369
3 Bryan/Hyde (Kawasaki) 308
4 Stevens/Charlwood (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 283
5 Birchall/Birchall (Yamaha) 210
6 Horspole/Connell (Kawasaki) 188
Keep up to date with the latest news from JG Speedfit Kawasaki ahead of the 2019 season on Facebook @JGSpeedfitBournemouthKawasaki and on Twitter @JGSpeedfitKawa or visit the website www.jgspeedfitkawasaki.co.uk
More, from a press release issued by Honda BSB Racing Press Office:
JASON O’HALLORAN WRAPS UP 2018 ON THE PODIUM AT BRANDS HATCH
Jason O’Halloran has wrapped up the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season on the podium with the Honda Racing team, finishing Race 2 in third place aboard the CBR1000RR Fireblade.
Today’s races were met with challenging weather conditions and starting Race 2 from 10th place on the grid, Jason launched himself and the CBR into the front group by the first corner. Riding the conditions faultlessly, an epic battle began between the front-three.
Exchanging blows over the 20 laps with Leon Haslam and Tommy Bridewell, the position rotation changed with a blink of an eye and the threesome swapped between first, second and third places over race distance. Jason eventually crossed the line in third place, 1.260s away from second.
The weather worsened for the final race of the year and the spray from the pack on the opening laps added to the treacherous conditions. Despite this, Jason once again propelled himself into the leading group by the first corner. Fighting valiantly throughout the race and through the spray, Jason finished the race eighth.
Teammate Dan Linfoot withdrew from the weekend after FP2, still suffering with pain from the horrific impact he sustained at Assen last time out.
It’s been a tough season for the Honda Racing team with injuries plaguing both Jason and Dan, but the squad finished the year on the podium back where they belong and fighting in the front pack.
#4
Dan Linfoot
It’s been a very difficult year with the injuries and the inconsistency; we had highs at the first round and then spent the rest of the year recovering from injury. It’s been tough for the team and myself, and the overall championship position is irrelevant really, and isn’t a reflection of where I am and also the team. I’m sorry to Honda and to my side of the garage, it’s not been our year but sometimes this happens in racing and we have to take the positives where we can. Congratulations to Jason for his podium in Race 2, it was great to see him back up there, and it’s a nice reward to finish the year.
#22
Jason O’Halloran
It’s so nice to finish the year on the podium and I’m so pleased to be back up there after a difficult start to this weekend. I fought as hard as I could in the second race and as soon as I got past, I went back onto the attack, and it was probably one of the most enjoyable races I’ve ever had. To finish the year with another podium and a trophy after the struggle we’ve had since May is just fantastic and a great way to reward Honda Racing and the team for all their hard work and support. It has finished a very difficult season on a high and I’ll go away now, rest and re-charge the batteries for next year!
Havier Beltran
Team Manager
What a rollercoaster of a weekend it’s been at Brands Hatch, starting with Dan not being able to ride, as he was still in a lot of pain from his accident at Assen, a slow start for Jason, a crash in yesterday’s race and him ending up on the podium in Race 2. We all know what both riders and the Fireblade are capable of as we started the year with podiums, so it was only a matter of time until we were back. It wasn’t easy out there in the conditions, but I am so proud of Jason and to see him back on the podium was such a high for all the team. Everyone has worked so hard this year, from Dan and Jason with their recovery and determination to come back as soon as possible from injury, as well as the team here at races and also back at the workshop. We’ll now regroup and get ready for 2019!
More, from a press release issued by Buildbase Suzuki:
Cooper takes dominant win at Brands finale but Superstock heartbreak for McConnell
Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper took a dominant win at the final round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, winning the last race of the year after leading from start to finish onboard his GSX-R1000R at Brands Hatch.
Launching from the front row of the grid he grabbed the lead and pulled out a comfortable advantage at the front. Managing it all the way to the line he took a commanding win, highlighting the constant improvements he and the team have been making this year.
