Leon Camier – 2009 British Superbike Champion

The 23-year-old Airwaves Yamaha rider Leon Camier, claimed the British Superbike Championship title at Silverstone yesterday after taking the victory in race one.

Race One

After starting on pole position, Leon Camier dropped back to fifth position as the race got underway, behind Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda, Josh Brookes on the HM Plant Honda and his team-mate James Ellison.

By the end of the first lap, Ellison had passed both Easton and Brookes to take the lead, while Camier got on with the job in hand, taking first Brookes and then taking advantage of Easton as he ran wide on lap 4 before chasing Ellison, who was now 1.2 seconds ahead.

With 16 laps of the race still to go, the Airwaves Yamaha swapped the lead a couple of times before Camier took the lead on the penultimate lap, passing Ellison on the inside at the Priory left-hander.

Camier held the lead and took the championship by 0.244 seconds and was presented with a #1 for his bike on his return to the pits.

James Ellison finished in second place followed by Josh Brookes in third and Stuart Easton in fourth.  In fifth place was Tommy Hill on the second Hydrex Honda, John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki was in sixth, Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Crescent Suzuki in seventh, Ian Lowry on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki in eighth, Simon Andrews on MSS Colchester Kawasaki in ninth and his team-mate Julian Da Costa in tenth.

Michael Rutter on the Bathams Ducati was out of the race on lap 4 after developing technical problems with his machine while Karl Harris didn’t even make the start as a mechanical problem occurred before the race.

The British Superbike Cup winner was Tommy Bridewell on the NB Suzuki after finishing in twelfth place while Cup champion Gary Mason finished in fourteenth for the Quay Garage Honda team.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 20 laps
2. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 0.244sec
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 8.827sec
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda 9.164sec
5. Tommy Hill GBR Hydrex Honda 18.278sec
6. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki 18.787sec
7. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki 18.933sec
8. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 22.408sec
9. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 22.921sec
10. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki 24.682sec
11. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 30.923sec
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki 31.473sec Cup
13. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda 35.532sec
14. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda 37.551sec Cup
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha 38.199sec Cup
16. Richard Cooper GBR Co-ordit Yamaha 38.780sec Cup
17. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 40.462sec Cup
18. Dan Linfoot GBR Rob Mac Racing Yamaha 56.937sec
19. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki 1min 1.468sec
20. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda 1 lap Cup
21. Michael Howarth GBR STP-JHS MV Agusta 1 lap

DNF:
Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 18 laps Evo
Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 18 laps
Howie Mainwaring GBR Team Maxxis Yamaha 11 laps
David Haire GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 10 lap Cup
Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 9 laps
David Johnson AUS Jentin Yamaha 7 laps
Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda 7 laps
Michael Rutter GBR Bathams Ducati 4 laps
Karl Harris GBR SMT Honda 0 laps

Race Two

In the second race of the day it was yet again an Airwaves Yamaha on the top step of the podium but this time it was the turn of James Ellison.

Race two was red flagged before the end of lap one after a huge oil spillage caused chaos for the mid-pack riders on the approach to Abbey corner.

At the restart, which reduced the race to 18 laps, it was once again Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda that led the pack, ahead of Josh Brookes, Ellison and Camier.

Camier made a move to pass Ellison as the pair headed to the Bridge/Priory turns, firing Ellison up and regaining his position at the final chicane.  Ellison then moved into second place after passing Brookes at Abbey on lap 2 as Camier followed a lap later.

Camier managed to get in front of his team-mate again on lap 3 before chasing down Easton.  This time however, as he tried to outbrake the Hydrex Honda rider entering Abbey, he went wide and was forced onto the grass, dropping him back to ninth place with 14 laps left to run.

Within two laps, Camier has muscled his way back to sixth place as Ellison snatched the lead from Easton through Maggots.  With 9 laps to go, Camier passed Tommy Hill to take fourth place, 2.1 seconds behind his team-mate and then hunted down Brookes to take third and then second as he passed Easton on lap 15.

Ellison took the lead, 1.2 seconds ahead of his team-mate and leaving him with a 51 point advantage of the runner-up spot in the championship over Easton.

