MCE British Superbike Championship Knockhill Circuit Scotland, United Kingdom June 16, 2013 Superbike Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 30 laps, 24:43.134 2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -1.069 seconds 3. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR), -5.013 4. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -16.821 5. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -19.033 6. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -23.733 7. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -24.080 8. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -24.214 9. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -24.265 10. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -24.711 11. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -26.023 12. Michael Rutter, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -32.797 13. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), -33.041 14. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199), -34.003 15. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -35.202 16. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Hon CBR1000RR), -37.787 17. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap 18. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -1 lap 19. Josh Waters, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -4 laps 20. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), -5 laps, DNF 21. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -13 laps, DNF 22. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -16 laps, DNF 23. Michael Howarth, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -27 laps, DNF Superbike Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 30 laps, 24:37.718 2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -0.814 second 3. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR), -8.637 seconds 4. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -12.723 5. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -15.620 6. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -19.802 7. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -23.382 8. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), -23.867 9. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -24.092 10. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -31.060 11. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199), -31.121 12. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -31.930 13. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -37.676 14. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap 15. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -1 lap 16. Michael Howarth, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -3 laps 17. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Hon CBR1000RR), -5 laps, DNF 18. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), -5 laps, DNF 19. Josh Waters, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -20 laps, DNF 20. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -21 laps, DNF 21. Michael Ruttter, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -30 laps 22. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -30 laps 23. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -30 laps Motorpoint British Supersport Race Two Results: 1. Ben Wilson (Kaw ZX-6R), 26 laps 2. Stuart Easton (Yam YZF-R6), -1.459 seconds 3. Billy McConnell (Tri Daytona 675R), -5.340 4. Alastair Seeley (Kaw ZX-6R), -5.475 5. Graeme Gowland (Yam YZF-R6), -5.860 6. Richard Cooper (Tri Daytona 675R), -8.498 7. Glenn Irwin (Yam YZF-R6), -10.464 8. Luke Mossey (Tri Daytona 675R), -10.761 9. Luke Stapleford (Tri Daytona 675R), -11.269 10. Scott Smart (Tri Daytona 675R), -14.419 The results of other Americans competing at Knockhill: Tommy Aquino rode his Team WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R to eighth place in the 17-lap Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship race. Aquino finished 9.398 seconds behind race winner Tristan Palmer. Jayson Uribe rode his Rock and Sons Racing Honda RS125 to 13th in the 22-lap Monster Energy British Motostar Championship race. Uribe finished one lap down to race winner Jordan Weaving. More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision: Round 4 Knockhill Sunday 16 June BYRNE’S DAY IN SCOTLAND WITH EMOTIONAL DOUBLE AS KIYO RETURNS Results Race one: 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +1.069s 3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +5.013s 4: Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +16.821s 5: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +19.033s 6: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +23.733s Race two: 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.814s 3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +8.637s 4: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +12.723s 5: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +15.620s 6: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +19.802s Championship standings 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 166 2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 136 3: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 130 4: James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 80 5: Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) 76 6: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 65 Report Knockhill was packed to the rafters to witness reigning champion Shane “Shakey” Byrne celebrate a