MCE British Superbike Championship

Silverstone Circuit, England

October 4, 2014

Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):

From Qualifying Knockout Session Three:

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), 2:10.141

2. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:10.940

3. Gary Mason, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:11.531

4. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:12.606

5. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 2:12.896

6. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), 2:13.197

7. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:13.455

8. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:13.804

9. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:14.985

10. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), no time recorded in Qualifying Three

From Qualifying Knockout Session Two:

11. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:18.713

12. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:18.723

13. Julien Da Costa, France (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:20.292

14. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:20.344

15. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Yam YZF-R1), 2:20.620

16. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:20.759

17. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:21.452

18. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:23.306

From Qualifying Knockout Session One:

19. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 2:26.010

20. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 2:27.133

21. Christophe Ponsson, France (Bim BB3), 2:27.200

22. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 2:27.238

23. Robbin Harms, Denmark (BMW S1000RR), 2:27.247

24. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:27.349

25. Patric Muff, Switzerland (BMW S1000RR), 2:28.634

26. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:29.870

27. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 2:36.658

Other Americans competing at Silverstone:

Wild card entry Jake Gagne, the 2014 AMA Pro Daytona SportBike Champion, was eighth in wet British Supersport qualifying session with a lap time of 2:35.137 on his RoadRace Factory/Red Bull Yamaha YZF-R6. Gagne’s teammate Tomas Puerta was 26th in the session with a time of 2:40.305.

James Rispoli was ninth-fastest in British Supersport Qualifying with a time of 2:35.824 on his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6. Glenn Irwin took pole position with a time of 2:31.162 on his Kawasaki ZX-6R.

Rispoli then finished third in the nine-lap British Supersport “Sprint” race, which was run in damp-but-drying condition. Puerta was 20th, and Gagne did not start the Sprint race due to a shoulder injury, according to a press release issued by his team.

Jayson Uribe, riding his FPW Racing/R5R Honda, was third overall and second-quickest in the Moto3 class during the wet British Motostar qualifying session with a time of 2:42.474.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Round 11 4-5 October Silverstone

KIYONARI HOLDS OFF BYRNE’S LAST LAP CHALLENGE TO SILVERSTONE HOLD POLE

Results

Datatag Extreme Qualifying:

1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 2m:10.141s

2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.799s

3: Gary Mason (Tsingtao Kawasaki) +1.390s

4: Jon Kirkham (Halsall Biker Gear Kawasaki) +2.465s

5: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +2.755s

6: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +3.056s

Report

Ryuichi Kiyonari outgunned his rival Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne in the battle for pole position as the ‘War for Four’ MCE Insurance British Superbike titles continues to rage at the penultimate round of the season at Silverstone.

The Japanese rider bounced back from a crash in the morning practice session to conquer a drying Northamptonshire circuit in style with a flying lap of 2m 10.141s aboard his Buildbase BMW, opting for slick Pirelli tyres in the changing conditions.

“I am very happy to be on pole, but for me it has been a very difficult day with the crash in the morning. It was a small high-side but that was disappointing and then in qualifying I knew I had to just push and build confidence,” said Kiyonari who had outpaced Byrne by 0.799s.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne, who takes a 12 points lead over Kiyonari into the races, decided to run with an intermediate front Pirelli tyre in the final element of the qualifying sessions. The standings leader was able to put in a last lap charge to secure his front row start, closing in on his Japanese rival.

“Both myself and Kiyo were in a difficult situation as we both wanted front row starts, but really could not take any chances. I decided to run with an intermediate front tyre and that was a gamble on the side of caution, but I put in a semi-decent last lap and am ready for good races,” said Byrne.

Gary Mason completed the front row of the grid on the Tsingtao WK Kawasaki, a first for the team in MCE BSB ahead of the chasing pack. Jon Kirkham and the Halsall Biker Gear Kawasaki team held fourth after he edged out title contender Josh Brookes on the Milwaukee Yamaha.

Title Fighter Chris Walker set the seventh best time, just ahead of his Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki team-mate James Ellison with Dan Linfoot on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki ninth, ahead of fellow Title Fighter Tommy Bridewell who crashed his Milwaukee Yamaha before setting a flying lap in qualifying three.

