MCE British Superbike Championship

TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands

September 21, 2014

Race One Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires):

1. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 17 laps, 31:59.961

2. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), -0.184 second

3. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -23.904 seconds

4. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -24.637

5. Christian Iddon, UK (Bimota BB3), -29.471

6. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -37.273

7. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), -38.068

8. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -49.647

9. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -50.861

10. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -52.446

11. Gary Mason, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -56.861

12. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -64.840

13. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -88.743

14. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -97.340

15. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -114.787

16. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap

17. Mitchell Carr, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap

18. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -1 lap

19. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap

20. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -3 laps, DNF, crash

21. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -5 laps, DNF

22. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Yam YZF-R1), -6 laps, DNF

23. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -8 laps, DNF

24. Joe Burns, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -9 laps, DNF

25. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -9 laps, DNF

26. Christophe Ponsson, France (Bimota BB3), -9 laps, DNF

27. Patric Muff, Switzerland (BMW S1000RR), -12 laps, DNF

28. Kevin Valk, Netherlands (Kaw ZX-10R), -16 laps, DNF

29. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -16 laps, DNF, crash

30. Rhalf Lo Turco, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -17 laps, DNF

Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 18 laps, 29:33.013

2. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), -0.152 second

3. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -0.460

4. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4.170 seconds

5. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -8.759

6. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -12.203

7. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -17.729

8. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -30.241

9. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Yam YZF-R1), -32.308

10. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -33.060

11. Kevin Valk, Netherlands (Kaw ZX-10R), -36.584

12. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -39.918

13. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), -49.691

14. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -49.842

15. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -49.959

16. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -58.015

17. Christophe Ponsson, France (Bimota BB3), -67.456

18. Mitchell Carr, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), -99.131

19. Gary Mason, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4 laps, DNF

20. Rhalf Lo Turco, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4 laps, DNF

21. Joe Burns, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -5 laps, DNF

22. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -5 laps, DNF

23. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -10 laps, DNF, mechanical

24. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -11 laps, DNF

25. Christian Iddon, UK (Bimota BB3), -14 laps, DNF

26. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -17 laps, DNF

27. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -17 laps, DNF

28. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -18 laps, DNF

29. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -18 laps, DNF

30. Patric Muff, Switzerland (BMW S1000RR), -18 laps, DNF

Championship Point Standings (after  21 of 26 races):

1. Byrne, 587 points

2. Kiyonari, 575

3. Brookes, 536

4. Bridewell, 531

5. Linfoot, 524

6. Walker, 505

7. Easton, 176

8. Ellison, 153

9. Waters, 151

10. Hopkins, 111

Other Americans competing at Assen:

James Rispoli placed 12th in the 12-lap British Supersport “feature” race on his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6. Rispoli is ninth in the British Supersport Championship point standings with four races remaining.

Jayson Uribe, riding his FPW Racing/R5R Honda, was eighth overall and seventh in the Moto3 class in the British Motostar race. Uribe is third in the British Motostar Moto3 Championship point standings with two races remaining.

Brandon Paasch finished 13th in the Moriwaki 250 Junior Cup race. Paasch raced as a wild card at Assen.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:

Round 10 21 September Assen
WAR FOR FOUR RAGES BETWEEN BYRNE AND KIYONARI AS BROOKES DNFS

Results

Race one:

1: Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki)
2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.184s
3: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +23.904s
4: James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +24.637s
5: Christian Iddon (Alstare Bimota Junior Team) +29.741s
6: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +37.273s

Race two:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.152s
3: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.460s
4: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +4.170s
5: John Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +8.759s
6: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +12.203s

Championship standings:

1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 587
2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 575
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 536
4: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 531
5: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 524
6: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 505

Report

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne bounced back from a high-speed first race crash to snatch a dramatic last corner victory over his arch rival Ryuichi Kiyonari as the “War for four” MCE Insurance British Superbike crowns intensified in the first Showdown round at Assen.

