MCE British Superbike Championship
Oulton Park, England
September 5, 2015
Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kawasaki), 18 laps, Total Race Time 28:48.122, Best Lap Time 1:35.158
2. James Ellison, UK (Kawasaki), -0.780 second, 1:35.423
3. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), -1.784 seconds, 1:35.384
4. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), -4.421, 1:35.223
5. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), -10.605, 1:35.657
6. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), -10.820, 1:35.687
7. Richard Cooper, UK (BMW), -11.590, 1:35.915
8. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW), -11.671, 1:35.809
9. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), -14.628, 1:36.049
10. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), -23.771, 1:36.335
11. Chris Walker, UK (Kawasaki), -24.294, 1:36.431
12. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW), -25.970, 1:36.313
13. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kawasaki), -26.668, 1:36.615
14. Josh Waters, Australia (Suzuki), -31.071, 1:36.587
15. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW), -43.384, 1:36.979
16. Julien Da Costa, France (Honda), -53.350, 1:37.672
17. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kawasaki), -57.120, 1:37.926
18. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kawasaki), -59.253, 1:37.936
19. John Ingram, UK (Kawasaki), -78.487, 1:38.806
20. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Honda), -85.904, 1:38.743
21. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yamaha), -88.254, 1:39.165
22. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Kawasaki), -91.395, 1:37.844
23. Rhalf Lo Turco, Brazil (Kawasaki), -1 lap, 1:41.258
24. Christian Iddon, UK (Suzuki), -5 laps, DNF, 1:36.029
25. John Hopkins, USA (Ducati), -5 laps, DNF, 1:36.012
26. Billy McConnell, Australia (BMW), -10 laps, DNF, 1:35.869
27. Tommy Bridewell, UK (BMW), -12 laps, DNF, 1:35.234
28. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kawasaki), -16 laps, DNF, no lap time listed
29. Howie Mainwaring Smart, UK (Kawasaki), -17 laps, DNF, no lap time listed
30. James Westmoreland, UK (Kawasaki), -17 laps, DNF, no lap time listed
31. Stuart Easton, UK (Kawasaki), DNS
Championship Point Standings (after 17 of 26 races):
1. Brookes, 329 points
2. Byrne, 302
3. Ellison, 167
4. Bridewell, 141
5. Easton, 139
6. Laverty, 133
7. Linfoot, 116
8. Jason O’Halloran, 103
9. Cooper, 102
10. Mossey, 100
11. Hickman, 93
12. McConnell, 88
13. Mainwaring-Smart, 66
14. Iddon, 59
15. Westmoreland, 58
16. TIE, Walker/Jackson/Buchan, 56
19. Kiyonari, 55
20. Broc Parkes, 38
American James Rispoli, riding his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6, placed fifth in British Supersport Race One, finishing just 1.445 seconds behind his teammate Andy Reid, who won the race.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Shakey back to winning ways as Brookes goes last to fourth at Oulton Park
Results
Race one:
1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
2: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.780s
3: Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +1.784s
4: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +4.421s
5: Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +10.605s
6: Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +10.820s
Championship standings:
1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 329
2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 302
3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 167
4: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) 141
5: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) 139
6: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 133
Report
Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne returned to winning ways in the opening of the three MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship races at Oulton Park, claiming his 67th career victory whilst his arch rival Josh Brookes carved his way through the pack from 30th to fourth.
PBM Kawasaki’s Byrne had earlier scorched his way to the pole position with the fastest ever two-wheeled lap of the Cheshire circuit and in the opening race he launched to an early lead ahead of Tommy Bridewell, James Ellison and Danny Buchan who were all in close contention.
Bridewell, who had won at the circuit in May, was looking strong in the early stages as he pushed hard in his quest to claim a Showdown position, cutting the gap to within 0.283s of Byrne only to be forced out by machine problems with his Tyco BMW. It leaves the Wiltshire rider with work to do in tomorrow’s (Sunday) two races to secure his place in the top six, alongside the already qualified Byrne, Brookes and Ellison.
Ellison who returned to action at Oulton Park after breaking his wrist at Thruxton, took the fight at the front to Byrne before claiming second place on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki, a result that ensured he made the cut into the Showdown by a single point.
