The temporary switch from British Superbike to British Supersport action certainly paid off for Woodhall Spa race ace Steve Plater who rode a faultless race at Snetterton to claim his first victory in the series since 1999.
The decision to switch classes for Snetterton was taken by AIM Yamaha because the team had insufficient time to get the Superbike up and running after returning from the Isle of Man TT races and instead of pulling out of the meeting all together it was decided to let Plater join his teammate Ian Hutchinson in the highly competitive Supersport class.
Although Plater is familiar with the bike on which he won two races at the North West 200 meeting in Ireland and went on to take his first victory in the Junior TT recently, he has not ridden in the British series for some years now and will need time to ease himself back into the class.
He also has to contend with a change of tyre manufacturer as the series now runs under a one-make tyre ruling with Pirelli and not his familiar Dunlop tyres.
“I have no idea how I will fare,” said the 36-year-old Lincolnshire rider. “It’s a completely different ball game riding on a short circuit to racing on the roads.”
But he needn’t have concerned himself with the change as he was immediately on the pace, recording the fourth fastest time in free practice ahead of qualifying.
First practice in the dry saw Plater gain in confidence and secure the second fastest time and with rain falling in the second session he retained his position for a front row start to Sunday’s 18-lap encounter.
As the race got underway Steve maintained his second place behind series leader Glen Richards after relinquishing it briefly to Hudson Kennaugh and by the midway stage of the race the top four riders had pulled away from the pack as they jostled for supremacy.
Plater hit the front on lap eight but Richards was not going to give up without a fight and the pair exchanged positions over the next few laps. But Plater found that extra bit of speed and forged ahead once more on lap 12, this time making the move stick.
The race was brought to a premature end two laps later when a fallen rider caused the red flag to come out and a result was declared at positions on lap 13 giving Plater the win he so deserved.
“I got away to a good start,” said Plater. “I wasn’t quite sure how that would go because I only did one practice start prior to the race and have never started a short circuit race on the bike before but it all went very well for me.
“I got off the line to a cracking start just behind Glen Richards. Kennaugh came past me briefly but I passed him straight back and set off after Glen to eventually take the lead. We had a bit of a tussle passing each other a couple of times but it was all nice and clean and no big deal. Then I managed to get back in front and put in a few decent laps. We were both keen to lead over the start line each lap because we were concerned about the big, black clouds looming in the distance and thought the race may be stopped early for rain. But before the rain came the race was stopped for an incident at Russells and I was ahead and declared the winner.
“I adapted well to the Pirelli tyres, I was panicking a bit in case it was a wet race as I had never ridden on Pirelli wets but the treaded tyres we were on worked well and I was quite happy out there.”
More, from a press release issued by Azione Corse:
Bad week-end for Azione Corse which leaves Germany without points. Unlucky Marko Rohtlaan who crashed after a very good start when he was fighting to enter the top-ten. The Estonian rider got two fingers injured and it will probably skip the next round at Misano Adriatico in fifteen days.
Even the fourth STK600 round finished without satisfactions for the Italian team. Sam Lowes run into difficulties since the first day at Nurburgring and was not able to improve his performance during the rest of the week-end. The lack of feeling with his bike allowed him to finish just 26th.
MARKO ROHTLAAN | Honda CBR1000RR | Retired: “I’m really disappointed. Unfortunately I lost control on the rear and the bike thrown me on the ground. I would have liked to give to the team another good final place, as in Assen, but both here and in Monza I was very unlucky”.
SAM LOWES | Honda CBR600RR | 26th classified: “The weather conditions complicated the week-end and I didn’t find comfortable to work on the rain. I feel confident to be back to fight for the points from the next round when we will run on our hom-track in Misano Adriatico”.
