Tommy Hill – Race 1 – Thruxton 2010

This weekend saw an incident packed second round of the British Superbike championship with the Worx Crescent Suzuki of Tommy Hill winning race one and Josh Brookes on the HM Plant Honda taking the second race of the day.

The Quay Garage Honda rider Tommy Bridewell was unable to take part in this weekends championship round after suffering a crash in the second free practice session on Friday.  As Bridewell attempted to put in some fast laps he clipped the kerb on the entry to the Club chicane, seeing him go down with his hand trapped under his machine.  Despite initially walking away from the crash, Bridewell needed to be treated by the circuit medics before being transferred to Salisbury Hospital.  The Honda rider underwent surgery to amputate  the damaged little finger of his right hand but was warned that he could be out of action for up to six months.

The Swan Honda rider James Ellison was another casualty of the weekend after crashing out during the final free practice session on Saturday resulting in a broken femur and ending his chance of points at this weeks round.

Race 1

As the race got underway it was Stuart Easton on the Swan Honda that worked his way to the front ahead of pole sitter Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki and Yukio Kagayama on the second Worx Crescent Suzuki in third.  John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki was in fourth place followed by Michael Rutter on the Riders Ducati, Alastair Seeley for Relentless Suzuki in seventh and Josh Brookes in eighth.

Dan Linfoot, the replacement rider for the injured Neil Hodgson at the Motorpoint Yamaha team, was an early casualty of the race, crashing at the same corner that caught out Ellison.  Howie Mainwaring another replacement rider, this time for the injured Simon Andrews on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki, lost control of his machine lap 7, ending his race.

Brookes past Rutter on lap 8, moving him up to fourth position and was hot on the tail of Hill as Kagayama made a move on Easton at the front to lead.  On lap 15, Brookes took his turn at the front after passing both Easton and then Kagayama before the charging Tommy Hill sailed past on lap 18 after Kagayama made a mistake, taking the flag as he crossed the line for the final time.

Brookes followed in second place with Kagayama in third, Easton in fourth, Rutter in fifth, Martin Jessopp in sixth, John Laverty in seventh, Gary Mason in eighth, Ryuichi Kiyonari in ninth and Michael Laverty in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 25mins 27.870secs 20 laps
2. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +0.818s
3. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +1.185s
4. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +1.510s
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +5.670s
6. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +7.490s
7. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +9.154s
8. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +9.300s
9. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +9.493s
10. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +17.014s
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +18.413s
12. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +25.819s
13. David Anthony AUS MIST Suzuki +37.459s E
14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +37.571s E
15. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +37.754s E

25. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki 19 laps completed E
26. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha 7 laps completed
27. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki 6 laps completed
28. Howie Mainwaring GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 6 laps completed
29. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha 4 laps completed
30. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki 4 laps completed E
31. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda 2 laps completed

Race 2

Josh Brookes took the chequered flag for the HM Plant Honda team in the second race of the day at the Thruxton circuit from third on the grid.

Brookes led the race from the start ahead of Yukio Kagayama, Gary Mason and Tommy Hill, however, Hill was aiming for a double race win and soon past both Mason and then Kagayama.  The Swan Honda rider Easton, set an impressive pace from eleventh on the grid and was soon up with the front runners.

While the fight for third position was going on between Easton, Kagayama, Rutter and Martin Jessopp, the two front runners Brookes and Hill were able to get away leaving Brookes to take the flag for the first time in over a year for the HM Plant Honda team.

Easton finished in the third spot ahead of Kiyonari in fourth, Jessopp in fifth, Michael Laverty in sixth, Michael Rutter in seventh, John Laverty in eighth, Alastair Seeley in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 25mins 23.986secs 20 laps
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.391s
3. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +7.112s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +7.146s
5. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +7.263s
6. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +7.789s
7. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +8.241s
8. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +10.378s
9. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +12.218s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +12.240s
11. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +17.507s
12. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +18.284s
13. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +24.639s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +29.956s
15. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki +33.357s

28. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda 17 laps completed E
29. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda 17 laps completed
30. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki 10 laps completed E

Neil Hodgson – Brands Hatch 2010

Neil Hodgson and Simon Andrews are both to be replaced at this weekends second round of the British Superbike championship after suffering injuries.

Andrews suffered a broken foot at last weekends round of the World Superbike championship at Valencia while riding as a replacement rider for the injured Chris Vermeulen for the Kawasaki team.  Andrews had a coming together with Vittorio Iannuzzo on the start/finish straight, sending him flying into the pit wall followed by his bike.

Howie Mainwaring has now been drafted in to take the place of Andrews for the MSS Colchester Kawasaki team, following his second place finish in his Superstock race at Brands Hatch from thirteenth on the grid

Hodgson injured his shoulder after crashing out in his race at Brands Hatch, aggravating the existing problem he suffered while training last year in America.

Dan Linfoot will now be on the grid to line-up for the Motorpoint Yamaha team with Hodgson supporting him behind the scenes at the circuit.

David Johnson – Maxxis Yamaha 2008

Australian rider David Johnson will be joining the Jentin Racing Yamaha team for the final two rounds of the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone and Oulton Park.

Johnson was injured at the triple-header at Brands Hatch in August after his brakes failed causing him too jump off his bike at 160mph heading into Hawthorns on the fourth lap of race two, while riding the Team Maxxis Yamaha.