Byrne who hadn’t won a race since Knockhill in June, had fought hard to close in on Kiyonari throughout the weekend. In the second race the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider made a decisive move through the final chicane on the last lap and won the dash to the line by 0.152s as the triple title-winners continued their fight for the crown.

“I’m over the moon. It has been a long time since I won a race though it was almost cruel to take it like that,” said Byrne as he enjoyed his 58th victory in the series. “I had looked at a way past Kiyo but it was going to be a bit of a gamble as on the last lap we were really close.

“My speed through the previous corner was a bit faster than his, and then I was along the side of his bike. I thought my bike had better stick and grip, or I am going to launch myself over the top to the moon. Luckily for me it held and I took the win in that one, making up for the first race when I threw it up the road. I had even decided that third place then was better than a crash!”

The opening race, run in wet conditions, brought early misery for Title Fighter Josh Brookes. The Milwaukee Yamaha rider failed to exit the pitlane before it closed for the sighting lap, which demoted him down the order to start from the back row of the grid. His disappointment was compounded further by a crash on the opening lap and he was then excluded for re-joining the race after falling.

Byrne had forged clear but it was Josh Waters, aboard the Tyco Suzuki, who was closing in and then taking the lead just into the second half of the race. Kiyonari moved second, but Byrne tumbled into the gravel and out of third place, handing the final podium position to his team-mate Stuart Easton.

Byrne rescued the situation with his second race victory, though his lead was halved to 12 points ahead of Kiyonari. Brookes suffered a DNF in race two with a clutch problem that dropped him to third in the overall standings with his team-mate Tommy Bridewell closing to within five points after a return to the podium with a third place finish.

For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

ASSEN PODIUM FINISH FOR BRIDEWELL BUT DUTCH DISSAPOINTMENT FOR BROOKES

The Milwaukee Yamaha team had a mixed opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown at Assen with Tommy Bridewell scoring a strong podium finish in race two whilst Josh Brookes suffered double disappointment by not scoring points in either race.

The opening race of the day started dramatically for Brookes when he didn’t exit the pitlane before it closed after an extended sighting lap period. The Australian started from the back of the grid but his hopes of salvaging points were dashed when he crashed on the opening lap. Bridewell meanwhile scored a ninth place in changing conditions at the Dutch circuit.

In the second race Brookes was sidelined with a clutch issue, but Bridewell continued to fly the flag for the Milwaukee Yamaha team. He started from the sixth row and carved his way through the pack to close in on title rivals Shane Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari, claiming third place.

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Brookes and Bridewell leave Assen holding third and fourth in the overall standings respectively ahead of Silverstone.

Brookes said: “In race one I had to start from the back of the grid as I entered the pit lane. At the start of the race I felt good and everything was going well until turn four. I thought ‘I can go round people’ and I started to accelerate, until I ran straight in to the back of Kirkham – he just didn’t accelerate and I fell off. I always seem to make things difficult for myself every year, but it is what it is and I couldn’t have done anything different.”

Bridewell said: “The conditions were horrible in race one and we struggled to be honest, but I knew after qualifying we had the pace in dry. Ninth in the first one was at least some points and then starting down the grid for the second race didn’t help me but it did make it more fun that’s for sure. When I got into third and Shakey and Kiyo were there, they were riding nice and clean, whereas I could have done with them duffing each other up a bit harder.

“The one place that I knew I could definitely have a go was where Shakey was strong and every lap he was lining up Kiyo into the last chicane. All I kept thinking was ‘go, go now don’t wait until the last lap as then I can have a go’. I thought he would probably wait until the last lap and then I started losing the front and there wasn’t much more I could have done without crashing. It was important to finish third for the championship, third isn’t ideally where we want to be but it is better than a DNF or worse. We are closer to Josh now so it is all closing up and I am looking forward to Silverstone now.”

