TOUGH OPENING SHOWDOWN ENCOUNTER FOR MCAMS YAMAHA

It was a tough opening Showdown round for the McAMS Yamaha team as Title Fighter Josh Brookes crashed out in Sunday’s opening race, bouncing back to fifth in race two. Superbike Rookie Tarran Mackenzie enjoyed a stronger weekend, securing seventh and fourth whilst Superstock 1000 rider Matt Truelove took a brace of top ten finishes. Yamaha supported Ryan Vickers continued his domination in the Superstock 600 class with another victory.

It was a good start to the weekend for the Superbike duo, working through a number of machine settings throughout the three practice sessions to get set up for Sunday’s two races. Heading into Saturday’s Datatag Extreme Qualifying session, Josh Brookes sat seventh on combined times with Tarran Mackenzie 15th; however both riders knew they had more to come. Easily progressing through the opening two qualifying sessions, Josh held a provisional front row position until the dying moments when he was bumped back to fourth whilst Taz secured eighth.

The opening race got underway wet, with rain falling as the riders took to the grid. Taking a good start, Josh held fourth place over the opening laps however disaster would strike on lap six when the Australian tumbled from his McAMS Yamaha. On the other side of the garage, Taz had slipped back to tenth on the opening few laps but steadily chipped away to the guys in front of him to cross the line seventh.

With the sun shining over Oulton Park for the second race, both riders took a strong start with Taz running in the leading group whilst Josh fought his way through the field after starting 13th. Chipping away as the race progressed, Taz was able to narrowly beat Josh to the flag – taking fourth place by just 0.1s.

In the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 class, rookie rider Matt Truelove continued to show good pace to be running comfortably in the top ten throughout practice. Continuing that pace into qualifying, Matt secured ninth place on the grid. Despite a mistake off the start, which saw him drop back through the field, he was able to battle back through the field to claim tenth place on the line. Starting 15th for race 2, he was again able to work his way up to ninth by the flag.

After securing the 2018 Superstock 600 title at Silverstone last weekend, Ryan Vickers continued his domination, securing pole position before going on to take the race win by over 28s.

Josh Brookes (25).

Josh Brookes said:

“It’s been a tough weekend there’s no doubt about that. Our bike is on the edge in slippery conditions and if you push too hard a slip off can happen. Race two saw us start a way back on the grid in 13th, which would normally not be a problem but on a drying track there’s just one line so it was tough to pass people and I also had a problem left over from my race one crash with the rear brake.”

Tarran Mackenzie (95).

Tarran Mackenzie said:

“It’s been a good weekend and although seventh in race one was ok, I was hoping for more so it was good to get a much better result in race two. I wasn’t really expecting to be fighting it out for the podium though so I’m really happy with fourth and full credit to the team. I’ve moved up to eighth overall in the Championship and am in contention now for the Rider’s Cup so, having improved a lot in the last few rounds, I’m really looking forward to both Assen and Brands where I’m confident of some good results.”

Matt Truelove said:

“It was a tough race right from the word go as the conditions were very tricky. The circuit was drying out all the time but although I made a good start to move into the top eight, I was struggling for rear grip quite early on and couldn’t move forward as I would have liked. I was on the limit for the entire race and whilst ninth and tenth from the two races are reasonable enough results, I felt we could have been higher up this weekend. We’ve just one round to go now so I’ll be looking to end the season on a high.”

Team Manager Grant Bunting summed up:

“It’s been a mega weekend for Tarran and, in fairness, we didn’t expect him to be as high up as what he was so full credit to him. Having been here earlier in the season, it’s clear to see how much he’s progressed in recent months and he’s now up to eighth overall in the Championship so the Rider’s Cup is very much a realistic target especially as the final two circuits should suit him well.

For Josh, it wasn’t the weekend he’d expected and not the way he wanted to start the Showdown as he was expecting to be battling for the race wins. The first race crash knocked him back and gave him work to do in race two due to his grid position but he came through the pack strongly and had superb pace at the end. Again, the final two circuits will suit him and he’ll bounce back strongly at Assen.”

More, from a press release issued by Be Wiser Ducati:

Solid Performances From Irwin Brothers At Oulton Park

The Be Wiser Ducati pairing of Carrickfergus brothers Glenn and Andrew Irwin scored solid results at Oulton Park today in the opening Showdown round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, with Glenn moving up to third overall in the championship table and Andrew securing a career best finish of fourth place.

With wet conditions for the opening 16-lap race, a problem seconds before the start meant Glenn was unable to take his second row position and, instead, he was forced to start from the back of the grid on the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R which meant he was faced with a difficult task given the amount of riders he would have to pass and the spray he would encounter.

Indeed, although he gained several places on the opening lap, progress thereafter proved hard going and it wasn’t until lap ten that he moved into the points. However, he dug deep for the entire race distance and the last lap saw him clinch 12th place for what could prove to be four crucial points.

