This weekend saw three races at the Snetterton circuit with the re-run of Race 2 from the Knockhill round of the championship taking place on Saturday and the two races from round seven going ahead as scheduled on the Sunday.

Race 1 (re-run of Knockhill race two – Saturday)

The HM Plant Honda rider Josh Brookes took the chequered flag in the re-run of the cancelled Knockhill race 2 on Saturday after passing his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari on the final lap.

Kiyonari had dominated the race from the flag ahead of the Relentless Suzuki pairing of Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley.  Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki had soon moved into third position passing both Relentless Suzuki riders as he chased down the leading HM Plant Honda duo.

Brookes was sitting in ninth place by the end of the first lap after a terrible start but by the seventh lap had passed Seeley, Michael Rutter and Laverty and was up to third place.  The HM Plant Honda rider was soon attacking Hill, passing him on the inside at Riches before going after his team-mate.  Kiyonari was defending his position but Brookes managed to make his way past on the final lap again at Riches to take his third win of the season.

Hill finished in third place ahead of Rutter in fourth, Seeley in fifth, Michael Laverty in sixth, James Ellison in seventh, Simon Andrews in eighth, Gary Mason in ninth and Tommy Bridewell in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Josh Brookes  AUS HM Plant Honda  19mins 41.650s
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.594s
3. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +4.475s
4. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +4.989s
5. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +5.485s
6. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +5.889s
7. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +9.148s
8. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +11.305s
9. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +14.364s
10. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +14.386s
11. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +14.698s
12. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +15.007s
13. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +17.458s
14. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +28.761s
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha +28.933s

25. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda 5 laps completed
26. Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia 0 laps completed

Race One - Snetterton

It was Michael Rutter on the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati that took to the lead as the opening race got underway ahead of Tommy Hill, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Michael Laverty and James Ellison.

Brookes was back in sixth place by the end of lap one despite claiming pole position in the Swan Combi Roll for Pole after another iffy start.  By the fourth lap the HM Plant Honda rider had moved up to third while his team-mate Kiyonari was forced to retire from the race following a mechanical problem.

Hill had fallen back down the field running behind both Seeley and Ellison but was soon looking to make a pass on the Swan Honda rider which he succeeded in doing to finish the race in second place.

By lap 7, Brookes had passed second place man Hill before being gifted the lead 7 laps later when Rutter was seen slowing down with a gear shift problem on the Ducati.

Hill finished in second place followed by Seeley in third, Ellison in fourth, Michael Laverty in fifth, Tommy Bridewell in sixth, Chris Walker in seventh, Stuart Easton in eighth, Simon Andrews in ninth and John Laverty rounding off the top ten riders.

Here are the results;

1.  Josh Brookes  AUS HM Plant Honda  24mins 13.327s
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +1.472s
3. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +2.740s
4. James Ellison GBR Swan Honda +3.757s
5. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +4.152s
6. Tommy Bridewell GBR Quay Garage Honda +15.640s
7. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +17.779s
8. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +18.417s
9. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +18.860s
10. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +19.131s
11. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +21.546s
12. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +21.838s
13. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +32.999s
14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +34.969s
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +44.072s

DNS Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia
DNS Luke Jones GBR PR Racing Yamaha

Race Two

Josh Brookes was denied his third win of the weekend after a technical problem occurred seeing him retiring from the race on lap 12.

It was the Swan Honda of James Ellison that took to the front of the pack as the race got underway ahead of Josh Brookes and Ryuichi Kiyonari.

By lap 3, Kiyonari squeezed his way through on Michael Laverty before passing his team-mate Brookes seven laps later.  On lap 9, the Honda rider had managed to get past the leading Swan Honda rider Ellison as they headed into Riches.  Brookes was hot on the tail of his team-mate until he was forced to retire from the race.

Kiyonari was leading the race 1.3 seconds ahead of Michael Laverty, Rutter and Ellison until Alastair Seeley attempted a pass on Ellison taking them both out of the race.

Michael Laverty made a move on the leading man only to run wide and lose his second position to a stalking Tommy Hill.  Rutter finished in fourth place ahead of John Laverty in fifth, Simon Andrews in sixth, Chris Walker in seventh, Andrew Pitt in eighth, Gary Mason in ninth and Yukio Kagayama in tenth.

Here are the results;

1.  Ryuichi Kiyonari  JPN HM Plant Honda  26mins 52.964s
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.591s
3. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +0.954s
4. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +1.584s
5. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +3.897s
6. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +4.899s
7. Chris Walker GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +6.127s
8. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +8.211s
9. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +8.349s
10. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +9.566s
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Racing Yamaha 10.663s
12. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +12.146s
13. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +16.226s
14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +17.302s
15. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia +17.607s

DNS James Edmeades GBR Redline KTM
DNS Chris Burns GBR Splitlath Aprilia
DNS Luke Jones GBR PR Racing Yamaha

Tom Sykes - Kawasaki WSB 2010

The former British Superbike rider Tom Sykes is to make an appearance once again in the series when he rides the factory Kawasaki in the eighth round of the championship at Brands Hatch at the beginning of August.

