Milwaukee Yamaha’s Brookes reigns supreme at Thruxton to lead the title standings
Josh Brookes put on an imperious display at the seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Thruxton to celebrate his second consecutive double victory, smashing the lap record to move to the top of the overall standings.
Brookes had set a blistering pace all weekend and in the races continued his domination by hitting the front of the pack in both races and maintained his position to score the maximum podium points and confirm his position in the Showdown.
Adam Jenkinson continued to improve his pace throughout the races as he deputised for Broc Parkes, scoring points in both races with a solid 12th and 13th place finishes.
Team Manager Mick Shanley said: “We got everything we could, pole position, lap record, two race wins, he has been faultless and rode fantastic all weekend and hopefully we can just keep this momentum going. I think that Adam did a great job as well standing in at such short notice, he had the pace for some real good results and I think he is happy to have ridden it just to get a bit of a different idea.”
Josh Brookes
“We have always had confidence and believe that we can do it but you have to actually do it and we have done this weekend. After Brands Hatch everyone was definitely carrying some confidence and a good mood in the team and that spilled onto this weekend. It has been a good circuit for me, I had my first race win here in 2010 and I have had a double last year, so it has just been a good circuit for me in general. To come from a double win at Brands Hatch and have another double here is what we were searching for but to finally achieve it means we can shout about it and I am really pleased.
“In the second race particularly when the safety car came out I was a little bit annoyed shall I say as I had worked really hard to try and make a buffer where then I could ride more comfortably and then when I saw the Safety Car flag I thought ‘oh no this isn’t how I planned it’. As soon as the safety car was in I just put my head down and rode the fastest, smoothest lap I could. Unfortunately for Hopper, but fortunately for me his crash created a gap and I could control the rest of the race as I had a buffer that gave me that confidence.
“Obviously I need to thank the Milwaukee Yamaha team as they have put a superb bike under me this weekend and it actually felt better again in the second race, it’s surprising how you can keep stepping it up and improve again.
“It wasn’t until after the race I realised I’d achieved the lap record because on the dash it can sometimes differ to the real time and I didn’t have the record in my mind. For me it was about doing the best job possible to win the races. I’m really happy and it’s the cherry on top of a great weekend, especially as it’s stood for so many years.
“It’s a big achievement because in 2006 it was a big tyre war and Michelin and Dunlop were bringing special tyres to the races to try and have the advantage. So to get lap records on a tyre that is available to everyone means we have to give big respect to Pirelli and it shows how good the tyre is in BSB.
“To end the day with a crash doing a burn out celebrating was typical my style – if someone is going to do it, it is going to be me so congratulations to me for that!”
Adam Jenkinson
“I think riding both races was a challenge but I have loved every moment of the experience. We continued to improve our pace throughout the races and towards the end of race two my pace was as good as the guys in the top five. It is a great result for me and the team and I want to thank them for this opportunity.”
More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:
Podium For Byrne At Thruxton To Clinch Showdown Place
The Penrith-based Paul Bird Motorsport team endured a tough weekend at Thruxton in Hampshire for round seven of the 2015 MCE British Superbike Championship but Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne showed all the hallmarks of a champion to overcome the difficulties to claim a second and fourth place finish in the two races.
Aboard the PBM Kawasaki ZX-10R, the reigning and four-time champion found himself in the unfamiliar position of 17th place after yesterday’s Datatag Extreme qualifying session which gave him a lot of work to do for today’s opening 20-lap race. However, with some big changes overnight which resulted in fourth in morning warm-up, it gave him plenty of optimism although the first race was only five laps old when it was red flagged due to an oil spillage.
Upon the re-start, the Sittingbourne rider lined up in 12th before making his way up through the field as the race progressed. By lap four he was up to fourth and after a hectic battle, he managed to cross the line in fourth position to take 13 valuable points.
That performance gave him a strong grid position of row two for the second 20-lap race as the temperature soared at Britain’s fastest track and whilst he was unable to move forward in the early stages, as the race progressed he moved up to second as his decision to run the harder rear tyre paid dividends whereby he held on to take second place at the chequered flag.
The result scored Byrne three more important Podium Points as he confirmed his place in the all-important Showdown phase at the end of the season which will determine the destiny of the 2015 title.
Team-mate Ian Hutchinson had qualified just behind Shakey for the first race and was in fine form throughout the weekend. Indeed, he carried his qualifying form into race day and opened his account with an excellent 13th place in the first race for his first MCE BSB points of the season.
