Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Eli Banish, and Joshua Raymond, Jr. finished sixth, seventh, and 15th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Snetterton.
More, from a press release issued by MSVR:
Storm warning: Stacey masters the conditions to steal Snetterton victory from Rollo
There was a Storm coming in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the opening race at Snetterton as the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki team celebrated their first Superbike race win as Storm Stacey mastered the conditions to score his debut race victory ahead of Lewis Rollo by just 0.222s.
The race began with tyre choice proving crucial as the conditions continued to change following earlier rainfall. The riders who opted for the full wet tyre choice took the early advantage in the race as Ryan Vickers launched off the Omologato Pole Position ahead of Jason O’Halloran, Lee Jackson and Danny Kent.
Stacey though had made the decision of the wet front tyre and intermediate rear, and as the track conditions changed, he was rapidly closing down their advantage on the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki. He then took the lead on lap eight ahead of Kent, Vickers and O’Halloran. Meanwhile Jackson was forced to retire with a technical problem.
However, on lap nine the race was red flagged when Rory Skinner crashed out at Coram and as the race had not reached two-thirds distance it would be restarted over five laps. Skinner was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with a suspected fracture to his right tibia and fibula.
The rain began again before the race restarted and when it recommenced, everyone had switched to full wet tyres.
The five lap restart became a two rider fight for the victory with both Stacey and Rollo gunning for a debut victory in the Superbike class and it went down to the wire with the pair almost inseparable on the final lap.
Rollo held the lead onto the final lap, but Stacey was pushing and he made a decisive move at Brundle to take the lead and was able to hold off his IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia rival to the line by the smallest of margins as the pair took their first podium finishes.
Kyle Ryde completed the podium for OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing, moving up the order by the third lap to nudge O’Halloran back to fourth on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki.
Glenn Irwin salvaged fifth place for the Hager PBM Ducati team after a crash in Speedy Hire Qualifying put him 14th on the grid and he was able to take advantage of the conditions. He now moves to the top of the standings, equal on points with reigning champion Tommy Bridewell who crashed out on the opening lap.
Christian Iddon was another rider to take advantage of the conditions, taking sixth place for Oxford Products Racing Ducati ahead of Andrew Irwin and Leon Haslam. Vickers eventually ended the opening race in ninth place whilst Franco Bourne scored his best result of the season in tenth.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Race 1 result:
- Storm Stacey (LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki)
- Lewis Rollo (IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia) +0.222s
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +6.369s
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +9.297s
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.742s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati +15.906s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +16.270s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +17.824s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +17.885s
- Franco Bourne (Rapid Honda) +25.004s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 141
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 141
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 128
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 125
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 124
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 96
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 93
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 75
- Charlie Nesbit (MasterMac Honda) 72
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings BMW Motorrad) 65
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Storm Stacey
LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki
“I was so nervous to ruin the second part of that race; when the red flag came out I wasn’t sure if I had won as I had gone for a stiff tyre choice and it paid off and it felt good, I felt robbed as I thought I had done it!
“I felt better and then I saw Danny [Kent] lose the front and I knew I just had to keep it together. Lewis came past and I thought, I am catching him and then I thought let’s have a go for this; I passed him on the straight and I managed to make it stick and hold it to the line to bring her home in P1!
“Together me and the team have been pushing to fight for a podium and we would have been happy with that – but to get my first Superbike win is amazing! I am going to celebrate with some tunes and a big plate of dinner! I need to thank everyone involved for making this possible.”
