ELLISON IMPRESSES AT BLUSTERY DONINGTON
Although he didn't quite manage to secure a podium finish,
Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison put in a fantastic
display with a superb front running performance at a cool
and very windy Donington Park today in round four of the Bennetts
British Superike Championship.
Having secured his and the team's best qualifying performance
with a superb second place in yesterday's wet conditions,
the 27 year old from Kendal in Cumbria took maximum advantage
in the opening 20 lap race when he shot into the lead and
held it in front of the pursuing pack for the opening laps
before settling for a battling fourth place at the chequered
flag.
Another stunning performance came in race two when once again
he made a brilliant start and ran in the leading bunch for
virtually all of the race, trading places with the Airwaves
Ducatis of Shane Byrne and Leon Camier and the HM Plant Hondas
of Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow to eventually finish in fifth
position at the flag, just missing out on what would have
been his second podium of the year.
The net result was that he now lies in fifth position in
the Championship going into the next round which takes place
at Snetterton in three weeks time.
James Ellison: "The bike feels really,
really good and I'm really happy with it until the tyres start
to wear which is something we don't find out until we're in
the actual race. I'll try to do some race-pace testing in
the free practice session in future so that we can be more
prepared. It's frustrating not to give the team a podium,
as they deserve one this weekend. At least I've only got the
factory guys in front of me now, so it's a good achievement,
so close yet so far."
Shaun Muir (Team Owner): "Overall I'm
very happy with the weekend and we can't complain with a fourth
and a fifth finish behind the factory boys, and we're now
getting closer to the front. I don't see a lot of the other
riders improving over the season but I think James will make
a massive improvement. The team has worked really hard and
thanks to everyone. I can't wait for the TT and Snetterton
where we should be on the podium every round from now on."
Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider Guy Martin is in action at
the Isle of Man TT races this week where he is hoping to secure
his first victories around the 37 3/4 mile circuit.
Superbike Race One Result
1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32m01.058s, 2, Leon Haslam (Honda)
+2.473s, 3, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +3.442s, 4, James Ellison (Hydrex
Bike Animal Honda) +5.856s, 5, Leon Camier (Ducati) +6.188s,
6, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +6.636s, 7, Karl Harris (Yamaha)
+7.464s, 8, Michael Rutter (Ducati) +9.809s, 9, Michael Laverty
(Suzuki) +12.627s, 10, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +16.246s.
Superbike Race Two Result
1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 31m06.337s, 2, Leon Haslam (Honda)
+0.355s, 3, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.447s, 4, Leon Camier
(Ducati) +1.596s, 5, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda)
+4.186s, 6, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +7.446s, 7, Karl Harris (Yamaha)
+15.703s, 8, Michael Rutter (Honda) +26.794s, 9, Simon Andrews
(Yamaha) +31.816s, 10, Gary Mason (Honda) +32.870s.
2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings
after Round 4
1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 190pts
2, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 122pts
3, Leon Camier (Ducati) 107pts
4, Leon Haslam (Honda) 96pts
5, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 88pts
6, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 82pts
7, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 75pts
8, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 62pts
9, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 59pts
10, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 37pts
14, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 19pts
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