More, from a press release issued by Guy Martin’s publicist:
Martin’s run of misfortune continues at Snetterton
Guy Martin’s return to the short circuits failed to give him an upturn in fortunes as the Kirmington rider was forced to retire from both races of Round 5 of the British Superbike Championship at Snetterton. Riding the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, Martin had hoped to increase his tally of points but the electrical problems that had plagued him at the Isle of Man followed him to the Norfolk venue and he left the circuit a frustrated man once more.
Having competed at both the North West 200 and Isle of Man TT races, it was Guy’s first time back on the BSB trail since Brands Hatch over a month ago and all the pure road racing showed as he struggled to get back on to the frenetic pace of the Superbike series. Twentieth in qualifying meant that he would start from the fifth row of the grid and his cause wasn’t aided by a spill at the Esses after a rain shower soaked the circuit in the closing stages of the session.
However, hopes were high for both races that he could get into the points but, try as he might, he couldn’t make an impression on the top 15 in the first race and although he got up to 17th by the 7th lap, the bike began to slow and he eventually pulled in to the pits on the 13th lap. It was a similar story in the second race later in the day, which was delayed by heavy rain. When it did get underway, Guy again moved up to 17th in the early laps but by the 6th lap, the electrical problem had reared it’s head once more and he toured back to the garage, his race over.
Speaking at the end of the day Guy commented:
“Riding on the roads and riding on the short circuits are two totally different things and require totally different riding styles and it’s taking me longer than I would have liked to get back into short circuit mode. It’s hard telling your brain to do something that it hasn’t been doing for over a month so I’ve struggled to get on the pace here as a result. It was always going to be difficult from the 20th although I was more than ready to get stuck into the races but the problems we had at the TT have followed me over the Irish Sea by the looks of things.”
“The bike just feels flat and it keeps losing power after a few laps but the team changed everything they possibly could between the two races to try and get to the bottom of it. The same thing happened again though so we’ve got a test lined up for Cadwell Park this weekend in order to get to the bottom of it once for all. There’s plenty more racing left in the season and having cracked the top ten already this year, that’s where I want to be so the test should allow us to get everything sorted in time for Mallory Park. I haven’t ridden at Mallory since 2003 but I know where I’m going so let’s hope our luck turns there.”
Round 6 of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Mallory Park, Leicestershire on Sunday June 29th
More, from a press release issued by John McGuinness’ publicist:
Snetterton disappointment for McGuinness
John McGuinness’ return to the British Supersport Championship failed to deliver the much hoped for high class result and, after over a month away from short circuit competition, the Morecambe rider finished in a somewhat lowly 20th place at Snetterton on Sunday. Riding the Padgett’s Honda, the TT legend, fresh from his 14th win on the Isle of Man, qualified in the same position and the result means he is yet to open his points account for the season.
Using the same machine that took him to second place in one of the Supersport TT races, John found himself down in 20th place after the first qualifying session but, such is the competitiveness of the class, he was only one second off pole and 0.4 of a second would have have elevated him to comfortably inside the top ten! Gradually getting used to the cut and thrust of the short circuit scene once more, John was hoping to improve on that in the second 40-minute session but the weather had other ideas and, with light rain falling, none of the field were able to improve their times so it meant a fifth row start for John.
The threat of rain was never far away during the race and it proved to be a somewhat uneventful race for John. A good start was interrupted by the usual bumping and barging into the first corner and John completed the first lap in 19th place. He moved up to 17th a lap later but he was overtaken almost immediately and circled in a lonely 20th place for the remainder of the race, which was eventually red flagged on the 14th of 18 laps, due to an incident involving Midge Smart.
Talking about his weekend, John commented:
“Back to reality with a bang! It’s always difficult coming back to the circuits after 3 weeks at the North West 200 and TT and after being on such a high, it’s sometimes hard to get the mind and body into gear for the circuits. I felt like I was riding well during practice and was certainly pushing hard but this class is so tough, you’re talking about tenths of a second between the top 20. To be only a second off pole yet down in 20th is quite amazing and it makes me wonder what I’ve got to do to be competitive in this class!”
