JG SPEEDFIT KAWASAKI EAGER TO GET SEASON BACK ON TRACK AT THRUXTON
19th July 2016 – After a difficult weekend at Snetterton, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team are eager to get their season back on track this coming weekend at Thruxton. The event will be a special meeting for the team, with title sponsors JG Speedfit also sponsoring the entire race weekend, making it the JG Speedfit round.
A unique circuit, Thruxton is one of the fastest circuits that the MCE British Superbike Championship visits. Renowned for its abrasive surface, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki trio of James Ellison, Leon Haslam and Peter Hickman know managing tyre life during Sunday’s two races will be crucial to securing strong results.
The previous round at Snetterton proved a tough weekend for the team, with bad luck thwarting all three riders from showing what they’re capable of. However, with four wins and a further five podiums already this season, the JG Speedfit round provides the perfect platform for the team to get their season back on track. Sitting in second place, just four points behind leader Byrne, Leon will be looking to reclaim his position at the top of the Championship standings whilst James and Pete will be aiming to break back into the all-important top six Showdown positions.
Ready to make amends for Snetterton, James Ellison has his sights firmly on getting into the top six, “Snetterton really was a disaster, after getting ourselves into a Showdown position and only a few points behind third it was devastating to drop back out. I’m really looking forward to getting to Thruxton this weekend though and putting it behind us. It’s a track I love and although we had the injury last year it’s a track I typically go well at.
“It’s definitely going to be two interesting races, as the nature of the circuit means no one can usually break away and the abrasiveness of the tarmac means tyre management is crucial. I won’t be approaching it any different though as my style is naturally quite conservative on the tyre but it’ll be interesting to see if anyone can use the softer rear, as Josh was the only one who got it working last year. I know what I’m capable of and we know what the bike can do, so my goal is to get my Showdown back on track this weekend with two podiums!”
Looking to climb back onto the rostrum, Leon Haslam said “Thruxton is another circuit where I’ve never won at and I’m looking forward to heading back this weekend to see if we can change that. It was a tough round at Snetterton, so our aim is to immediately bounce back and get on the podium. It won’t be an easy task, tyre life is crucial at Thruxton and it’s always really close racing so I think we’re in for two great races.
“Because of the nature of the track, we’ll be using every session to dial in the bike and get a good understanding of tyre life. We’re yet to get a fully dry weekend this year so now the summer months are here hopefully this weekend will see that change and we’ll be able to work through everything we need to so we’re in the best possible position on Sunday!”
Equally eager to get his Showdown hunt back on, Peter Hickman is looking forward to this weekend, “Throughout my career, Thruxton has been a circuit I’ve always gone well at so I’m really excited to be going there this weekend with the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team. It’s certainly one of the most unique tracks on the calendar, it’s really fast, flowing and incredibly grippy – which makes controlling tyre life one of the most important factors of the weekend.
“The nature of the circuit means no one is able to break away so it’s always really close racing, which is great fun! Through no fault of our own, Snetterton didn’t go to plan, so this weekend I need to get my Showdown hunt back on and our aim for this weekend, as it is every time, is the podium and I’ll be pushing to get the JG Speedfit Kawasaki back on it at the JG Speedfit round!”
GBmoto Racing Team Principal Mark Smith-Halvorsen concluded, “Snetterton was a very tough weekend for the team but since then we’ve been preparing extensively for Thruxton where we’re determined to get our season back on track. All three riders are capable of winning and we’ll be looking to get all three riders into a Showdown position this weekend.
“Since joining together last season, we’ve enjoyed a fantastic partnership with JG Speedfit and we’re all looking forward to seeing some JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s on the rostrum at their round!”