British Superbike World Championship Oulton Park, Great Britain July 17 Race One Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires): 1. Tommy HILL (Yamaha), 15 laps, 28:36.674 2. Josh BROOKES (Suzuki), -5.492 3. Michael RUTTER (Ducati), -5.669 4. Shane BYRNE (Honda), -5.755 0.086 84.39 1:48.735 12 5. Gary MASON (Kawasaki), -6.789 6. Michael LAVERTY (Yamaha), -7.128 7. Loris BAZ (Yamaha), -13.055 8. James WESTMORELAND (Yamaha), -18.699 9. Jon KIRKHAM (Suzuki), -18.960 10. Scott SMART (Ducati), -21.619, EVO 11. James ELLISON (Honda), -21.785 12. Glen RICHARDS (Honda), -22.338, EVO 13. Alex LOWES (Kawasaki), -25.998 14. Chris WALKER (Kawasaki), -26.858 15. Ryuichi KIYONARI (Honda), -29.974 16. Graeme GOWLAND (Honda), -35.225, EVO 17. Jake ZEMKE (Honda), -36.438, EVO 18. Hudson KENNAUGH (Aprilia), -47.262, EVO 19. Barry BURRELL (BMW), -62.560, EVO 20. Dan KNEEN (Kawasaki), -64.843, EVO 26. John HOPKINS (Suzuki), -11 laps, DNF More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: SWAN YAMAHA’S HILL VICTORIOUS AT OULTON PARK Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill won the only race at the seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park today after the second race was postponed due to the treacherous weather conditions. In the race Hill got off to a flying start from second on the grid as he settled into third place and was instantly putting the pressure on title rivals Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and John Hopkins ahead of him. On the fifth lap Hill stole third place but as Hopkins crashed out of the lead that elevated Hill to second place. He was then able to put a move on Byrne to take the lead and then following a short Safety Car intervention he edged out an advantage to take his first win at the Cheshire track. Michael Laverty meanwhile was running down the order on the opening lap after a problem with his launch control at the start but he worked his way up to finish some solid points in sixth place on the second Swan Yamaha. The second race of the day has been rescheduled to the Cadwell Park August Bank Holiday round. Hill said: “I just pushed on in the race; it was never going to be easy but it feels great to have the Swan Yamaha back on the top step of the podium. The conditions weren’t the best with the rain but I just had to keep my concentration and just make sure I didn’t crash. I think the team probably wanted me to slow down but I just didn’t want to lose that win! I knew I could get into a good rhythm and I was taking a few risks to stay ahead of the others, especially after the safety car but it was enough to break them.” Laverty said: “The race was disappointing for me, especially to finish sixth when we knew we had potential to be on the podium. I had a bad start as I had a problem with my launch control off the line and it meant I dropped outside the top ten and I had to work my way back up. When the safety car came out I lost temperature in my rear tyre and then it took a few laps to regain it which meant I lost ground on the others and had to settle for sixth. We have been fast all weekend but sixth means we scored points for the championship and we remained inside the top six in the standings which was the priority.” Team Manager Gary Ekerold concluded: “Today it was very difficult in those conditions however the team adapted better than we have had previously in similar situations and both riders had the pace to challenge for our first 1-2 finish of the season. It was great for Tommy to win and Michael would have been up there too I believe had it not been for a problem. It was disappointing to have the second race cancelled but now we look forward to Brands Hatch and the triple-header round we will now have at Cadwell Park.” More, from a press release issued by Honda: MCE INSURANCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND 07 SUNDAY 17 JULY OULTON PARK Weather: Heavy rain Temperature: Ambient 14 degrees C / Track 18 degrees C Weekend attendance: 25,000 BYRNE CONSOLIDATES CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD BUT KIYONARI STRUGGLES IN RAIN Shane Byrne consolidated his lead in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at a rain soaked Oulton Park as he took a strong fourth place in the only race of the seventh round, but his HM Plant Honda team-mate, reigning three times champion, Ryuichi Kiyonari, struggled in the increasingly difficult conditions. Yamaha’s Tommy Hill took the single race win from the Suzuki rider Josh Brooks in the wet going. The Cheshire circuit had been hit by changeable conditions across the weekend, but Byrne had been well on the pace throughout and in the grid deciding session secured a front row start, fourth fastest, as he lapped some three quarters of a second down on his Suzuki riding title rival John Hopkins who took the pole start at record breaking pace. Kiyonari, confident and strong, was eased back into fifth place, heading up the second row of the grid, but after the dry of Saturday afternoon, race day dawned wet with Byrne running eighth fastest and Kiyonari a distant twentieth in the morning warm-up session. The race began in pouring rain, but Byrne made a perfect start to be leading the pack on the opening lap ahead of Hopkins, Yamaha rider Tommy Hill and Michael Rutter on the Ducati, while Kiyonari was running in tenth place. Hopkins nosed ahead of Byrne on the fourth lap, but next time around slid off under braking at Lodge