Loch and load: Bennetts BSB heads to Scotland for Knockhill clash
The Bennetts British Superbike Championship hits Scotland this weekend (July 6/7/8) for the annual clash north of the border and with the nation’s sporting pride on a high, expect more world-class competition as the fight to be in the all-important top six resumes at Knockhill.
Following a recent resurface, the Fife track has never been faster and Leon Haslam returns to the circuit heading the standings for JG Speedfit Kawasaki eager to carry his winning momentum into Sunday’s two races. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ crashed out of the event last season during free practice and is determined to make amends this weekend.
Twenty-one-year-old Bradley Ray is one of the three race winners so far this season and, after failing to score a single point last time out at Snetterton, the Buildbase Suzuki rider is ready to recapture the form that took him to an incredible double win at the opening round.
Reigning champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne remains sidelined though injury and the next rider set to leap ahead in the standings is last year’s sensational Knockhill double winner Jake Dixon. The RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki rider has delivered an impressive run of four consecutive podium finishes in as many races and missed out on victory at Snetterton by just 0.040s – the closest finish of the season so far!
Glenn Irwin heads the Be Wiser Ducati charge, claiming a second place at the Snetterton round before a race two clash with Ray saw them both crash out of the race. He holds a narrow seven-point lead over 2015 champion Josh Brookes who celebrated his first podium finish of the season at Snetterton for McAMS Yamaha in a dramatic last lap dash to the line.
Nine points adrift of the all-important top six in the standings and equal on points are Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan. Australian O’Halloran is still battling back from his ankle injury sustained in a World Championship appearance, but the Honda Racing rider is determined to bag the points this weekend to fight for a place in the Showdown again.
Buchan meanwhile arrives at Knockhill following his biggest points haul event at Snetterton; a pair of fifth places fired him up the championship order. The FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider is one of only three riders to have scored in every race so far and the Scottish circuit has been a happy hunting ground for him in the past on his way to Superstock title glory.
The Tyco BMW pairing of Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty are next in the order ready to try and regain ground in the standings. Iddon was another rider to miss the Knockhill races last year through injury and, after returning at Snetterton, he is determined to fight for his first podium finish of the season. Laverty claimed a top-ten finish last time out, but with two points between the teammates he will be fighting to replicate his Brands Hatch podium finish this weekend.
The local fans will no doubt be supporting the Mackenzie brothers with Tarran scoring his best result of his rookie campaign at Snetterton with a sixth place finish and Taylor feeling confident following a recent test at the circuit with his Moto Rapido Ducati team.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1.Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 165
2.Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) 101
3.Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 98
4.Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) 91
5.Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) 79
6.Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) 72
The next round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship take place at Knockhill on July 6/7/8. For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Leon Haslam
(JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
Championship leader
“We have had some really good tests ready for Knockhill. We did a day at Knockhill then a day at Cadwell Park and both race simulations we did were really good and we lapped under the circuit record so I am really looking forward now to the next races this weekend.
“We missed Knockhill last year through injury but with it being one of my favourite circuits, one that the Kawasaki always goes well at, and after the test we are feeling confident. It has been a busy few weeks, but so far so good. We can go to Knockhill with our head high and see if we can carry on as we have been doing.”
Jake Dixon
(RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki)
2017 Knockhill double race winner
“I can’t wait for this weekend as Knockhill obviously has great memories for me! We tested there a couple of weeks ago and the track feels really good, it is faster and feels more open now. That is going to make the times quicker for sure and we know how close it is at Knockhill.
“We have had four podiums on the bounce, but there are a few areas that I know we still need to work on this weekend and if we can get that sorted then I know we can challenge for the win.
“We have been so close over the past few races so we are feeling confident for this weekend, we just need to keep building on the success and those podium points and wins will come.”
More, from a press release issued by OMG Racing:
OMG heads to Scotland hoping for more good results
The OMG Racing team make the annual trip to Knockhill for round five of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. Whilst it is a new circuit for the team and Superbike star, Gino Rea, the ferocious nature of the track is infamous within the BSB calendar.
Having bedded-in the Ohlins suspension at Round 4, Gino Rea made great in-roads towards the top ten. Now working with renewed confidence, Rea and his team will be hoping to finally break into the top ten, at a circuit which is renowned for throwing up strange results. Whilst Gino may not have raced at Knockhill before, the Londoner completed a half-day testing at the Scottish circuit, which gave the rider some confidence towards the bike on the track.
#GinoRea44
“I’m really looking forward to getting back at work with the OMG Racing team at Knockhill this coming weekend. It is another new race track for me this year but we managed half a day on-track a few weeks ago, so at least I know which way it goes! It is a fun, little quirky circuit and I’m eager to see how it rides on the Superbike. We are learning about the bike all the time and I’m positive that we will make another step towards the front this weekend. I’ve worked hard over the few weeks off, so fingers crossed for another strong points-scoring result to follow on nicely from Snetterton.”
2015 National Superstock 1000 champion Josh Elliott made a great debut for OMG Racing at Snetterton, even if the result was not the desired conclusion to their first weekend working together. The popular Ulsterman was a winner around the tight and twisty Knockhill circuit in 2015, and besides one race last season, he has been in the top ten at the track ever since. With two races coming up this weekend for Josh, it will be valuable time to continue to adapt to the bike and give OMG their first top ten.