Although he was deputising for the injured Stuart Easton, the Bingley ace was using the meeting primarily as preparation for next week’s Ulster Grand Prix but he again proved his talent on the short circuits in the second race by finishing even higher up the order in 11th position.
Shane Byrne: “We’ve had a good season up until now but it just hasn’t gone our way this weekend and to be in 17th after qualifying certainly wasn’t in the script. At the same time, if you had said I would get these results on Friday afternoon, I would have snatched your arm off! This is the most difficult weekend I’ve ever had with the team and despite their hard work, we’ve been rubbish so I am delighted to salvage these results. The podium finish especially feels like a win, so that one is for my team and their efforts.”
Ian Hutchinson: “Like Shakey, it’s been a difficult weekend for me and I was making big changes to the bike before both the first race and again before the second. That’s not an ideal situation to be in and in the second race, the safety car period really helped me as I was able to adjust the rear shock as I was going round. That allowed me to move forward a few places towards the end of the race and results-wise. I’m really happy. I’ve gone two seconds quicker than what I’ve ever done before around here and it’s been ideal preparation for the Ulster GP.”
Phil Borley, Technical Director: “As both riders have said, it’s been a difficult weekend for us although, fortunately, our race pace was better than our qualifying pace. We tried lots of things throughout the weekend to give the riders a better bike but we couldn’t quite overcome a lack of drive grip out of the corners. We made small steps throughout but needed to make bigger ones to fight for the wins. Both riders dug in throughout each race and for Shakey to come away with a second and a fourth, and gain some valuable Podium Points, is the best we could have hoped for. Hutchy had a good weekend and was close to Shakey on numerous occasions so it was good to see him back in the groove after a long break since the TT. He beat some good BSB riders today and is looking strong ahead of the Ulster GP.”
MCE British Superbike Championship – Race One (15 laps)
1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
2 Dan Linfoot (Honda)
3 James Westmoreland (Kawasaki)
4 Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
5 Howie Mainwaring Smart (Kawasaki)
6 Luke Mossey (Kawasaki)
13 Ian Hutchinson (PBM Kawasaki)
MCE British Superbike Championship – Race Two (20 laps)
1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
2 Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
3 Luke Mossey (Kawasaki)
4 Tommy Bridewell (BMW)
5 Dan Linfoot (Honda)
6 Michael Laverty (BMW)
11 Ian Hutchinson (PBM Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after seven rounds)
1 Brookes 266pts
2 Byrne 254
3 Ellison 147
4 Easton 139
5 Laverty 115
6 Bridewell 112
26 Hutchinson 8
The eighth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship takes place at Cadwell Park over the weekend of August 21/23. For more information, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com and the team website www.britishsuperbike.com
More, from a press release issued by Quattro Plant Kawasaki:
Mossey and Mainwaring Smart shine at Thruxton
The Quattro Plant Kawasaki team enjoyed an excellent day of racing at Thruxton on Sunday with both Luke Mossey and Howie Mainwaring Smart riding brilliantly in the two British Superbike Championship races, the former claiming a superb debut podium finish in the class.
The weekend couldn’t have gone any better and the duo were on the pace throughout the free practice sessions and this was further confirmed in Saturday afternoon’s qualifying session which resulted in Luke lining up in a brilliant third place for the opening race and Howie in tenth, only a slight problem for the latter preventing him from being higher.
Conditions at the Hampshire venue, the team’s local circuit, were perfect on Sunday and the first race, shortened to 15 laps, saw both riders put in superb rides. Indeed, the pairing were at the heart of a battle for third place and although it was ultimately James Westmoreland that sealed that position, both Howie and Luke got stronger as the race wore on and they were duly rewarded with excellent fifth and sixth place positions respectively.
The second race later in the day, held over the full 20 laps, followed a similar pattern and either rider could have taken a podium position. It was Aylesford’s Mainwaring Smart that looked like he’d be the one to achieve it as he slotted into third with just five laps to go. However, when second placed John Hopkins crashed out, he had to take evasive action and dropped back although he regrouped well to take an eventual seventh place.
His misfortune was Mossey’s gain and with him not being held up he leapt up to third and this became second when he overhauled reigning Champion Shane Byrne with two laps remaining. Byrne ultimately regained the position but the Royston rider stuck with him and claimed his debut BSB finish in just his seventh meeting on the bike.
