TIME FOR A TRIPLE AS MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKE CONTENDERS TAKE ON OULTON PARK The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship returns to Oulton Park this weekend (9/10/11 August) and this round could prove crucial in the battle for the top six in the standings ahead of the end of season Showdown, with a potential 75 points up for grabs from three races at the magnificent Cheshire circuit. Defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne heads the pack despite his dramatic 120mph crash last time out at Brands Hatch and the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider arrives at Oulton Park just one victory short of claiming an unprecedented 50th MCE BSB win. Byrne has a mathematical chance of securing his position in the Showdown this weekend and the Kent ace is determined to become the first rider to qualify. Byrne said: “We are getting to the important part of the season now and the final rounds to make it count before the Showdown, which we need to get our position in boxed off as soon as possible. We can then make changes to make the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki even better for those final rounds at Assen, Silverstone and Brands Hatch. Since we were last at Oulton Park everyone has moved on again, Josh for example is riding really well and they have improved and are faster now and Alex will be pushing on too – that goes without saying! For me nothing will change; my aim is to go to Oulton Park trying to win all three races and score 75 points and nine podium credits.” Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes closed the gap last time out and after celebrating his first win of the season at Oulton Park earlier in the year in front of a huge crowd, he is ready to challenge for a repeat performance. Lowes is another one of the leading pack who could secure his Showdown position this weekend, but his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari has celebrated the most wins at the circuit and will also be in the hunt as he returns from the recent Suzuka 8 Hour race in Japan. Lowes said: “I can’t wait to get to Oulton Park, especially with three races. The tracks that are coming up are better ones for me and we want to come back and take it to Shakey and Josh again. We had our first win at Oulton Park earlier in the year so that is a good place to start but we know we need to be faster and keep improving as that is what everyone else will be doing ahead of the Showdown. I definitely would like to push for wins again and score some more podium credits.” Josh Brookes is on the ascent for Tyco Suzuki after claiming his first win of the season for Tyco Suzuki last time out and the Australian is ready to try and uphold national sporting honour in the three races this weekend. Brookes currently lies third in the overall standings but like Byrne and Lowes, a strong performance in Cheshire could fire him into a secure Showdown position. Brookes said: “I think we can fight for more wins at Oulton Park as I feel that we have progressed with the Tyco Suzuki so it is important for us to maintain that in the three races this weekend. The Brands Hatch win was progression as we had been consistent with the podiums until then. I don’t know how that win will affect the other riders and I don’t want to pinpoint competition because there are different reasons to watch everyone, but we intend to come out at Oulton Park and have three good races.” Oulton Park marks the home round for several of the MCE BSB contenders including Ellesmere Port’s Jenny Tinmouth, who is currently having her most successful season to date after scoring a point at Snetterton. Frodsham’s Howie Mainwaring could also be a dark horse for the Todmorden-based MH Kawasaki team after claiming top ten finishes earlier in the season in Cheshire. Advance adult tickets for main raceday cost £26 online in advance with children aged 12 and under admitted free. All event parking is free of charge. For more information and to book visit www.oultonpark.co.uk or call 0843 453 9000. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha: ELLISON AND WATERS SET FOR OULTON PARK MCE BSB TRIPLE-HEADER ROUND The Milwaukee Yamaha team return to Oulton Park this weekend (9/10/11 August) for the seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and both James Ellison and Josh Waters are aiming for a big points haul at the triple-header event. Ellison scored a podium finish when the Championship last visited the Cheshire circuit back in May and with the end of season Showdown rapidly approaching the Kendal rider is targeting a hat trick of podiums this weekend. Waters meanwhile will be back in MCE BSB following his recent appearance in the Suzuka Eight Hour race and aiming for the top ten again this weekend. Ellison said: “We have proved this season that we can be up the front and challenging for the podiums but there have been a lot of different circumstances that have put us out for a few reasons. I am really enjoying riding the Milwaukee Yamaha and this weekend we are going to look at how we can make some more improvements to the stability of the front so we can be later on the brakes to try and make some more passes on the likes of Shakey, Josh