Round seven July 19 Mallory Park ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli James Ellison took the victory in an incident packed opening race of the seventh round of the ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli before his Airwaves Yamaha team-mate, series leading Leon Camier, took the win next time out in a rain aborted race. Chris Walker made the early running aboard his Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha while pole-starter Camier was baulked as Richard Cooper tumbled in front of him at the first turn of the first lap. Camier, who all but stopped, carved through the pack from twenty third to be running in eighth place. Walker was taken by MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider on the fourth lap, with Tommy Hill, on his debut with the Worx Crescent Suzuki team running third from Josh Brookes on the HM Plant Honda with Hydrex Honda’s Karl Harris just ahead of Buildbase Kawasaki rider John Laverty. Then, with seven laps remaining, the opening race was red-flagged after a multiple bike tangle going into the hairpin. Brookes, running hot into the tight hairpin, lost control and tipped off, taking out Andrews and in a split second, a further five riders went down. “I though I had a good opportunity, but the back wheel came up and I couldn’t brake,” explained Brookes who sustained ligament injuries to his right thumb. “I made a mistake and feel bad about taking the other guys out and I hope they will forgive me.” Ellison, who was running seventh at the time, found a way through, just ahead of Camier, and as they took a one-two finish, with Graeme Gowland credited with third place ahead of Michael Rutter. “I’d expected a podium finish and was feeling confident, but I’ll take the win whatever,” said Ellison as he enjoyed his second victory of the campaign while Camier reflected: “I’d made a dreadful start with Richard crashing in front of me but was attacking the riders in front of me and picking up places and was going well. “I think I would have run out of laps to get into the top three, but for once here, luck was with me in the end the last two years had been horrendous, so I am happy to take these points,” added Camier. Heavy rain delayed the start of the second race and when it got underway, Walker again made the running with local rider Cooper aboard the Co-ordit Yamaha pushing him hard. Camier and Ellison were just adrift. Camier eased through to take the lead on the ninth lap and was running two seconds up on Ellison when the rains intensified and with water standing on the track, race officials red-flagged the action, declaring the result after 15 laps. Camier took his eleventh victory of the season, but received only half points, to end the day with a 299.5 224 points lead over Ellison who finished second ahead of Walker, Laverty, Cooper, Rutter and Harris. In the chase for the Mirror.co.uk Cup, Gary Mason, the series leader, took the victory in the opening race aboard his Quay Garage Honda, finishing ahead of Tommy Bridewell, Peter Hickman and Tom Tunstall. Cooper took the honours in the second race from Hickman, Gilbertson, Tunstall and Mason. * The MCRCB/MSVR Judicial panel met to examine the incident that stopped the opening BSB race. Brookes was given a two event ban, with a further one event ban suspended for two events. Television footage of the incident was reviewed, statements taken from marshals, Brookes was interviewed and his bike inspected. “It was concluded that he had been guilty of reckless riding and riding in a manner not compatible with general safety,” explained a statement from the championship’s judicial panel. With no appeal lodge, the penalty was confirmed. Results round seven Race one 22 laps James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) 21m 01.786s Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) +4.345s Graeme Gowland (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha) +7.401s Michael Rutter (SMT Honda) +9.701s Julien Da Costa (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +12.870s Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +13.405s Steve Brogan (HM Plant Honda) +15.617s Ian Lowry (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +17.531s David Johnson (Team Maxxis Yamaha) +18.568s Tristan Palmer (Buildbase Kawasaki) +20.443s Race two 15 laps Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) 15m 34.550s James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) +2.032s Chris Walker (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha) +3.738s John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +4.385s Richard Cooper (Team Co-Ordit Yamaha) +5.134s Michael Rutter (SMT Honda) +6.604s Karl Harris (Hydrex Honda) +8.580s Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +18.674s Steve Brogan (HM Plant Honda) +27.661s Julien Da Costa (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +27.904s Championship standings Leon Camier 299.5pts James Ellison 224 Stuart Easton 173 Glen Richards 103 Josh Brookes 99 More, from a press release issued by Airwaves Yamaha: DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR AIRWAVES YAMAHA Leon Camier and James Ellison scored a win and a 2nd place apiece in Round 7 of the British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park