Motorcycle Blog

Fully maximising his second row qualifying position, Wilson took the hole-shot to control the race from the very first turn.

Championship leader, Jon Kirkham made an uncharacteristic steady start crossing the line in 5th place on the first time of passing. 
Road racing rookie, Sam Warren looked to get the best start off the line but was quickly shuffled back into third position from the determination of Wilson and Gary Mason to occupy the track ahead of him. Kirkham quickly passed Adrain Coates on lap 2 to make his charge on Warren ahead, catching and passing him on lap 3.
Meanwhile Mason had his sights set on leading the race, continually pressuring Wilson but Kirkham had the same idea and crossed the line in third place with less than 0.5 sec splitting the podium places on the next lap. Mason succumbed to the pace of Kirkham in the entry to the hairpin, momentarily shuffling Mason back to third, the pair continued to exchange places over the next half a lap. With Wilson pulling a slight lead ahead of the battle behind him it was imperative for Kirkham to continue his progress.
Wilson continued to ride a faultless race, responding to the pressure of second placed Kirkham as he showed him his front wheel into the hairpin on Lap 9. Showing his pace through the fist sector, Kirkham struggled to hang on to Wilson’s shirt tails. The Championship leader came into his own on the second half of the lap, closing the gap with enough momentum to challenge Wilson in a risky move on the outside of the Hairpin. The wide line would prove a gamble too far, Kirkham lost the front crashing out but managed to rejoin in 12th position.
The remaining four laps saw Ben Wilson remain level headed to bring his Henderson Yamaha home for his spectacular first win of the year, closing the point gap to 18 points for the Championship. Gary Mason and Sam Warren joined him on the podium for second and third respectively.
Round 9 sees the series move to the the ‘home round’ for Henderson Insurance Brookers. Cadwell Park is located a short distance from the company base in Humberside (24-25 August).

Ben Wilson: “I knew that I had to be aggressive at the start, some of the lads were not as aggressive as me so it paid off. this win is long overdue and I’m made up. I’ve closed the gap for the Championship and it’s truly in reach for me now.”

Gary Mason: “I have always lost out on good results as I’m not aggressive enough at the start of a race, today I changed that! My tyre was moving around a bit at the end of the race but I had a really good race. V tune and Airmax allow me to be here so this ones for them.”

Sam Warren: ”It was a bit dodgy to start off with, they delayed the start a little as it started to rain again. Luckily the weather held as we had slicks on. The others were a little more committed at the beginning of the race but I managed to maintain the gap behind me and Jon falling off gifted me a podium. It was good to see him get up and rejoin, but I’ll take the podium and the points.”

Rob McElnea, Team Principal: “A fantastic result for Ben Wilson. We’ve been trying to help him adapt his riding style a little and it appears to have paid dividends. He’s really focussed on the Autumn Cup and responded well with his first win. It just shows how your luck can change, Kirkham has been riding on the crest then suffered with the crash today, but that’s racing and we could see a lot of things change over the next four races.”
Race Result
1. Wilson, 2. Mason, 3. Warren, 4. Coates, 5. J Kennedy, 6. Storrar, 7. S Wilson, 8. Shoesmith, 9. Neeves, 10. Kirkham

Championship Standings
1. Kirkham - 150, 2. B.Wilson - 132, 3. Warren - 108, 4. Mason - 105, 5. J.Kennedy - 86

Having qualified his Yamaha YZF-R6 on the last spot of the third row of the grid in 12th position, Joe was confident of a strong top ten race finish.

Despite the mixed weather conditions the race was declared dry. With the black clouds looming over the hills it was doubtful that the race would it’s full distance before the rain set in again.

Joe looked to struggle with his start, dropping back to 20th place but the youngster from Clowne in Derbyshire immediately knew that he had problems with his brakes. With a handful of laps to confirm his worst fears, Joe did his best to regain the feeling in his front brake by pumping the lever. Although he made a little progress Joe felt the problem was getting worse and was forced to retire on Lap 9.

Round 9 of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship takes place in two weeks time at Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday weekend (Aug 23-25).

Joe Dickinson: “From the opening lap I knew I had a big problem with the front brake and pumping the lever didn’t appear to make any real difference. Myself and the team are devastated. If this problem had appeared earlier on in the weekend we could have fixed it but everything worked perfectly in warm-up this morning. The brakes have never missed a beat all season until today. I’m frustrated as we had made some progress and could have finished in the top ten today. Let’s hope the team’s home round at Cadwell will bring more luck.”

Rob McElnea, Team Principal: “Joe suffered with bad luck today, we were hoping for a strong result off the back of the progress that we made at Oulton. It’s our home round next so we will have to wait a few weeks to see if Joe is going to pick up that strong finish he’s on the verge of earning.”