Cooper was on the pace all weekend but was unfortunate to crash out of Saturday’s race while challenging the front group. Undeterred, he made a good start in the wet conditions for race two but was boxed in and lost ground. Getting his head down, he came through the pack and closed in on the leading group before settling for fourth place after struggling with misting on his visor
Confident ahead of the final race of the year, Cooper’s win came by over seven seconds as he bolted to the front, set the fastest lap of the race, and managed the gap to take victory.
But it was heartbreak for his teammate Billy McConnell in the National Superstock 1000 championship, as he narrowly missed out on the title after crashing out of the last race of the season.
McConnell arrived at the final round looking to overcome a 10.5 point deficit in the championship and started the race strongly by leading early on. Conditions were treacherous, and he ran wide at Druids approaching one third race distance, allowing title rival Keith Farmer back past.
However, clearly able to run a competitive pace coupled with a need to win the race to stand the best chance of claiming the championship, he was keen to return to the front. But after getting the drive out of Graham Hill bend on his GSX-R1000R McConnell ran hot into Surtees, losing the rear in the process and crashing out of the race and in turn, title contention. The misery was compounded further when Farmer, too, crashed out, highlighting the difficult conditions, while it also meant that fifth would have secured the title for McConnell.
On the second Buildbase Suzuki GSX-R1000R superbike Bradley Ray finished 11th in Saturday’s race, before picking up an eighth and another 11th in today’s races.
Richard Cooper, “I feel like that’s been coming to be honest. We were fast all weekend and I feel like that win is the deserved result of a lot of hard work. Our pace has been really good at the last three rounds though to be fair, but for the win to come in the wet as well shows a really big improvement as that’s where we’ve struggled the most this season. At Oulton we changed the mapping and I couldn’t ride the bike how I needed and it was a bit of a wake-up call. Today I had full power and just managed it myself as I knew what I had to play with at my right wrist. But I can’t thank the team enough; I was overshadowed a little bit at the start of the year as Brad had a great beginning of the season and has been really fast, but we were working just as hard on my side of the garage and it’s finally been rewarded. It’s also great for the team morale to bookend the season with wins. It’s been pretty emotional to be fair, but we’ve still got the Sunflower Trophy races and Race of the Year at Mallory, and I intend to give the team two more results before the end of the year.”
Billy McConnell, “What can I say? It’s obviously not the result we wanted or the way we wanted to end the championship. But I knew that really I needed to win to have the best chance and Keith was really strong in the conditions as well. But it’s racing, it’s the way it goes sometimes, and today just wasn’t our day. We still managed second in the championship and we’ve had a good year; the bike’s been great, we’ve won a lot of races, and it’s been a lot of fun. So big thank you to the team and all of my sponsors for an amazing season and well done to Keith.”
Bradley Ray, “We’ve just been missing a little bit with the bike and our setup over the last few rounds. Obviously we know where we can be and have shown it this season, so it’s a little disappointing to end the year with the results we have. But we’re looking at the positives – we’ve been strong this year and have to be pleased with being in the Showdown. We’d have liked to have done better but we’ll go away now and have a break, before starting again for next year. There are some changes coming to the bike, which will help, and hopefully we can start 2019 as we started 2018. Congratulations to Cooper today, too. He rode an excellent race and deserved that win and its great for the team.”
Superbike race one result: 1. Glenn Irwin, 2. Jake Dixon, 3. Tarran Mackenzie, 11. Bradley Ray, DNF. Richard Cooper.
Superbike race two result: 1. Leon Haslam, 2. Tommy Bridewell, 3. Jason O’Halloran, 4. Richard Cooper, 8. Bradley Ray.
Superbike race three result: 1. Richard Cooper, 2. Tommy Bridewell, 3. Jake Dixon, 11. Bradley Ray.
Superstock race result: 1. Taylor Mackenzie, 2. Alex Olsen, 3. Michael Rutter, DNF. Billy McConnell.
