Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki, leading the title race going into the final weekend, put up a valiant fight in race one on Saturday, finishing a whisker behind the Japanese rider to set up a thrilling finale for Sunday’s final showdown.

But when Hill lost his brakes in race two and had to resort to throwing the Suzuki down the track, you somehow felt that it was not to be for the British rider.

The Swan Honda’s of Stuart Easton and James Ellison were in exceptional form over the weekend with a third place in both race one and three for Ellison and a second in race two for Easton, effectively shutting out the rest of the final shoot out contenders behind Kiyonari.

To his credit Tommy Hill managed to claim third in the final race after the Worx Crescent team spent the gap between races putting his Suzuki back together, but it was Kiyonari’s teammate Josh Brookes who kept Hill at bay, making a one – two for Honda’s HM Plant riders in the finale and ensuring the title for Kiyonari who never put a foot wrong all weekend.

I’m still not sure whether the changes made to BSB with the final five meeting showdown have made things any more exciting this season, sure the Championship went down to the wire on the last day of the season, but would it have been any different without the changes?

But there can be no doubt that the season has provided us with as much entertainment and excitement as anyone can possibly imagine, right down to the final race at Oulton Park on Sunday.

2010 British Superbike Championship Rider final standings

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 649 points
2. Josh Brookes HM Plant Honda 625
3. Tommy Hill Worx Crescent Suzuki 620
4. Michael Laverty Relentless Suzuki 604
5. Michael Rutter Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati 559
6. Alastair Seeley Relentless Suzuki 550

Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro 2010

The Ducati rider Casey Stoner took his first win of the season yesterday when he crossed the line at the Aragon MotoGP.

Starting from pole position, the Australian dominated the race from the off, finishing the race 5.148 seconds ahead of second placed man Dani Pedrosa.

Pedrosa dropped back to fifth place after getting shuffled out of the pack in the opening corner but had soon fought his way back to slot in behind Stoner.

The battle for the final step of the podium went down to the line between the second Ducati of Nicky Hayden and the current leader of the championship Jorge Lorenzo.  After several attempts, Hayden managed to make his move on the Yamaha rider stick finally passing him on the final lap to take his first podium finish this season.

The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 rider Ben Spies crossed the line in fifth place after and exciting race for fifth place against the second Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso.  The Honda rider unfortunately crashed out on the final lap after pushing for the place.

Valentino Rossi finished in sixth place on the second Fiat Yamaha ahead of Marco Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista with Marco Melandri in ninth position followed by the Pramac Racing rider Alex Espargaro.

The LCR Honda rider Randy de Puniet, was lucky to have escaped injury after spectacularly crashing out on lap 16 of the race.

The teams and riders of MotoGP assembled on the circuit on Sunday morning to pay their respect to Shoya Tomizawa who died two-weeks ago at the Misano circuit.  The popular Japanese riders bike was placed on the starting grid and it was announced that his number 48 would be retired from the Mot02 World Championship.

Here are the results;

1.  Casey Stoner  AUS Ducati Marlboro Team  42m 16.53s
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 42m 21.678s
3. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 42m 26.026s
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 42m 26.11s
5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42m 30.301s
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 42m 43.86s
7. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 42m 45.041s
8. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 42m 51.784s
9. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 42m 51.923s
10. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 42m 51.997s
11. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 42m 52.052s
12. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 43m 1.89s
13. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 43m 4.849s
14. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 43m 14.577s

DNF:
Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team
Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP

Tommy Hill – Worx Crescent Suzuki 2010

This weekend saw the first of the three rounds of the title showdown for the British Superbike championship of 2010 with Tommy Hill and Michael Laverty sharing the wins of the day.

Race One

The Worx Crescent Suzuki rider Tommy Hill crossed then line to take the chequered flag in race 1 of the day at Croft followed by Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki, just a tenth of a second behind.