Corner. Byrne was back in front, but not for long as Hill found a little extra grip to take over out front on the sixth lap and then dictated terms taking his fourth victory of the season by some 5.492secs over Josh Brookes aboard a Suzuki. Byrne looked to have third place, but Rutter nipped ahead of him at Lodge Corner on the last lap and won the dash to the line by 0.086secs. Kiyonari was also having problems, blaming a lack of heat in his rear tyre as he slipped down the pack, salvaging a single point as he crossed the line in fifteenth place. James Ellison, making his seasonal debut into the series amid his World Supersport commitments, took eleventh place on the Sorrymate.com Honda while Glen Richards, the leader of the BSB-EVO class, running just adrift of him, had to be content with second place in class for his WFR Honda as Ducati riding Scott Smart took the victory. Given the worsening conditions as the afternoon continued, race officials decided on safety grounds to abandon the meeting ahead of the running of the scheduled second Superbike race. Byrne, given the demise of Hopkins, extended his lead in the standings to 32 points, but Kiyonari slips into fifth place, only 10 points up on Brookes, at a time when the focus of everyone is to ensure a place among the top six going into the “Showdown” title deciding sequence which begins after the ninth round at Cadwell Park, which will now include the postponed second race from Oulton Park. Honda rider quotes after the race: Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda): “I honestly can’t believe I led some of the laps in the race as it wasn’t easy. I battled for the podium and I have never had so many near crashes in one race in my career. We just need to improve our wet setting and it wasn’t helped with the changing conditions over the weekend. We took a gamble on our setting for the race and it was faster than we were yesterday. The team did a great job to get a better feeling for me with the rear tyre and fourth place meant good points for our championship, especially as John Hopkins crashed. I was disappointed to get knocked off the podium in the race on the last lap, but with the issues we were having it wasn’t a bad result.” Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda): “Today was disappointing as we had a problem getting heat into the rear tyre and it meant I just couldn’t push as hard as I wanted to. I am happy with the machine setting, but in the wet it just didn’t work out today. I think if it had been dry we would have been able to challenge for the win. Riders were able to pass me and there was nothing I could do about it, but at least I was still able to stay in the top six in the standings, which is so important.” RESULTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE RACE1: POS / RIDER / NAT / MOTORCYCLE / TIME / GAP 1 / TOMMY HILL / GBR / YAMAHA – SWAN YAMAHA / 28:36.674 / 2 / JOSH BROOKES / AUS / SUZUKI – RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS / 28:42.166 / 5.492 3 / MICHAEL RUTTER / GBR / DUCATI – RAPID SOLICITORS BATHAMS DUCATI / 28:42.343 / 5.669 4 / SHANE BYRNE / GBR / HONDA – HM PLANT HONDA / 28:42.429 / 5.755 5 / GARY MASON / GBR / KAWASAKI – MSS COLCHESTER KAWASAKI / 28:43.463 / 6.789 6 / MICHAEL LAVERTY / GBR / YAMAHA – SWAN YAMAHA / 28:43.802 / 7.128 7 / LORIS BAZ / FRA / YAMAHA – MOTORPOINT YAMAHA / 28:49.729 / 13.055 8 / JAMES WESTMORELAND / GBR / YAMAHA – MOTORPOINT YAMAHA / 28:55.373 / 18.699 9 / JON KIRKHAM / GBR / SUZUKI – SAMSUNG CRESCENT RACING / 28:55.634 / 18.960 10 / SCOTT SMART / GBR / DUCATI – MOTO RAPIDO DUCATI / 28:58.293 / 21.619 11 / JAMES ELLISON / GBR / HONDA – TEAM SORRYMATE.COM / 28:58.459 / 21.785 12 / GLEN RICHARDS / AUS / HONDA – TEAM WFR / 28:59.012 / 22.338 13 / ALEX LOWES / GBR / KAWASAKI – MSS COLCHESTER KAWASAKI / 29:02.672 / 25.998 14 / CHRIS WALKER / GBR / KAWASAKI – PR1MO RACING / 29:03.532 / 26.858 15 / RYUICHI KIYONARI / JPN / HONDA – HM PLANT HONDA / 29:06.648 / 29.974 Fastest lap: TOMMY HILL GBR YAMAHA – SWAN YAMAHA LAP 13 1:47.622 144.92 Km/h RACE2 Postponed due to weather conditions and now to be run at ROUND 09 SUNDAY AUGUST 28 CADWELL PARK CHAMPIONSHIP POSITIONS TO DATE: 1 BYRNE 214, 2 HOPKINS 182, 3 HILL 165, 4 LAVERTY 129, 5 KIYONARI 121, 6 BROOKES 111, 7 KIRKHAM 91, 8 MASON 90, 9 EASTON 89, 10 BAZ 88, 11 RUTTER 88, 12 HICKMAN 85, 13 WALKER 64, 14 LINFOOT 49, 15 WESTMORELAND 47. NEXT EVENT: ROUND 08 SUNDAY AUGUST 7 BRANDS HATCH More, from a press release issued by Samsung Crescent Racing: OULTON PARK BSB: RAIN STOPS PLAY Samsung Crescent Racing’s John Hopkins suffered a crash in race one at a rain-hit 2011 British Superbikes championship meeting at Oulton Park today. Although uninjured, Hopkins was unable to continue in that race. With high winds and rain battering the circuit, the meeting was abandoned before the second race was run. Hopkins’ team-mate Jon Kirkham rode well to secure a ninth place and sufficient points to lift him to seventh in the BSB championship standings. After promising much, race day at the seventh round of the 2011 BSB championship was hit by strong winds and rain. The only BSB race was run in wet conditions but, as he promised, Hopkins started well, leaping off pole position to take the holeshot. Hopkins was building a lead when he was unlucky enough to slide off at Lodge Corner on the seventh lap. Jon Kirkham had started that race from P13 and after finishing lap one in 14th fought his way back