Busy week and good results for Cummins Conor Cummins had a busy few days of racing this week with outings on both the roads and the short circuits but the Manxman enjoyed good results at both culminating in an excellent top ten finish at round 7 of the Metzeler National 1000cc Superstock Championship at Oulton Park. Riding the Blackhorse Kawasaki, Conor finished in a strong 9th place for his first points of the season and this was hot on the heels of some top six finishes on the McAdoo Kawasaki’s at the Southern 100 road races on the Isle of Man. It was here where his week started but with perfect, sunny conditions throughout race week, Conor experienced a number of technical problems, primarily with the electronics on the McAdoo Kawasaki so he was an early retirement from Tuesday’s Open race. By the following evening though these had been resolved and he took a fine 4th place behind Guy Martin, Michael Dunlop and Ryan Farquhar. He followed this up on Thursday with a solid sixth place in the 600cc race, right on the back wheel of fellow Manxman Dan Kneen and he was looking good for another top six finish in the Solo Championship race only to be forced to retire with the Superbike machine overheating. “The Southern was a bit up and down for me this year with some decent results offset by a few technical problems, which lost me a bit of track time, but I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was my first time back at Billown in 2 years but I felt my way back in nicely and my best lap in the Championship race was only a few seconds off my personal best so I’m pretty happy with how things went. I had a sniff of the podium in a couple of the races although we’re still struggling a bit with bottom end power on the 600 and it was difficult to get by people. We’ve worked hard with the guys at Maxton though to get the handling pretty good and the whole McAdoo team have worked extremely hard this week so it’s a good benchmark for us looking ahead to the Ulster GP.” It was then straight on the ferry to Oulton Park for Round 7 of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Championship where he linked up again with the Blackhorse Kawasaki squad and, after taking 20th in the free practice session, Conor improved his times in both of the qualifying sessions and with a best time of 1m40.801s in Saturday’s final session, he lined up in 16th place on the grid for the 14-lap race, his best dry qualifying position of the year. Race day saw the Cheshire venue hit by torrential rain and although he didn’t make the best of starts, by the end of the first lap he’d worked his way up to 13th. A lap later he was up to 11th and on lap 3 he overtook Marshall Neill to move up into the top ten. Lapping strongly, Conor had the group battling for 4th ahead of him but when 3rd placed Danny Buchan crashed out on the fifth lap, the red flag came as conditions worsened. The result was declared at 4 laps and with Buchan out, Conor was awarded 9th place for his first points of the year, a brilliant effort and result given the conditions. Speaking later, a pleased Conor said: “Conditions were really bad out there and I could barely see the rider in front of me – it was only when they braked that they came into my sight! There was lots of standing water and grip was practically non-existent so everyone was having moments. I just tried to keep it as smooth as possible and find a good line, which was easier said than done! It was hard to overtake as you had to go off line but I managed to pick a few of them off and had the group ahead of me in my sights when the red flag came out. It really was horrendous but I’m chuffed to bits with not only my first points of the season but also a top ten finish so a big thanks to everyone in the Blackhorse Kawasaki team and to all my sponsors for sticking by me – I’m definitely heading in the right direction and things are getting better all the time.” Conor now has a three-week before the next round of the Superstock Championship with Brands Hatch hosting round 8 on August 5-7. More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist: McGuinness takes brilliant third at Oulton John McGuinness made a triumphant return to the Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Championship on Sunday with a brilliant third place at Oulton Park. Competing in the series for the first time since Knockhill a month ago, the Padgetts Honda rider called on all his experience in torrential rain to move through the pack and claim a superb podium position in the shortened race, his first since September 2009. With perfect conditions on Friday, John placed 10th in the free practice session and then improved