The safety car was deployed on lap 1 following a crash at Clerveaux of David Johnson, who although battered and bruised didn’t appear to have any serious injuries.  At the restart of the race it was Michael Laverty that took to the front of the pack followed by Hill, Michael Rutter, James Ellison and Dan Linfoot.

Within two corners, Hill had put his Suzuki ahead of Laverty and attempted to create a gap, while on lap 5, Simon Andrews made his move past Dan Linfoot to slot into seventh place.

The HM Plant Honda rider Ryuichi Kiyonari dropped several places after running straight-on at Tower Corner, finding himself down in 22nd place.

On lap 9, Alistair Seeley was passed by the second HM Plant Honda of Josh Brookes before crashing his Relentless Suzuki at the hairpin.

Michael Rutter crashed his Ridersmotorcyles.com Ducati on lap 13, losing the front end at the hairpin as Hill’s lead on Laverty increased to six-tenths of a second.

Hill took the win ahead of Laverty in second, Stuart Easton in third, Simon Andrews in fourth, Dan Linfoot in fifth, Josh Brookes in sixth, Loris Baz (replacement rider for Andrew Pitt) in seventh, John Laverty in eighth, Chris Walker in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Here are the results;

1.  Tommy Hill  GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki  27mins 43.359s
2. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +0.155s
3. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +10.177s
4. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +13.512s
5. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +14.742s
6. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +15.407s
7. Loris Baz FRA Motorpoint Yamaha +21.044s
8. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +25.983s
9. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +26.304s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +26.670s
11. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +31.454s
12. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +35.436s
13. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +40.448s
14. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +43.184s
15. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +45.526s

25. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda 17 laps completed
26. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda 13 laps completed
27. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki 8 laps completed
28. David Johnson AUS Becsport Suzuki 0 laps completed

Race Two

In race two, it was the Irishman Michael Laverty that took the chequered flag for the Relentless Suzuki team ahead of Tommy Hill.

Laverty took the lead as the lights went out followed by Stuart Easton on the Swan Honda ahead of Hill and the second Swan Honda of James Ellison with Michael Rutter in hot pursuit.

Easton didn’t make it easy for Hill to get past giving Laverty time to create a gap from his lead position.  As Josh Brookes, who had struggled with illness all weekend, managed to catch-up with Ellison after starting from ninth on the grid, he was passed by Tommy Bridewell on the inside at the hairpin.  Only two laps later he was passed by Dan Linfoot and Simon Andrews and by the halfway point of the race, his team-mate Kiyonari also got ahead of him.

Rutter and Ellison were battling for fourth place with Rutter winning the contest until the final lap when Kiyonari passed both riders.

Laverty took the victory ahead of Hill in second, Stuart Easton again in third, Kiyonari in fourth, Rutter in fifth, Ellison in sixth, Bridewell in seventh, Brookes in eighth, Linfoot in ninth and Andrews in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Michael Laverty  GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki  25mins 42.670s
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.202s
3. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +8.534s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +9.590s
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +9.833s
6. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +10.138s
7. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +10.730s
8. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +11.619s
9. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +12.412s
10. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +16.489s
11. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +17.680s
12. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +27.340s
13. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +27.714s
14. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +29.477s
15. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +31.153s

27. Loris Baz FRA Motorpoint Yamaha 10 laps completed
28. David Johnson AUS Becsport Suzuki 0 laps completed

Noriyuki Haga – Xerox Ducati 2010

This weekend saw the German round of the World Superbike championship at the Nurburgring with Noriyuki Haga winning race 1 and Jonathan Rea taking the flag in race 2.

Race 1

The initial race 1 was red flagged after just 1 lap after Leon Haslam crashed out at turn 4 sending his fellow riders in all directions trying to avoid him. Troy Corser was unable to avoid the Alstare Suzuki and crashed out leading to the race being red flagged.

As the race got underway for the second start both riders were back on the grid although Haslam struggled with an injured hand after it was hit by another rider during the crash.  Michel Fabrizio crashed out on lap 1 of the restart and retired from the race shortly after.

