Honda Racing bid for home glory as battle for Showdown six continues at Cadwell Park
The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship hits Lincolnshire this Bank Holiday weekend for one of the biggest events on the calendar and all eyes will be on the Honda Racing team as they battle for their places in the Showdown at their home round.
Australian contender Jason O’Halloran leads the charge for the Louth-based team, holding third place in the overall standings and bidding to close the deficit to Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Leon Haslam, who head the contenders to Cadwell Park.
Shakey was a double winner last time out as his home round of Brands Hatch, but the Be Wiser Ducati rider hasn’t won at Cadwell Park since 2003 and will be determined to change that as he bids to become the first rider to claim a position in the Showdown.
Haslam, however, hasn’t raced at Cadwell Park since 2008, but before then was one of the riders to beat; the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider remains the lap record holder and holds an impressive tally of wins, scoring victories in 2005, 2006, 2007 and a double in 2008, so he will be keen for history to repeat itself.
Michael Laverty and Tyco BMW lock out fourth place ahead of the two races this Bank Holiday Monday, but a tough weekend last time out puts him only two points clear of the second Honda Racing rider as Dan Linfoot hunts him down.
The battle has never been closer for the top six ahead of the triple-header Showdown decider at Oulton Park and Richard Cooper pushed his way into the final place last time out at Brands Hatch, just ten points adrift of Linfoot.
On the verge of the top six are podium finishers James Ellison and Luke Mossey, the pair equal on 122 points, just three adrift of Cooper. Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon is also poised to overhaul those ahead of him this weekend, with just a further two points separating him from the pair ahead.
There have already been six different riders and a further six podium finishers this season and at one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar, all of the contenders know they can’t afford to give an inch as they bid to qualify for the title Showdown at the final three rounds of the championship.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings ahead of Cadwell Park:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 231
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 206
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 175
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 137
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 135
Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) 125
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing)
Third in the overall standings
“I am really looking forward to my home race as Cadwell Park is the closest one to my home in the UK! I really enjoy riding there and I missed last year’s race because I was injured so I am ready to get back out again, especially as I have a lot of support at this round with my sponsors being local.
“We had a really good test a few weeks’ ago and I set the fastest lap I have ever done around Cadwell Park and it isn’t the easiest place to go fast straight off, you have to get into it.
“I am feeling confident and after the last three rounds we have to keep the momentum going. We need to score more podium points and qualify for the Showdown and that is what is important. Everyone is so close now so we need to have a strong Cadwell Park.”
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
Championship leader
“I’m really looking forward to coming back over to race at Cadwell Park as it’s a track I generally really enjoy. We had a test there recently and whilst we only got a couple of hours on two evenings, not the two days of some of our rivals, we certainly seem to have got somewhere near where it seems we need to be and definitely have plans to move things forward further!
“Cadwell is a pretty unique place; it’s very narrow and tight so getting our work done as quickly as possible and qualifying well will be very important. This weekend there is another 50 points and 10 podium points up for grabs – I’m not greedy but I’d happily accept all of those!”
More, from a press release issued by James Rispoli’s publicist:
Rispoli ready to take on the Mountain at Cadwell Park
James Rispoli is gearing up for one of the biggest events on the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship calendar this Bank Holiday weekend as the series reaches Cadwell Park.
Rispoli is relishing the challenge of the Lincolnshire circuit, one of the most demanding and technically circuits on the calendar, as he bids to add to his points tally in his rookie campaign.
With the majority of his rivals having already tested at the circuit prior to the next two races of the season, the 25-year old knows it will be imperative to try and close the advantage from the opening free practice session on Saturday ahead of Bank Holiday Monday’s two races.
Rispoli said: “Cadwell Park is probably one of the sickest tracks on the calendar, it’s the most aggressive and physical circuit we go to and it has everything – fast corners, slow corners and of course it has the Mountain!
“It is going to be a very difficult weekend all round because of how tough the track is, and for us we are already probably 150 laps down on a lot of our competitors as they have tested there, which makes it even more difficult. I am going into this weekend as I always do – I am really determined and I think the Yamaha could go well at this track.
“There has been a bit of a shake up with some more changes in the team before this round so we will assess that, but I want to keep moving forward and improve in every session because I know what I am capable of achieving. I want to finish the weekend with two strong finishes in the races and if we can do that then I will be happy.”
For more information please visit www.jamesrispoli.com
More, from a press release issued by Quattro Plant Kawasaki:
Mossey and Quattro Plant Kawasaki aiming for Showdown position at Cadwell
The picturesque setting of Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire is the venue this weekend for the Quattro Plant Kawasaki team with two races taking place for both the MCE British Superbike and Dickies British Supersport Championships – and BSB rider Luke Mossey is looking to move up into the top six and take hold of one of the Showdown positions.
With origins dating back to 1934, Cadwell Park has remained almost identical in layout since 1962 and it’s unique nature provides a major challenge for all riders whether it’s the daunting, and unique, Mountain section or the narrow ribbon of tarmac that goes up and down and around for 2.17-miles.
For British Superbike rider Mossey, he heads into Cadwell on the cusp of breaking into the top six of the Championship and, currently just three points adrift of one of the coveted Showdown positions, he’s aiming to do exactly that this weekend.
The Cambridge resident is in a fine run of form and with just five more races to go – two at Cadwell and three at Oulton Park next month – before the top six is finalised prior to the Showdown, he intends to maintain that form this weekend and continue his ascendancy up the Championship table.