Josh Brookes finished in third place followed by Stuart Easton in fourth, Tommy Hill in fifth, Julien Da Costa in sixth, Simon Andrews in seventh, Sylvain Guintoli in eighth, Ian Lowry in ninth and Alastair Seeley in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 18 laps
2. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 1.200sec
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 2.583sec
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda 3.974sec
5. Tommy Hill GBR Hydrex Honda 9.774sec
6. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki 11.099sec
7. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 14.340sec
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki 16.148sec
9. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 21.434sec
10. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 23.963sec Evo
11. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 24.269sec
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki 24.362sec Cup
13. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha 27.693sec Cup
14. Karl Harris GBR SMT Honda 28.296sec
15. Michael Rutter GBR Bathams Ducati 32.883sec
16. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 45.709sec Cup
17. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda 55.170sec Cup
18. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda 1 lap
19. Michael Howarth GBR STP-JHS MV Agusta 1 lap

DNF:
John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki 13 laps
Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda 10 laps Cup
Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 10 laps
David Haire GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 5 laps Cup
Dan Linfoot GBR Rob Mac Racing Yamaha 2 laps

James Ellison – Airwaves Yamaha 2009

The British Superbike riders and teams were at Cadwell Park this weekend for round nine of the championship, with the Airwaves Yamaha riders Leon Camier and James Ellison taking the wins.

Race One

Simon Andrews on the Confused.com Kawasaki that took to the front as the race got underway but was soon passed by Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda.  Camier was running in third place when he tried to make a move on Easton but the Honda rider snatched the place back as he dived up the inside of the Yamaha.  Camier moved into second on the following lap before hunting down Easton and then passing him to create a gap.

Andrews made a mistake going into Charlie’s and was passed by the second Airwaves Yamaha of James Ellison, who had already passed the Buildbase Kawasaki of John Laverty.

Easton, Ellison and Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki by TAS, were fighting each other for the other two steps on the podium, with Easton and Ellison almost touching in their battle for second.  Easton managed to hold off the Yamaha to claim second followed by Elllison in third.

In fourth place was Lowry, scoring his best place this season ahead of the two Confused.com Kawasaki’s of Simon Andrews and Julien Da Costa. The two Kawasaki riders were in a race of their own and after Simon had held his position for most of the race, Da Costa made his way past on the penultimate lap.  On the final lap, Andrews tried to retake his position but was too fast and forced both riders onto the grass.  Andrews secured fifth place ahead of his team-mate who took sixth.

Karl Muggeridge took seventh place for the HM Plant Honda team, holding off the Worx Crescent Suzuki of Sylvain Guintoli as they crossed the line.  John Laverty finished in ninth for the Buildbase Kawasaki team ahead of Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 26mins 38.546secs 18 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +7.384secs
3. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +7.651secs
4. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +8.133secs
5. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +17.793secs
6. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki 18.126secs
7. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +25.398secs
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +25.522secs
9. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +25.979secs
10. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +28.760secs Cup
11. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +30.488secs
12. John McGuinness GBR HM Plant Honda +32.582secs
13. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +34.734secs Cup
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +34.988secs Cup
15. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +44.779secs

23. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 11 laps completed Cup
24. Michael Howarth GBR STP-JHS MV Agusta 8 laps completed
25. Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki 3 laps completed Cup

Race Two

Leon Camier crossed the line to take the second win of the day but he was excluded from the race after an incident on the final lap, gifting the victory to his team-mate James Ellison.

On the final lap of the race, Camier’s Yamaha was seen with blue smoke coming from the back.  Black and orange flags were waved but Camier remained on track and continued to the chequered flag where he was  disqualified for not stopping immediately on seeing the flags.

A statement was released by the team, stating that Camier mistakenly believed that he had until the end of the lap to come in.  The team apologised to Leon for the problem on his bike which turned out to be a small oil leak, and thanked him for his dignity and professionalism after learning of the disqualification.

Stuart Easton again took to the front as the race got underway while Camier passed the Buildbase Kawasaki of Laverty, with Andrews following his lead.  Andrews lost the place almost immediately as Ellison slipped up the inside.

On the following lap, Camier took Easton with Ellison making a copycat manoeuvre three laps later as Andrews then passed the Honda of Easton.