Max Biaggi had a great start, leading the pack as they headed for the first bend but was forced wide when  Carlos Checa attempted a move to get past and while the Althea Ducati rider managed to hold onto his second place Biaggi dropped back to eighth place.

Jonathan Rea was now leading ahead of Checa, Noriyuki Haga, Tom Sykes and a struggling Haslam in fourth while Corser’s disastrous race continued taking not only himself out of contention but also that of the Sylvain Guintoli at the Dunlop hairpin.

By lap 2, Cal Crutchlow had moved up to fourth place after passing both Haslam and Sykes following his tenth place grid start while his team-mate James Toseland low-sided off of his Sterilgarda Yamaha.

The Japanese rider made his move on Checa on lap three to slot into second position and began to chase down the leading man.  On lap 8 of the race, Checa began to put pressure on Haga to take back that second place which he was given after the Ducati Xerox rider crashed out.

Rea took the chequered flag for his fourth win of the season ahead of Checa in second, Crutchlow in third, Biaggi in fourth, Sykes in fifth, Haslam in sixth, Ruben Xaus in seventh, Guintoli in eighth, Shane Byrne in ninth and Luca Scassa in tenth.

Leon Camier took no part in either of the races after high-siding in the first qualifying session resulted in a broken right wrist.  The Aprilia rider is expected to have surgery on the injury sometime this week but it is unclear as yet if Camier will be back on his machine before the end of the season.

Here are the results;

1. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 20 lap
2. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1198 +1.126s
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +10.006s
4. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +10.716s
5. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +17.391s
6. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.301s
7. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR +19.613s
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.880s
9. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati 1198 +21.176s
10. Luca Scassa ITA Supersonic Ducati 1198 +29.752s
11. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati 1198 +30.156s
12. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +53.622s
13. Roger Lee Hayden USA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +58.820s
14. Matteo Baiocco ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R +1min 25.906s

Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 DNS

Race 2

It was Noriyuki Haga that claimed the win in the second race of the day for only the second time this season following his victory at the Valencia round of the championship.

Carlos Checa was the man at the front as the lights went out followed by Haga, Jonathan Rea, Max Biaggi and Tom Sykes.

By lap 4, Haga had found a hug gap to pass Checa, capitalising on the Spaniards mistake which had forced him to go wide.  Checa kept the pressure on the Japanese rider until he made an error on lap 9 of the race and crashed out of the race.

Haga crossed the line to take the win ahead of Rea while behind Haslam, despite his injuries from his earlier crash, moved into third position.  Crutchlow finished in fourth place ahead of Biaggi in fifth, Guintoli in sixth, Sykes in seventh, James Toseland in eighth, Ruben Xaus in ninth and Shane Byrne in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1198 20 Laps
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR
3. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +8.060s
4. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +8.457s
5. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +9.392s
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +9.556s
7. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +16.819s
8. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +20.564s
9. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR +21.040s
10. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati 1198 +21.168s
11. Jakub Smrz CZE PATA B&G Racing Aprilia RSV-4 +21.734s
12. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +22.746s
13. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati 1198 +24.526s
14. Luca Scassa ITA Supersonic Ducati 1198 +28.218s
15. Max Neukirchner GER Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +38.406s

Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 DNS

Josh Brookes

Race 1

Tommy Hill claimed his first win in four months at this weekends round of the British Superbike championship at Cadwell Park for the Worx Crescent Suzuki team.

It was the HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes that led the riders into the first corner with Tommy Hill right on his tail.  By lap 8, Hill had made his way past the Australian and held on for the win leaving a trailing Brookes and his team-mate Ryucihi Kiyonari to claim second and third respectively.

Michael Laverty crossed the line for fourth place ahead of Michael Rutter in fifth position and James Ellison in sixth.  Yukio Kagayama finished in seventh place followed by Alastair Seeley in eighth, Dan Linfoot in ninth and Stuart Easton in tenth.

Tommy Bridewell had his points disqualified after his collision with John Laverty on the final lap of race one.

