ON TARGET FOR AIRWAVES DUCATI
Airwaves Ducati leave the first race of 2008 1st and 4th
in the championship, after Shane Byrne won race one and came
2nd in race two. Leon Camier started his season well with
a 4th and 5th place finish.
In the first of the two 20 lap races Shane Byrne had dropped
a few places from his pole position start but moved through
the field, taking the lead on lap 13. He pulled away in the
final laps to take his first win for the Airwaves Ducati team.
Having struggled early on in the race Leon Camier was in 5th
by lap 15. He held off a number of challenges to cross the
line in a hard fought 5th place.
An early red flag in race two resulted in a race restart
and a new race distance of 15 laps. Following a poor start
Shane worked his way through to 3rd position. In a close battle
he managed to overtake Rutter on lap 13 to finish in 2nd.
Camier put in some impressive laps as he attempted to chase
down the leading pack, finishing in a comfortable 4th place.
Following race two an upbeat Leon commented; “It’s
been a good start to the season for me. Colin has been setting
me goals throughout this weekend and I have achieved them
all so I am pretty happy. It was a realistic result for me
today, considering my injuries and everything that has happened,
and now we have gathered some really valuable information
for the next race which is something I had been lacking. I
am going to go away and work on getting fitter and stronger
and look forward to Oulton Park; it’s a circuit I like
and I think I can achieve a good result.”
Shane Byrne leaves Thruxton as a race winner and joint championship
leader. “I’m really happy with race one but I
am gutted that I didn’t get the win in race two! Race
one was great and everything went to plan, credit must go
to the Airwaves Ducati team as my bike has felt good all weekend
and I knew I was capable of a winning performance. I am pleased
with the first and second but I would have been happier if
I had got a better start after the red flag and not let Cal
Crutchlow get away from me. I had been leading before that
so I reckon I was on for a double win but these things happen
and I am really pleased to be leaving Thruxton as championship
leader; bring on Oulton Park!”
Team Manager Colin Wright added, "Leaving the first
round of the championship in 1st and 4th is bang on target,
scoring points is the key to winning any championship, for
Shane and Leon to collect so many points at round one is a
credit to the Airwaves Ducati team. GSE Racing is renowned
for success and I hope we will continue our tradition of fighting
to win the BSB Championship."
Round 3 of the British Superbike Championship takes place
at Oulton Park 3rd – 5th May.
Race One Results
1. Shane Byrne – Airwaves Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
3. Micheal Rutter – North West 200 Ducati
4. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
5. Leon Camier – Airwaves Ducati
Race Two Result
1. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
2. Shane Byrne – Airwaves Ducati
3. Michael Rutter – North West 200 Ducati
4. Leon Camier – Airwaves Ducati
5. Michael Laverty – Relentless Suzuki
Championship Points
1. Shane Byrne – 45 points - Airwaves Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – 45 points - HM Plant Honda
3. Michael Rutter – 32 points - North West 200 Ducati
4. Leon Camier – 24 points - Airwaves Ducati
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