MCE BSB rookie Buchan celebrated a debut MCE BSB podium finish for himself and the Be Wiser Kawasaki team, just adrift of Ellison. In fourth place Brookes delivered a gutsy performance to finish fourth after starting from the back of the grid after a technical problem with his Milwaukee Yamaha in Datatag qualifying.
Brookes rode hard, picking up ten places on the opening lap, and then making further inroads as he charged into fourth place, but after missing out on the podium Byrne has regained the advantage by one point in the Podium Points table.
Dan Linfoot boosted his hopes of making the Showdown in fifth place for Honda Racing, as he now has a 17 point deficit to sixth placed Michael Laverty in the standings ahead of tomorrow’s two races.
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
Race winner
“I want to be five times champion but I am not going to do that finishing in sixth or fourth or whatever but since Brands Hatch we have had a really bad run, so I know how easily things can turn around! No stone was left unturned and now it is my bike again.
“That race there was kind of tricky, I wanted to go out and try and get away but at the same time I didn’t want to go out and get away and then suffer at the end of the race. We have 18 laps of data now so the team can have a look at that and we are on pole for tomorrow’s first race. The 67th win is finally off my back, so a massive thanks to Paul Bird and everyone who stands by me.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:
IDDON UNLUCKY IN BSB OPENING RACE AT OULTON PARK
A crash for Christian Iddon in the closing stages of the opening race cost the Bennetts Suzuki rider a top-10 finish at Oulton Park and round nine of the MCE British Superbike championship triple-header weekend today.
After qualifying in eighth place, Iddon made a steady start to the first of three races this weekend, holding 10th place early on. However, after making a series of passes, he soon found himself embroiled in a classic British Superbike dogfight for fourth place.
But on lap 14 of 18, he crashed at high speed on the run from the ‘Shell Oils’ hairpin to the first chicane, ending his race and giving his team plenty of work to do for tomorrow’s two encounters.
Christian Iddon:
“That was quite a big one that. I was having a good race and was inside the top-10. At one point it was a battle for fourth but I think realistically in the end we were in the mix for fifth-or-sixth, but sadly it wasn’t to be. I wanted to get the two guys in front of me, (Luke) Mossey and (Dan) Linfoot, but I ran wide and clipped the grass and it spat me off. The mechanics have got a big job on their hands tonight so I’m sorry to give them so much work to do. I wanted to give the team the best result I could and that’s not how I wanted it to go. But we’ll try again tomorrow.”
Josh Waters also found himself down a few positions off the start from his qualifying position, dropping as low as 23rd. However, he kept his head down and worked his way-up to a point-scoring finish of 14th.
Josh Waters:
“We didn’t get the best of starts in the race but I regrouped and tried my best to push-on. It’s no secret we’re still not where we want to be with our set-up, but it was good to be able to make some passes and come through to finish in the points. Myself and the team are trying our hardest and we’ll make some more adjustments and look for an improvement in tomorrow’s races.”
Martin Halsall – Bennetts Suzuki Team Owner:
“That’s not how we wanted it to go today. Christian was having a good race and an entertaining battle with all those guys around him; and we could have had a top-five result. Unfortunately he just pushed that bit too-hard to get the guys back in front of him towards the end of the race and it’s cost him a strong finish. But we’ll take the positive from the pace he’s shown as well as his determination to get a result, make some changes to the set-up, and go again tomorrow.
“Josh’s qualifying position left him with a bit of work to do, and the places lost in the opening lap also didn’t help, but we’re pleased with the way he kept his head down and the effort he put in to keep fighting and get himself back-up and into the points; and hopefully we can push-on with him from there tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:
LAST TO FOURTH FOR BROOKES IN OULTON PARK OPENER
Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes delivered a hard-charging performance in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park to carve his way through the pack from 30th on the grid to finish fourth.
Brookes had been setting the pace but a technical problem forced him out of qualifying action and he was to start from the back row for the opening race. The Australian fought his way through the pack to move into the top ten by the sixth lap before climbing to fourth by the end of the 18 lap race.
Josh Brookes
“The start with Jon Ingram nearly crashing in to me was the first problem, I believe I could have got a far better start if that hadn’t happened to me, more or less everything went as best it could, I made as many passes as I could, as often as I could and moved up to fourth on track.