Here are the results;

1.  Tommy Hill  GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki  26mins 25.609s
2. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +5.116s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +7.092s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +12.522
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +14.623s
6. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +20.822s
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +28.158s
8. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +28.533
9. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +34.523
10. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +34.945s
11. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +49.900s
12. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +50.932s
13. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +51.699
14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +54.599s
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +1min 04.821s

DQ Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +30.198s

Race 2

It was the HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes that crossed the finish line to take the chequered flag in the second race of the day at Cadwell Park.

Brookes took to the front as the race got underway but was passed by Tommy Hill before the end of the first lap followed by Ryuichi Kiyonari in second.

It was Brookes skill at ‘the mountain’ that gave him the edge over the leading two riders, giving him the lift he needed to get in front.

On lap 11, Brookes passed the leading man and shortly afterwards the red flags were waved ending the race after James Edmeades crashed and needed medical help on circuit for a fractured pelvis.

Once again it was Michael Laverty and Michael Rutter in fourth and fifth places respectively ahead of James Ellison in sixth.  Yukio Kagayama finished in seventh place followed by Tommy Bridewell in eighth, Alastair Seeley in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Kiyonari will now head into the three round shoot-out on 525 points, Hill is also on 525 points and Brookes is on 524 points.

These races will begin at Croft on September 12 with each rider will have their previous points deleted and will each be credited with 500 points plus their bonus points from this seasons performance.

1.  Josh Brookes  AUS HM Plant Honda  19mins 00.530s
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.230s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.888s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +5.071
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +11.719s
6. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +13.178s
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +15.712s
8. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +21.347s
9. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +24.287s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +27.445s
11. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +27.640s
12. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +28.063
13. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +29.143s
14. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +30.768s
15. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +35.609s

Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki DNS

Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda 2010

The Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa crossed the line to take the victory at the Indianapolis MotoGP yesterday after qualifying in fifth place.

It was pole sitter Ben Spies on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 that led the pack into the first corner followed by the Marlboro Ducati of Nicky Hayden and the Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso.  Pedrosa followed in fourth place ahead of the two Fiat Yamaha riders Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi.

By lap 2, Pedrosa had moved into second position, quickly passing his team-mate and Hayden as he began to chase down the leading man.

On lap 7, Pedrosa passed Spies to take the lead while Nicky Hayden was dropping back down the pack after his kneeslider became loose when he hit a drain cover, allowing Lorenzo and Rossi the chance to get past.

Lorenzo eventually managed to get past Dovizioso on lap 12 of the race although the Italian didn’t let him get away easily.  The Honda rider soon began to lose grip on his tyres following his impressive ride allowing Rossi to also get past, losing his chance of a podium finish.

Dani Pedrosa took the win ahead of Ben Spies in second and Jorge Lorenzo in third.  Rossi completed the race in fourth place followed by Andrea Dovizioso in fifth, Nicky Hayden in sixth, Marco Simoncelli in seventh, Alvaro Bautista in eighth, Aleix Espargaro in ninth and Hector Barbera in tenth.

Casey Stoner lost the front end of his Marlboro Ducati on lap 8 of the race while Colin Edwards was forced to retire on lap 17 after developing rear tyre problems.  Mika Kallio crashed out on lap 18 after hitting a bump on the track and was out of the race,  Marco Melandri was the only other rider who failed to finish the race.

Here are the results;

1.  Dani Pedrosa  ESP Repsol Honda Team  47m 31.615s
2. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 47m 35.190s
3. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 47m 38.427s
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 47m 44.248s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 47m 53.500s
6. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 48m 6.753s
7. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 48m 8.355s
8. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 48m 8.440s
9. Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing 48m 16.52s
10. Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar 48m 22.983s
11. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 48m 27.001s
12. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 48m 29.518s
13. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 48m 35.754s

DNF:
Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing
Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3
Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team
Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini

Brands Hatch 2010 Race 1

This weekend saw the triple header take place at the circuit of Brands Hatch in Kent with Alastair Seeley winning the Saturday race and Tom Sykes taking both wins on Sunday.

