Andrew Pitt – Supersport 2008

Andrew Pitt, the double World Supersport champion, has signed a deal to race for the Motorpoint Yamaha team from the Mallory Park round of the season.

Pitt will be replacing Ian Lowry, who was drafted in to ride in place of the injured, now retired Neil Hodgson.  The Australian rider has previously raced on an R1 after riding in the WSB series in 2006 where he finished in fifth place and has also competed in the MotoGP series.

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.

Tommy Hill – Brands Hatch 2010

This weekend saw the opening round of the British Superbikes Championship for 2010 at Brands Hatch in two thrilling races.

Tommy Hill on the Worx Suzuki claimed the top step of the podium in the first BSB race of the day after passing Ryuichi Kiyonari on the HM Plant Honda.  Kiyonari had dominated the majority of the race on his return to the series but Hill stormed pass, eight laps from the finish after a mistake from the Honda rider.

Stuart Easton on the Swan Honda machine moved into third place at the start of the race after qualifying in eighth followed by Tommy Bridewell on the Quay Garage Honda in fourth and Josh Brookes in fifth on the second HM Plant Honda.   Bridewell crashed out on lap 14 of the race after losing the front end at the Graham Hill bend.

As Hill and Kiyonari battled for the top step of the podium the scrap for the final step was going on behind between Easton, Brookes, Alastair Seeley for Relentless Suzuki and Ellison. Ellison took third position ahead of Seeley and Brookes with Easton finishing in sixth.

Michael Laverty was forced to retire from the race after suffering a technical problem on his Relentless Suzuki on lap 12.  Simon Andrews ran off track on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki at Paddock Hill bend ending his race along with Christian Iddon on the Sorrymate.com SMT Honda who crashed out at Druids on the 19th lap.

Race 1 Results;

1. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 23mins 10.296secs 30 laps
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.723s
3. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +4.607s
4. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +4.655s
5. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +8.785s
6. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +10.598s
7. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +11.5856
8. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +20.079s
9. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki +20.211s
10. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +20.585s
11. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +25.710s
12. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +26.357s
13. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +28.288s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +34.867.563s E
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +35.368s

16. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +35.997s
17. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha +37.276s
18. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki +44.063s E
19. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia +1 lap E
20. David Johnson AUS Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki +1 lap E
21. David Anthony AUS MIST Suzuki +1 lap E
22. Steve Mercer GBR SMR Racing Yamaha +1 lap
23. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +1 lap E
24. Pauli Pekkanen FIN RR Motorsport Suzuki +1 lap E
25. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +1 lap E
26. Steve Heneghan GBR Quattro Plant Honda +1 lap E
27. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki +1 lap E
28. Peter Ward GBR Astro-Chase SST Kawasaki +1 lap E

Not Classified

29. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 25 laps completed
30. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda 25 laps completed
31. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki 18 laps completed E
32. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda 18 laps completed
33. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda 13 laps completed
34. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 11 laps completed

Did Not Start

Neil Hodgson GBR Motorpoint Yamaha
Joe Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia E
James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM E

James Ellison – Brands Hatch 2010

James Ellison on the Swan Honda machine claimed victory in the second race of the day, dominating from the start.

Tommy Hill put pressure on Ellison throughout the race while Ryuichi Kiyonari was forced out after just 4 laps after developing an electrical problem on his Honda.   Gary Mason on the second MSS Colchester Kawasaki was also a non-finisher after suffering a technical problem on his machine.

Chris Walker on the CW Racing Suzuki and Dan Linfoot on the Motorpoint Yamaha both crashed out on lap 9 after a coming together, seeing them both thrown into the gravel, while on lap 10 after running in fourth place.   Tommy Bridewell was forced wide while trying to pass Michael Laverty, causing him to crash and putting him out of the race.

Neil Hodgson failed to start his season opener for the Motorpoint Yamaha team after a dramatic high-side during the warm-up lap as entered the Graham Hill bend, injuring his shoulder.

Race 2 Results;

1. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda 23mins 03.278secs 30 laps
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.186s
3. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +4.925s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +6.711s
5. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +22.050s
6. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +22.203s
7. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +27.328s
8. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +29.841s
9. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +35.885s
10. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +37.489s E
11. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +39.037s
12. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha +41.190s
13. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +42.412s
14. Steve Mercer GBR SMR Racing Yamaha +42.618s
15. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki +44.526s E

Neil Hodgson GBR Motorpoint Yamaha
Joe Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia E
James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM E

Chris Walker

It has been announced that Chris Walker has signed a last minute deal to ride in the British Superbike Championship on a privately run Suzuki GSX-R1000 for the 2010 season.

Walker will once again be up against rival Neil Hodgson, with hopefully a repeat of the battle that took place in 2000 when the pair fought against each other for the wins round-after-round.

The machine is said to be the ex-Rutter Suzuki GSX-R1000 TT, prepared by the top tuning man Ray Stringer and Walker has said to the MCN;

“I’m delighted to be on the grid again this year. Ray came along with the offer of this Suzuki at the very last minute and it was the perfect opportunity for me. We’ve missed out on testing but we will be getting more competitive as the season goes. There’s a big chance we’ll get a significant improvement in our machinery within a few rounds – but even with the bike we’ve got, we’re not giving anything away.”