For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

SECOND ROW START FOR MILWAUKEE YAMAHA’S BROOKES

Milwaukee Yamaha team-mates Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell will start from fifth and tenth on the grid for tomorrow’s opening race at Silverstone following today’s Datatag Extreme Qualifying in changing conditions.

The final free practice session was held in the wet and Brookes made positive steps forward with the settings to top the timesheets ahead of qualifying.

The qualifying session started in wet conditions, but continued to dry throughout the three stages, making it a gamble for the teams and riders on tyre choice. Both riders qualified for Q3 but it ended prematurely for Bridewell when he crashed out on his opening lap, putting him tenth on the grid for tomorrow’s opening race. Brookes opted for an intermediate front tyre, ending the session fifth to start from row two.

Brookes said: “There are a couple of good points today and also a couple that are not so good. The best thing was is that we have used a setting in the wet that worked brilliantly; I set the fastest lap in the session this morning. That feels good as I haven’t had that feeling in the wet for a while, we saw that at Cadwell Park and then at Assen. We have got something sorted now in the wet but I still feel like we are a bit off in the dry. I needed more dry time today to nail a good feeling.

“In qualifying it was quite awkward as some parts were wet and full dry in others. I ran the intermediate tyres for the first time in Q2 and then for the last one I knew it was edging towards slicks again. I went for a slick rear and I was unsure about the front, but decided as Stowe was still wet to go for an intermediate front. I thought everyone might have done the same, but as it turns out it probably would have been better to go for a slick. I think the lap time would have been better so I am left disappointed I didn’t make the right decision, but we have accepted that and now we can look forward to getting some more confidence in warm up ready for the race.”

Bridewell said: “The conditions this morning were really wet so it was difficult to get any understanding for the bike and we ended up fourth. Then qualifying was difficult. Q2 we had half decent pace for the conditions but it was always going to be very hit and miss where you are going to end up on the grid in those conditions. Unfortunately in Q3 I lost the front at Farm. It is not ideal as we are starting from tenth but we should have strong pace for the race. We saw at Assen where I started 18th that it hopefully shouldn’t take me too long to go through the pack and get up to the front. That is the aim for tomorrow.”

For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com

More, from a press release issued by Mar-Train Racing:

SEELEY BACK ON FORM AT SILVERSTONE WITH SEVENTH WIN OF THE SEASON

Birthday boy Alastair Seeley took his and Mar-Train Racing’s seventh win of the season in today’s British Supersport sprint race at Silverstone, during the penultimate round of this year’s championship at the Northamptonshire venue.

Seeley’s fastest lap on the Mar-Train Racing R6 Yamaha puts him on pole position for tomorrow’s feature race, also reducing the deficit to series leader Billy McConnell and second placed man Graeme Gowland by 17 and 25 points respectively.

Alastair Seeley:
“We pulled it out of the bag in qualifying to get on the front row and I knew once the race started that I was comfortable running my own pace in the tricky conditions. I knew I would have to deal with Irwin and he’s riding well, but the idea was to get away on my own as I knew I would be comfortable at the front.

“I could see his shadow and he made a few lunges, but once I was on my own I just kept my focus and that’s win number seven this season. The Triumph boys are a few rows back for tomorrow’s race and the championship is still theirs to lose, but I’ll be gunning for something similar and what will be will be.”

Tim Martin – Team Principal:
“That’s more like the Alastair Seeley I signed to ride for me this season. I told him before the race to go and show everyone that he was still a force to be reckoned with in this championship and he did both himself and the team proud today. We’ve reduced the gap on both the Triumph boys above us in the championship standings; all we can do now is keep applying the pressure and see what happens, but I’m delighted with that result. That’s what we go racing for.”