Race 1 (Saturday)

The Saturday race began with Michael Rutter, who qualified in pole position, leading the two HM Plant Honda riders Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari until the mid-way stage.

Rutter looked to be on to take his second win of the season until the rain began leading to the race being red flagged and a wet race being called.  As the newly shortened 10 lap race restarted it was Rutter who once again led the pack into the first bend ahead of Kiyonari.

Alastair Seeley had moved up from sixth place on the grid to during the first few bends to pass Rutter as they headed into the Graham Hill bend leaving the Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati rider and Kiyonari to chase him down.

Rutter was left to settle for second position followed by Kiyonari in third, Josh Brookes in fourth, Tom Sykes in fifth, Michael Laverty in sixth, James Ellison in seventh, Yukio Kagayama in eighth, John Laverty in ninth and Ian Lowry in tenth.

Tommy Hill was forced to start from the back of the grid for the re-start of the race after failing to line-up in time and could only manage a fifteenth place finish.

Here are the results;

1.  Alastair Seeley  GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki  16mins 22.271s
2. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +0.298s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +1.470s
4. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +2.926
5. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT +14.320s
6. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +17.241s
7. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +21.713s
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +23.516s
9. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +24.738s
10. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT +26.213s
11. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +27.731s
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda +29.819s
13. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +29.897s
14. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia +33.393s
15. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +34.253s
16. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Spike Suzuki +35.063s
17. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +36.407s
18. David Johnson AUS Becsport Suzuki +37.148s
19. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +37.428s
20. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +40.478s
21. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +45.684s
22. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +45.854s
23. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +48.342s
24. Pauli Pekkanen FIN 777 RR Motorsport Suzuki +50.388s
25. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +1min 24.983s
26. Michael O’Brien GBR Motomob/O’Brien Yamaha +1min 29.226s

DNS Steve Heneghan IRL Quattro Plant Honda

Race 2 (Sunday)

Race 2 was also split into two parts after race 1 winner Alastair Seeley high-sided coming out of Surtees on lap 4, although the rider was uninjured his Relentless Suzuki was left stranded on the crest of the Hill and unseen by Andrew Pitt who caught the wheel.  Pitt was thrown heavily from his Motorpoint Yamaha forcing the race to be stopped while he was attended to at the side of the track by the medical team before being taken to the medical centre.  Pitt was transferred to hospital and has been diagnosed with a collarbone broken in three places.

The re-start consisted of 14 laps but was missing the second HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes who had crashed out at Druids whilst leading the race and had returned to the pits meaning that he would not be able to take part in the second start.

Michael Rutter was on pole position ahead of Kiyonari, Sykes and Michael Laverty but it was Sykes that moved into second position, passing Kiyonari before the end of the first lap.  Sykes then began to chase down the race leader Rutter before passing him on lap 4.

Kiyonari managed to get past Rutter and was tailing Sykes but could not get close enough to pass the Kawasaki rider leaving him to finish in second place with Rutter in third.  Michael Laverty crossed the line in fourth ahead of James Ellison in fifth, Tommy Hill in sixth, Stuart Easton in seventh, Yukio Kagayama in eighth, Dan Linfoot in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Here are the results;

1.  Tom Sykes  GBR Kawasaki SRT  20mins 19.948secs
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +1.118s
3. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +3.497s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +4.000s
5. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +4.189s
6. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +11.142s
7. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +11.812s
8. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +11.937s
9. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +15.507s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +15.637s
11. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT +20.513s
12. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +25.373s
13. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +27.994s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +33.430s
15. Adam Jenkinson GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +33.629s

Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha
Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki
Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda
John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki
David Johnson AUS Becsport Suzuki

Race 3

It was a fantastic day for the Kawasaki SRT team after the World Superbike rider Tom Sykes took his second win of the day at Brands Hatch.

