KNOCKHILL PODIUM FOR ELLISON
Following on from his second place finish at the last round
at Oulton Park, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison
was once again on great form as he secured another podium
finish in changeable conditions in round eight of the Bennetts
British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland today.
With bright blue skies coupled with the odd heavy downpour,
it was always a problem for the riders but in the opening
race, held in dry conditions, the 27 year old from Kendal
diced with the leading bunch through the race eventually passing
Michael Rutter in the latter stages to claim third position
and with it his third podium of the season.
James couldn't quite repeat the feat in race two which was
stopped on a couple of occasions due to inclement weather
and latterly due to a crash involving championship leader
Shane Byrne whereby he had to settle for fifth at the flag.
For team mate Guy Martin, again it was a weekend of mixed
emotions whereby the 26 year old from Kirmington suffered
a mechanical problem in the opening race but in the first
part of the afternoon's second race he stormed through the
field to hold a top ten position before the race was halted
and in the re-start he couldn't quite manage a similar result
but had to settle for 14th at the flag.
The net result is that Ellison lies in sixth position in
the championship and Guy Martin in eighteenth going into the
next round at Cadwell Park on August bank holiday weekend.
Meanwhile Martin will be in action at the Ulster GP this week
whereby he hopes to score another victory on the Dundrod circuit.
Kieran Clarke rode well to claim a top ten position in the
Metzeler Superstock 1000cc race to add to his points scoring
ride on his debut in the Shaun Muir team at Oulton Park and
he will be looking to improve at Cadwell Park in the next
round aboard the team's 1000cc Fireblade.
James Ellison: "I'm well happy with the first race but
again we maybe could have done better, but we had the pace
and we showed that. I did the third fastest lap so we finished
where we finished but I feel we could have done a bit more
but I tried my hardest and that was all I could do. We ran
with an intermediate front and a slick rear which was the
right decision but it was a bit difficult off the line with
it being wet but once we got into the race we were chipping
away. I could see the riders in front getting closer every
lap so if we had more laps I could have maybe got higher up.
The team has done a mega job this weekend especially with
me crashing on Friday, they turned the bike around and I enjoyed
riding it and I'm happy to come away in one piece with more
points and a trophy."
Guy Martin: "I was disappointed to break down in the
first race again, but I am over the moon with a good finish
in the second race where I had to start from the back of the
grid because my hose clip went and it was a good job the race
got red flagged so I could fix it and get out in the restart.
I'm looking forward to the Ulster GP in a few days time."
Kieran Clarke: "It went really well, although it was
wet and we've not spent any time on the wet Superstock tyres
and it's nowhere near the level of grip as I'm used to. I
feel that had it been dry I should have had a mid top-ten
and I think we just need to keep chipping away and now I'm
looking forward to Cadwell Park. The whole team was been fantastic
again this weekend."
Shaun Muir (Team Owner): "Overall I'm obviously well
happy with another podium for James and he now has a chance
to get into the top three in the championship. It was a pity
he didn't get on the podium in the second race when the race
was cut short. Guy rode well to score a good couple of points,
and Kieran also had a good solid ride for some points. Hopefully
we can move forwards again at Cadwell Park."
Superbike Race One Result
1, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 25m09.296s, 2, Shane Byrne (Ducati)
+3.093s, 3, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +3.479s,
4, Michael Rutter (Ducati) +5.752s, 5, Leon Camier (Ducati)
+9.345s, 6, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +9.461s, 7, Karl Harris
(Yamaha) +19.051s, 8, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +36.055s, 9,
Tristan Palmer (Honda) +39.097s, 10, Gary Mason (Honda) +40.021s.
Superbike Race Two Result
1, Leon Haslam (Honda) 11m58.300s, 2, Michael Rutter (Ducati)
+3.214s, 3, Karl Harris (Yamaha) +3.541s, 4, Tom Sykes (Suzuki)
3.680s, 5, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +6.591s,
6, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +15.876s, 7, Cal Crutchlow (Honda)
+16.539s, 8, Leon Camier (Ducati) +18.608s, 9, Billy McConnell
(Kawasaki) +23.428s, 10, Chris Burns (MV Agusta) +26.439s.
14, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +1lap.
2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings after
Round 8
1. Shane Byrne (Ducati) 332pts
2. Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 222pts
3. Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 214pts
4. Leon Haslam (Honda) 199pts
5. Leon Camier (Ducati) 179pts
6. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 177pts
7. Michael Rutter (Ducati) 174pts
8. Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 110pts
9. Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 108pts
10. Tristan Palmer (Honda) 75pts
18. Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 21pts
Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Result
1, Steve Brogan (Honda) 22m29.483s, 2, John Kirkham (Yamaha)
+4.486s, 3, Daniel Hegarty (Yamaha) +6.322s, 4, Kenny Gilbertson
(Kawasaki) +8.351s, 5, Jimmy Storrar (Suzuki) +8.737s, 6,
Sam Warren (Yamaha) +9.751s, 7, Marshall Neill (Suzuki) +13.308s,
8, Cameron Donald (Suzuki) +13.831s, 9, Alastair Seeley (Yamaha)
+36.080s, 10, Kieran Clarke (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +38.133s.
|
