Bennetts British Superbike Championship Donington Park, England May 26, 2008 Race One Results: 1. Shane Byrne (Duc 1098R), 20 laps, 32:01.058 2. Leon Haslam (Hon CBR1000RR), -2.473 seconds 3. Tom Sykes (Suz GSX-R1000), -3.442 4. James Ellison (Hon CBR1000RR), -5.856 5. Leon Camier (Duc 1098R), -6.188 6. Cal Crutchlow (Hon CBR1000RR), -6.636 7. Karl Harris (Yam YZF-R1), -7.464 8. Michael Rutter (Duc 1098R), -9.809 9. Michael Laverty (Suz GSX-R1000), -12.627 10. Simon Andrews (Yam YZF-R1), -16.246 11. Stuart Easton (Kaw ZX-10R), -16.879 12. Tristan Palmer (Hon CBR1000RR), -20.001 13. Tom Grant (Hon CBR1000RR), -23.086 14. Dean Ellison (Yam YZF-R1), -25.294 15. Scott Smart (Kaw ZX-10R), -25.486 16. John Laverty (Duc 1098R), -27.412 17. Atsushi Watanabe (Suz GSX-R1000), -28.003 18. Gary Mason (Hon CBR1000RR), -32.589 19. Tom Tunstall (Hon CBR1000RR), -49.220 20. Leon Morris (Duc), -54.509 Race Two Results: 1. Shane Byrne (Duc 1098R), 20 laps, 31:06.337 2. Leon Haslam (Hon CBR1000RR), -0.355 second 3. Cal Crutchlow (Hon CBR1000RR), -1.447 seconds 4. Leon Camier (Duc 1098R), -1.596 5. James Ellison (Hon CBR1000RR), -4.186 6. Tom Sykes (Suz GSX-R1000), -7.446 7. Karl Harris (Yam YZF-R1), -15.703 8. Michael Rutter (Duc 1098R), -26.794 9. Simon Andrews (Yam YZF-R1), -31.816 10. Gary Mason (Hon CBR1000RR), -32.870 11. Stuart Easton (Kaw ZX-10R), -34.341 12. Scott Smart (Kaw ZX-10R), -35.960 13. Atsushi Watanabe (Suz GSX-R1000), -36.103 14. Tristan Palmer (Hon CBR1000RR), -46.068 15. Dean Ellison (Yam YZF-R1), -47.853 16. John Laverty (Duc 1098R), -61.377 17. Tom Tunstall (Hon CBR1000RR), -76.631 18. Luke Quigley (Suz GSX-R1000), -76.710 19. Leon Morris (Duc), -84.840 20. Shannon Etheridge (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap Championship Point Standings (After 8 of 24 races): 1. Byrne, 190 points 2. Crutchlow, 122 3. Camier, 107 4. Haslam,96 5. James Ellison, 88 6. Rutter, 82 7. Sykes, 75 8. Easton, 62 9. Michael Laverty, 59 10. Andrews, 37 More, from a press release issued by Hydrex Bike Animal Honda: ELLISON IMPRESSES AT BLUSTERY DONINGTON Although he didn’t quite manage to secure a podium finish, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison put in a fantastic display with a superb front running performance at a cool and very windy Donington Park today in round four of the Bennetts British Superike Championship. Having secured his and the team’s best qualifying performance with a superb second place in yesterday’s wet conditions, the 27 year old from Kendal in Cumbria took maximum advantage in the opening 20 lap race when he shot into the lead and held it in front of the pursuing pack for the opening laps before settling for a battling fourth place at the chequered flag. Another stunning performance came in race two when once again he made a brilliant start and ran in the leading bunch for virtually all of the race, trading places with the Airwaves Ducatis of Shane Byrne and Leon Camier and the HM Plant Hondas of Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow to eventually finish in fifth position at the flag, just missing out on what would have been his second podium of the year. The net result was that he now lies in fifth position in the Championship going into the next round which takes place at Snetterton in three weeks time. James Ellison: “The bike feels really, really good and I’m really happy with it until the tyres start to wear which is something we don’t find out until we’re in the actual race. I’ll try to do some race-pace testing in the free practice session in future so that we can be more prepared. It’s frustrating not to give the team a podium, as they deserve one this weekend. At least I’ve only got the factory guys in front of me now, so it’s a good achievement, so close yet so far.” Shaun Muir (Team Owner): “Overall I’m very happy with the weekend and we can’t complain with a fourth and a fifth finish behind the factory boys, and we’re now getting closer to the front. I don’t see a lot of the other riders improving over the season but I think James will make a massive improvement. The team has worked really hard and thanks to everyone. I can’t wait for the TT and Snetterton where we should be on the podium every round from now on.” Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin is in action at the Isle of Man TT races this week where he is hoping to secure his first victories around the 37 3/4 mile circuit. Superbike Race One Result 1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32m01.058s, 2, Leon Haslam (Honda) +2.473s, 3, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +3.442s, 4, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +5.856s, 5, Leon Camier (Ducati) +6.188s, 6, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +6.636s, 7, Karl Harris (Yamaha) +7.464s, 8, Michael Rutter (Ducati) +9.809s, 9, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +12.627s, 10, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +16.246s. Superbike Race Two Result 1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 31m06.337s, 2, Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.355s, 3, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.447s, 4, Leon Camier (Ducati) +1.596s, 5, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.186s, 6, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +7.446s, 7, Karl Harris (Yamaha) +15.703s, 8, Michael Rutter (Honda) +26.794s, 9, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +31.816s, 10, Gary Mason (Honda) +32.870s. 