Race Result:
Winner – Alastair Seeley [Mar-Train Racing]; 2nd – Taylor Mackenzie [Suzuki] +9.286sec; 3rd – James Rispoli [Yamaha] +9.683sec; 4th – Luke Mossey [Triumph] +16.980sec; 5th – Sam Hornsey [Triumph] +18.127sec; 6th –

Championship Points
Billy McConnell 340 [5 wins]
Graeme Gowland 320 [4 wins]
Alastair Seeley 302 [7 wins]
Glenn Irwin 245 [3 wins]
Luke Jones 240
Luke Stapleford 230

Sunday’s 12-lap British Supersport Feature Race – 3.40pm

More, from a press release issued by RoadRace Factory/Red Bull:

Towcester, UK

Qualifying action today from Silverstone got underway under rainy conditions. After an impressive showing in free practice Jake Gagne was enthusiastic about his prospects for grabbing a solid starting position. Tomas Puerta was confident that his crew had solved the problems that were plaguing during the free practice sessions. The rain wasn’t too much of an issue for the riders as Jake has won races and claimed the 2014 AMA Daytona Sportbike Championship in the rain and Tomas is known for his wet weather skills.

Qualifying proceeded in wet conditions and Jake Gagne had been circulating up in P2 as the session was red flagged and halted. Tomas Puerta was fighting rear grip issues but was able to progress through the pack.

Upon the restart of qualifying Jake had a moment on his second lap out. Unfortunately he re-injured his shoulder. The initial injury occurred during his final race in the AMA season at New Jersey Motorsports Park. After completing the sighting and warm-up laps, the injury was too severe and Jake had to sit out the race and he will his reevaluate his shoulder in the morning.

Tomas Puerta gridded up for the sprint race and was able to ride strong all race long. His apparent struggles behind him, he was able to turn faster and faster laps as the race progressed, eventually crossing the line in P20.

Jake Gagne during the wet qualifying session

Tomas Puerta during the afternoon Sprint Race More, from a press release issued by Tyco Suzuki: DEBUT SUPERSPORT PODIUM FOR EMOTIONAL MACKENZIE AT SILVERSTONE 4th October 2014 British Superbike Championship – Round 11, Silverstone Taylor Mackenzie took his debut British Supersport podium during today’s sprint race at Silverstone on the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600, finishing in second place after a nail-biting last lap battle with American James Rispoli. The 21-year-old Scottish rider made the most of his second row grid position, immediately slotting into fourth place in the opening exchanges, but his battle with Rispoli was a race long affair during the nine-lap encounter. The American did lead on the final lap and the easy option for Mackenzie would have been to settle for third place, but a strong pass just a few corners from home offered up a deserved second place. Taylor Mackenzie: “I don’t know what to say really but thanks to everyone at Tyco Suzuki for such a big effort. I’m delighted to get my first British Supersport podium and I had no ‘nose bleeds’ being in a podium position for most of the race. “I just kept banging in consistent lap times and even on that last lap I could have settled for third, but I wanted second for both myself and the team and I’m just delighted for everyone involved. The Tyco Suzuki GSX-R600 was brilliant throughout and it was great to finally get a bottle of champagne and a podium at such a top class venue.” In the Superbike class Josh Waters will start from row four and John Hopkins row six for tomorrow’s opening 14-lap race at 1.30pm during the penultimate round of the BSB Championship. Philip Neill – Team Manager: “Taylor did a great job in today’s Supersport race and proved that there’s plenty of life yet in Suzuki’s GSX-R600. He started strongly, held station throughout and showed great determination to take second place when the easy option would have been to bring the bike home in a solid third place. “We are obviously disappointed with today’s qualifying in the Superbike class. John started strongly going P1 in the opening qualifying session but got caught out in Q2 and paid the penalty. Row four and six is not ideal for the opening race but they boys will no doubt dig in and give us a big effort.” British Supersport Championship, Silverstone, Sprint race: 1: Alastair Seeley (Yamaha) 19m 53.944s 2: Taylor Mackenzie (Tyco Suzuki) +9.286s 3: James Rispoli (Yamaha) +9.683s 4: Luke Mossey (Triumph) +16.980s 5: Sam Hornsey (Triumph) +18.127s Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tycosuzukibytas Follow us on Twitter: @tyco_suzuki www.tyco-suzuki.co.uk