and Alex. We want to be fighting for those podiums this weekend in the three races and because the leading four of us are all racing different bikes the places to find an advantage over each other vary over a lap. We are ready to have a good battle and I am really looking forward to it.” Waters said: “I am looking forward to getting back to Oulton Park and I think with three races that should make it even better for me. We had a top ten finish when we were there before so we want to keep improving on that and I think we should have a good weekend. I have spent some time at the workshop with the boys and we are getting all set for the three races.” For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com More, from a press release issued by Team WD-40: PODIUM GOALS FOR TEAM WD-40 AT OULTON PARK The second visit of the season by the British Superbike Championship to Oulton Park sees Team WD-40 in fine form and aiming to increase the recent flurry of podium finishes. Local favourite and one of the UK’s brightest prospects, Joe Francis, along with Tommy Aquino, occupied steps on the podium in their respective championships at the last round at Brands Hatch and will be hoping for more of the same this weekend. Joe, from Backford near Chester currently leads the Moto 3 class of Monster Energy Motostar British Championship and is looking for home support to continue his quest for the title. Tommy and Jon Railton will be gunning for glory on board their GR Motosport prepared Kawasaki ZX10r bikes in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship, both with a great chance of finishing in the top ten. Francis said: “Since the last visit to Oulton Park in May I’ve been able to score consistently and now my focus is on maintaining my championship lead. “The racing has been tough, but exciting for the fans and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the battles on track. “This weekend promises to be no different and I can’t wait to get on my bike at my home track and try to deliver a good result for my team and the crowd.” Joe won the last time at Oulton Park and has since gone to build a lead in the championship, but he’s aware that with five more races to go after this weekend, the fight for the title is far from over. “Oulton Park is my favourite track and I just want to focus on doing well in this race, rather than the championship,” added Francis. “There is a long way to go until the title is decided and I will be taking it one race at a time, hoping to stay ahead of everyone else until the end of the season. “Everyone at Team WD-40 has been great this season and I know the support I get in the garage will prepare me properly for this weekend.” The season for Railton has been topsy turvy, with good qualifying results not delivering the race results he deserves. Recently a couple of heavy accidents have left the Huntingdonshire rider in pain while qualifying and racing, affecting his results. But his injuries are starting to clear up and he’s hoping for a pain-free Oulton Park. “This season has been very frustrating in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 championship, but we all know the accident risk and most riders battle with some injuries during the season,” said Railton. “Hopefully mine are now behind me and I can start delivering the results the team and I think we deserve. “It’s great to be part of a successful Team WD-40 and the atmosphere around the garage is brilliant, I just want feel like I’m delivering similar results to Joe and Tommy and contribute to the team.” For Tommy, he’s now revelling in his first season racing in the UK, and the Californian rookie is looking forward to another visit to the undulating Oulton Park track. He said: “I’m really enjoying my racing at the moment and I can’t wait for this weekend. “Oulton Park offers something different to Brands Hatch last time out, but I’ll be looking for a repeat of the fantastic feeling I had to be on the podium at the end of the race. “If Jon and I can claim top ten or maybe top five finishes, then it’ll prove that the hard work from everyone behind the scenes at Team WD-40 is paying off.” Team WD-40’s manager, Brent Gladwin, said: “I’m delighted we’re going to Oulton Park in great form, with one rider leading his championship lead and another in great form. “I’m sure all three will perform very well throughout the weekend and once again we’ll be aiming for at least one podium. “The season is only half over, so there’s plenty of racing to go and lots of points to race for. I just hope we finish Oulton like we did at Brands Hatch last time out.” WD-40 is the new title sponsor of GR Motosport. The company has just launched seven new products specifically for use on motorbikes, under its recently launched WD-40 Specialist Motorbike brand. www.wd40specialistmotorbike.co.uk/ www.teamwd40.com Team Partners: Stauff UK, Cargolink Express, L&A Reinforcements, Carrino access flooring, The Air Con Experts, F&G Commercials, Bennetts Motorcycle Insurance, Kent Holiday Cottages, RS Components, 3 Squared, Signsxtra Technical Partners: Kawasaki, Scorpion Red Power, Dynojet UK, Swinton Motorcycles, R&G, PPG Paint, Goodridge, Pipercross, Solo Motorcycle products, Super B, MG Competition, STIHL, Geo Technology, Sigma