“The bike worked fine, I got the second fastest lap, and to do that the bike must have been working pretty good. When the tyre was in its best condition to do a good lap was when I was doing most of the passing so I couldn’t have put in my best lap. To be second on the grid for the race tomorrow after all that I went through is proof enough that the bike is fine. We don’t need to change much now – we just need to line it up on the grid tomorrow, start from the front and see what we can do.”
More, from a press release issued by JGSpeed Fit Kawasaki:
SHOWDOWN SECURED AS ELLISON MAKES EMOTIONAL PODIUM RETURN!
05 September 2015 – JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider James Ellison made a stunning return from injury at Oulton Park today, securing his position in the MCE British Superbike Showdown with a fantastic podium in the first of three races. It was disaster for James Westmoreland however as a crashed bike forced him off track and crashing out of contention.
Despite still suffering with the broken wrist he sustained just four weeks ago at Thruxton, JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider James Ellison used the opening MCE British Superbike Championship practice sessions to adapt back to riding the Kawasaki ZX-10R Superbike. James finished practice with the 13th fastest time on combined classification with team mate James ‘Westy’ Westmoreland back in 19th.
Despite a damp start to Saturday, conditions improved significantly for the three stage qualifying and the duo comfortably progressed through the opening Q1 session. With lap times tumbling for the second session, Ellison was able to set the tenth fastest time seeing him move into the final session but despite setting a 1:35.932s Westy narrowly missed out, taking a 15th place start for the opening race. Fighting through the pain, James was able to dig deep to set an incredible lap of 1:35.073s to secure a front row start in third, his best qualifying position since Brands Hatch Indy in April.
With Oulton Park being a triple header, the opening race was held on Saturday afternoon and it was a perfect start for James as he launched off the line to run second into the opening corner. With Ellison defying the pain to run at the front, Westy also secured a good start however disaster struck on lap two as he was forced off track by a stricken bike and unfortunately crashed out of contention. Not letting Byrne escape at the front, James closed down the gap in the final stages to cross the line in second to secure an emotional return to the podium and, importantly, his position in the MCE British Superbike Showdown.
Fighting through the pain, an excited James Ellison said “When we came here my goal was of course to aim for the podium and secure the Showdown. I was confident we could do the latter but I wasn’t sure we would have the pace to reach the podium so to do both in the first race is fantastic! I want to thank the whole team, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki was mega today. Mark was peaking and you could see how much it meant to the whole team for us to be in the Showdown so we’re really happy.
The injury is still pretty bad, I was struggling a little towards the end of the race but when Shakey started coming back to us I could refocus. It was a tough race, we were running at lap record pace throughout but we did it and I’m over the moon to be back on the podium. We’ve got two more chances tomorrow so fingers crossed for some more!”
A disappointed James Westmoreland is looking forward to bouncing back tomorrow, “We’ve struggled a lot more than we needed to this weekend and made it quite hard for ourselves. We were really unlucky in the race, Kennedy broke down and through no fault of his own was touring through Island Bend and I had no option but to take to the grass. It’s definitely disappointing and the boys unfortunately have a lot of work to do tonight but our pace was good and I was feeling much better than in qualifying so was confident a top eight, or even top five was possible.
Tomorrow will be tough as we’re quite a way back on the grid but if we can get a good start I think my pace is good and a good first race will mean we have a better grid slot for race two.”
JG Speedfit Kawasaki Team Principal Mark Smith-Halvorsen added, “Today has been incredible and James has had a fantastic showing, exceeding everyone’s expectations to secure his Showdown slot in the opening race. James has had an awful run of bad luck and the relief for both him and the team is immense. I can’t thank everybody who is part of GBmoto enough for getting us in this position so quickly and our Championship challenge is back on track.
I’m really pleased that Westy is OK, he was unlucky in that race as a stricken bike in his path meant he had to run off track. Fortunately he is fit and well, and although the team have a big task ahead tonight we know he’ll bounce back tomorrow.”
MCE British Superbike Calendar 2015
4/5/6 September
Oulton Park International (Cheshire)
18/19/20 September
TT Circuit Assen (The Netherlands)
2/3/4 October
Silverstone GP (Northamptonshire)
16/17/18 October
Brands Hatch GP (Kent)
To learn more about the team, visit www.gbmoto.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram
To find out more about the JG Speedfit brand, you can visit www.jgspeedfit.com