Sykes is currently riding for the PBM Kawasaki team in the World Superbike Series where at the moment he is their only rider after team-mate Chris Vermeulen has been ruled out for the remainder of the championship through injury.

The triple header event will be Sykes first return to the BSB grid since leaving at the end of 2008 where he rode for the Rizla Suzuki team.  He began his 2009 season aboard the Yamaha before a switch to Kawasaki for this season but is really looking forward to being in front of a British crowd again.

Michael Rutter - BSB - Knockhill 2010

The Ridersmotorcylces.com rider Michael Rutter claimed his first win in two-years at this weekends British Superbike championship and the first ever for the team.

The second race of the day was cancelled due to a crash under horrendous weather conditions which saw the first race restarted three times as the heavens opened.

The first start ended after heavy rain fell on the track with only 2 laps completed, causing a delay of the restart of 90 minutes as the downpour continued.  As the restart got underway an accident on lap 3 saw the second red flag as Chris Walker and Dan Linfoot crashed out spilling mud across the circuit which needed to be cleared.

At the third start it was Josh Brookes who led the pack from pole position followed by Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari.

On lap 6 Kiyonari put his HM Plant Honda in front of both riders to take the lead but as a dry line began to develop on the soaked circuit, Rutter slipped past Brookes and was on the tail of  the Honda rider.

Rutter made his move with 5 laps of the shortened 15 lap race to take the lead remaining at the front until he crossed the finish line ahead of Kiyonari and Brookes.

Relentless Suzuki rider Michael Laverty crossed the line in fourth place followed by Alastair Seeley in fifth, John Laverty in sixth, Simon Andrews in seventh, Tommy Hill in eighth, Gary Mason in ninth and Chris Walker in tenth.

Rutter said after the race;

“This is brilliant, not just for me but for the team. It’s great to back as a championship contender and it’s even better to be standing on top of the podium again.

The conditions played into my hands a bit but I was desperate to get past the Hondas and run my own race. I know the race was shortened but it’s a win none the less in far from ideal conditions.”

As the warm-up lap of race two got underway the rain once again began to fall followed by a six-bike pile-up after Simon Andrews fell off his Kawasaki at turn 1.  As the clean up began and the rain subsided the wind began to gust across the track leading to officials to cancel the second race.

Here are the results;

1.  Michael Rutter  GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati  13mins 32.658s
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +0.577s
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +6.187s
4. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +9.363s
5. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless by TAS Suzuki +13.285s
6. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +18.708s
7. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +21.149s
8. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +23.233s
8=. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +23.233s
10. Chris Walker GBR CW Suzuki +28.717
11. Andrew Pitt AUS Motorpoint Yamaha +29.831s
12. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +30.312s
13. David Johnson AUS Two Brothers BMW +31.077s
14. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda +32.288s
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda +34.394s

DNS Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha

Scott Smart on the Hawk Kawasaki 2008

As the Moto Rapido Ducati team revealed that they would be stepping-up to the premier class in 2010 it has now been announced that they have signed Scott Smart as one of their riders.

Moving up from the Superstock series, the team will be taking advantage of the new ‘Evo’ rules as they enter a pair of Ducati’s for the coming season.

Scott Smart began his first full season in the British Superbike series back in 2003 for the Hawk Kawasaki team, where after twice qualifying on the front row of the grid he finished the season in ninth place overall and the following year ended the season in fourth position after three race wins.

In 2005, the 34-year-old rode alongside John Reynolds for the Rizla Suzuki team but after struggling with the bike he ended his season midway through the year and moved to the smaller Vivaldi racing team.  Smart had to sit out a few rounds due to a broken collarbone but the following season he finished the wet, chaotic Donington Park round with a win.  Later in the season Smart broke his wrist before moving back to the Hawk Kawasaki team for 2007 and then spending a year in the Superstock series.

Yukio Kagayama

World Superbike rider Yukio Kagayama is returning to the British Superbike Championship in 2010 for the Worx Crescent Suzuki team.

The Japanese rider made the switch to WSB in 2005 after two seasons with the Rizla Suzuki team while the current BSB rider for the Worx team Sylvain Guintoli is making a surprise move in the opposite direction after confirming that he will be riding alongside Leon Haslam at the Alstare WSB team.

The Worx Crescent team manager Jack Valentine said;

“To have Yukio back in the UK is great news.  He is still a class act and was incredibly popular with UK fans during his two year stint in the series last time. He is as determined as ever and will be back here with one goal in mind – to challenge for the title.

Our decision to run two riders in 2010 is also good news for the BSB Championship, for Suzuki and for all of our partners.”

James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha 2009

The British Superbike riders and teams were at Cadwell Park this weekend for round nine of the championship, with the Airwaves Yamaha riders Leon Camier and James Ellison taking the wins.