Meanwhile younger brother Andrew revelled in the wet conditions and having completed the first lap in seventh place, he soon moved into the top six and despite having a few moments on the damp but drying track, he grabbed fourth place on the penultimate lap to claim his best BSB result to date.

The results meant that it was Andrew who had the better starting position for race two, taking the grid in second place and the middle of the front row whilst Glenn found himself in the middle of the pack in 14th.

On this occasion, it was Glenn who made the better progress of the two after Andrew made a sluggish start and by lap five, 28-year-old Glenn had moved up to ninth with 23-year-old Andrew one place further back.

The circuit was almost dry all the way round and although the leading group of six riders had made a break, Glenn kept pushing hard and sure enough, the gap soon came down. Fifth going into the final lap, he was lining up a move on Tarran Mackenzie on the final lap only for Josh Brookes to sneak by on the run in to the line.

Sixth place in the race, along with the earlier 12th did, however, enable him to move up to joint third overall in the table whilst ninth place for Andrew saw him finish both races inside the top ten for the first time this season.

Glenn Irwin (2) leading Josh Brookes (25).

Glenn Irwin: “Unfortunately, the bike stalled at the beginning of race one and I had to start at the back of the grid and although I’m normally good in the damp conditions, I didn’t carry the confidence I’d gained in practice into the race, so it was a long 16 laps. It was a bit of a blip but in race two I fought as hard as I could and once I got going, my pace was similar to the leaders. Coming from 14th on the grid to sixth place was good and the bike felt strong and the team have worked really hard all weekend, like always, so a big thanks to them.”

Andrew Irwin (18).

Andrew Irwin: “Race one was really good and although I had a few moments, they came when I was a little bit eager and trying to make up the ground a little bit too soon. Had it not been for that it could well have been a podium although I was still more than happy with fourth at this stage of my BSB career. Unfortunately, I made a bad start in race two and rode tense for the first dozen laps but after that things started to flow again and ninth ensured I’d finished both races inside the top ten which is always my aim.”

Johnny Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “It was a difficult two races for Glenn and after stalling the bike at the beginning of race one, he had to start from the back of the grid and with tricky conditions, he just didn’t have the confidence to push hard. 12th wasn’t an ideal start to our Showdown and although he was hindered by his grid position in race two, he came through the pack strongly although it was a little too late to challenge for the podium. We’ve moved up to joint third in the championship so will make a plan for Assen and look to bounce back. Andrew rode brilliantly to take fourth place in the tricky conditions in race one despite having a few out of the seat moments! He rode well, and it was important that he backed it up with a good second race and that is exactly what he did. Taking two top ten finishes is good for his confidence and exactly what he needed so it’s good that he’s achieved it this weekend.”

The next round takes place at Assen in The Netherlands in two weeks’ time and for further information, please visit www.pbmuk.net or www.pbmuk.net

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (16 laps)

1 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

4 Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)

5 Michael Laverty (BMW)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)

12 Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

1 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)

2 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

5 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)

6 Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)

9 Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)

Championship Points (after ten rounds)

1 Haslam 604pts

2 Dixon 573

3 Brookes 530

= Glenn Irwin 530

5 Ray 524

6 Hickman 520

17 Andrew Irwin 67

More, from a press release issued by Honda Racing BSB Press Office:

O’HALLORAN ON PODIUM PACE AT OULTON, BUT HONDA RACING ULTIMATELY LEFT FRUSTRATED

Today’s British Superbike round at Oulton Park saw the best of the British weather throw everything at the Cheshire venue, and despite podium-pace, Honda Racing were ultimately left wanting.

After morning rain, race one today was fully wet with the spray from the pack on the opening laps adding to the challenge of the treacherous conditions. Starting from 10th, Jason made a fantastic start on the Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade to leap into fourth on the opening lap. On lap two he lined up Bradley Ray for third, and set about extending a gap of 6.5seconds behind him. As the chasing pack closed in the final laps, Jason fought valiantly to keep them at bay but as Haslam, then Irwin, then Laverty passed him, the #22 crossed the line 6th overall, just 1.2seconds from fourth. Dan Linfoot made steady progress in the midst of the pack from 14th up to 10th, battling both the conditions and the spray.

By race two, the conditions had improved and the track was predominantly dry, with damp patches only off-line. Jason again made a blistering start to launch himself from 6th to second into the first corner, and then ensued a five-bike battle for the final two steps of the podium. Matching the front-running pace, Jason dug deep to try and haul himself and his Fireblade into a podium position again until lap 12 when he ran slightly wide into turn one and folded the front, ending his race from 4th position. In the midst of the pack, Dan also fought hard for position to bring his #4 Fireblade home in 11th.