Luke Mossey: “I don’t really know what to say other than it’s been a brilliant weekend! It’s been good right from the word go and whilst I’ve been getting stronger and stronger with each and every round, I didn’t think I’d be able to take a podium finish so soon. We’ve made tremendous strides forward with the bike ever since the Snetterton test in May and I’m really enjoying riding the bike so I can’t thank the team enough. I got a bit duffed up in the early stages of each race but I was confident with the pace I could run and got stronger as the race wore on. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season and am absolutely buzzing right now!”
Howie Mainwaring Smart: “After struggling in recent rounds, it’s been nice to be back fighting for positions at the sharp end and we’ve found something with the bike this weekend that has allowed me to get back to where I need to be. Yes, it would have been nice to have finished on the podium but I’m pleased with fifth and seventh places this weekend and pleased with the way I rode too. I didn’t get the best rub of the green when John went down whilst none of the safety car periods helped either but, like I say, I’m happy and the whole team can be proud of their efforts this weekend.”
Pete Extance, Team Owner: “It’s been a fantastic weekend for the whole team and with it being our local circuit, it makes it even more special. The whole team have worked so hard and whilst we were confident coming into the round, I’m delighted with the outcome and for Luke to finish on the podium so soon in his BSB career is fantastic. Right from the word go this weekend, he was running up the front and the day started brilliantly in the first race as Howie took fifth and Luke sixth.”
“Both riders were in with a shout of the podium in the second and whilst it was Luke who prevailed, I couldn’t be happier with how they performed. To have four rides and finish inside the top seven in all of them is brilliant for everyone concerned at Quattro Plant Kawasaki and it’s been a brilliant meeting so thanks to everyone that’s been a part of it. The aim now is to continue with this form at each of the five remaining rounds and we’ll be doing our utmost to deliver.”
The next round of the series takes place at Cadwell Park on August 21-23.
MCE British Superbike Championship – Race One (20 laps)
1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
2 Dan Linfoot (Honda)
3 James Westmoreland (Kawasaki)
4 Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
5 Howie Mainwaring Smart (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki)
6 Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Tec-care Kawasaki)
MCE British Superbike Championship – Race Two (20 laps)
1 Josh Brookes (Yamaha)
2 Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)
3 Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Tec-care Kawasaki)
4 Tommy Bridewell (BMW)
5 Dan Linfoot (Honda)
6 Michael Laverty (BMW)
7 Howie Mainwaring Smart (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after seven rounds)
1 Brookes 266pts
2 Byrne 254
3 Ellison 147
4 Easton 139
5 Laverty 115
6 Bridewell 112
10 Mossey 70
11 Mainwaring Smart 65
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:
BITTERSWEET THRUXTON BSB FOR BENNETTS SUZUKI
Bennetts Suzuki’s Christian Iddon saw two potential top-six finishes cruelly snatched-away at Thruxton and round seven of the MCE British Superbike Championship on Sunday as team-mate Josh Waters raced to a positive top-10 position.
After qualifying in ninth place, Iddon was battling for a top-six in race one when another machine’s engine blew-up in front of him. Raising his hand in anticipation of a red flag, Iddon’s visor was suddenly covered in oil from the stricken machine and he couldn’t see in front of him, running onto the grass and being forced to lay his GSX-R1000 down before running into the air fence.
While he was allowed to line-up for the restart, the team couldn’t quite get the bike rebuilt in time and he had to start from the back of the grid. Then after an impressive start – which saw him up to 17th on the opening lap – he had to pull back into the pits to make some more adjustments to his GSX-R1000. Despite being down on laps, he managed to put-in the ninth-fastest lap of the race, ensuring a third-row grid spot for race two.
Unfortunately more problems plagued the team when John Hopkins fell at the chicane – as Iddon was again battling for the top-six in the closing stages of the race – and was forced to scrub-off speed to avoid the crashed machine; and was then hit from behind by another rider. He was able to remain upright but the impact bent his Yoshimura exhaust system and down on power, he struggled home to 20th place; his first non-point-scoring round of the season.
Christian Iddon:
“I don’t know what I did wrong in a previous life but I must have done something! The good thing is the team has been brilliant all weekend and we’ve been up there and on the pace in every single session, plus we’ve been able to run good lap-times. First race I couldn’t see where I was going so had to lay it down. I felt I was on the grass and I was going fast and didn’t know which direction I was going in. So I had to put it down. In the restart I made a good start but unfortunately the bike wasn’t quite ready enough so I had to pull in, but I got back out to get a lap in.