On lap 6, the safety car was deployed after the STP MV Agusta of Michael Howarth developed a huge oil leak, leaving marshalls to clean-up the track.  The safety car left the track on lap 9 and Easton made an immediate move on Andrews at Coppice, but Andrews snatched it back before the end of the lap.

On the penultimate lap, Easton moved in front of Andrews to take second place ahead of Easton in third.  Julian Da Costa finished in fourth followed by his team-mate John Laverty in fifth.

The Motorpoint Yamaha rider Chris Walker finished in sixth ahead of Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Suzuki, Karl Harris on the Hydrex Honda, Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda and Tommy Bridewell for Team NB Honda.

Ian Lowry had been in ninth place on the Relentless Suzuki, putting in faster laps than both Easton and Andrews until he crashed out on lap 16.  John McGuiness was another non-finisher after retiring the HM Plant Honda with two laps to run.

Here are the results;

1. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 28mins 02.679secs 18 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +4.099secs
3. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +4.584secs
4. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki +5.435secs
5. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +6.843secs
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +7.239secs
7. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +12.836secs
8. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +14.833secs
9. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +15.100secs Cup
10. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +16.684secs Cup
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +19.920secs Cup
12. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +24.193secs
13. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +24.359secs
14. Howie Mainwaring GBR Team Maxxis Yamaha +24.769secs
15. Jon Kirkham GBR Rob Mac Racing Yamaha +26.729secs

Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha
Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki Cup

Leon Camier – Airwaves Yamaha 2009

Leon Camier won all three races at the British Supebike Championship at Brands Hatch over the weekend, giving him a lead in the points standing of 113.5 over team-mate James Ellison for the Airwaves Yamaha team.

The first race of the weekend took place on Saturday with Camier taking the chequered flag ahead of Broc Parkes on the WSB Kawasaki in second and Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda in third.

Parkes led the field from the start of the race ahead of Karl Muggeridge on his HM Plant Honda debut and Camier as they headed into Druids.  Parkes team-mate Sheridan Morais, was thrown of his machine as he made an error trying to pass Tommy Hill at Stirling, he was unhurt.

By lap 2, Camier had moved into second place, passing Muggeridge and chasing down the leading man.  On lap 10,  he passed Parkes on the inside going into Druids and pulled away from the pack.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 26mins 15.747secs 18 laps
2. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki SRT +1.901secs
3. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +11.495secs
4. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +15.461secs
5. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +15.840secs
6. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +17.959secs
7. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +19.646secs
8. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +21.033secs
9. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +23.195secs
10. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +23.236
11. Michael Rutter GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +24.319secs
12. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +30.084secs
13. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +35.556secs Cup
14. Steve Brogan GBR HM Plant Honda +37.052secs
15. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +37.204secs

Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki
Jon Kirkham GBR Node 4 Yamaha

Sunday

Race 1

Leon Camier led from the start on the Airwaves Yamaha, followed by Broc Parkes and Stuart Easton.  As Camier and Parkes began to pull away from the rest of the pack the red flag came out as David Johnson crashed his Maxxis Yamaha at Hawthorn.

Once the safety car came in Camier was off again followed by Parkes as the two soon created a gap between themselves and Easton.

Tommy Hill finished in fourth ahead of the second Airwaves machine of James Ellison and Karl Harris on the second Hydrex Honda in sixth.

Chris Walker struggled with some sort of problem on the Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha and retired just before the end of the race.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 30mins 36.823secs 20 laps
2. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki SRT +4.534secs
3. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +7.775secs
4. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +8.713secs
5. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +10.072secs
6. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +12.688secs
7. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +15.025secs
8. Steve Brogan GBR HM Plant Honda +16.575secs
9. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +19.466secs
10. Sheridan Morais RSA Kawasaki SRT +19.561secs
11. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +20.297
12. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +22.112secs
13. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +22.179secs
14. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +24.535secs Cup
15. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +41.291secs

Steve Mercer GBR MIST Suzuki
Jon Kirkham GBR Node 4 Yamaha

Race 2

Camier went onto win the third race of the weekend, beating the record number of wins in one season previously held by Niall Mackenzie.