to ninth to score some solid championship-bolstering points. The meeting was abandoned after the race stewards and team managers met to discuss the safety implications of continuing the meeting in such inclement conditions. All agreed the meeting had to abandoned and the lost races will now be rescheduled as part of the August Bank Holiday meeting at Cadwell Park. John Hopkins: “Going into that first race I was feeling confident. I got off to a decent start and I gave it a lap or two to find my feet, during which time Shane Byrne came past. My objective then was to make a clean pass on Byrne and to build a lead. I wanted to make a break and avoid any havoc that might come later in the race. “I was doing nothing adventurous when I slid off at Lodge Corner. Our data logging showed I was 3km/h slower than my previous entry speed and I was in fact braking lighter, but the front just went away. Sometimes in racing that’s just the way it goes. “My only regret is that we didn’t have that second race so I could make amends. But I agree with the decision to abandon. And I’ve still plenty of positives to take away from the weekend. I’m very happy with how my bike and the team are performing. We’re still in a very strong position in this championship.” Jon Kirkham: “The conditions today were treacherous, I just wanted to finish that first race. There wasn’t much to it other than to do your best. I’d have liked to have ridden a second race as well as we’d worked on some settings for a better wet set-up, and I was sure I could get a good result with a bit of a push but I respect the decision. “So, on balance a positive ride for me today. To score some vital points and to jump back up to seventh in the standings isn’t a bad outcome.” Jack Valentine, team manager: “A dismal day. The rain and winds ro bbed us of what could have been a spectacular day’s racing. “Nonetheless, Hopper showed us his true potential this weekend, topping every practice, then qualifying then leading the race. He’s shown he means business and is a serious contender for the championship. He was extremely unlucky to crash, he was doing nothing wrong, all our data showed us it was situation normal in the cockpit. Hopper was just victim to the variability in the conditions. “I was happy to see JK put in a good ride, too. It may not seem so dazzling ninth but it was a strong mature ride in difficult conditions and it achieved what was needed, JK’s back up to seventh in the championship. From there with some decent results he can yet make the top-six in time for the Showdown.” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Josh Brookes continued his good run of form with a second-successive British Superbike podium with second place earlier today at Oulton Park in race one before the meeting was abandoned due to standing water on the circuit. The second race is now re-scheduled to run as part of an exciting triple-header at Cadwell Park on August 27- 29. The very same day, the Top-Six Shoot-Out will be decided for the final three rounds of the Championship. The opening Superbike race was run in wet and tricky conditions and while others faltered, Brookes bravely forced his way through from the third row of the grid, setting numerous fastest laps in the process. Unfortunately the safety car was deployed at half-race distance, unsettling his momentum when already up to fourth place – and possibly looking on course for his debut win for the team. When the race got back underway on lap 10, Brookes immediately moved up to second place, but then felt it better to air on the side of caution, guaranteeing himself 20 valuable championship points and a couple of podium credits. Josh Brookes: “It was not nice out there today, but we’re obviously happy with another strong podium. From my grid position I had to take a few risks to get up to where I was when the safety car came out, but I wasn’t prepared to gamble again as I’d already had too many moments. I saw Shakey having problems and Hopper obviously went down so I just backed it off and brought the big GSX-R1000 home. The second race being cancelled could play into our favour as I like Cadwell, but you can’t count your chickens…” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It’s a good feeling for everyone in the team that we were very competitive all weekend and especially in the wet. But it’s also very disappointing to lose out on the second race, which we feel we could have won. It was nice to see Josh coming through like he did and was the fastest rider on track until the pace car came out, which always changes things. He did the right thing though to bring it home when Tommy got the jump on them all, but as I say, we’ve had a great wet-weather set-up on our GSX-R machinery this past three years and we really were confident of a win in race two. “It’s a bit disappointing also for Alastair Seeley to lose out on the second Supersport race that was cancelled, as he too is very strong in the wet and he deserved a second chance after getting robbed of victory on Saturday. No doubt he will get an extra race this season somewhere on the calendar to make up for it. It was a wise decision to stop the meeting on safety grounds and we’ve come away with two podiums and no damaged machinery so we can’t complain. “And better still, the weekend ended perfectly when we got the news big Darren Clarke from Northern Ireland won the Open Golf Championship!” British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, race one result: 1. Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 2.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +5.492s 3.Michael Rutter (Ducati) +5.669s 4.Shane Byrne (Honda) +5.755s 5.Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +6.789s 6.Michael Laverty (Yamaha) +7.128s 7.Loris Baz (Yamaha) +13.055s 8.James Westmoreland (Yamaha) +18.699s 9.Jon Kirkham (Suzuki) +18.960s 10. Scott Smart (Ducati) +21.619s British Superbike Championship Points: 1. Shane Byrne (Honda) 214 2.John Hopkins (Suzuki) 182 3.Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 165 4.Michael Laverty (Yamaha) 129 5.Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 121 6.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 111 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Samsung Crescent Racing’s John Hopkins slid-out of the opening race at today’s rain-lashed British Superbike Championship round at Oulton Park in Cheshire while leading and on-course for a win.. Although uninjured, he was unable to continue; and with high winds and rain battering the circuit, the meeting was abandoned before the second race. Hopkins’ team-mate Jon Kirkham rode well to secure a ninth-placed finish and sufficient points to lift him into seventh in the BSB Championship Standings. After promising much, race day at the seventh round of the 2011 BSB Championship was hit by strong winds and rain. The only BSB race was run in wet conditions but, as he promised, Hopkins started well; leaping off Pole Position to take the holeshot. Hopkins was building a lead when he was unlucky enough to crash at Lodge Corner on the seventh lap. Kirkham had started that race from 13th, and, after finishing lap one in 14th, fought his way back to ninth to score some solid Championship-bolstering points. The meeting was abandoned after the race stewards and team managers met to discuss the safety implications of continuing the meeting in such inclement conditions. All agreed, the meeting had to abandoned and the lost races will now be re-scheduled as part of the August Bank Holiday meeting at Cadwell Park. John Hopkins: “Going into that first race, I was feeling confident. I got off to a decent start and I gave it a lap-or-two to find my feet, during which time Shane Byrne came past. My objective then was to make a clean pass on Byrne and to build a lead. I wanted to make a break and avoid any havoc that might come later in the race. “I was doing nothing adventurous when I slid off at Lodge Corner. Our data-logging showed I was 3km/h slower than my previous entry speed and I was in fact braking lighter, but the front just went away. Sometimes in racing that’s just the way it goes… “My only regret is that we didn’t have that second race so I could make amends. But I agree with the decision to abandon. I’ve still plenty of positives to take away from the weekend and I’m very happy with how my bike and the team are performing. We’re still in a very strong position in this championship.” Jon Kirkham: “The conditions today were treacherous and I just wanted to finish that first race. There wasn’t much to it other than to do my best. I’d have liked to have ridden a second race as well as we’d worked on some settings for a better wet set-up and I was sure I could get a good result with a bit of a push – but I respect the decision. “So, on balance; a positive ride for me today. To score some vital points and to jump back up to seventh in the standings isn’t a bad outcome.” Jack Valentine – Team Manager: “A dismal day. The rain and winds robbed us of what could have been a spectacular day’s racing. “Nonetheless, Hopper showed us his true potential this weekend, topping every practice, qualifying; then leading the race. He’s shown he means business and is a serious contender for the Championship. He was extremely unlucky to crash; he was doing nothing wrong as all of our data showed us it was situation normal in the cockpit. Hopper was just victim to the variability in the conditions. “I was happy to see JK put in a good ride, too. It may not seem so dazzling – ninth – but it was a strong, mature ride in difficult conditions and it achieved what was needed, JK’s back up to seventh in the Championship. From there, with some decent results, he can yet make the top-six in time for the Showdown.” MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship: 1 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 2 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.492s 3 Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.669s 4 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +5.755s 5 Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +6.789s 6 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +7.128s 7 Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +13.055s 8 James Westmoreland (Motorpoint Yamaha) +18.699s 9 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +18.960s 10 Scott Smart (Moto Rapido Ducati) +21.619s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings: 1 Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 214 2 John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 182 3 Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 165 4 Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 129 5 Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 121 6 Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) 111 7 Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 91