Race Results
1. Lowry (Suzuki), 2. Westmoreland (Honda), 3. Richards (Triumph), 4. Webb (Honda), 5. Kennaugh (Yamaha), DNF - Joe Dickinson (Truck Links Yamaha)

Championship Standings
1) Richards - 157, 2) Kennaugh - 127, 3)Lowry - 120, 4) Westmoreland - 81, 5) Brogan - 75, 20) Dickinson 13

Karl ‘Bomber’ Harris took full advantage of the fast changing weather conditions to claim his first podium of the season at Round 8 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill race circuit, Scotland today (10 August). Having qualified the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha in 9th position, Karl ‘Bomber’ Harris was reliant on a very strong start in both races for any hope of a podium finish. A dry Race One saw Karl make progress to push the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha into 7th position, bagging himself a further 9 points for his late Championship charge.

It was all change for Race Two that began in very wet conditions following a torrential downpour just prior to the grid forming. Karl got a good start to enter turn one in 7th position, by the end of the first lap melee Karl maintained his 8th position, but as he started to make progress on the field ahead the race was stopped after a three rider crash further down the order stopped the race for essential repairs to the air fence.

Drama ensued with the weather conditions rapidly improving, a fast drying track saw a number of riders make a very late change to their tyre choice for full slicks after the grid formation. This left a clear gap ahead for Karl on the second row of the grid, providing Karl the opportunity he needed to make a strong start.

As the lights went out Karl lived up to his nickname �bombing’ his way into forth place just behind Michael Rutter in. By lap 2 Karl had taken Rutter for third with Leon Haslam ahead of him. Championship leader Shane Byrne was on a mission at the front of the field but by lap 9 Haslam was posting the fastest laps. Karl was under pressure from Rutter who had found some late pace, passing the �Bomber’ in the next few laps, pushing him back to 4th. A battling Harris continued to chase Rutter to regain his podium position but it was a crash from race leader Shane Byrne that stopped the race, putting himself out of the points and Harris back on the podium.

The third place finish has been a long time coming for the Yorkshireman, after a well publicised string of bad luck, it was only a matter of time before the truly talented Karl Harris’s luck turned. Elevating himself up the Championship standings into 12th place, Karl will look to continue his podium finishes to salvage what he can from the second half of the season.

The team now move on to their �home round’ for Round 9 at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire on a high. Based a stone’s throw from the team base, Karl is famous for his spectacular �jumps’ over the infamous mountain. All the action takes place on Bank Holiday weekend in two weeks time (23 - 25 August).

Karl Harris: ”At last! I’m really pleased to be up here again, it’s something that we have worked for all season, we all know the story so far this year with me so I’m well happy. Just before the race Rob’s girlfriend Susan got me to kiss her baby bump for luck, it worked, so I’ll thank her for that! The choice to run slicks for the restart was a gamble that paid off for us. It’s mega to repay Rob and the whole team at last, they’ve believed in me and worked so hard for me this year.”

Rob McElnea, Team Principal: “We’ll take that! We’d had a real tough weekend up until now as Knockhill’s not the easiest place to come to especially with the conditions that we’ve all faced. However, the luck was on our side for once. We’d had a lack of dry time and Karl struggled as a result in race one. We made a number of changes for the second and he responded well. We had a chat during the stoppage and put Karl back out on slicks. Karl’s confidence grew throughout the second part of the race. He knew he had to get past Rutter at the start and push pretty hard It was good to see him back to how we know he can ride the bike. The Airwaves guys had a taste of the bad luck we’ve suffered all year, but it’s great for Karl and the team to be on the podium and full of confidence ahead of our home round at Cadwell Park.”
Rob Mac Pro Ride
Rob Mac Pro Ride fielded young Dubliner, Jack Kennedy for the first time in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship. The Kennedy family decided to give Jack the chance to use the Rob Mac Pro-Ride package and the 20 year old Irishman certainly showcased both his talent and the bikes capabilities amongst a vastly experienced field of riders.

Lining up in pole position, Jack successfully competed with a host of more experienced riders to take the chequered flag in sixth position. It is now hoped that Jack will continue to ride the Pro Ride R6 for the remainder of the season, though a decision will be made after Cadwell Park (23-25 August).

Rob McElnea, Team Principal: “Jack Kennedy was superb. He’s shown just what a young and enthusiastic rider can do with the Rob Mac Pro Ride package. He only saw the bike for the first time on thursday, rode a few dry laps on friday then stuck it on pole on Saturday! His family have given him great support and to finish sixth in such a classy field is a great achievement. Jack will be out again at Cadwell and should be able to produce another good result.”

Jack Kennedy: “I was delighted to get pole in the wet the first time out on the bike. I got a great start and was second at the first corner before a few riders came past me. I tagged on to the back of them for a while and found my pace was pretty strong. When Hudson came past tried to keep up with him but struggled a little. I got the sign from my pit board that I had a six second cushion so knocked it off a bit. I really enjoyed the race but just wish we’d had a little more dry track time in practice. I’ve got to say a massive thanks to Rob Mac and the team, especially Spider, they’ve been great this weekend. I’ll be on the bike again at Cadwell so really looking forward to that.”