It was Michael Laverty that started on pole position for race 3 ahead of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Tom Sykes but it was Kiyonari that took to the front as the race got underway.

Sykes soon moved into second position and began to chase down the HM Plant Honda of Kiyonari who was unable to get away from the approaching Kawasaki.  Sykes managed to get into the slipstream of the Honda and slide through into the lead on lap 5 leaving Kiyonari to once again finish in second place ahead of Michael Rutter in third.

Michael Laverty crashed out on lap 14 while challenging Rutter for the final step of the podium and Alastair Seeley also had his second fall of the day at Paddock Hill Bend.

Tommy Hill crossed the line in fourth place followed by James Ellison, Josh Brookes, Yukio Kagayama, Stuart Easton, John Laverty and Simon Andrews.

Ryuichi Kiyonari is now leading the championship standings ahead of Tommy Hill and Josh Brookes.

Here are the results;

1.  Tom Sykes  GBR Kawasaki SRT  28mins 56.799secs
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.563s
3. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +4.788s
4. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +6.531s
5. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +11.804s
6. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +11.910s
7. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +13.927s
8. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +20.929s
9. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +21.181s
10. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +25.089s
11. Ian Lowry GBR Kawasaki SRT +30.719s
12. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda +33.271s
13. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +39.166s
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +52.013s
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +52.699s

John Reynolds Rizla Suzuki 2004

The 1992, 2001 and 2004 British Superbike Champion John Reynolds is confirmed as the guest rider at this weekends round of the championship at Brands Hatch.

Reynolds won the title on the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 before his retirement in 2005 and is still involved in the series as a Suzuki GB race director.

The 47-year-old is looking forward to riding the GSV-R800 and will also be joined at the Suzuki GSX-R 25th Anniversary celebrations by Leon Haslam on the World Superbike Alstare Suzuki along with Sylvain Guintoli and the Rizla Suzuki MotoGP rider Alvaro Bautista.

Cal Crutchlow – Sterilgarda Yamaha 2010

Cal Crutchlow dominated both races at the Silverstone circuit yesterday on the Sterilgarda Yamaha after battling with Jonathan Rea to take the double victory.

Race One

Cal Crutchlow started in pole position for the opening race of the day but it was the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea that took to the front as the race got underway followed by the Aprilia of Max Biaggi.

Crutchlow soon got ahead of Biaggi and was on the tail of Rea as the leading pair created a gap between themselves and the rest of the field.

The pair first traded places on lap 7 before Crutchlow made it stick on lap 12 and began to set a blistering pace that no other rider could match.

Leon Haslam was sitting in third place on his Suzuki Alstare which is where he finished making it an all British podium at the British round of the World Superbike series.

Michel Fabrizio finished in fourth place for the Ducati Xerox team ahead of Max Biaggi in fifth, Leon Camier in sixth, Carlos Checa in seventh, James Toseland in eighth, Shane Byrne in ninth and Troy Corser in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 18 laps
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +1.621s
3. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +11.433s
4. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1198 +15.874s
5. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +17.085s
6. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +17.532s
7. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1198 +18.250s
8. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +18.938s
9. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati 1198 +22.997s
10. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR +25.830s
11. Max Neukirchner GER Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +30.972s
12. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +31.808s
13. Jakub Smrz CZE PATA B&G Racing Aprilia RSV-4 +32.193s
14. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1198 +33.206s
15. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati 1198 +34.207s

Luca Scassa ITA Supersonic Ducati 1198

Race Two

Crutchlow ended his weekend with his second win of the day which saw him once again fight off the advancing Jonathan Rea.

It was the Jonathan Rea that once again led the field from the first corner while Crutchlow stuck with the Hanspree Ten Kate Honda rider until he finally made it past on lap 16.  Rea battled to regain the lead as the pair headed down the Hangar Straight but ran wide, losing time and allowing the Sterilgarda Yamaha rider to re-claim his place at the front.

Leon Haslam looked as if he would take the final step of the podium but an impressive ride from the Aprilia rider Leon Camier blew his race out of the water.

