HIGH HOPES FOR HYDREX BIKE ANIMAL HONDA AT OULTON
 The
2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship heads into the
second half of the season this weekend with a return visit
to Oulton Park in Cheshire and following on from a superb
showing there back in May, the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda team
is hoping for more silverware.
Back then, 27 year old Kendal rider James Ellison scored
an historic second place for the Shaun Muir Racing Team behind
runaway series leader Shane Byrne in a race that saw a high
attrition rate due to the damp conditions but the ex MotoGP
rider, who has been one of the revelations of the season on
his return to BSB, is confident ahead of his local race.
"I'm really looking forward to Oulton this weekend and
a win isn't out of the question. That's what I'm aiming for
as we have improved the bike considerably since our last visit.
I just hope it's dry as that way, it's a true reflection on
a result rather than being gifted places by people falling
down. We're continuing to develop the electronics package
on the bike and the plan is to top the timesheets all weekend
long" said James.
For team mate Guy Martin, it's been a less than successful
season with just the one top ten placing in BSB but the 26
year old from Kirmington in Lincolnshire arrives at Oulton
after taking a victory at last week's Southern 100 on the
Isle of Man so is feeling confident.
"It's not been the best of seasons on the short circuits
so far, has it? Last time at Oulton, I claimed a top twelve
but we had a problem in race two when James got his podium
but that's racing. I've got the monkey off my back with the
win at the Southern 100 so hopefully my luck is changing and
my season can start here. If life deals you lemons, you make
lemonade, that's what I say."
Team Owner Shaun Muir is also upbeat ahead of the weekend.
"We always enjoy going to Oulton Park and the fact that
James got a tremendous result there for us last time can only
be good for our confidence. I'm optimistic we can pull it
off this weekend as we've done a lot more work on the bikes
in recent weeks and I see no reason why James can't be up
there again. Guy's had a lot on his plate over these past
couple of months but hopefully the win last week will inspire
him here this weekend and we can see his true short circuit
form."
In addition to both Ellison and Martin on the Superbikes,
the team will have a third rider starting this weekend for
the remainder of the season.
Former Yamaha R6 Cup and BSB star Kieran Clarke will be reunited
with his former team aboard the 1000cc Honda Fireblade on
which he will compete in the Metzeler National Superstock
1000cc race for the team.
Clarke, from Langley Mill, Notts, has had a couple of seasons
out but the former teenage starlet returns to competitive
action and will be looking for a good result.
Circuit Length: 2.6920 miles
Lap Record: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1m 35.436s (101.54mph)
23/7/06
May 2008 Results
Qualifying: 1 C Crutchlow (Honda) 1m 36.605s, 9 James Ellison
(Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 1m 38.653s, 13 Guy Martin (Hydrex
Bike Animal Honda) 1m 39.335s
Race 1: 1 S Byrne (Ducati), 2 L Haslam (Honda), 3 L Camier
(Ducati), (Ellison 8th, Martin 12th)
Race 2: 1 S Byrne (Ducati), 2 J Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal
Honda), 3 L Camier (Ducati), (Martin DNF)
Photo Turn One Photography
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