BSB Race 1 Result
1. Sykes (Suzuki), 2. Byrne (Ducati), 3. J.Ellison (Honda), 4. Rutter (Ducati), 5. Camier (Ducati), 7) Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha)

BSB Race 2 Result
1. Haslam (Honda), 2. Rutter (Ducati), 3. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha), 4 Sykes (Suzuki),5. J.Ellison (Honda)

BSB Championship Standings
Byrne - 332, 2. Crutchlow - 222, 3. Sykes - 214, 4. Haslam - 199, 5. Camier - 179,12. Karl Harris - 69

Supersport Race Result
1. Lowry (Suzuki), 2. Westmoreland (Honda), 3. Richards (Triumph), 4. Webb (Honda), 5. Kennaugh (Yamaha), 6. Kennedy (Rob Mac Pro Ride Yamaha)

2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Rounds 15 & 16 - Knockhill, Fife
9th/10th August

Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison will start round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship from row two of the grid having posted eighth fastest time in today’s Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole qualifying session at a decidedly damp Knockhill race circuit in Scotland.

After a big crash yesterday in practice, Ellison bounced back in the wet conditions with a time of 53.587 seconds on his first visit to Knockhill in four years and will be hoping to add to his points tally following on his podium finish at Oulton Park last time out.

Team mate Guy Martin will start tomorrow’s two 30-lap races from row four of the grid having qualified in 15th on the second of the Shaun Muir Racing Honda 1000cc Fireblades.

Also making a fourth row start will be the team’s Metzeler 1000cc Superstock rider Kieran Clarke who, on his second race for the team, qualified in 13th place.

James Ellison:  “I’m a bit frustrated with the weather conditions, I had a problem with my visor misting up.  Just towards the end of the session we were getting into the 53’s (seconds) and I just couldn’t see so I came in and changed the visor but it was just the same.  We’ve made so many changes on the bike and it’s much better and I’m really comfortable but I just couldn’t see!  I think I could have been on the front row if it wasn’t for that problem.  Also, I spent so little time on the track yesterday with me crashing.  Although we’re going well in the wet I’m hoping for it to be dry tomorrow so we can work on the number one bike with the traction control.”

Guy Martin:  “We’re getting there. I’m happy with the boys and they’ve done us proud.  I’ve got the Ulster GP on my mind but its given me confidence that the boys have done what I’ve asked and we’ve no problems at all and it puts us in a good frame of mind for tomorrow.  I’m hoping for a good couple of points scoring rides and I’ll be over the moon.”

Kieran Clarke:  “We’re just chipping away and we just want to do everything in stages and not take massive jumps forwards.  We have to build up and as long as we’re higher every weekend and improving then it’s a good build up for next year.  I need to get better every session and it’s never easy when everyone else is on the pace, but it’s not an excuse as I should be on the podium so we just have to keep chipping away.  The team has been working fantastically and I’m hoping for a mid to top ten place tomorrow at least.”

Shaun Muir (Team Owner):  “Guy has worked really hard and I’m happy he’s on the fourth row and there’s no reason why he can’t get a top twelve tomorrow.  He’s had no problems, the bike is running like a dream and he’s completely focused on the job this weekend.  James rode really well, obviously struggling after the big crash on Friday so I’m really happy with a second row start, although it could have been the front row if his visor hadn’t misted.  James should be up there in contention for podiums tomorrow.  Also, Kieran has a fourth row start so I’m happy with that and he’s certainly moved up quite a number of places and he could have a chance to score good points whether its wet or dry.  So, all in all I’m pretty happy with all three riders.”

The first of the two 30-lap Bennetts British Superbike races gets underway at 1.00pm on Sunday with the second at 3.30pm.  The Metzeler Superstock 1000 race is scheduled for 12.10pm.  The British Eurosport 2 live broadcast window is 12.30pm to 4.30pm.

Qualifying
1, Leon Haslam (Honda) 52.692s, 2, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 52.966s, 3, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 52.974s, 4, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 53.003s, 5, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 53.177s, 6, Leon Camier (Ducati) 53.268s, 7, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 53.295s, 8, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 53.587s, 9, Karl Harris (Yamaha) 53.768s, 10, Tristan Palmer (Honda) 53.876s. 15, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 54.734s.

Round 2 - 18th/20th April - Thruxton, Hants
Round 3 - 3rd/5th May - Oulton Park, Cheshire
Round 1 - 10th/11th May - Brands Hatch GP, Kent
Round 4 - 24th/26th May - Donington Park, Leics
Round 5 - 13th/15th June - Snetterton, Norfolk
Round 6 - 27th/29th June - Mallory Park
Round 7 - 18th/20th July - Oulton Park, Cheshire
Round 8 - 8th/10th August - Knockhill, Fife
Round 9 - 23rd/25th August - Cadwell Park, Lincs
Round 10 - 12th/14th September - Croft, North Yorkshire
Round 11 - 26th/28th September, Silverstone, Northants
Round 12 - 10th/12th October - Brands Hatch Indy, Kent