his time by almost 1.5s in opening qualifying, a time of 1m40.271s placing him in provisional 8th place on the grid. With heavy overnight and morning rain, Saturday’s final qualifying session took place on a damp, but drying, track and although only a handful of riders did improve their times, one was John’s team-mate Adam Jenkinson and it was enough to push him down to 9th place and the third row of the grid. Race day on Sunday saw even heavier rain and conditions really were treacherous as the 40-strong grid left the line but a good opening lap saw John up to 7th place as the field started their second lap. Part of a six-man group battling for fourth, McGuinness moved up to 5th on lap 2 and this became 4th a lap later as he overhauled Tristan Palmer. He quickly opened up a gap over the pack behind and was safe in fourth when third placed Danny Buchan crashed out at the beginning of the fifth lap. That promoted John up the order to 3rd and with conditions worsening and Buchan stuck in the air fence, the red flag came out soon after. The result was subsequently declared at 4 laps with half points awarded and John was delighted to be in third place and take his first podium in the series since Silverstone almost two years ago. There was double celebration for the Padgetts team with Jenkinson taking the race win. Speaking afterwards, a delighted John said: “It was really unpredictable out there and whilst some parts of the circuit had good grip, other sections had no grip whatsoever. You had to be really cautious and smooth but I tucked the front at the first corner on the first lap and had my feet down so had to regroup and just focussed really hard on staying as smooth as possible. The middle of the track seemed to have the most grip and be the best line to be on so I kept there and once I’d got up to fourth I had some clear road in front of me and was able to take the lines I wanted. I’ve felt strong all weekend, in both the wet and the dry, and to be back on the podium is absolutely brilliant so a big thanks to everyone in the team, it’s been another good day.” John now heads to Suzuka, Japan for the next round of the World Endurance Championship. The 8-Hour race takes place on July 30/31. More, from a press release issued by Sorrymate.com Honda: Ellison works hard on sorrymate.com Honda debut James Ellison put in a strong performance on his sorrymate.com Honda debut in the British Superbike Championship at the weekend and was rewarded with points in his very first outing. Torrential rain at Oulton Park meant only one race could be held on Sunday but the Cumbrian ace fought his way superbly through the pack from 23rd on the first lap to 11th at the end for 5 hard earned points. After spending all of this season in the World Supersport 600cc Championship, Ellison soon got dialled in to the Superbike machine and placed 4th quickest in Friday’s opening free practice session. A further two tenths of a second were shaved off his time in the afternoon’s session but Saturday dawned wet although he was still on the pace, running 10th quickest. Having been in the top ten in every session, the team were hoping to replicate that in qualifying but just as he was on a personal best lap, James was held up by another rider in the final sector and the time lost meant he slipped down the order to 19th place. The grid position wasn’t helped by heavy rain on race day and it got worst at the first corner when James had to take avoiding action when Patrick Muff crashed out in front of him. Subsequently, he found himself down in 23rd place at the end of the first lap but, utilising his wet weather prowess, he soon began to make his way through the pack. By lap 7 he was up to 15th and inside the points and when the safety car came out a lap later, it allowed the pack to bunch up. The car pulled in with 6 laps remaining and James overhauled Alex Lowes, Chris Walker, Ryuichi Kiyonari and Glen Richards to take a fighting 11th place at the chequered flag. Equally pleasing was the fact that James had the 9th fastest lap of the race thus was scheduled to start race 2 from the third row of the grid. However, the weather had other ideas and as the rain worsened, the organisers had little option other than to abandon the meeting with the race now taking place at a later date. Speaking later, team owner Robin Croft said: “We’ve had a mixed bag this weekend and although FP1 went smoothly, FP2 was frantic, to say the least, as electrical problems caused us to miss 15 minutes of the session. Despite not having ridden a Superbike since last year, James was still running a strong top ten pace and we were very hopeful for more of the same in qualifying