double win at the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in Scotland as he took the lead in the overall standings before dedicating his performance to his wife who underwent surgery on raceday. The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider had bettered his own seven year old out right fastest lap to take pole position for the opening race but he was out-gunned at the start by Aussie Josh Brookes who led for Tyco Suzuki until closing stages. Byrne and Brookes made contact before the reigning champion snatched the lead at the Hairpin, he then held off his Australian rival to take the victory. Byrne said: “My wife Petra called me five minutes before I went into that race to say sorry I can’t be with you, but get a good result and be safe. To hear her was magic and that fired me up and I really wanted to win the race for her.” Brookes took second ahead of the rejuventated Ryuichi Kiyonari, returning refreshed from time back home in Japan to take his first podium of the season. It was consolation for the Samsung Honda team who had seen Alex Lowes crash out of contention at half distance. Despite starting from the second row, Byrne made a stunning start to take the lead into the first corner of the second race and control the race from the front, reacting strongly in the closing stages as Brookes threatened to close him down. Byrne took his sixth victory of the season, while Kiyonari was showing the form that had taken him three times to the MCE BSB crown as he again took third place, ahead of his team-mate Lowes. The podium for both races represented the international talent in the Championship with Britain, Australia and Japan locking out the top three positions. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha: TOUGH DAY AT THE KNOCKHILL OFFICE FOR MILWAUKEE YAMAHA Milwaukee Yamaha left the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill disappointed after two challenging races despite hard work from the team during the event. The weekend had been tough for the team as they worked hard to close the gap to their title rivals, with the demanding and short nature of the Knockhill circuit meaning that the smallest of margins are exaggerated over the 49 second lap. In the opening race of the weekend James Ellison fought to try and move up the order from his thirteenth on the grid, pushing on to secure a seventh place. In race two he had aspirations of further improvements but after making a lightening start his hopes were dashed with a crash at Leslies. Josh Waters also had his hopes of making steps forward shattered in both races, finishing nineteenth in the first race before retiring in race two. Ellison said: “It has been a disappointing weekend for me. I came here with bags of confidence after our run of good results and a nice break where I kept busy on the MX bike to stay bike fit, but despite that, things just didn’t click for us from the start. At this level you cannot afford to be on the back foot. I tried my hardest in race one but from thirteenth on the grid at a tight circuit like Knockhill, seventh was all we could do. As for race two, with starting from eighth on the grid, I knew if I got in the top five on lap one I could push with the front four so I made a great start. Going into turn two I was tight on the inside curb when Chris (Walker) seemed to just stop mid turn and I hit the back of his bike. I’m gutted for the whole Milwaukee Yamaha team as we shouldn’t be fighting just for top seven finishes. We will group together and test before Snetterton to make sure this doesn’t happen again. It’s just a blip, we will be back!” Waters said: “It really has been a tough weekend for me and although we have worked through some changes to try and help it just hasn’t come together. I obviously feel disappointed for the Milwaukee Yamaha team because we were hoping that this weekend we could turn things around to give us a bit of a boost. Hopefully we can test before Snetterton again as we want to be moving up the order as it is so important now to be scoring good points to try and make the Showdown.” Team Co-ordinator Mick Shanley concluded: “Unfortunately Knockhill has been the worst weekend of the year for us so far. In both races James’s performances really were a consequence of his qualifying, because with a short lap here it is hard to make up positions. He was trying to make positions up in the second race and he just got caught out really. We need to try and find a solution to make Josh a bit more comfortable to give him some more confidence, but we are a strong team and we will do whatever we can to solve it. We want to turn it around at Snetterton.” For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com More, from a press release issued by Honda: MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 04 SUNDAY 16 JUNE KNOCKHILL Weather: Sunny,warm Temperature: Ambient degrees 17C, Track degrees 29C DOUBLE PODIUM JOY FOR KIYONARI FOR LOWES SLIPS Ryuichi Kiyonari enjoyed his best results for far this season as he powered in a pair of third place finishes at the Scottish fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill today. But the former three times title winner’s strong performances for the Samsung Honda team were balanced by disappointment for Alex Lowes who tipped off in the opening race and then took fourth place in the second race, losing his lead in the title stakes and slipping to third place overall. Kiyonari, returning from a holiday back home in Japan, had