More, from a press release issued by Tyco BMW:
TYCO BMW’S KEITH FARMER CROWNED SUPERSTOCK 1000 CHAMPION
Keith Farmer and the Tyco BMW team finished off the racing season in style by clinching the National Superstock 1000 title today during the final round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, once again confirming the credentials of the Tyco BMW S1000RR.
In a year that has seen the Northern Irish based team secure multiple International and National road racing wins aboard both the Tyco BMW liveried Superbike and Superstock S1000RR machinery, the Clougher rider added a fourth British Championship victory to that tally for both himself and the TAS Racing team.
Keith Farmer – #33 National Superstock 1000 Champion:
“It’s been emotional . . . when we got the board to say that Billy was out, I lost all concentration and went into the second turn 40mph too fast probably and lost the front! We came to win the championship and that’s what we have done, it’s nice to be able to reward the hard working Tyco BMW team with a fourth British Championship win. It’s also my fourth British Championship title, they don’t get any less meaningful by any means, but the one I want next is the Superbike title – so that’s the goal next year. As always thank you to the whole Tyco BMW team and sponsors for their continued hard work and support, along with my personal sponsors, who without I would not be where I am today.”
Christian Iddon rode through the pain of a recent broken collarbone injury to deliver another stunning performance in the Superbike class under incredibly difficult track conditions. The Stockport rider crossed the line in fourth and fifth place in today’s final two Superbike races of the 2018 season, placing him ninth in the overall standings ahead of team-mate Michael Laverty [13th] during a championship which has displayed some of the closest and challenging racing witnessed for years.
Christian Iddon – #21 British Superbike Rider:
“The last round of BSB has been a difficult weekend in terms of weather conditions but I had a great feeling with the bike all weekend. We made steady progress throughout the sessions to improve set-up and tyre wear so I was feeling pretty confident and we were achieving good lap times. We were hindered a little this weekend as a crash during qualifying further damaged my broken collarbone, coupled with a few niggly sensor issues certainly caused us not to get the results we were hoping for, or were capable of, but we have walked away with a fourth and a fifth which is a solid set of results. Thank you to the whole Tyco BMW team and associated sponsors and partners for all their hard work and dedication this year.”
Michael Laverty – #7 British Superbike Rider:
“That wasn’t how I wanted to finish the season. We are usually strong in the wet, but race one was difficult, I couldn’t find the grip I usually have, I had lots of moments and finally crashed out. We made some changes for race two that immediately felt better, I made a strong start but once again lost the rear with a similar crash to race one.”
Philip Neill – Team Manager:
“We certainly don’t do things the simple way at Tyco BMW but the end result is the 2018 National Superstock Championship and that will do nicely. Keith has been strong all season on the Tyco BMW and although we did make things difficult at some points during the season he managed to finish the job off in flamboyant style today.
After three years of coming close to the Superstock Championship it is fantastic to finally lift the title for BMW Motorrad and for our partners Tyco.
In the Superbike class we witnessed another truly amazing performance from Christian Iddon. After suffering further injury to his recently broken collarbone in a crash during qualifying on Saturday and then a technical issue in race one he gritted his teeth once again to record a fighting 4th and 5th places today and may have even challenged for a podium finish without some vision problems in race two. It was an unfortunate end to the season for Michael, he deserved more for his efforts this weekend and indeed throughout the season. BSB is a tough class and we gave 100% but were not blessed with the best of luck on either side of the garage at various points of the season.
I would like to thank our partners BMW Motorrad and Tyco for the much appreciated support we receive and indeed to each of our associate sponsors for their continued support. Finally to our amazing TAS Racing Team, it simply would not be possible with each and every one of you.”
More, from a press release issued by RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki:
Two podiums sees Dixon and RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki claim second overall
Jake Dixon and the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team wrapped up their 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship campaign in fine style at Brands Hatch over the weekend with two podium finishes seeing them clinch a superb second place overall in the series.
