SYKES TAKES KNOCKHILL BSB VICTORY
Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes took his third win in a row at the
eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship
at Knockhill in Scotland today - and then backed it up in
a damp crash-littered shortened second race with a competitive
fourth place.
After a good start in race one, Sykes battled with Ducati's
Michael Rutter on the damp but fast-drying track, passing
him on lap nine and never looking back. After winning the
last two races at Oulton Park it marked a unique hat-trick
of victories for the Huddersfield ace.
Rizla Suzuki's Atsushi Watanabe started from 16th on the
grid and was fighting for a season's best top-10 result when
he was hit by another rider and crashed out unhurt.
Race two started immediately after a rain-storm and on full
wet tyres. Sykes moved from seventh on the grid to fifth on
lap eight when the race was red-flagged due to a crash. The
grid reformed shortly after and now on slicks to suit the
drying 1.27-mile track, Sykes was in contention for a podium
finish with six laps to go when the red flag brought the race
to halt and the result declared after leader Shane Byrne crashed
on his Ducati.
Starting from the rear of the grid, Watanabe managed to score
a point in the difficult conditions as Honda's Leon Haslam
won the race.
Rizla Suzuki is back in action for the ninth round of the
British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday
Monday, August 25th.
Tom Sykes:
"Race one was fantastic: My Rizla Suzuki was doing just
what I wanted it to and once I passed Michael Rutter for the
lead I controlled the gap until the end. A couple of the back-markers
upset my rhythm a little but I kept going and to score my
third Superbike win is brilliant.
"Race two was more difficult with a wet first part and
then damp but drying second. Fourth is OK and I'll take the
points but if it had been another couple of laps long I would
have been able to take the two riders in front of me and a
second was on the cards, if not another win. I am frustrated
a little at the result but overall it's been a good weekend.
Thank you to my Rizla Suzuki team for all the effort and support."
Atsushi Watanabe:
"Race one was maybe OK result until I was hit by another
rider and into the gravel. There was nothing I could do; this
is disappointing as a top-10 was possible. I was winded and
sore but no problem.
"The wet second race was difficult but I think I improved
the rain-setting on my Rizla Suzuki. I started from back of
grid after making some last-minute bike change. On the second
part of the restart the weather conditions were tough but
15th place is at least one point."
Jack Valentine - Rizla Suzuki Team Manager:
"It has been a difficult race day with the weather
changing by the minute. Tom did brilliant in race one and
is riding very well indeed; he deserved the victory. If the
second race had gone full distance then I think he may have
been second or better but fourth is no disgrace. He is hungry
for more wins and they will come that's for sure.
"Atsu was unlucky in race one and then had to contend
with the changing weather in race two, whilst starting from
the back of the grid. He did well against that backdrop and
will take heart from his first race performance and go to
the next round in good spirits.
"It's been another positive weekend for Rizla Suzuki
and we are now much closer to second in the Championship with
Tom than when we started - that is now our clear target for
the season.
"Also, on behalf of Rizla Suzuki, I would like to dedicate
the first race win to Craig Jones, a friend to many of the
team and a great talent lost to British racing."
Race one result:
1: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 25:09.296
2: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +3.093
3: James Ellison (Honda) +3.479
4: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +5.752
5: Leon Camier (Ducati) +9.345
6: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +9.461
7: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +19.051
8: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +36.055
9: Tristan Palmer (Honda) +39.097
10: Gary Mason (Honda) +40.021
DNF: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 11 laps
Race two result:
1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 11:58.300
2: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +3.214
3: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +3.541
4: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.680
5: James Ellison (Honda) +6.591
6: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +15.876
7: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +16.539
8: Leon Camier (Ducati) +18.608
9: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +23.428
10: Chris Burns (MV Agusta) +26.439
15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +1 lap
Championship positions (after eight of 12 rounds):
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 332
2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 222
3: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 214
4: Leon Haslam (Honda) 199
5: Leon Camier (Ducati) 179
6: James Ellison (Honda) 177
7: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 174
8: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 110
9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) 108
10: Tristan Palmer (Honda) 75
15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 34
|