today. Leon’s 11th win of the season now puts him on 299.5 points. Currently lying in 2nd, James increased his total to 224 points. At the start of a dramatic Race One, pole-sitter Leon was forced to take avoiding action at Charlies to prevent hitting a fallen rider and slipped down to 23rd. From 7th on the grid, James slotted into 9th. As Leon quickly made his way through the field, he and James swapped fastest laps. The fastest eventually being set by James on lap 10 with a time of 56.333. By lap 23, James was lying in 7th with Leon 4 seconds behind in 8th when an incident involving the top six riders brought out the red flag. With over two-thirds of the race distance complete, the result was declared with James 1st and Leon 2nd. Heavy rain began to fall ahead of the second race. Off the line Leon initially went to 4th and James 5th but the pair fought hard to make up a place by the end of the first lap. Both Airwaves Yamaha riders enjoyed an exciting battle with Chris Walker and then Richard Cooper, and by lap 11 were lying 1st and 2nd. On lap 17 standing water on the track caused the second red flag of the day. With no sign of conditions improving, a decision was made not to restart the race and award half Championship points. After securing his 11th win of the season, Leon said, “The first race was tough. I didn’t get a particularly good start. I then decided to stick to the inside of the first corner to try and stop anyone from going through, but someone did anyway and it was just carnage. I had to cut across the grass but luckily got going again. It’s quite difficult to overtake around Mallory Park but I tried to pick off as many people as possible. I could see I was catching the leading group but then the red flag came out. I feel really sorry for the guys that were involved but of course another one-two for Airwaves Yamaha is a great result for us. “As I had no experience riding the Airwaves Yamaha in the wet, the plan was to make sure I bought some points home. I didn’t think we could win. When we got out on track I found that the package the team had put together was awesome. I felt really comfortable and could build a gap.” On the day’s races James commented, “We made some changes to the Airwaves Yamaha for the first race and it felt a lot easier to ride. But after I’d caught John Laverty, I used so much energy trying to pass him, I really started to tire. I’ve been feeling unwell and struggling all weekend. My joints have been hurting and I’ve not been lasting well in the sessions because of fatigue. I was still really hoping to get on to the podium, and was waiting for a safe place to pass John when the red flag came out. It’s a shame for the riders who were affected. Personally I was looking forward to chasing down the leading pack in the remaining laps. “I was feeling really confident for the second race. Setting the fastest lap proved we have the pace. I just needed to make sure I did it consistently for 30 laps in Race Two. Of course the rain threw out all our original plans, but I absolutely loved every lap of it. I’ve not ridden the Airwaves Yamaha aggressively in the wet before so I didn’t know what to expect. But it felt great and I really loved battling with Chris Walker. Once I passed him I concentrated on staying smooth and not making any mistakes. I thought I could have caught Leon so it was a shame the race was stopped. But it was definitely the right decision. I couldn’t see a thing so the conditions were too dangerous to continue. I can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch to see what we can do there!” More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: New Worx Crescent Suzuki Team rider Tommy Hill suffered a cruel blow at today’s British Superbike Championship round at Mallory Park when he was destined for a podium position. Although Hill was able to demonstrate exactly how potent the GSX-R1000 K9 was – being fastest in warm up – he rode top-three in the first race and was up to second and ready to challenge for the lead when, together with six other riders, he was skittled by an out-of-control Josh Brookes. The race was red-flagged and in accordance with race rules, the result was called on the previous lap, minus those riders who were deemed ‘not racing’ at the red flag. Hill and the other victims of the accident were therefore non-finishers. The second race was run in wet conditions before also being red flagged; this time due to standing water on the track. With less than two-thirds race distance, the finishers were awarded half points. Hill was riding in eighth position at the time of the red flag. Tommy Hill: “This weekend has been fantastic. From the word go we’ve been right at the front. And yet even when we’ve been topping the lap charts the team has been trying to improve things. It’s a fantastic experience to be with a team that’s like this. “I’m devastated about the race one result though: I feel we’ve been robbed. We’ve put so much effort in all weekend only for things to turn around like they did and the result to be taken away from us – through no fault of mine, or the team, or any other rider out there except one – it’s a lot to accept. “That second race wasn’t the worst result and it wasn’t the best. Really, we