Having won the BSB Rider’s Cup in 2015 – for the highest placed rider outside of the six Showdown positions – the 23-year old has already taken three podiums this season, two in the last two rounds, and is now perfectly placed to make the next step and take a Showdown position whereby he can challenge for the title at the final three rounds.
Meanwhile, team-mate Filip Backlund suffered a nasty crash last time out at Brands Hatch and the three-week break was very much welcomed by the Swedish rider. Now close to full fitness, the 26-year old has found the BSB series, the best domestic Championship in the world, tough at times but having scored points already at Snetterton and Thruxton, he’s eager to add to his tally this weekend and have a strong final third to the season.
Third team member Andrew Reid is also looking to bounce back from disappointment at Brands, the Northern Ireland rider taking a best finish of sixth in the three British Supersport Championship races held at the Kent venue. He’s still only 24 points adrift of Championship leader Tarran Mackenzie though and having shown his title credentials with four wins already this season, they’re the results he’ll be looking for this weekend in order to maintain his title challenge on the Quattro Plant Cool Kawasaki.
Luke Mossey: “I’m feeling really good going into Cadwell Park this weekend and we’ve definitely found some form these last few races. I’ve scored some good points at the recent rounds including a couple of podiums and I’m keen to keep that momentum going. We’re getting to the business end of the season and I want to be in one of those Showdown positions. I enjoy racing at Cadwell so I can’t wait to get started.”
Filip Backlund: “I’m feeling happy ahead of the weekend despite my big off at Brands last time out and after a three-week break, I’m eager to race again. Fitness wise, I still have a lot of pain in my neck but my physio team have been helping me to get back to full fitness as soon as possible. I’m travelling to Cadwell with a smile on my face and looking forward to a strong weekend.”
Pete Extance, Team Owner: “With the summer break now behind us we really need to ensure we have a strong weekend in order for Luke to cement a Showdown spot. He’s been in great form of late and we want that to continue at Cadwell. Both Andy and Filip had a tough time of things last time out, for different reasons, so Andy will be looking for podium positions to get his Championship back on track with Filip aiming to get himself in amongst the points once more.”
More, from a press release issued by JG Speedfit Kawasaki:
JG SPEEDFIT KAWASAKI READY FOR LIFT OFF AT ANNUAL ‘PARTY IN THE PARK’
The popular Cadwell Park circuit plays host to round eight of the 2016 MCE British Superbike Championship, and following a double podium finish at Brands Hatch and a successful test at Cadwell last week, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team are ready to fight for the top step of the rostrum at the annual ‘Party in the Park’.
After a challenging few rounds, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team made a welcome return to the MCE British Superbike Championship rostrum last time out at Brands Hatch. With just two rounds remaining until the Showdown begins, James Ellison, Leon Haslam and Peter Hickman will be looking to repeat that performance this weekend as the series reaches Cadwell Park.
Cadwell Park is the most unique circuit on the calendar, featuring a fast flowing opening half of the lap before the tight and twisty Woodland section that includes the iconic Mountain, where riders launch their Superbikes into the air. All three JG Speedfit riders enjoyed a strong two day test at the Lincolnshire circuit last week, successfully working through a number of settings and parts.
James Ellison, “I’m excited to be going back to Cadwell! It’s been a couple of years since I last raced there, although I have ridden it a few times. The test here last week was really positive and we learnt a lot of things and had good pace. We’ve also had some ideas since then of some things to try which I think will see us take another step forward so I’m looking forward to trying them during the practice sessions.
The party in the park is one of the most fun meetings of the year and Cadwell is a brilliant circuit to ride. It’s also a circuit I have some great memories at so hopefully we can add to those this weekend! We’re just outside the Showdown but we know what we need to do so I’ll be digging deep to get back into that all-important top six.”
Still holding the lap record around Cadwell Park, Leon Haslam is looking forward to heading back “Cadwell is certainly a different track to what I’ve been used to the last few years, but it’s one I love and after the test there last week I’m feeling really positive. Although we were on the podium, we had a few problems at Brands but last week at the test we were able to fix them as well as work through everything I wanted to try to make some big steps forward so I’m feeling confident.
I still hold the lap record around Cadwell Park from almost ten years ago which is pretty cool and the last time I rode there I was able to get the double win so I’m looking forward to returning on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki and seeing if we can get back on the top step!”
Historically one of his most successful circuits, Peter Hickman added “I really like Cadwell, and it’s been one of my most successful in BSB too. I’m not entirely sure why – I’ve not ridden it any more than any other track on the calendar, but I just think it seems to suit my style very well. We had a really good test here last week, working through a lot of things and I’m feeling confident we can be challenging for the front. I actually went a second quicker than I have ever been in a test around Cadwell too, which bodes really well as I’m usually much faster when racing!
It’s a brilliant circuit, with a mix of everything, so it’s a lot of fun to ride. It’s also my local track too so there’s always plenty of support – particularly come race day on Monday!”
GBmoto Racing Team Principal Mark Smith-Halvorsen concluded, “The annual Party in the Park at Cadwell is always a real highlight of the season, and after a successful test at the circuit last week I’m sure we’ll be in a position to be challenging for a return to the top step. We’ve made a big step forward since Brands Hatch, with all three riders again feeling confident on their ZX-10R’s. There’s only two rounds left until the Showdown begins and our aim is still to get all three riders into it!”