The weekend started well at the Kent venue for Jake as he recorded the fastest time across the three free practice sessions and he duly took pole position for Saturday’s 20-lap race, the first of three across the weekend, with a time of 1m24.699s putting him 0.177s clear of nearest rival Glenn Irwin.
A solid start to the opening race saw the 22-year old slot into second place behind Irwin and with Championship rival Leon Haslam down in seventh place, the title remained very much alive. As the race wore on though, Jake slipped back to third as he lost out to the Ducatis along the straight whilst Haslam moved up to sixth.
With four laps to go, Jake moved back ahead of Andrew Irwin to claim second and although he closed the gap to race leader Glenn Irwin, he had to settle for the runners-up spot, his 15th podium of the season. But with Haslam claiming sixth, it meant the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider took the 2018 BSB title.
Conditions were considerably different on Sunday with the 2.43-mile GP circuit hit by rain and gloomy weather but, lining up in pole position for the first race of the day, Jake ran in the top for the first half of the race before advancing forward. Indeed, lap 13 saw him take over third place and this soon became the lead but as he tipped into Clearways at the end of lap 14, he slid off fortunately without injury.
Starting the 26th and final race of 2018 from fifth on the grid, the weather had worsened again but the Ashby resident slotted into seventh at the end of the first lap and kept himself well in contention with the leading pack in the early laps. Indeed, just after half race distance he took over third place and this was where he ultimately finished to claim his 16th podium from 26 races and end his superb season in second place overall.
Jake Dixon: “It was nice to get pole position to make it three in a row and the speed was good all weekend with the bike working fantastically well so it was obviously disappointing for the title to be decided in the opening race. The Ducatis were very strong though and we were lacking a bit of top end speed so when Andrew (Irwin) came by me, it unsettled me a bit. It took me a while to get going again but whilst I tried to close the gap to Glenn, I ran out of time although I gave it everything I had – I left nothing out there, that’s for sure.”
“The conditions on Sunday were far from ideal and the crash in the first race put me on the back foot and I wasn’t prepared to push as much as the others. I did want to get one over Leon though so pushed hard to get him and it’s great to go out with a podium. The team did a great job all weekend as they have done all year and I can’t thank them enough. We’ve had a fantastic two years so to win the team award as well is the icing on the cake.”
Lee Hardy, Team Owner: “When we raced at the Brands GP circuit back in July we took a brace of fourths so it was clear the changes we’d made to the bike had worked but we were still lacking a bit of top end in the dry compared to the Ducatis. Jake was fast throughout the weekend so we were very pleased with second in race one although it was a shame we weren’t able to take the title race down to Sunday. Conditions were very poor all day after the sunshine the previous day and Jake’s tip off in the first race was certainly a big one.”
“Fortunately, he was ok but the bike wasn’t so lucky although the boys in the team did a great job in getting it ready for the final race of the season. It was cold and wet but Jake rode fantastically well and it was nice to be on the podium in the last race of 2018 and also for the team to win the Championship award. Of course, we would have loved Jake to have become BSB champion but we knew it was going to be tough and we’re only a small team with realistic expectations so to be fighting for the Championship right up until the final round is a terrific effort for all concerned, something everything can be proud of.”
The team have one more outing with Gary Johnson contesting the Macau Grand Prix which takes place on the 3.8-mile Guia circuit on 15-17 November.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (20 laps)
1 Glenn Irwin (Ducati)
2 Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki)
3 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)
4 Andrew Irwin (Ducati)
5 Peter Hickman (BMW)
6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (20 laps)
1 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
3 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)
4 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
5 Christian Iddon (BMW)
6 Peter Hickman (BMW)
DNF Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki)
Bennetts British Superbike Championship race three (20 laps)
1 Richard Cooper (Suzuki)
2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)
3 Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki)
4 Christian Iddon (BMW)
5 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
6 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)
Final Championship Standings (after 12 rounds)
1 Haslam 699pts
2 Dixon 629
3 Irwin 588
4 Brookes 584
5 Hickman 577
6 Ray 551