Jason O’Halloran (22).

#22

Jason O’Halloran

Conditions were really mixed this weekend and the weather threw everything at us. I made good starts in both races and it was good to be running at the front. On the first lap of race one, normally I’m one of the more cautious riders but this time I just felt it and attacked and was really able to make up ground. It was disappointing to drop back at the end but I started losing entry grip so just couldn’t hold on to third. In race two I actually started with some worry because I seemed to be the only one starting on a wet patch. I knew turn one was wet but I actually got one of the best starts I’ve had all year. I was really pushing and held second for a long time – the pace was fast and I was able to hold on. I wanted so badly to get back on the podium for me and the team after everything, but unfortunately turn one caught me out. I ran a little wide but I really didn’t expect it – I hit a damp patch and just lost the front. I didn’t want the weekend to end like this, but I’m taking the positives from it into Assen, which is a track I really like and I think can be good for us to bring some good results to the end of this season.

Dan Linfoot (4).

#4

Dan Linfoot

I enjoy racing here and especially when you’ve had success at a venue before you come back with great memories, and I was feeling positive especially after making a step in race three at Silverstone. Unfortunately we just haven’t found that good feeling here this weekend. The pace and the results just weren’t there, and I’m dismayed to be honest. I know this place well but we just haven’t been able to pick it back up this weekend. I expected more of race one in the wet, and in race two we just didn’t have the pace to stay with the group which was frustrating and not where we need to be. It’ll eat at me all week, but at some point we need to move our focus to Assen. We’ve got five races left this season, and we need to work hard to try and finish it with some trophies.

Havier Beltran

Team Manager

It’s been a tough weekend here at Oulton this time, and comes off the back of missing out on the Showdown. The mixed conditions throughout the weekend have made it hard for us to find a rhythm. We had a few issues in free practice and qualifying for Jason, but he tried really hard in both races with great starts. He got a bit duffed up at the end of race one and finished just off the podium, and was really pushing hard in race two at the front until unfortunately he lost the front end. With Dan really we’ve just struggled to get him on the pace all weekend, so it’s been disappointing.

More, from a press release issued by RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki:

Dominant Dixon takes Oulton Park double

Jake Dixon and the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team got their Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown underway in the best fashion possible at Oulton Park on Sunday with two dominant rides seeing the 22-year old take a double victory, reducing Leon Haslam’s lead in the title tace from 45 points to 31.

A good opening day on Friday saw Jake top the leaderboard in both the dry and wet conditions and although qualifying on Saturday saw some moisture in the air, he was confident of a strong showing once more. And he more than delivered the goods as he set the fastest ever lap of the 2.69-mile circuit – 1m33.758s – to take pole position by 0.399s.

With Championship leader Haslam having to start from the back of the grid for Sunday’s first race, Dixon was keen to capitalise and he was faced with a wet race after heavy rain fell at the Cheshire venue, completing the first lap in a strong second place, With the race cut from 18 to laps 16, Jake shadowed early leader Tommy Bridewell in the early stages before making his move at half race distance.

Once in the lead, a succession of quick laps, including the fastest lap of the race, allowed him to pull clear and, despite a slight issue changing gear, his eventual winning margin was 6.1s as he took his second victory of the year. And despite Haslam climbing all the way up to third, he crucially cut his Championship lead back by nine points, from 45 to 36.

Starting the second race later in the day from pole position once more, the track was dry all round and Jake got the perfect start to lead at the end of the opening lap. With a series of fastest laps, by half race distance he’d opened up an unprecedented gap of 5.4s but there were some nervous moments in the closing stages as he lost grip from his rear tyre. Haslam reduced the gap considerably but he duly took his second win of the day by 1.1s to cut Haslam’s lead to 31 points.

Jake Dixon (27).

Jake Dixon: “The team gave me a great bike this weekend and come wet, dry or in between, I had good pace so I felt confident but nervous too as I knew I had to try and make the most of Leon starting from the back of the grid. Tommy set a good pace in the first race and the rear tyre on the Kawasaki takes a little bit longer to get to full working temperature than the other bikes but once there, I got my head down. I had a bit of an issue changing gear and had to go back to the old school method of using the clutch but I got the job done so full credit to the team.”

“I got my head down from the start in the second race and the bike was fantastic but in the last eight laps, my tyre fell to pieces so I had to manage the closing laps as best I could. I was so fast at the beginning that I was able to open up a good sized lead and that was crucial in holding on for my second win. I’m over the moon to get the double and we’ve cut Leon’s lead back by a reasonable amount so with five races still to go, there’s everything to play for.”

Lee Hardy, Team Owner: “It’s been a fantastic, textbook weekend and with pole positions, fastest laps and two wins, what more could we have asked for? The bike has worked fantastic all weekend and Jake has ridden amazingly well in all conditions and he was the fastest rider in both the wet and dry on all three days. In race one, he bided his time behind Tommy before making his move and once in the lead he commanded the race.”