Camier starting from sixteenth place on the grid moved to sixth and then third in the space of just 4 laps, while his team-mate Biaggi lost a further two places after running wide in an attempt to pass Haslam on lap 13.

With just two laps to go Toseland managed to get ahead but Haslam wasn’t going to let it go and attempted once again to get in front.  The two riders almost touched as they rode side-by-side with Toseland clinching that fifth place ahead of Biaggi in sixth.

Sylvain Guintoli finished in seventh position followed by Shane Byrne in eighth, Jakub Smurz in ninth and Carlos Checa completing the top ten riders.

Troy Corser crashed his BMW on lap 2 of the race while running in fourth spot while Michel Fabrizio retired his Ducati with technical problems.

Here are the results;

1. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 18 laps
2. Jonathan Rea GBR Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR +2.070s
3. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +8.834s
4. Leon Haslam GBR Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +13.232s
5. James Toseland GBR Yamaha Sterilgarda YZF R1 +13.258s
6. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Alitalia Racing RSV-4 +13.568s
7. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R1000 +13.963s
8. Shane Byrne GBR Althea Ducati 1198 +14.432s
9. Jakub Smrz CZE PATA B&G Racing Aprilia RSV-4 +16.399s
10. Carlos Checa ESP Althea Ducati 1198 +19.874s
11. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR +26.268s
12. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR +28.003s
13. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1198 +28.550s
14. Tom Sykes GBR Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +30.117s
15. Lorenzo Lanzi ITA DFX Ducati 1198 +30.415s

Luca Scassa ITA Supersonic Ducati 1198

Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha 2010

The Fiat Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo took victory again yesterday at the Red Bull US MotoGP as race leader Dani Pedrosa crashed out.

It was the Repsol Honda of Dani Pedrosa that took to the front as the lights went out at Laguna Seca from his fourth spot on the grid.  As the Spaniard made a brave pass around the outside, Casey Stoner slotted in behind followed by Lorenzo in third.

On lap 6, Stoner lost his second place after making a mistake and running wide letting Lorenzo through and hot on the tail of his fellow countryman.

On lap 12 of the 32 lap race, Pedrosa low-sided off of his Honda and was out of the race handing the lead to Lorenzo who edged away from a struggling Stoner.

In third place was a very impressive Valentino Rossi, making it onto the podium just seven weeks after his accident at Mugello in which he suffered a broken leg.  Rossi managed to catch and overtake the second Repsol Honda of Andrea Dovizioso who was still challenging for that third place at the final corner.

Nicky Hayden crossed the line in fifth place followed by Ben Spies in sixth.  Spies got off to a fantastic start and was in fourth place in the opening laps of the race but by lap 3 had dropped back to seventh place.  The Monster Tech3 Yamaha rider then worked his way back through the field, passing Hayden on lap 21 and setting Rossi in his sights before once again dropping back down the order on lap 25.

Colin Edwards finished in seventh place ahead of Marco Melandri in eighth, Mika Kallio in ninth and Loris Capirossi rounding off the top ten riders of the day.

Hector Barbera appeared to suffer a technical problem with his Aspar Ducati and failed to finish the race along with Alvaro Bautista, Marco Simoncelli and Aleix Espargaro who all crashed out.

Here are the results;

1.  Jorge Lorenzo  ESP Fiat Yamaha Team  43m 54.873s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 43m 58.39s
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 44m 8.293s
4. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 44m 9.061s
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 44m 9.474s
6. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 44m 13.91s
7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 44m 35.594s
8. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 44m 42.092s
9. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 44m 47.686s
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 44m 47.687s
11. Roger Lee Hayden USA LCR Honda MotoGP 45m 8.962s
12. Alex de Angelis RSM Interwetten Honda MotoGP 45m 9.539s

DNF:
Aleix Espargaro ESP Pramac Racing
Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini
Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda Team 998m 0s
Hector Barbera ESP Paginas Amarillas Aspar
Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki MotoGP