tested twice earlier in the week before heading north to the Fife circuit where he finally achieved his real potential after what had been a difficult start to the campaign for him. Lowes had the better of qualifying, setting third best time, a third of a second down on Shane Byrne who had bettered his own seven year old lap record to take a pole position start while Kiyonari ran fifth fastest, to start from the second row. Suzuki’s Josh Brookes made the running in the first 30 lap race ahead of Byrne with Lowes third ahead of Kiyonari but at half distance disaster struck for Lowes when he lost the front end of his machine at the Hairpin and was down and out. Kiyonari had third place, while Byrne took the victory from Brookes. Kiyonari’s pace in the opener gave him a front row start for the second race, but Byrne, en route to completing the daily double, and Brookes both made better get-aways to leave him in third place, running ahead of Lowes throughout the race. Peter Hickman and Dan Linfoot were the best of the rest of Honda riders. Riding in Lloyds British GBmoto colours, Hickman took tenth and ninth while Linfoot was eighth and twelfth. Tommy Bridewell, eleventh in the opener was a non-starter in the second race due to an electronics problem on his Bathams backed bike while Rutter tumbled on the first lap after earlier running twelfth. Honda rider quotes Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) Race results 3rd/3rd Championship position 7th – 59points “To take this double podium is very pleasing but I want better results next time out. For sure I am very happy and now I hope for more better results and will be trying to do my best to go faster in the next race as I want wins. I try now to improve my performances in every round to build on these results. It will be difficult but I will work hard. The difference now is some me, some my bike. I push hard as I have better understanding of the bike.” Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) Race results dnf/4th Championship position 3rd – 130 points “In the first race I was going good but was struggling in the last sector compared to Byrne and Brookes and the tumble was just unlucky. We made some changes for the second race but they didn’t work as well as we had hoped but if you can’t be third you may as well be fourth because points are important for the championship especially here, a circuit where I have struggled in the past. It is never nice to drop back in the standings but I used my head as points are more important than having another crash.” More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport: Byrne Dedicates Knockhill Double To His Sick Wife Reigning MCE British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne produced a scintillating performance to claim a double victory at round four of the series held at Knockhill in Scotland today. Aboard the Rapid Solicitors and Minxflix-backed Kawasaki ZX-10R, the 36-year-old Sittingbourne rider was in stunning form throughout the weekend which saw him claim pole position as well as his second double victory of the season and in the process, not only did he regain the series lead but Shakey left the Fife circuit with a 30 point lead after claiming win number six of the season. The feat was made even more impressive as Byrne was coping with wife Petra being taken seriously ill and admitted to hospital just prior to the weekend meaning team boss Paul Bird provided a stand-by helicopter in case Byrne needed to leave the Fife track to be at his wife’s bedside. Luckily, she improved sufficiently which allowed the triple British champion to go on to claim the 11th double BSB victory of his career and 47th outright MCE BSB victory. After taking pole position in Saturday’s dry but cool conditions, race day saw the packed Scottish venue blessed by good weather and Byrne rode a text book first race to take the victory from Josh Brookes. Having shadowed his rival for much of the race, Shakey sealed the win on the 26th of 30 laps with an overtaking manoeuvre at the hairpin and he eventually ran out winner by a second. Race two saw Byrne grab the lead at the very first corner and from there he was never headed. Extending his lead on each lap, Shakey had a 2.5 second advantage going into the final third of the race and was able to ease off in the closing stages to take a comfortable seventh victory at the track, exactly ten years after he did a double for the same PBM team on the MonsterMob Ducati. Team-mate Keith Farmer had a mixed weekend with his strongest result of the season first time out offset by a disappointing second encounter. The 25-year-old rider from Clogher in County Tyrone qualified strongly in eighth place for race one and went even better in the first 30-lap race to take a career-best fourth place. He looked on course to take another top six result in race two later in the day but ran into the gravel at the hairpin on lap 14 to slip back to 15th but regrouped to finish in 13th at the chequered flag. Shane Byrne: “It’s the first time in eight years Petra hasn’t been with me at a race meeting but I went into the first race happier than I have been for the last few days after she rang me up with some words of encouragement. In the first race, I made a mistake when I first tried to overtake Josh but second time around I was able to make a good, clean pass and open up a gap. The second race pretty much went to plan and although it’s never easy I felt comfortable leading from the