although this was scuppered when he was held up by traffic on his quick lap.” “Starting from 19th on the grid wasn’t the best, particularly in the wet, and it was made worse for James by a first corner crash that caused him to lose time. He was down in the pack and really up against it but he really showed his class and rode brilliantly to fight his way up to 11th at the chequered flag. His lap times meant we were a lot higher up the grid for the second race and we were all looking for a good result but the weather was really bad and cancellation of the race was the only decision. Contrary to what’s been portrayed, the bike isn’t what James rode last year although it is similar spec and he had the pace to qualify in the top six and run with some of the main Championship contenders in the race so we’re more than confident for the remaining rounds.” The next round of the British Superbike Championship takes place on the Brands Hatch GP circuit, August 5-7. More, from a press release issued by Splitlathe Motorsport: RAIN SPOILS SPLITLATH’S PARTY AT OULTON SPLITLATH Motorsport riders Karl Harris and Hudson Kennaugh were left disappointed today when rain stopped play at Oulton Park. After downpour which lasted most of the day at the Cheshire circuit, race chiefs had no option but to postpone the second MCE Insurance British Superbike race this afternoon. While it was a necessary move, it was particularly disappointing for team newcomer Harris, who had been due to line up 11th on the grid after a flying start in the earlier race. Instead, today’s race will be held at the famous Cadwell Park track over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Harris’ first round with the team got off to a quick start during Friday’s first practice session, but the three-times British Supersport and former European Superstock champion had a couple of crashes on the team’s Aprilia RSV4 superbike before qualifying on Saturday. This meant he had little track time before qualification, and ended up starting in 24th spot. However, a lightning quick getaway at the green light saw him charge down the inside and making up more than a dozen spots in the opening lap, to cross the line at the start of Lap Two in 11th. Two laps later he was up to ninth and chasing down Loris Baz for eighth. But disaster struck on Lap Five when he lost the rear and crashed out. “Obviously it’s a shame that I crashed. I just got on the power just a little too early and off she went,” he said. “It was looking good because we were on course to start from the third row which would’ve been good, but the weather stopped it. You can’t argue with the decision, it’s just a little disappointing. “Overall it’s been a really good weekend. It’s a shame qualifying went the way it did, but because of the crashes earlier it meant we couldn’t show our full potential and get a better grid spot for the race. But I’ve enjoyed the weekend, I just wish we could’ve got out there for race two but it’s just like that sometimes.” Kennaugh meanwhile was happy to cross the line fifth in the Mirror.co.uk BSB-Evo race despite stopping his Aprilia at the side of the track to make a quick change to the rear suspension while the pack were under the Safety Car. After lining up 27th overall and ninth in Evo, he got a good start and was up to sixth in Evo and 19th on the road when the Safety Car came out on Lap Seven. “I stopped to make the back shock a little softer and I knew I could catch back up although I did think there was going to be another lap under the Safety Car so I was quite chilled! “The changes worked, so I was able to catch them up easily. I’d only lost two places so I just pushed to get them back and then got up to fifth. I couldn’t catch the guy ahead so I just settled into it. “After the crash at Snetterton I just wanted to get back into it with a result and not do anything crazy out there. The conditions were tricky and I had a couple of moments but it was good to get a finish. I’d hoped to get a better result in the second race but it was cancelled. I’m disappointed we didn’t get our race but I’m happy with the decision as far as the safety aspect is concerned.” Team Manager John Dimbylow added: “It’s been a good weekend, and it was fantastic to see the Splitlath Motorsport Aprilia superbike running up in the top 10. Karl did a fantastic job to get it on the third row for Race Two, and Hudson has had a good weekend too, with a solid fifth in the race. “With Karl’s pace on the superbike and Hudson’s on the Evo, there’s every chance we could’ve had two podiums in one race today, so I am disappointed the second race was cancelled. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens at Brands Hatch. “I’d like to thank everyone in the team for working incredibly hard. They’ve had a lot to deal with and repair, and have done a fantastic job. Also, special thanks to Andy Jameson for all his help this weekend.” More, from a press release issued by Marty Nutt’s publicist: Difficult weekend at Oulton for Nutt Marty Nutt endured a difficult weekend at Oulton Park where he was competing in round 7 of the British Supersport Championship with the Coleraine rider failing to add to his points tally. Poor weather meant only one of the two races were held over the course of the two days and Marty could only finish in 17th place on the nutttravel.com/Dawn/T&G Suzuki in Saturday’s race. A solid start to the weekend though saw Marty place 16th in the opening free practice session and although he slipped back to 20th in the second session later on Friday afternoon, he regrouped for Saturday’s solitary qualifying session to place 14th on the grid. It had been wet for qualifying but by the time of the sprint race in the afternoon, conditions were good once more. However, a poor start saw Marty drop back from his 14th place starting position and it got worse at the first corner when he was pushed out wide onto the rumble strips. Subsequently, he completed the first lap down in 21st place and although he worked his way up to 17th at the end of the 10 laps, he was outside of the points and also back down in 19th for Sunday’s race. Having been encouraged by a strong showing in Sunday morning warm-up though, Marty was looking for a better showing in the feature race but torrential rain hit the Cheshire venue from early afternoon onwards and after numerous delays, organisers made the only decision available to them and abandoned the meeting just after 5pm, meaning an additional Supersport race will now be run at a later round. Speaking later, Marty said: “It’s fair to say that, one way or another, it’s been a disappointing weekend. Saturday’s effort certainly wasn’t what we’re about so I was praying for some rain on Sunday and it was all looking good in morning warm-up. I posted the seventh fastest time and my ideal lap would have placed me fourth so I felt really confident for the race. I felt very comfortable with the bike in the wet and was hopeful of a good result but it wasn’t to be and the rain just kept coming and coming so I think it was the right call to abandon the meeting. There was lots of standing water around the circuit whilst there was also a coating of oil in places so it would have been very dodgy out there. We’ll head back home now and make a few changes back in the workshop. It’s my favourite circuit next – the Brands Hatch GP track so hopefully we’ll come back stronger there.” Round 8 of the Championship takes place at Brands Hatch on August 5-7. More, from a press release issued by AP Kawasaki: Top Ten For Hunt At Oulton Park Despite the diabolical weather conditions at Oulton Park today, AP Kawasaki rider Leon Hunt took his best result of the season with a 10th position in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship to score points for the third time this season. The Brighton rider carried on his good form from Snetterton and was quick in both the free practice and qualifying sessions held in dry, bright weather on Friday. Hunt placed himself provisionally 13th on the grid following the opening qualifier and with second qualifying on Saturday held in the damp, he duly took his spot on the fourth row of the grid. But race day saw torrential rain hit the Cheshire venue but Leon put in a strong race and, 16th on the first lap, he’d worked his way up to 12th when the race was stopped early on the fifth lap. However, upon post race scrutineering, two riders in front of Leon were excluded meaning a top ten position and despite only half points being awarded, it was just reward for Leon and the team’s efforts. For 600cc teamster Freddie Russo, it was very much a case of what might have been. Second at the corresponding meeting back in May, the Brentford rider was running close to the front right from the off and took a superb third place in qualifying to put himself well in contention for the race win on Sunday. However, last on the schedule, the race was ultimately cancelled because of deteriorating conditions and will now be held at one of the later rounds. Leon Hunt: “We did a track day at Brands Hatch before we came to Oulton Park and as soon as we got here, I felt a lot more comfortable with the bike. The whole weekend went a lot better and we made good progress, ending up something like a tenth of a second off the second row. I felt really confident throughout practice