“In race two, the majority of the circuit was dry but there was still the odd damp patch around but he got his head down from the start and to have a near six-second lead at one stage was phenomenal. We thought everything was under control so the tyre issues in the closing stages gave us a few nervous moments when Leon started to close in, but Jake managed the situation perfectly. We’ve started the Showdown in the best manner possible so are feeling confident heading in to the next round.”

The series now moves to Assen, Holland with the penultimate round taking place on September 28-30.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (16 laps)

1 Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

4 Andrew Irwin (Ducati)

5 Michael Laverty (BMW)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

1 Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki)

2 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

5 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)

6 Glenn Irwin (Ducati)

Championship Points (after ten rounds)

1 Haslam 604pts

2 Dixon 573

3 Brookes 530

= Irwin 530

5 Ray 524

6 Hickman 520

More, from a press release issued by Smiths Racing BMW:

Important Showdown Points For Hickman At Oulton Park

Smiths BMW Racing’s Peter Hickman got his Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown underway in solid fashion at Oulton Park this weekend as he claimed a brace of eighth place finishes in difficult conditions to score vital points.

After recording the tenth fastest time across the three free practice sessions, Peter went into Saturday afternoon’s Datatag Extreme Qualifying session in confident mood but with rain threatening, it proved to be a tricky session for all concerned. Nevertheless, the Lincolnshire rider duly qualified the Smiths Racing BMW in 12th place for today’s opening 18-lap race.

Conditions had changed considerably overnight and it was a wet first race, reduced to 16 laps over the 2.69-mile circuit with Peter completing the first lap in tenth position. Briefly pushed back to 11th, he moved back up to tenth on lap six and although further progress was difficult, by lap ten he had climbed into eighth place and it was there where he finished for eight hard-earned points.

Race two saw Peter start from tenth on the grid, but a disappointing opening two laps saw him shuffled all the way back to 16th although the drying track conditions did give him a chance of moving forward. This he duly did and although it took him until lap ten of 18 to climb into the top ten, two more overtaking manoeuvres saw him take his second successive eighth place to remain in sixth place overall in the title race.

Unfortunately, an accident in Friday afternoon’s second free practice session saw team-mate Sylvain Barrier suffer a crash which left him with a damaged right hand, serious enough to rule him out of action for the rest of the weekend. The Frenchman returned home to have the injury treated with the aim of being back on the grid for the next round at Assen.

Peter Hickman (60).

Peter Hickman: “It’s been a tough weekend where we’ve been plagued by some sort of electrical problem all three days. We could improve it and make the bike better, but we couldn’t cure it and with Oulton Park being a difficult circuit at the best of times, the issue has made it even more so. On the positive side of things, we found a good wet setting which allowed me to compete and although eighth in the first race wasn’t the best of results, it was a good one for me in the wet after the struggles we’ve had. In the second race, I got bullied a bit in the first couple of laps and got pushed onto the damp stuff but by the middle of the race my pace was as good as anyone’s. We have the potential to be at the front, without doubt, but qualifying is still an issue and the additional electronic issue that has plagued us all weekend has hindered us even further. The team have been mega, like always, and have turned the bike upside down and inside out, changing practically everything so a massive thanks to them.”

Darren Jones, Team Co-ordinator: “It’s been another difficult weekend which started with Sylvain’s crash on Friday. Having ridden here earlier in the season, he was looking forward to coming back so it was a shame to lose him early although he should be back for Assen. Like Peter says, we had a problem with his bike all weekend and the boys have thrown everything at it, having late nights and early starts. We eventually got Peter a bike he could contend with although there was still a slight issue with it on deceleration. Two eighth place finishes are ok, but we need better in order to compete in the Showdown, so we’ll try and get a test in before Assen in order to cure the niggling issues and get ourselves further up the results sheets.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race one (16 laps)

1 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)

2 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

3 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

4 Andrew Irwin (Ducati)

5 Michael Laverty (BMW)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)

8 Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW)

DNS Sylvain Barrier (Smiths Racing BMW)

Bennetts British Superbike Championship race two (18 laps)

1 Jake Dixon (Kawasaki)

2 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

3 Tommy Bridewell (Ducati)

4 Tarran Mackenzie (Yamaha)

5 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)

6 Glenn Irwin (Ducati)

8 Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW)

DNS Sylvain Barrier (Smiths Racing BMW)

Championship Points (after ten rounds)

1 Haslam 604pts

2 Dixon 573

3 Brookes 530

4 G Irwin 530

5 Ray 524

6 Hickman 520

23 Barrier 10

The penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Assen in The Netherlands in two weeks’ time. For further information, please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk and www.smithsracing.co.uk