needed a full session to get a set-up because with the bike, being so new, we simply don’t yet have the data. Even during that race we learnt so much and we had revised settings ready to go for the restart, but it didn’t happen.” Jack Valentine – Team Manager: “Tommy has really impressed us this weekend. He’s been so rapid yet ridden with remarkable maturity, especially for a young lad on a bike new to him. “In that first race he got a good start from the front row and he hung in there despite the conditions being touch and go. He’d closed up on Simon Andrews for the lead and knew where he could make a pass. Only, of course, Mr Brookes came into play again, making a massive error that wiped out the race. Naturally we are extremely disappointed. Tommy had a good chance of winning that race and at the very least he was comfortable for a podium finish. “In the second race, with no experience on the bike in the wet, and in fact riding his first wet race since 2007, he was again so impressive, using his head, riding within the limits of the bike’s settings and improving his lap times all the way to the end. “Tommy has been dazzling; a real revelation. This weekend has certainly put the smiles back on the faces of the Worx Crescent Suzuki team. Now we can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch and fight again for the podium finishes we deserve.” Race one result: 1. James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) 2. Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) +4.345s 3. Graeme Gowland (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha) +7.401s 4. Michael Rutter (SMT Honda) +9.701s 5. Julien Da Costa (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +12.870s 6. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +13.405s 7. Steve Brogan (HM Plant Honda) +15.617s 8. Ian Lowry (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +17.531s 9. David Johnson (Team Maxxis Yamaha) +18.568s 10. Tristan Palmer (Buildbase Kawasaki) +20.443s Race two result: 1. Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) Lap 15 2. James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) +2.032s 3. Chris Walker (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha) +3.738s 4. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +4.385s 5. Richard Cooper (Team Co-Ordit Yamaha) +5.134s 6. Michael Rutter (SMT Honda) +6.604s 7. Karl Harris (Hydrex Honda) +8.580s 8. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +18.674s 9. Steve Brogan (HM Plant Honda) +27.661s 10. Julien Da Costa (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +27.904s More, from a press release issued by British Superbike Championship organizers: Martin and Gearlink Kawasaki take the victory Round seven July 19 Mallory Park Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship Chris Martin followed up team-mate Ben Wilson’s win at the previous round by storming to victory in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship race at Mallory Park. The Gearlink Kawasaki duo were formation flying at the front of the pack, with Martin then able to gradually edge an advantage over his team-mate on track in the wet conditions. Ian Hutchinson was quick off the line and was able to put himself third for the Padgetts Honda team, giving him the best result of the season. For fourth there was an all-Australian tussle between title contender Billy McConnell on the MAP Raceways Yamaha and Brendan Roberts on the NW200 Coca-Cola Zero Yamaha. The pair who previously battled together in the Virgin Yamaha Cup were swapping places in a bid for supremacy, with McConnell able to put himself ahead and hold it to the line. Championship leader Steve Plater was only able to manage a seventh place for the HM Plant Honda team, but still holds an 11 point advantage in the overall standings ahead of Brands Hatch. Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship race result: Chris Martin (Gearlink Kawasaki) Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) +7.143s Ian Hutchinson (Padgetts Honda) +10.969s Billy McConnell (MAP Raceways Yamaha) +15.294s Brendan Roberts (NW200 Coca-Cola Zero Yamaha) +15.469s Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship standings: Steve Plater (HM Plant Honda) 109 Billy McConnell (MAP Raceways Yamaha) 98 Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 92 Daniel Cooper (Centurion Racing Honda) 81 James Westmoreland (Centurion Racing Honda) 72 More, from a press release issued by Team Naturally Best Racing: MORE PODIUM JOY FOR BRIDEWELL AT MALLORY After an impressive run of form since returning to the ViSK.com British Superbike Championship three rounds ago, Wiltshire rider Tommy Bridewell continued his podium success at Mallory Park in Leicestershire today. Aboard the Team NB Suzuki GSX-R1000K6, the 20-year-old from Etchilhampton near Devizes claimed 11th place overall in the incident-packed opening race, which netted him a second place finish in the Mirror.co.uk Cup class for privateer teams, despite rear handling problems, to add to his victories at Knockhill and Snetterton. But any hopes Tommy had of continuing his good run came to an end just prior to the day’s second outing after a cloudburst had soaked the track which necessitated a short practice session for the