“It’s no excuse though and I need to dig even deeper as to be five rounds in with no points is not what we were looking at. Clive and the team are working mega hard and the bike’s working really well so it’s down to the rider to get back up to speed as soon as he possibly can.”
John’s next outing will be in round 6 of the British Supersport Championship being held at Mallory Park in just under two weeks time.
More, from a press release issued by Fasttrax:
NELSONS LEDGES, Ohio Rush Hour Racing II solidified its lead in the Fasttrax 3-hour endurance series point standings by again taking first overall and first in heavyweight in the third round held here on Saturday, June 14.
At the end of the three hours, Rush Hour was a full lap up on its nearest competitor.
In the 30-minute solo mini-endurance races Ron Rupert of Franklin, Ohio riding a Suzuki GSXR-600 set the fastest lap of 1:13 .477 to take top honors in the Middleweight class. Andrew Sexton of Westlake, Ohio on a Ducati 999 was first in Heavyeweight and Ron Ruppert of Bellefonte, PA was a full lap up at the checkered flag for first in Lightweight.
Fasttrax is a family-oriented club racing organization with its home track at Nelsons Ledges, Ohio. For information on all of Fasttrax’s events and programs visit www.Fasttraxlive.com
RESULTS:
30-minute Solo Mini-Endurance: Heavyweight: 1. Andrew Sexton (Duc999) 23 laps; 2. Daniel Shettler III (Hon RC-51), 21 laps.
Middleweight: 1. Ron Ruppert (GSXR600), 23 laps; 2. Kirt Russman (Hon F4I600) 22 laps; 3. David Bright (Yam R-6) 22 laps; 4. Lee Barbicas (Suz GSXR-600) 21 laps; 5. Kenneth Fisher (Yam R-6) 21 laps; 6. Adrian Mobilia, (Suz GSXR-600), 19 laps; 7. Ross Lubrani (Yam R-6) 16 laps.
Lightweight: 1. Randy Grove (Suz SV650) 23 laps; 2. Tim Batten (Suz SV650) 23 laps; 3. Todd Narduzzi (Suz SV650) 23 laps; 4. Michael Gillian (Suz SV650) 22 laps; 5. John Noel Bartlett (Suz SV650) 22 laps; 6. Quentin Mize (Yam FZR400) 21 laps; 7. Bill Smith (Buell XB9R) 21 laps; 8. Larry Macoskie (Suz SV650) 20 laps; 9. Jeff Manley (Suz SV650) 2 laps.
3-hour Endurance: Heavyweight: 1. Rush Hour Racing II ( Suz GSXR-750) 145 laps; 2. Team R & D (Yam R-1) 144 laps; 3. Team Bones (Suz GSXR-750) 144 laps: 4. T.R. Racing (Suz GSXR-750) 54 laps; 5. NES Racing, (Duc 996) 1 lap.
Lightweight; 1. Empty Pockets Racing (Duc PS1000) 141 laps; 2. Team Racer RX ( Suz SV650), 139 laps; 3. DAYAM Racing (Suz SV650) 135 laps; 4. Birdmen Racing (Suz SV650) 120 laps.
Middleweight; 1. Rush Hour Racing I (Yam R-6), 143 laps; 2. Team Gateway Cycles (Kaw ZX-6R) 134 laps; 3. Tea Localriders.com (Tri 675) 133 laps; 4. Team Oski (Suz SV650) 126 laps.
More, from a press release issued by KTM:
Maehr and KTM continue to learn in tough Superstock class
The KTM Maehr Superstock Team with rider Rene Maehr continued to learn and gather experience in Sunday’s race at Germany’s Nuerburgring, even if race results did not reflect a top weekend. It is the first year that the team is competing in the tough FIM Superstock 1000 World Cup with the KTM 1190 RC8 machine. The bike was launched in the spring of 2008 and KTM and the team have declared their first season on the racing circuit as one in which to learn and to gain experience.
