MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Donington Park, England September 9, 2012 Race Results: Superbike Race One: 1. Josh Brookes (Suz GSX-R1000), 7 laps, 10:36.914 2. Tommy Hill (Yam YZF-R1), -1.190 seconds 3. Michael Laverty (Hon CBR1000RR), -1.927 4. Stuart Easton (Kaw ZX-10R), -7.517 5. James Westmoreland (Hon CBR1000RR), -7.537 6. Alex Lowes (Hon CBR1000RR), -7.698 7. Jon Kirkham (Hon CBR1000RR), -8.106 8. Chris Walker (Kaw ZX-10R), -8.373 9. Tommy Bridewell (BMW S1000RR), -8.568 10. Barry Burrell (BMW S1000RR), -8.752 Superbike Race Two: 1. Josh Brookes (Suz GSX-R1000), 20 laps, 30:15.305 2. Michael Laverty (Hon CBR1000RR), -0.436 second 3. Tommy Hill (Yam YZF-R1), -10.302 seconds 4. Tommy Bridewell (BMW S1000RR), -14.026 5. Alex Lowes (Hon CBR1000RR), -14.508 6. James Westmoreland (Hon CBR1000RR), -15.361 7. Stuart Easton (Kaw ZX-10R), -15.797 8. Luca Scassa (Hon CBR1000RR), -18.352 9. Jon Kirkham (Hon CBR1000RR), -18.371 10. Chris Walker (Kaw ZX-10R), -19.485 Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Championship with Black Horse: 1. P.J. Jacobsen (Suz GSX-R1000), 15 laps, 24:06.866 2. Lee Johnston (Duc Panigale 1199), -0.001 second 3. Victor Cox (Kaw ZX-10R), -7.450 seconds 4. Lee Costello (Kaw ZX-10R), -7.947 5. Jason O’Halloran (Hon CBR1000RR), -8.340 6. Keith Farmer (Kaw ZX-10R), -9.140 7. Adam Jenkinson (Hon CBR1000RR), -9.415 8. Daniel Johnson (Kaw ZX-10R), -9.472 9. Steve Brogan (BMW S1000RR), -10.075 10. Gary Johnson (Hon CBR1000RR), -12.857 More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision: Round nine 9 September Donington Park BROOKES TAKES DOUBLE WIN AS LOWES AND BRIDEWELL CONFIRMED AS TITLE FIGHTERS Results Race one: 1: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 2: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +1.190s 3: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +1.927s 4: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +7.517s 5: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +7.537s 6: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +7.698s Race two: 1: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 2: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +0.436s 3: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +10.302s 4: Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +14.026s 5: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +14.508s 6: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +15.361s Championship standings: 1: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 535 2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 525 3: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 523 4: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 514 5: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) 502 6: Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) 500 Report Josh Brookes powered his Tyco Suzuki to a winning double in the crucial ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park which decided the final line up of the six Title Fighters who go forward to the Showdown for the crown which begins at Assen in two weeks time. Brookes took his first victory since a winning ride at Thruxton in race one as he took charge to head off the threats posed by rivals Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty aboard the Samsung Honda. Laverty took the fight to Brookes in the second race at the Leicestershire circuit, with an intense duel for supremecy, but the Aussie had the upper hand to complete the double from Laverty with Hill third. “It is pretty special to take a winning double in this championship,” said Brookes. “From the first session here the bike was perfect and I had a good feeling throughout. Now I am looking forward to getting to Assen and getting to the part that really counts.” Hill had already confirmed his Title Fighter status before this round and now has a ten point lead over Brookes going into the Showdown. Former two times title winner Shane “Shakey” Byrne also had his place secure but was sidelined at Donington Park as he recovers from a shoulder injury. The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider is set to return at Assen and lies third in the standings just two points behind his Australian rival with Laverty fourth. WFR Honda’s Alex Lowes maintained the form that he had shown in the previous round, taking sixth and fifth placings, to secure his place in the Showdown whilst Supersonic Racing BMW’s Tommy Bridewell with ninth and fourth places also made the cut. That means six different teams representing five different manufactures will fight for the title over the final three rounds. Ian Lowry saw his hopes ended when he crashed off his Padgetts Honda in the opening race while James Westmoreland on the second WFR Honda, despite strong rides, also missed out. Noriyuki Haga who bravely rode his Swan Yamaha through the pain of a broken collarbone in a vain bid to reach the Showdown failed to make the cut as did local rider Chris Walker and Stuart Easton on the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: SWAN YAMAHA’S HILL SCORES DOUBLE PODIUM AND LEADS AHEAD OF THE SHOWDOWN Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill scored a double podium finish for the fifth consecutive round by fighting for a second and third place finish at the ninth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park today. In both races Hill battled with his main title rivals to finish in second and third places as the defending champion continues to lead the standings by ten points ahead of the first round of the Showdown at Assen in two weeks’ time. Noriyuki Haga fought through the pain of his collarbone injury, but missed out on scoring points in race one by finishing in 21st position. In race two the team worked hard on making some setting changes which gave him a boost that saw him fighting inside the top ten until dropping to twelfth over the closing stages. Hill said: “Two podiums were what we needed today and it is nice to have a bit of a lead in the standings going in to the Showdown at Assen. You can’t pay too much attention to it though as anything can happen. Cadwell Park was my weekend to do the double and this weekend it was Josh Brookes. It has been a bit frustrating for us as we wanted to try and come away with two double wins but we still have that ten points over Josh so hopefully we can keep pushing on and come out on top at Assen. We have been struggling all weekend but we made a big change this morning, then we managed to pull something out of the bag.” Haga said: “I was very disappointed that my body was not 100% for this weekend and that I could not stay in a top six position. Up until race one I could not ride as well I would have liked as we couldn’t find the right setting and I had many moments when I almost high-sided then it made my shoulder painful again. My crew chief Mark found me a good setting for race two and then I felt better and really enjoyed the race. I will continue to try and heal some more for Assen and I really want get back on the podium there.” Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “I am pleased for Tommy as he had two strong podium finishes, especially after what has been a difficult weekend for us to make him comfortable with the setting, so I consider this a good result. I feel sorry for Noriyuki as he tried so hard but it was a big mountain to climb to try and get back into the top six with his injury. He impressed me how he came back again in race two, but for us we want to bring on the Showdown now. Podiums are still achievable for Nori and he can still play a big part in the outcome of the championship.” For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: American teenager PJ Jacobsen put the new Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 on the top step of the podium in thrilling fashion earlier today at the Donington Park British Superbike Championship in the National 1000cc Superstock class, taking the victory by a 1000th-of-a-second. The 18-year-old, who has set the British Championship paddock alight since his debut at Oulton Park in July, won the exciting closely-fought Superstock event on only his third appearance; a credit to his talent and how he has clicked with the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000. PJ Jacobsen: “That was a very enjoyable race. Lee to his credit was very strong on the brakes but I was way better on the exit of the turns with our set-up on the GSX-R1000. Sitting behind him I was able to see that his bike was moving about on the gas and I knew he’d take a tight entry into the last turn. I knew he’d either get a bit of a high-side or a tank-slapper on the exit, which is exactly what happened. I got good drive and used the kerbs and the grass to my advantage. It’s a great series and good to see all the other major manufacturers in it, which is making me love riding this big thousand Suzuki. I’m looking forward to Silverstone now.” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “What a race. We knew this kid had talent, but to come here having only completed a handful of laps at a track day and then win in one of the toughest classes in British Championship is something very special. It was one of the best race finishes I’ve seen for a very long time, but I wouldn’t want to do it that way every weekend. It was the tightest margin possible and every credit to Lee Johnston for a great race, but a win is a win at the end of the day and it’s always nice to put the new GSX-R1000 on the top step of the podium. Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Results: 1 PJ Jacobsen [Tyco Suzuki] 24:06.866; 2 Lee Johnston [Ducati] +0.001sec; 3 Victor Cox [Kawasaki] +7.449. More, from a press release issued by Honda: MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 09 SUNDAY 09 SEPTEMBER DONINGTON PARK Weather: Sunny, warm, dry Temperature: Ambient 25 degrees C / Track 44 degrees C DOUBLE PODIUM FOR LAVERTY AS LOWES JOINS HIM IN THE SHOWDOWN Michael Laverty powered in third and then second places in the crucial ninth round of the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship to take fourth place in the “title fighter” rankings as he heads into the Showdown sequence which begins later in the month at Assen. Suzuki’s Josh Brookes won both races in warm conditions. Joining Laverty among the elite six riders who will battle for the country’s premier crown is WFR Honda rider Alex Lowes who secured his place with determined rides into sixth and fifth placings which put him in fifth place in the rankings. Samsung Honda rider Laverty was always at the heart of the action in the two races at the Leicestershire circuit, and that despite having to overcome a tumble in the third element of the grid deciding session that left him with a third row start and an early uphill struggle in the opening race. In race one Laverty fought through from seventh on the opening lap to be running in fourth place after seven laps, and then was up to third, adrift of Brookes and Tommy Hill when the race was stopped by an oil spill at Craner Curves. Brookes led throughout the re-start over seven laps ahead of Hill and Laverty with James Westmoreland taking fifth ahead of his team-mate Lowes and Jon Kirkham aboard the second Samsung Honda. Luca Scassa ran eleventh on the Padgett’s Honda, but his team-mate Ian Lowry saw his hopes of making the cut for the Showdown ended as he crashed out of contention. Laverty, whose first race pace secured a front row start for the second, made a good start but soon Brookes was ahead at the Melbourne Hairpin, prompting a race long duel for supremacy. Brookes had the edge till half distance when Laverty snatched the initiative, holding the lead for five laps before Brookes took over out front. Laverty had to settle for second place, half a second down, while Lowes ran fifth just ahead of Westmoreland while Scassa, having one of his best days of the season in BSB took eighth ahead of Kirkham while Lowry struggled into sixteenth place. These races confirmed the six “title fighters” going into the Assen round. Hill is leading the way into the Showdown on 535 points from Brookes 525, Shane Byrne who missed these races through injury on 523. Laverty is fourth on 514 with Lowes and 502 and BMW riding Tommy Bridewell on 500. HONDA RIDER QUOTES Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda): Race results: 3rd / 2nd Championship position: 4th “These are solid results though I gave myself a lot of work with the tumble and third row start for the first race, but after a poor start I was back in the hunt and scoring a podium credit point. In the second race I made a little mistake and that gave Josh Brookes half a second. He rode strongly all weekend, but we worked hard and going into the Showdown we are by no means out of the hunt and I am looking forward to going to Assen. We’ve played around with the bike a lot and we are moving on with a strong package.” Alex Lowes (WFR Honda): Race results: 6th / 5th Championship position: 5th “We scored the points needed to make the showdown and in the end it was comfortable though I was a bit nervous coming into this weekend as so much depended on it. I am happy enough with these results and am ready now for the challenges of Assen.” Jon Kirkham (Samsung Honda): Race results: 7th / 9th Championship position: 13th “It was good to qualify on the front row of the grid and I had good pace then, but in the races while I was good in the first two sectors, I lost time in the third and that was frustrating as this is my home circuit. I made a mess of the start in the first race and cooked my tyre in the second and I couldn’t stay with the leading pack.”