It was Broc Parkes that led the way as the lights went out while Camier got off to a terrible start and dropped back to eighth place.  Karl Muggeridge was in second followed by the second Airwaves Yamaha of James Ellison in third.

Camier started to carve his way through the pack and on lap 3, had passed Stuart Easton, Tommy Hill and Michael Rutter.  On the following lap he nipped up the inside of his team-mate Ellison, and into third place as he began to chase down Muggeridge for second.

After passing the HM Plant Honda rider, Camier set about Parkes and eventually passed him on lap 15 before he once again, headed for the chequered flag for his fourteenth win of the season.  James Ellison managed to take his first podium of the season after passing Easton on lap 12, while John Laverty finished in an impressive fifth position after taking Muggeridge.

Here are the results:

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 29mins 05.284secs 20 laps
2. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki SRT +2.272secs
3. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +11.587secs
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +13.884secs
5. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +21.338secs
6. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +21.395secs
7. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +21.891secs
8. Sheridan Morais RSA Kawasaki SRT +22.818secs
9. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +26.534secs
10. Michael Rutter GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +27.405secs
11. Steve Brogan GBR HM Plant Honda +30.536secs
12. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +30.662secs
13. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +31.582secs
14. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +39.247secs
15. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +42.554secs Cup

Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki Cup
Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki Cup
David Johnson AUS Team Maxxis Adept Yamaha
Steve Mercer GBR MIST Suzuki Cup
Jon Kirkham GBR Node 4 Yamaha

Chris Burns – MV Agusta

Chris Burns will allegedly be on the grid of the next round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, on August 7/8/9, for the Jentin Racing Yamaha Team

Burns was signed at the beginning of the season to ride the STP-JHS MV Agusta Team, however, before he had even ridden the machine, the contract ended after delays in getting the bike on track.

The Geordie rider, landed a full-time ride in the German Superbike Championship for this season with the Holzhauer Honda Racing team.  Initially, the former MotoGP rider, was a replacement rider for the injured reigning champion Martin Bauer, but after an impressive 2nd and 4th place at the Sachsenring, he was offered the ride until the end of the season, alongside Bauer and team-mate Michael Schumacher.

There is still no confirmation at this point, but with Michael Schumacher returning to the Formula One series to cover for the injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, and Bauer still recuperating, it leaves Burns as the sole rider for the German Superbike Team making it seem unlikely that they would let him go, however, I didn’t expect to see Schumacher back in F1!

Leon Camier

Leon Camier appeared to have sorted the problems on his Airwaves Yamaha to take pole position today ahead of the former World Superbike rider Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki.

Hill had been fastest all weekend and looked to have secured the pole position until Camier snatched it away with three minutes of the session remaining.

Chris Walker on the Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha took third position alongside Cup rider Richard Cooper on the Co-ordit Yamaha to complete the front row.

John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki starts the second row in fifth place ahead of Simon Andrews on the MSS Kawasaki, James Ellison on the second Airwaves Yamaha in seventh and Karl Harris on the Hydrex Honda in eighth.

Graeme Gowland on the second Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha, qualified in ninth place followed by Stuart Easton on the second Hydrex Honda .

Michael Rutter, was back on the grid, but this time riding the SMT Honda, replacing Jason O’Halloran and qualifying in eleventh ahead of Julian de Costa on the second MSS Colchester Kawasaki.

Tristan Palmer on the second Buildbase Kawasaki of Tristan Palmer starts the fourth row, followed by Team Maxxis Yamaha rider David Johnson.  Atsushi Watanabe on the Relentless Suzuki and Cup leader Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda in sixteenth.

Not a good qualifying session for the HM Plant Honda team, with Josh Brookes qualifying way down in seventeenth place while his team-mate Steve Brogan, who is covering for the injured Glen Richards, is further back in twenty-third place.

Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki, joins Brookes on the fifth row, alongside two more Cup riders, Peter Hickman on the Ultimate Yamaha and Tommy Bridewell on the Team NB Suzuki.

Lining-up behind are Tom Tunstall on the Hardringe Doodson Motorsport Honda, Kenny Gilbertson on the Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki, Steve Brogan and Martin Jessopp on the Riders Racing Honda.