“It was all going really nicely in race two also. I was trying to be careful and save some tyre for the end of the race so we could have a go. I got through Hopper’s crash but someone else couldn’t get stopped behind me and rear-ended me and bent the exhaust. I didn’t know what was bent at the time and felt something scraping at the next corner. Some people came past and gestured at me so I pulled off the racing-line and had a look. I kicked it as straight as I could but I was just down on power, but I just finished the race as you never know what’s going to happen in front of you.”
In contrast, team-mate Josh Waters enjoyed a positive weekend on his Bennetts Suzuki GSX-R1000, making progress with the set-up of his machine and big improvements in his lap-times.
Despite the team’s gamble not paying off in qualifying, Waters progressed from his 21st place grid-spot and fought through to finish in 14th place in race one. Things improved further in race two when he kept pushing forwards and was battling well inside the top-10. Starting the last lap, Waters held eighth and made a move for seventh. However, he made a small mistake with his pass and dropped back to 10th at the chequered flag, but was buoyed with his and the team’s progress throughout the weekend.
Josh Waters:
“It’s a shame that the gamble in qualifying didn’t pay off as we had to start from further down the field, and with lap times so close, passing is difficult around here. We had a decent race one and made-up some positions. Race two was good and I really enjoyed riding the bike and the battles on track. I was looking to get a really good top-10 finish but I just made a small mistake on the last lap trying to make a pass and in the end it cost me. But the team has worked really hard and the progress is now evident for people to see. We’ll keep working with the aim of getting even further-up the results.”
Martin Halsall – Team Owner:
“You couldn’t write it; it just seems like we can’t get a break at the minute. Christian’s had illness, injury, got unlucky with rain in qualifying, been run off track, and now this… so we’re disappointed not to come away with any points on his side of the garage this weekend. But we’re taking the positives from the pace we’ve shown. Two top-six finishes were definitely within our reach today.
“On Josh’s side of the garage we’ve seen a big improvement. The bike’s getting better all the time and there’s a definite direction we’re going in with the set-up. Everyone knows he has the pace and we’ve seen a much happier Josh this weekend. He too was on course for a very good result in race two, and while it didn’t end-up quite as it could have, he’s still come away with some solid points.”
Race One Result: 1. Josh Brookes, 2. Dan Linfoot, 3. James Westmoreland, 4. Shane Byrne, 5. Howie Mainwaring-Smart. 14. Josh Waters (Bennetts Suzuki). DNF: Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki).
Race Two Result: 1. Josh Brookes, 2. Shane Byrne, 3. Luke Mossey, 4. Tommy Bridewell, 5. Dan Linfoot. 10. Josh Waters (Bennetts Suzuki). 20. Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki).
More, from a press release issued by James Rispoli’s publicist:
British Superbike Series: James Rispoli Achieves New Lap Record, Podium and First International Pole at Thruxton Circuit
DAYTONA, FL – James “The Rocket” Rispoli placed 3rd and set a new lap record in the seventh round of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship at Thruxton on day one. Although the Team Traction Control rider did not finish the race on day two, Rispoli was reminded of the massive support he continues to have in the UK.
The SuperSport star used an impressive new lap record of 1:16:247 on the second lap to break with the lead group to help him fight for the podium during the entire first race. On the final lap, he was just nipped at the line pushing James back to a 3rd place finish and another podium finish. One Day two, the Team Traction Control rider was making an impressive swing for the fences starting from pole position, but unfortunately did not finish when he was unintentionally clipped causing a low side while battling for another podium with 1.5 laps to go. Rispoli, the every showman handled the scene by acknowledging the massive crowd in the stands with a bow and received huge support from his fans.
“Things happen, and even though I didn’t finish the race on day two, I knew just from the sound of people in the stands that I was still deeply supported, and it makes me want to work even harder,” Rispoli stated after the race. “Overall, I’d like to give a huge thank you to my Team Traction Control and my crew for all the hard work and long hours.
“Together we have achieved great things like 3rd place and a new race lap record on the fastest track on the circuit!” Rispoli exclaimed.
Don’t miss out on the next race at Cadwell Park on August 21-23. Watch James “The Rocket” Rispoli continue to dominate at the British Superbike Series.