Jump start penalty
Maehr’s luck ran out even in the second qualifying when a downpour of rain just before the session made it impossible to improve on the thirtieth position registered in the first qualifying. Then, probably hoping for a bit too much in the line-up on the grid of forty riders, a nervous Maehr registered a jump start in the race and incurred a ride through penalty. In addition, a crash at the first curve, in which he was not involved, proved a disruptive influence as riders struggled to master the confusion. Maehr, out on the track in last position after the ride through penalty, brought the KTM home safely although he was far from satisfied with the end result, crossing the line in thirty third position.
Focus on realistic goals
“Yes, I am certainly not satisfied with the final results. But we have to accept that at this stage there are more important goals than the results might reflect,” Maehr said. “I made a mistake at the start and it’s very difficult to recover from that in such a tough class of racing. I am sorry that we didn’t finish with a better result but the bike went well the whole weekend and I am looking forward to the next race in Italy.”
More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:
Relentless Suzuki riders Michael Laverty and Ian Lowry both scored solid points in their respective British Championship classes at the Snetterton British Superbike and Supersport round in Norfolk on Sunday.
Laverty finished his first race in an impressive sixth; then in a wet second race, made his way through the field after a poor start to again finish in a solid sixth position. Unfortunately, Laverty had used the best of his wet weather Pirelli tyre chasing down the leaders, and having been as high as fourth at one stage, the current British Supersport champion’s first BSB podium on the Relentless Suzuki cannot be too far away. Lowry had shown consistency during the qualifying sessions on Friday and Saturday posting third for the final grid positions in the British Supersport class. But after struggling to get his GSX-R600 Relentless Suzuki off the line in the race, the Moira man was down in 13th position at the end of the opening lap. After a struggle with the mid pack runners, Lowry pulled himself back into a creditable fifth place just before the race was ended prematurely with a red flag situation.
Michael Laverty:
“Again we showed good progress in the first race and we were right with the leaders at the end, and not just for five or six laps like we had been previously. My lap times were consistent and I was quite happy with the result. I was losing a bit of time on one corner, which stopped me from challenging the leaders but it was a solid result. In race two I just spun off the line; I think there were only three riders behind me into turn one! I pushed my way through quite easily and got past the likes of Sykes and Rutter without much bother, but with four laps to go I had no tyre left: I’d torn the centre right out of it! The Ducatis seemed to have fewer problems with their tyres in the wet than the ‘fours’, but it’s a good enough result. The boys in the team did a great job and we’ve moved forward since the last round again. Every week we’re getting closer to the factory boys and it won’t be long before we’re mixing it with them regularly.” Ian Lowry:
“I’m totally frustrated with that today. We tried using launch control on the bike as I’ve been having problems getting it off the line, but it just bogged itself and I was left to watch everyone heading into the first turn. I was raging as I was about sixteenth on lap one which meant I had to ride in amongst the kamikaze men. Some of them were making crazy passing moves on me. I did eventually get through to 10th, then through that pack and up to fifth when the red flags came out. I’m so frustrated as it had been almost a perfect weekend up to that point – a great opportunity for me to get some points back. The lap times I had been doing in qualifying were more than good enough to win the race today. Hopefully that’s my bad luck over.”
Philip Neill – Team Principal:
“The boys both worked very hard this weekend. Michael has again proved how competitive, both he and the Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike can be in this class. I keep reminding people, this is our first year in the Superbike class, but week on week we are making giant steps forward. Ian has had a frustrating time, not just this weekend, but on more than a few occasions this year. He battled very hard at Donington and got his reward with a win, and today he has had to battle even harder for a fifth place – that’s racing. His pace is certainly strong enough to win more races this season. He just needs to put everything together on race day and find some consistency. If he can do that, then he’ll be up there giving Glen and Hudson a run for their money in the championship.”