Aaron Zanotti on the Red Viper Racing Honda qualified in twenty-fourth place and Michael Howarth, for the first time on the STP-JHS Racing MV Agusta, finished at the rear of the grid.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 56.016secs
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 56.195secs
3. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 56.221secs
4. Richard Cooper GBR Team Co-ordit Yamaha 56.345secs Cup
5. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki 56.379secs
6. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 56.489secs
7. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 56.547secs
8. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda 56.605secs
9. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 56.642secs
10. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda 56.642secs

11. Michael Rutter GBR SMT Honda 56.754secs
12. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki 56.786secs
13. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 56.825secs
14. David Johnson AUS Team Maxxis Adept Yamaha 56.968secs
15. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki 56.981secs
16. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda 56.989secs Cup
17. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 57.006secs
18. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 57.132secs
19. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha 57.185secs Cup
20. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki 57.625secs Cup

21. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 57.337secs Cup
22. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 57.377secs Cup
23. Steve Brogan GBR HM Plant Honda 57.547secs
24. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda 58.667secs Cup
25. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda 59.307secs
26. Michael Howarth GBR MV Agusta-JHS Racing 1min 00.496secs

Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Suzuki 2009

This weekend the British Superbike Championship takes place at Mallory Park and Tommy Hill, the replacement rider for the injured Sylvain Guintoli, has already fulfilled his promise of putting a smile on a few faces.

The Worx Suzuki GSX-R1000 rider, topped the time-sheets in both of today’s free practice session, going faster in the afternoon and slicing two-tenths of a second of his best time set in the morning.

The Hydrex Honda of Karl Harris was in second place with James Ellison on the Airwaves Yamaha in third and Chris Walker on the Henderson/Motorpoint Yamaha in fourth.

Second Airwaves Yamaha rider Leon Camier, had been running in second place in the 50 minute morning session, but sat the afternoon out after developing mechanical problems on his machine.

John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki finished the day in fifth followed by the HM Plant Honda pair, Josh Brookes and Steve Brogan in sixth and seventh respectively.

Julian de Costa finished in eighth place, despite crashing the MSS Colchester Kawasaki at Charlie’s during the session, followed in ninth place by Stuart Easton on the second Hydrex Honda and Graeme Gowland on the second Henderson/Motorpoint Yamaha in tenth.

Here are the times;

1. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 56.227secs
2. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda 56.591secs
3. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 56.594secs
4. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 56.689secs
5. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki 56.841secs
6. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 56.898secs
7. Steve Brogan GBR HM Plant Honda 56.915secs
8. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki 57.003secs
9. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda 57.005secs
10. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 57.115secs
11. Michael Rutter GBR SMT Honda 57.182secs
12. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki 57.236secs
13. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki 57.240secs Cup
14. David Johnson AUS Team Maxxis Adept Yamaha 57.265secs
15. Richard Cooper GBR Team Co-ordit Yamaha 57.304secs
16. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda 57.333secs Cup
17. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 57.580secs
18. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki 57.614secs
19. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki 57.680secs
20. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 57.720secs Cup
21. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 57.814secs Cup
22. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha 58.062secs Cup
23. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda 58.905secs Cup
24. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda 59.152secs
25. Michael Howarth GBR MV Agusta-JHS Racing 1min 01.078secs
26. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha (No Time Set)

Race 1 Winner Shane Byrne – Mallory Park 2008

Michael Rutter has allegedly secured a last minute deal to ride for the SMT Honda team at Mallory, replacing Jason O’Halloran.

The team recently admitted that without further financial backing they could not survive, however, it is believed that a sponsor has now come forward at the last minute.

Rutter began the season on the North West 200 Yamaha, but his association with the team ended in May, he was then offered a ride with the Worx Suzuki team who then ousted him for young, upcoming rider Tommy Hill.

British Superbike rider Michael Howarth, is set to return to the track this weekend when he steps aboard the MV Augusta at Mallory Park.

The former Tena For Men Honda rider, broke his collarbone last time racing in 2008 at Croft and was out for the remainder of the season.  However, the Bolton lad has been testing for the STP MV Augusta team at Cadwell Park and was said to have put in some respectable laps.

The Mist Suzuki team will be absent at the Mallory Park round after their rider Matt Bond announced his immediate retirement from the competition due to personal reasons.