While recuperating from his injuries, Johnson was released from his contract with the Yamaha team and replaced for the remainder of the season by Howie Mainwaring.

The Jentin Racing Yamaha team began the season with Jon Kirkham as their rider but their partnership ended before the Thruxton round, leaving the team side-lined.

Now they are returning to the championship with David Johnson on board after a long absence, with both rider and team determined to prove themselves over the seasons final two events.

Stuart Easton – Hydrex Honda – Croft 2009

The British Superbike Championship headed to the Croft circuit this weekend with Stuart Easton taking the victory in race one and Leon Camier winning race two.

Race One

After leading several races this season and being on the podium in second place five times, the Hydrex Honda rider Stuart Easton took his maiden victory in race one.

Starting from third on the grid, Easton took his place at the front of the pack going into the first corner ahead of HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes and James Ellison on the Airwaves Yamaha.

Leon Camier on the second Airwaves Yamaha, moved back to seventh place as the race got underway but was soon back on the pace as he passed Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda and then Simon Andrews on the Confused.com Kawasaki.

On attempting to take Chris Walker on the Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha, Camier went wide allowing Andrews to re-pass.  The following lap, Camier once again tried to pass Andrews but went in to fast causing him to run straight-on, across the grass and into a ditch.  Camier rejoined the track but was now down in last place and had lost more than 20 seconds.

Andrews recovered from his earlier incident and was on a mission to get on the podium, taking Josh Brookes on lap 7, however, after such an impressive ride, Andrews was caught-up in an accident with only four laps remaining and was out of contention.

Easton and Ellison were in a race of their own, with Ellison right on the tail of the Hydrex Honda on the final lap.  Easton kept his nerve and took the victory ahead of Ellison with the returning Australian rider Josh Brookes in third. 

Ryuichi Kiyonari on the second HM Plant Honda finished in fourth place followed by Ian Lowry on the Relentless TAS Suzuki in fifth, Leon Camier on the second Airwaves Yamaha in sixth, Tommy Hill on the second Hydrex Honda in seventh, Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda in eighth, Julian Da Costa for Confused.com Kawasaki in ninth and Graeme Gowland on the Motorpoint/ Henderson Kawasaki in tenth.

Chris Walker ended the race early after a bizarre incident saw the handlebar of his Kawasaki break while riding at speed.

Here are the results;

1. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda 27mins 06.092secs 20 laps
2. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +0.359secs
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +10.216secs
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +10.967secs
5. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +19.612secs
6. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha +21.436secs
7. Tommy Hill GBR Hydrex Honda +22.380secs
8. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +25.776secs Cup
9. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki 31.236secs
10. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +31.750secs
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +31.994secs Cup
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +32.034secs Cup
13. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +33.554secs
14. Karl Harris GBR Node4 Yamaha +44.160secs
15. Howie Mainwaring GBR Team Maxxis Yamaha +47.927secs

Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki Did Not Start Cup

Race Two

Airwaves Yamaha rider Leon Camier was back on form by race two and took the win with an eight second lead on second place man, race one winner Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda.

After a better start for Camier, he was in fourth behind leading man Josh Brookes, Stuart Easton and Simon Andrews.  Camier passed Andrews on the first lap before getting past Brookes on lap four.  Easton was now leading the race having passed Brookes on the opening lap, but by lap six Camier had reeled him in and took the lead, crossing the line almost nine seconds ahead of Easton.

The second Airwaves Yamaha rider James Ellison, finally finished the race in fourth position after a terrible start saw him in seventh place.  He was followed by Simon Andrews in fifth, Tommy Hill in sixth, Ian Lowry in seventh, Gary Mason in eighth, Julien Da Costa in ninth and John Laverty completing the top ten riders.

The Airwaves Yamaha team are now guaranteed the championship for the 2009 season but it remains to be seen if it will be Leon Camier or James Ellison that walks away with the title, after the five remaining races left to run.

Gary Mason has been confirmed as the Mirror.co.uk Cup Champion for 2009 for the Quay Garage Honda team.

Here are the results.

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 26mins 57.535 20 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +8.788secs
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +11.336secs
4. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +11.970secs
5. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +17.437secs
6. Tommy Hill GBR Hydrex Honda +17.589secs
7. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +18.043secs
8. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +25.331secs Cup
9. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki +27.433secs
10. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +28.579secs
11. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +28.975secs
12. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +29.241secs
13. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +29.469secs
14. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +31.584secs Cup
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +37.176secs Cup

Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki Did Not Start Cup

David Johnson Slides Across the Knockhill Circuit 2009

The Maxxis-Adept Yamaha team have confirmed that David Johnson has been released from his contract with the them.  Julian Mosquera, development director of the team said;

“Dave Johnson has formally been released from his contract after discussions earlier this week.  We wish Dave all the best in his plans for the future and will endeavour to help in any way we can in his pursuit of another ride in the series.

On behalf of the team, I would like to thank Dave for his contribution and the commitment he has shown throughout the 18 months he has been with us.”

The Australian rider is to be replaced by Howie Mainwaring for the rest of the 2009 season, after Mainwaring replaced him at Cadwell Park while he recuperated from injuries sustained at the Brands Hatch round.