More, from a press release issued by AIM Yamaha:
AIM Yamaha experienced a differing set of results from the meeting at Snetterton on Sunday when Steve Plater took the win in the fifth round of the Fuchs/Silkolene British Supersport championship while Ian Hutchinson recorded a non-finish after pulling into the pits after just seven laps.
The decision to switch classes for Snetterton was taken because the team had insufficient time to get the Superbike up and running after returning from the Isle of Man TT races and instead of pulling out of the meeting all together it was decided to let Plater join Ian Hutchinson in the highly competitive Supersport class.
Although Plater is familiar with the bike on which he won two races at the North West 200 meeting in Ireland and then his first victory in the Junior TT recently, he has not ridden in the British series for some years now and it was thought he would need time to ease himself back into the class. He also has to contend with a change of tyre manufacturer as the series now runs under a one-make tyre ruling with Pirelli and not his familiar Dunlop tyres.
But Plater adapted quickly both to the bike and the Pirelli tyres and recorded the second fastest time during qualifying to claim a front row start to Sunday’s 18-lap affair.
As the race got underway Steve maintained his second place behind series leader Glen Richards after relinquishing it briefly to Hudson Kennaugh and by the midway stage of the race the top four riders had pulled away from the pack as they jostled for supremacy.
Plater hit the front on lap eight but Richards was not going to give up without a fight and the pair exchanged positions over the next few laps. But Plater found that extra bit of speed and forged ahead once more on lap 12, this time making the move stick.
The race was brought to a premature end two laps later when a fallen rider caused the red flag to come out and a result was declared at positions on lap 13 giving Plater the win he so deserved.
Meanwhile Hutchy started the race from 15th place and was beginning to make progress when, on the second lap, he had to run wide to avoid a collision with a fallen rider. That dropped him right down the field to 22nd place with a lot of work ahead of him to play catch up.
Although he did begin to make up places he encountered a few problems and pulled into the pits to retire at the end of lap seven.
STEVE PLATER
I got off the line to a cracking start just behind Glen Richards. Kennaugh came past me briefly but I passed him straight back and set off after Glen to eventually take the lead. We had a bit of a tussle passing each other a couple of times but it was all nice and clean and no big deal. Then I managed to get back in front and put in a few decent laps. We were both keen to lead over the start line each lap because we were concerned about the big, black clouds looming in the distance and thought the race may be stopped early for rain. But before the rain came the race was stopped for an incident at Russells and I was ahead and declared the winner. I adapted well to the Pirelli tyres, I was panicking a bit in case it was a wet race as I had never ridden on Pirelli wets but the treaded tyres we were on worked well and I was quite happy out there.
Hutchy had to run onto the grass on the back straight to avoid the collision and that’s what caused him all the problems in the race and of course he started from 15th on the grid, which didn’t help.
More, from a press release issued by Chris “Opie” Caylor’s publicist:
After winning the WERA Open Superstock and Superstock B races in his last race on June 8 at Roebling Road Raceway, Team 4 Wheel Parts.com/E-Racings rider, Chris “Opie” Caylor, is back at it again, winning both WERA Open Superstock and Superstock B races at Talladega Gran Prix Raceway this past weekend.
During Saturday’s practice rounds, it appeared that most racers were struggling to gain optimal grip, and Caylor was no exception. After going back to the drawing board Saturday night with Ohlins’ Mike “Thermosman” Fitzgerald, the team was able to dial in the suspension settings and get the traction it needed. In usual fashion, Dunlop’s D211 tires performed flawlessly as expected and allowed Caylor to get the holeshot in each race and run away with the wins.
Caylor’s two wins this past weekend make it 4 wins in a row for Caylor in WERA Superstock races. When recapping the weekend, Caylor stated “The team’s Suzuki GSX-R’s were really fast in Sunday’s warm-ups and we were able to build off of that momentum and progress throughout the day. A big thanks to Thermosman for helping me dial in the suspension, as it made a significant difference.”
The 4 Wheel Parts.com/E-Racings Team will be racing next at Road Atlanta on June 27-29.