McAMS Yamaha’s Ellison and Laverty ready to attack at Brands Hatch
The McAMS Yamaha team head to Kent this weekend for the sixth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch and both James Ellison and Michael Laverty are feeling confident of getting their campaign back on track.
Ellison had a strong pace at the Indy circuit earlier in the season, before a crash ended his chance of victory and subsequently caused him to be sidelined from race two, but a rapid pace throughout the weekend means he arrives at round six feeling confident. 42 points currently separate Ellison from the sixth place in the standings and he is determined to close the advantage this weekend.
Laverty meanwhile believes the break since Snetterton and a subsequent test at Cadwell Park this week has helped to resolve some of the issues he has been experiencing so far this season. Yet to stand on the podium this year, Laverty believes Brands Hatch this weekend could be the turning point in his season.
Ellison said: “I am really looking forward to the weekend. I love Brands Hatch, especially the Grand Prix circuit and it is one traditionally that I have always been fast at in the past. Last year I took my first wins on the GP track and we showed that we had pace on the Indy circuit earlier in the season.
“My main focus now is getting back those Podium Points and trying to get myself back in the top six. I have to say I wasn’t expecting to be in this position in the championship at the halfway point of the season with the pace and package we have, but we have been so unlucky.
“I am not focusing on how it has gone so far, but about what is ahead and we come to Brands Hatch with unfinished business that’s for sure.”
Laverty said: “As everyone knows we have had a disappointing first half of the season; we have shown signs of speed but we have had a few issues too. We have had a test this week at Cadwell Park and that gave us time to make some modifications and as soon as I rolled out of pitlane for the first time I felt more competitive.
“I am hoping now that we have a base setting for every track and I feel that we have more answers now to some of the issues we have experienced previously. We seem to have got a handle on the chatter problem and I feel confident we can show what we are capable of this weekend.
“We want to start this weekend on the pace from the word go; I know the results have been below par so far, so I am going to pull my finger out this weekend and hopefully get back to where we should be!”