#JoshElliott10
“I go to Knockhill with much anticipation about working with OMG Racing again. We made big steps forward at Snetterton throughout the weekend and come the race, we were in a competitive situation. Knockhill is a unique track that definitely has some challenging parts to it but I’m sure with the help from my team, we can find a set-up that will give me what I need to secure two strong finishes.”
Team manager Paul Curran is also positive after Snetterton, as he looks to build on the momentum and put both bikes in respectable positions.
Paul Curran, Team Manager
“I can’t wait to get to some more sun in Knockhill, it doesn’t come out much up there but hopefully dry conditions can make it easier for all of us! Behind the scenes, there’s been some more development on the OMG bikes. A double race weekend for Josh means it will be a good opportunity for the OMG name to get up the sharp end.
“Gino hasn’t raced at Knockhill but he managed 200km on his practice bike a few weeks ago, so he knows the layout of the track at least. Hopefully, with a good base setting, we can hit the ground running straight away in FP1.”
Crew chief Ray Stringer will be back in action at Knockhill, having missed the Snetterton round. He’s looking forward to working with Josh Elliott for the first time this season, as well as pushing Gino towards the top ten.
Ray Stringer, Crew Chief
“Knockhill is going to an intriguing round this weekend and I can’t wait to get it started for many reasons. I think the Knockhill circuit will suit Gino and we also have a fair few new components to try in the ongoing development of the bike and rider.
“I am eager to be working with Josh Elliott properly for the first time, as I have helped him behind the scenes for several years. I have no question about Josh’s ability and he can undoubtedly be a race winner on the OMG Racing Suzuki in the National Superstock 1000 category.”
Stay tuned to OMG Racing UK Suzuki Team’s social media channels for all of the latest updates in the run up to the only Scottish round of the season at Knockhill, taking place this weekend!
More, from a press release issued by Honda British Superbike Racing Team:
HONDA RACING READY TO FIGHT BACK AT KNOCKHILL
Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran arrive at Knockhill this weekend ready to fight back at the fifth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
Heading north of the border the Honda squad is ready to put the woes of the last round behind them and sights are firmly set on the podium, and collecting a solid points haul at the Scottish circuit.
Linfoot dug deep last time out returning from a neck injury and although having been taken out in the opening race by another rider, along with teammate O’Halloran, he gave an impressive performance in the second race to finish fourth after starting from 11th on the grid.
The Yorkshireman enjoyed two successful tests aboard the CBR1000RR Fireblade last week, and was able to test out the new surface at Knockhill. Linfoot is sitting 11th in the championship standings and knows a solid meeting is needed this weekend in order to move up the ranks.
Meanwhile ‘The O’Show’ has been back on an intense rehab programme following the incident at Snetterton that cut his weekend short. The Aussie missed the recent tests as he concentrated on getting stronger in order to get his title aspirations back on track this weekend.
Track action for the fifth round gets underway on Friday (6 July) with first practice taking place at 11.00-11.45. Live timing across the weekend will be available from: britishsuperbike.com/live-timing
To keep up-to-date with all the latest news from Honda Racing over the weekend follow @HondaRacingBSB on Twitter.
#4
Dan Linfoot
I’m really looking forward to getting going at Knockhill; I have in the past enjoyed good results there so I am aiming for points and podiums this weekend. It won’t be an easy challenge going from the times set during the recent test, everyone was flying with the new surface! But, I am confident in the Fireblade package we have for the weekend. Snetterton was less than ideal in the opening race as I just wanted to get a race distance under my belt returning from injury, but at least I got the first crash out the way! The second race I really enjoyed, coming from 11th to finish fourth was great and it really built my confidence back up again. We have quite a bit of work to do over the next few rounds and as I missed two with injury, we’re now 11th in the standings, so it’s heads down this weekend and start building back into the top-six where I know we can be.
#22
Jason O’Halloran
We’re going to be playing catch up a little this weekend, having missed the test last week and not being able to try the new surface out before the weekend. Friday will be spent getting used to that and just getting back up to speed really. Everything injury-wise is coming on good and my body is responding to all the therapy, I had some setbacks and probably lost the first week after being taken out at Snetterton, but since then I’ve had good solid progress and made a real step forward with the strength in my leg. I’m not 100% still, but I am 100% better than I was at Snetterton, and there we got a decent lap time and I felt good, but that was still early days with my strength so I am confident coming into this weekend with the progress that’s been made. It’s still going to be a building process for us and we need to think about the long game, do what we can to get through this round with as many points as possible and look forward to the races afterwards. My body will only get stronger and I’ve been working hard to get strong mentally and physically. It looks like the weather should be good this weekend and I can’t wait to get back out on the CBR and see what we can do.
Havier Beltran
Team Manager
This weekend we’re coming in fighting with the aim of getting both Dan and Jason up in the sharp end where we all know they’re capable of running. Snetterton was unfortunate, but it showed that Jason had strong pace when not 100% fit, and he’s a lot stronger now than he was so I am really looking forward to seeing what he can do this weekend. They both have the bit between their teeth and they both know what the Fireblade is capable of, which has been proven at each round already this season. Apart from the last round we’ve been on the podium at every race this year, so the potential is there. Times will be fast this weekend if testing is anything to go by and hopefully with the good weather set to continue into the weekend we should be in for some exciting racing.