front. The wins today are definitely for Petra. Keith Farmer: “It’s been a lot better weekend for me and the time off since the last round has definitely helped me. I’ve relaxed a lot more and got myself a lot more settled both on and off the bike rather than beating myself up all the time. It was unfortunate in the first race that Alex Lowes and Jon Kirkham crashed out ahead of me but that’s racing and I was delighted to take fourth. In the second race, there was a problem with grip from the rear from the outset and I had to push the limits that little bit more. I was trying to make up time where I shouldn’t and ended up running into the gravel but overall, it was good to finish both races and get some good points on the board.” More information including bike, team and rider profiles, race calendar etc can be found at the team’s brand new website www.pbmuk.net. The official website of the 2013 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is at www.britishsuperbike.com. More, from a press release issued by Smiths Racing Team: McConnell Salvages Podium For Smiths Triumph At Knockhill The Smiths Racing Triumph Team had a tough weekend at round four of the 2013 Motorpoint British Supersport Championship at Knockhill in Scotland with Billy McConnell’s third place in race two being the best result the Gloucester team achieved. More concerning, however, was the injury to reigning Motorpoint British Supersport champion Glen Richards after the 39 year old crashed out in Saturday’s sprint race and eliminated himself from the rest of the weekend with damage to his arm and shoulder. Saturday’s qualifying session saw the pair of Australians take first and third with McConnell claiming his second pole of the year but later in the day, the race started in the worst possible fashion when Richards suffered a freak crash on the warm-up lap which ultimately ruled him out for the remainder of the weekend. McConnell was challenging for second place in the early stages of the race only to find himself shuffled back to seventh by half race distance and when the race was stopped on lap 13, he had to settle for what was his worst result of the season of seventh place and just nine championship points aboard the Smiths Racing Triumph Daytona 675R. With the shoulder injury ruling Richards out of today’s race, it was left to McConnell to fly the flag for the team and he did exactly that with a truly spirited performance. Second on the opening lap, the Adelaide rider found himself pushed back to fourth with just a quarter of the race distance to go but he fought hard and after exchanging places on a couple of occasions, he finally took third place off Alastair Seeley to claim his fifth podium of the season. Billy McConnell: “I ran the same compound tyre as Glen in the first race and nearly ended up in the gravel with him so I was very lucky. The drizzle didn’t help me whilst we also had a bit of damage to one of the fork legs from a previous crash so it wasn’t the greatest of races to be honest. Today was a lot better and I dug really deep to catch Seeley whilst the bike worked really well as the tyres got worn. Seeley and I swapped paint a few times but I made the pass stick in the end and it was good to repay the team for all their hard work especially with Glen being on the sidelines. I was a bit lucky to get third but this time the race worked in our favour. We still need to do a little bit of work just to find that last little bit but we’re a lot closer now than at the beginning of the year and aren’t a million miles away.” Glen Richards: “We both opted for the zero compound tyre on Saturday as we felt it would be better for the overall race distance but it just hadn’t got up to the necessary temperature and caught me out before I could do anything about it. Unfortunately, as well as taking Jason O’Halloran down with me, I also landed hard on my shoulder and although I tried to ride on Sunday morning it just wasn’t possible. I’ve chipped my humerus bone and with damage to the ligaments and tendons as well there was simply no strength at all. It’s very frustrating as the bike was working well but I’ll go and see my specialist next week and look to return as soon as possible.” Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: “The weekend didn’t start well for us with an engine failure and two crashes on Friday and that pretty much set the tone for the weekend. Qualifying went well and we were more optimistic but the tyres that Glen and Billy opted for just weren’t the right ones for the conditions. Glen unfortunately got caught out and the injuries were quite bad so we’re hoping the visit to the specialist next week will give some indication as to the recovery period. “Billy rode well all weekend with his ride today being very good indeed. The development work we’ve done is clearly paying dividends and has left Glen even more frustrated as we’re now one of the quickest bikes through the speed trap but it’s been a wearing, costly weekend. Billy’s podium has lifted the spirits of the team and is a reward for everyone’s hard work.” As a result, McConnell dropped to fourth place in the series but just one point behind double winner Ben Wilson and still only 33 behind series leader Stuart Easton. Richards holds sixth place in the standings going into the next round at Snetterton on July 5/7th. For further information please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk or the official championship website www.britishsuperbike.com.