Bond has been struggling to juggle full-time work, racing, family and training and said that something had to give.  The team however, have said they will be back in time for the Brands Hatch round with a new rider and hopefully an upgraded package on the Suzuki.

John Laverty – Buildbase Kawasaki 2009

This weekend the British Superbike Championship gets underway at Brands Hatch with a four-day event starting on 10th through to the 13th April.

The GSE Racing team have revealed their 2009 YZF-R1 in it’s new racing livery.  The Airwave Yamaha riders Leon Camier and James Ellison are both said to be pleased with the new paint job and eager to get on the circuit.  The GSE Racing crew signed a 3-year-deal to partner Yamaha after ending their commitment with Ducati.

The Relentless Suzuki team have signed Ian Lowry to ride alongside their other rider Atsushi Watanabe for the 2009 season.  Lowry has been riding for the team in their Supersport series for the past three seasons.

The MSS Kawasaki team will be on the grid with their riders Julien Da Costa and Simon Andrews.  Andrews missed some of the recent testing after suffering a crash at Mallory Park in March.  He was blown off track by a strong gust of wind as he entered Gerrards and was hit by the bike causing severe bruising to his shoulder.  Andrews is now fit and ready for the start of the season and are pleased with the work done on their machine over the winter months.

Another Kawasaki team who will be racing against the MSS team are the riders Tristan Palmer and John Laverty, riding for the Buildbase Kawasaki team.  The team formerly known as Hawk Racing completed their sponsorship deal with Buildbase in December 2008.

Sylvain Guintoli will be aboard the Crescent Suzuki who have recently revealed that they have secured a two-year sponsorship deal with Worx, the power tool brand.  The former MotoGP rider has been very strong in testing and is aiming for no less than a double win at this Easter weekend round.

The HM Plant Honda team are aiming to be the top Honda team again this year with their Australian riders Josh Brookes and Glen Richards. This season they are facing competition with the Hydrex Honda team who have the riders Karl Harris and Stuart Easton, both showing impressive speed during testing.

Jason O’Halloran is the sole rider for the SMT Honda team after making his debut in the BSB series at Croft in 2008 where he got the team a top ten result for the first time.

The Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha team will have the riders Chris Walker and Graeme Gowland, both intending to give their team 100%.  Walker was signed by Rob McElnea after a year in WSB and was desperate to get back in front of the British Superbike crowd.

The other Rob Mac signing was that of Michael Rutter who will be riding the North West 200 Yamaha.  Rutter has shown impressive form in the 2008 season and is a favourite for this year.

Jon Kirkham will be riding the Lloyds British Jentin after a successful 2008 season in the National Superstock championship where he finished runner-up.

The STP-JHS Racing MV Augusta have the riders Chris Burns and Victor Cox. The team confirmed that last season the bike was overweight and underpowered and that the improvements to the machine will make a massive difference to the handling and performance of the bike.

The Red Viper Honda team has Aaron Zanotti and Alastair Fagan riding for them.  Zanotti will continue his season with the team alongside Fagan who competed in the British Supersport Cup in 2008 where he finished in sixth place overall.

Gary Mason will once again be riding for the Quay Garage Honda team after racing in the Daily Star British Superbike Cup in 2008 for the team.  He was given the task after James Buckingham was forced out due to injuries and showed an impressive ride.

Brian McCormack is on the MAR Racing Kawasaki and is also intending to compete in the TT with the full backing of his crew.

Tom Tunstall will be riding for the Hardinge Doodson Motorsport Honda team and will also be racing in the Daily Star Cup Championship which runs alongside BSB.

Peter Hickman is with the Ultimate Racing Yamaha team after finishing third in the 2008 National Superstock 1000 Championship.

Martin Jessopp is aboard the Riders Racing Honda, Kenny Gilbertson is on the Jx Fuelcard Kawasaki, Matt Bond is riding the Mist Suzuki and David Johnson for Team Maxxis Branson Yamaha.

(UPDATE)

According to reports Josh Brookes will not be racing this weekend after he was stopped by immigration this morning from entering the UK as his paperwork was not in order.

Steve Plater will now be replacing the Australian for this round only.