and qualifying and the race itself was going well although I was having a few problems with my visor steaming up. The race being stopped helped me in that sense and, overall, were heading in the right direction and I’m now running regularly in the top 15 so fingers crossed for more of the same at the next round where I’ll be looking to get into the top ten again.” Freddie Russo: “We had great pace throughout the weekend which allowed me to claim my first ever front row position so I’m gutted that we never got to race! I felt really confident going into the race and a podium was very much on the cards as it’s a circuit I’m really happy at but the weather obviously had other ideas. The bike is set up really well now and we’ve an excellent base setting whereby we can just go to each circuit and get stuck in straightaway so a big thanks to the team for all the work they’re putting in and I’m sure it will pay dividends next time out.” Alan Greig: “Leon’s again shown good pace throughout the weekend so it’s good to see we’re constantly heading in the right direction and making progress. He’s a bit of a slow starter in a race and it takes him a while to get up to speed so the shortened race worked against him but he was comfortable and confident with the bike and still claimed his best result of the year so that was pleasing. “For Freddie, it was definitely a case of what might have been. He qualified very well and we all had high hopes of a good result but it wasn’t to be. MSV do a terrific job in organising the meetings but there’s nothing they can do about the weather and it’s just one of those things so we’ll look forward now to the next meeting at Brands Hatch.” Metzeler NationalSuperstock 1000cc Championship race (4 laps) 1 Adam Jenkinson (Honda) 7m47.285s 2 Victor Cox (Kawasaki) +4.582s 3 John McGuinness (Honda) +9.843s 4 Richard Cooper (BMW) +11.484s 5 Jonathan Howarth (Kawasaki) +11.750s 6 Luke Quigley (BMW) +13.440s 7 Conor Cummins (Kawasaki) +21.892s 8 Marshall Neill (Aprilia) +22.400s 9 Joe Burns (Kawasaki) +22.800 10 Leon Hunt (AP Kawasaki) +28.606s Championship positions (after 7 rounds) 1 Buchan 117 2 Palmer 115 3 Cooper 110.5 4 O’Halloran 61 5 Quigley 57 6 Jenkinson 56.5 24 Hunt 5 More, from a press release issued by Moto Rapido Ducati: SMART TAKES FIRST WIN FOR MOTO RAPIDO DUCATI Moto Rapido Ducati’s Scott Smart took his and Moto Rapido Ducati’s first win in the British Superbike Evo class at a soaking Oulton Park yesterday, passing championship rival Glen Richards on the last lap and also beating many full Superbikes in the process. The Maidstone-based rider showed good pace in both wet and dry conditions over Friday and Saturday, with no sign of the engine problems that plagued the team at Snetterton returning, and qualified in 20th place overall and third in class after a dry session. Come Sunday, however, the paddock awoke to heavy rain and Smart went out in the late morning warm-up to get a feel for the conditions. As the lights went out for race one, Smart got a lightning start and stayed out of trouble into the first corner where fellow Evo rider Patric Muff dived out of contention but was unhurt. The race settled down with Smart slowly making his way towards the front, picking off bike after bike until the safety car was brought out for oil on the track at Lodge, the final corner. As it peeled back into the pits, Smart only had Richards to beat but managed to not only pass the Australian but also three-time BSB Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and James Ellison to finish tenth overall. “I’d had a pretty good ride through the field and I could see Glen in the distance. I was edging closer to him but it wasn’t enough so when the safety car came out it was a bit of a blessing. I had to pass another couple of Superbikes and managed to catch him at the Shell Hairpin,” said Smart. “I thought to myself I had to have a go, so I went past at the next corner but my legs and hands slipped off as I had a bit of a moment. I had no drive but he had to roll off too. I was helped by the last corner being slippery so it was pretty-much one line through there. I’m over the moon to give the team their first win, they’ve worked so hard to get us here.” Team boss Steve Moore added: “The team picked themselves up from a very disappointing Snetterton and to be rewarded with our first win here at Oulton is fantastic. It is a shame the second race was cancelled but it plays into Scott’s hands as we get three as Cadwell, which is his favourite track. “I must thank team for all their hard work. We have been racing here since 2009 and it feels great to take our first win. I hope there are many more to come.”