Superbikes. With no experience in the wet aboard the machine, the team took a gamble on a rear suspension setting and a hard tyre for the session but unfortunately, the combination didn’t work and because the team didn’t have time to revert to the original settings, it meant Tom had to sit out the race, much to his disappointment. Tommy said afterwards: “We had a good start to the weekend but the results didn’t work out as we hoped but that said, I wouldn’t have believed anyone if they’d have said I’d be standing on the Mallory Park podium again this season! I had a good start in race one and was lapping comfortably when something went wrong at the back end and slowed me up. I’m not sure if it was a tyre or a suspension problem but it handicapped me and I could only finish second in the Cup. Race two was a real lottery and we had to take a gamble in the wet practice session just beforehand but we only had the one spare wheel rim and went for a hard compound tyre which didn’t work so I had no option but to sit that out. But we’ll be back at Brands Hatch next time and gunning for those wins again but in the meantime, we need to work on our wet weather settings.” Team Manager Marcus Bridewell commented: “We had a weekend of woes what with problems with the electronics on the bike and then the issues with the tyres and suspension because of the weather. I’m really pleased we came to Mallory and I’m delighted for Tommy to get on the podium again but it’s also a little bit disappointing as we’re used to winning now! Well be back at Brands and we’ll be trying even harder.” More, from a press release issued by SMT Honda: Rutter impresses on SMT Honda debut After all the trials and tribulations of recent weeks, SMT Honda were smiling again on Sunday when new team member Michael Rutter put in two excellent races at round 7 of the 2009 British Superbike Championship. Recruited to the team on the eve of the Mallory Park round, the highly experienced Rutter finished in a brilliant 4th and 6th in the two races to give the team their best ever results in the highly competitive BSB series. Despite never having ridden the bike before practice on Friday, Michael was soon on the pace and having overcome an engine failure in the first free practice session, he placed 11th in the second. Utilising his strong circuit knowledge, he then posted a lap of 56.754s in qualifying to line up on the third row of the grid, just two hundredths of a second adrift of the top ten. In Sunday’s opening race a strong start saw him move up to 8th place and here he remained until the fourth lap when he got pushed back to 11th. However, by half race distance he was back inside the top ten and was circulating in tenth on the 23rd lap when he slid off on debris left at hairpin by a huge crash which left the first to sixth placed riders all on the floor. Michael quickly remounted and continued just before the red flag came out, which proved crucial. The result was declared but only those riders still running were included and so Michael was awarded a brilliant fourth place, the best ever result for the team. Race 2 later in the day was held in wet, and worsening, conditions although Rutter has always been comfortable in the rain. Sure enough, after placing 8th on the opening lap, he began to move forward as the rain got heavier and, recording the second fastest lap of the race, moved into sixth place on the 13th lap. By lap 16 he had closed right in on fifth placed Richard Cooper and was just about to make a move when the red flag came out due to the track being flooded and the race was eventually declared a result although only half points were awarded as less than two-thirds race distance had been completed. Having achieved their best ever BSB results, it was a delighted team owner Robin Croft that later said: “I’m over the moon with how today has gone and the results have been simply superb it’s been SMT’s most successful day in BSB and you can’t ask for much more than that. After the technical problems we had in Friday’s free practice, Michael bounced back well and his extensive circuit knowledge allowed him to concentrate on getting the bike set-up to his liking.” “Our qualifying position was good and although we had a bit of luck in the first race to get fourth, it’s about time our luck turned and rules are rules so we were delighted to take the position. Michael had suffered a problem with the gear selector though so the team had to change the engine in between races and we only just made it out on to the track in time for race 2. He proved his quality again in race 2 and I’m really proud how hard the team have worked over the entire weekend.” “Our appearance at Mallory was only made possible by the injection of financial support from Darren Maguire of HMG Construction and I’m incredibly grateful for everything he’s done for us this weekend. We’re still searching for additional support so I can’t be 100% sure if we’ll be out at Brands but I’d like to think we’ll be there with Michael on board again so we’ll work hard between now and then and keep everything crossed that we’ll be there.” The next round of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Brands Hatch with three races taking place at the Kent venue on the weekend of August 7-9.