Team Owner Shaun Muir concluded: “What can I say? It has been a complete disaster for Josh. Race one couldn’t have gone any worse – missing the pitlane exit and then a crash, it goes without saying that was a huge disappointment for all of us. In race two it was a clutch problem that forced him out of the race and that left him scoring no points at the most important part of the season.

“On the other side of the garage Tommy showed real fire and determination to fight for that podium in the second race, especially from where he started on the grid and it was arguably his best performance of the season.

“It’s a test of character and strength now to turn this around, but as a team we want and need to bounce back now at Silverstone.”

For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com

More, from a press release issued by Buildbase BMW Motorrad:

Two podiums in Assen let Kiyo halve the gap on Byrne – Jackson celebrates top-ten finish in BSB.

Ryuichi Kiyonari pulled off two stunning podium finishes at Assen in both the wet and dry, closing the gap on Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne from 27 points to just 12. Two dramatic races in drastically different conditions saw Kiyo come third in the first, with Byrne crashing out, and finishing second following an 18-lap battle with Shakey in which Kiyo lost out on another win by just 0.12 seconds.

Additionally, the Buildbase BMW Motorrad team celebrated six points-winning finishes as all three riders scored in every race, with the standout result being young Superstock rider Lee Jackson celebrating a top-ten finish in the MCE British Superbike Championship aged just 19, followed by a 12th place finish. James Westmoreland continued his return to racing following a difficult hand injury, taking a top-ten finish and a 14th-place result.

The Dutch round of the British Superbike Championship has seen drastic changes to the Showdown scores, with Kiyo jumping from third to second and closing the gap on current championship leader Byrne by 15 points. Josh Brookes suffered from two DNF results and has slipped down from second to third, and is now 39 points adrift of Kiyonari.

Ryuichi Kiyonari said: “In race two I tried so hard for the win, so I am disappointed we didn’t beat Shakey. There was a lot of pressure especially in the beginning and I was too slow at the start of the race compared to the pace we had in free practice. Then at the end of the race my lap times were getting better and better.

“The last five laps I thought I will try a bit more and push even hard and then maybe we can have a win, but Shakey tried to pass me and I thought, ‘oh no he is coming’, so I tried harder and I made a mistake on the last lap. Shakey passed me in the last chicane and there was nothing I could do. I want to win again at Silverstone now!”

Stuart Hicken, Team Owner, said: “It’s been a good weekend for the team. Firstly, all three riders finished in the points every race – which is always the aim. On top of that, Kiyo rode an absolutely phenomenal race in the wet after dominating practice and most of qualifying. He took two podium finishes despite missing out on the Showdown test here earlier in the month. And Lee Jackson took a top-ten finish at a circuit he’d never ridden at before in a class he doesn’t usually ride in. The Showdown is proving exciting already – and we’re closing in on first place.”

Lee Jackson said: “After arriving here on Friday, and getting some time back on the Superbike S 1000 RR, I started to feel at home. Despite trying out some new brakes, I managed to do a 1:39.2 lap and almost made it through to the Q2 session. When the rain hit before the first race it changed everything, but I got a good start and started picking off bikes when I caught up with them. When I managed to bring the bike home in 10th I was so happy – it was a great feeling.

Race two was dry and I managed to avoid the first lap mayhem, and then started working through the field. I finished 12th and I was overjoyed – I can’t thank my family, the team and everyone who made this weekend possible enough.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Assen, race one result:

1. Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki)

2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) +0.184s

3. Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +23.904s

4. James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +24.637s

5. Christian Iddon (Alstare Bimota Junior Team) +29.741s

6. Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +37.273s

10. Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)

14. James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Assen, race two result:

1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) +0.152s

3. Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.460s

4. Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +4.170s

5. John Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +8.759s

6. Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +12.203s

10. James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)

12. Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Assen race two:

1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 587

2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) Motorrad 575

3. Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 536

4. Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 531

5. Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 524

6. Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 505

The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and the second round of the Showdown takes place at Silverstone on 3/4/5 October.