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings after Round 4 1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 190pts 2, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 122pts 3, Leon Camier (Ducati) 107pts 4, Leon Haslam (Honda) 96pts 5, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 88pts 6, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 82pts 7, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 75pts 8, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 62pts 9, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 59pts 10, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 37pts 14, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 19pts More, from British Superbike Championship organizers: Byrne completes daily double to increase points lead BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Round four Donington Park Spring Bank Holiday Monday 26 May Shane Byrne tightened his grip on the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike title with a second winning double of the season in the fourth round at Donington Park in which the local favourite Leon Haslam had to settle for a second best in each of the races. Riding the Airwaves Ducati, Byrne started from pole for the third time, but it was James Ellison who made the early running aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, though by the third lap, he had been taken by the determined Byrne. He was beginning to pull clear of the pack when the Audi Safety Car was introduced to neutralise the race while marshals dealt with the ensuing fire, following the engine failure, of the Suzuki ridden by Luke Quigley. “It was difficult, because after making a sensible start, I had just pulled out a bit of a gap when the Safety Car came out, and I had to think about tactics, but then I decided to just go for it,” explained Byrne. “The wind was a real problem and at Redgate it actually blew the front wheel away and I had to pick the bike up a bit and balance it. It was a fine line between being safe and pushing on but fortunately my gamble paid off.” Byrne held the upper-hand, crossing the line some 2.47secs up on HM Plant Honda rider Haslam with Tom Sykes third for Rizla Suzuki. Ellison had to settle for fourth place ahead of Leon Camier and Cal Crutchlow. Karl Harris, suffering from arm-pump, had been running fourth, but dropped back to seventh ahead of Michael Rutter; Michael Laverty who had started from the pit-lane and Simon Andrews. Haslam, who had blamed himself for a poor-start in the opener, made the perfect get-away next time out to lead, and soon his team-mate Crutchlow was running line adrift while Byrne, who had been sixth on the opening lap, was beginning to make up ground, though not without a scrap with his teamster Camier. Byrne was running third with four laps remaining, and setting the fastest lap of the race, he closed in on Crutchlow, nosing inside him at the Melbourne Hairpin to go second. Next time round, with an indentical move he had taken Haslam, en route to completing his sixth victory. “I didn’t make life easy for myself, but then I drifted through, kept it consistent and didn’t make any mistakes,” reflected Byrne, adding, “though that said I nearly fell off at the last corner on one lap. “But, I got the double, and that is great for me and the team who have given me such a great package to work with all I have to do is wobble around and win for them.” Haslam came in second, ahead of Crutchlow, Camier, Ellison and Sykes. Byrne leads the title chase 190-122 ahead of Crutchlow with Camier third on 107 points, while in the Daily Star Cup Buildbase NW200 Ducati rider John Laverty with a victory, and then a second place adrift of the Quay Garage Honda of Gary Mason extended his advantage to 171-87 ahead of Martin Jessopp. Bennetts British Superbike Championship round four Race one result: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 32:01.058 2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +2.473 3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.442 4. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +5.856 5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +6.188 6. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +6.636 7. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing) +7.464 8. Michael Rutter (NW 200 Ducati) +9.809 9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +12.627 10. Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/Lloyds British Yamaha) +16.244 Race two result: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 31:06.337 2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.355s 3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.447s 4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.596s 5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.186s 6. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +7.446s 7. Karl Harris (Team Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +15.707s 8. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +26.794s 9. Simon Andrews (Lloyds Bitish Jentin Racing) +31.816s 10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +32.870s Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 190 2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 122 3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 107 4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 96 5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 88 Next round Snetterton, 13-15 June More, from a press release issued by Bennetts Press Office: Bennetts British Superbike Championship frontrunner Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne extended his lead at the top of the points table with a glorious double victory at Donington Park this afternoon. Following a magnificent qualifying performance, Byrne began today’s races on pole position. The first Bennetts British Superbike race was one of the closest of the season so far. After qualifying second on the grid, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison grabbed the holeshot. However, by the beginning of lap three, Byrne had taken his place at the front of the field. It was a lead built to last as he held on until the chequered flag, despite a spirited challenge by second-placed Leon Haslam. Rizla Suzuki man Tom Sykes fought his way through the field to claim the final step on the podium. Race two proved far more challenging for Byrne. After a poor start saw him slip down the field to seventh, it seemed unlikely that the former double champion would claim the spoils. However, Byrne took the lead from Leon Haslam on lap 17 and never looked back to secure his sixth win of the season. Haslam’s HM Plant Honda team-mate Cal Crutchlow continued his strong start to the season with a well-deserved third place. Race one result: 1. S. Byrne 32:01.058; 2.L. Haslam +2.473; 3. T. Sykes +3.442 Race two result: 1. S. Byrne 31:06.337; 2. L. Haslam +0.355; 3. C. Crutchlow +1.447 Championship standings: 1. Byrne 190; 2. Crutchlow 122; 3. Camier 107; 4. Haslam 96; 5. Ellison 88; 6. Rutter 82; 7. Sykes 75; 8. Easton 62; 9. Laverty 59; 10. Andrews 37 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Tom Sykes pulled off a spectacular third place podium finish for Rizla Suzuki after starting from 13th on the grid at round four of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park. The Huddersfield rider got off the line well and immediately slotted into sixth place in the blustery conditions at the 2.5-mile GP circuit. He rode hard putting in consistently fast lap times and picking off other riders to achieve his second podium finish of the year. In race two he finished in a close sixth place after being baulked by slower riders early on. Sykes’s team mate Atsushi Watanabe, starting from 22nd place on the grid, finished 17th in race one and 13th in race two. The two-time Japanese Superbike Champion had his work cut out for him with the high winds but knuckled down to the job in hand and moved forward through the pack as both races unfolded. Rizla Suzuki now travels to Snetterton in Norfolk for the fifth round of the British Superbike Championship in three weeks time on June 15th. Tom Sykes: “I’ve got mixed feelings from today. Obviously I’m delighted with my podium finish as that is where my Rizla Suzuki team and I should be finishing. Starting from the fourth row of the grid isn’t ideal as I usually aim to be on the front row. However in the first race I got away well and battled in the lead group. As for race two; I got a bit beaten up into the first turn and then got caught behind a slower rider who was holding me up. The high winds weren’t helping matters either. The podium was encouraging but I still want to do better for myself and my Rizla Suzuki team.” Atsushi Watanabe: “Today was very hard work. It was very windy and I had a lot of riders to try and pass. My aim was to be top 10 but that didn’t happen. Next time at Snetterton I hope I can get a better result in both qualifying and the race.” Jack Valentine – Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “Once again Tom showed what he is capable of: His Rizla Suzuki is working well and we know we have a competitive package. Where we qualified did have an impact on both our races but all in all I was impressed with Tom’s superb riding and he made the best of the situation. “Atsu had a baptism of fire here at Donington with the difficult weather conditions and getting used to the circuit. I had high hopes for him breaking into the top 10 and with a better grid position then I’m sure it would have happened. He has a strong work ethic and will use this as a learning experience before we move on to the next round at Snetterton.” Race one results: 1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32:01.058 2: Leon Haslam (Honda) +2.473 3: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.442 4: James Ellison (Honda) +5.856 5: Leon Camier (Ducati) +6.188 6: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +6.636 7: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +7.464 8: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +9.809 9: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +12.627 10: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +16.246 17: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +28.003 Race two results: 1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 31:06.337 2: Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.355 3: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.447 4: Leon Camier (Ducati) +1.596 5: James Ellison (Honda) +4.186 6: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +7.446 7: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +15.703 8: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +26.794 9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +31.816 10: Gary Mason (Honda) +32.870 13: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) Championship Standings 1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 190 2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 122 3: Leon Camier (Ducati) 107 4: Leon Haslam (Honda) 96 5: James Ellison (Honda) 88 6: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 82 7: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 75 8: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 62 9: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 59 10: Simon Andrews (Honda) 37 15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 19