Race One

Simon Andrews on the Confused.com Kawasaki that took to the front as the race got underway but was soon passed by Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda.  Camier was running in third place when he tried to make a move on Easton but the Honda rider snatched the place back as he dived up the inside of the Yamaha.  Camier moved into second on the following lap before hunting down Easton and then passing him to create a gap.

Andrews made a mistake going into Charlie’s and was passed by the second Airwaves Yamaha of James Ellison, who had already passed the Buildbase Kawasaki of John Laverty.

Easton, Ellison and Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki by TAS, were fighting each other for the other two steps on the podium, with Easton and Ellison almost touching in their battle for second.  Easton managed to hold off the Yamaha to claim second followed by Elllison in third.

In fourth place was Lowry, scoring his best place this season ahead of the two Confused.com Kawasaki’s of Simon Andrews and Julien Da Costa. The two Kawasaki riders were in a race of their own and after Simon had held his position for most of the race, Da Costa made his way past on the penultimate lap.  On the final lap, Andrews tried to retake his position but was too fast and forced both riders onto the grass.  Andrews secured fifth place ahead of his team-mate who took sixth.

Karl Muggeridge took seventh place for the HM Plant Honda team, holding off the Worx Crescent Suzuki of Sylvain Guintoli as they crossed the line.  John Laverty finished in ninth for the Buildbase Kawasaki team ahead of Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 26mins 38.546secs 18 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +7.384secs
3. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +7.651secs
4. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +8.133secs
5. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +17.793secs
6. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki 18.126secs
7. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +25.398secs
8. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +25.522secs
9. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +25.979secs
10. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +28.760secs Cup
11. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +30.488secs
12. John McGuinness GBR HM Plant Honda +32.582secs
13. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +34.734secs Cup
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +34.988secs Cup
15. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +44.779secs

23. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda 11 laps completed Cup
24. Michael Howarth GBR STP-JHS MV Agusta 8 laps completed
25. Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki 3 laps completed Cup

Race Two

Leon Camier crossed the line to take the second win of the day but he was excluded from the race after an incident on the final lap, gifting the victory to his team-mate James Ellison.

On the final lap of the race, Camier’s Yamaha was seen with blue smoke coming from the back.  Black and orange flags were waved but Camier remained on track and continued to the chequered flag where he was  disqualified for not stopping immediately on seeing the flags.

A statement was released by the team, stating that Camier mistakenly believed that he had until the end of the lap to come in.  The team apologised to Leon for the problem on his bike which turned out to be a small oil leak, and thanked him for his dignity and professionalism after learning of the disqualification.

Stuart Easton again took to the front as the race got underway while Camier passed the Buildbase Kawasaki of Laverty, with Andrews following his lead.  Andrews lost the place almost immediately as Ellison slipped up the inside.

On the following lap, Camier took Easton with Ellison making a copycat manoeuvre three laps later as Andrews then passed the Honda of Easton.

On lap 6, the safety car was deployed after the STP MV Agusta of Michael Howarth developed a huge oil leak, leaving marshalls to clean-up the track.  The safety car left the track on lap 9 and Easton made an immediate move on Andrews at Coppice, but Andrews snatched it back before the end of the lap.

On the penultimate lap, Easton moved in front of Andrews to take second place ahead of Easton in third.  Julian Da Costa finished in fourth followed by his team-mate John Laverty in fifth.

The Motorpoint Yamaha rider Chris Walker finished in sixth ahead of Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Suzuki, Karl Harris on the Hydrex Honda, Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda and Tommy Bridewell for Team NB Honda.

Ian Lowry had been in ninth place on the Relentless Suzuki, putting in faster laps than both Easton and Andrews until he crashed out on lap 16.  John McGuiness was another non-finisher after retiring the HM Plant Honda with two laps to run.

Here are the results;

1. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha 28mins 02.679secs 18 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +4.099secs
3. Simon Andrews GBR Confused.com Kawasaki +4.584secs
4. Julien Da Costa FRA Confused.com Kawasaki +5.435secs
5. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +6.843secs
6. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki +7.239secs
7. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +12.836secs
8. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +14.833secs
9. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +15.100secs Cup
10. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +16.684secs Cup
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +19.920secs Cup
12. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +24.193secs
13. Karl Muggeridge AUS HM Plant Honda +24.359secs
14. Howie Mainwaring GBR Team Maxxis Yamaha +24.769secs
15. Jon Kirkham GBR Rob Mac Racing Yamaha +26.729secs

Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha
Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki Cup

Chris Burns - MV Agusta

Chris Burns will allegedly be on the grid of the next round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, on August 7/8/9, for the Jentin Racing Yamaha Team

Burns was signed at the beginning of the season to ride the STP-JHS MV Agusta Team, however, before he had even ridden the machine, the contract ended after delays in getting the bike on track.

The Geordie rider, landed a full-time ride in the German Superbike Championship for this season with the Holzhauer Honda Racing team.  Initially, the former MotoGP rider, was a replacement rider for the injured reigning champion Martin Bauer, but after an impressive 2nd and 4th place at the Sachsenring, he was offered the ride until the end of the season, alongside Bauer and team-mate Michael Schumacher.

There is still no confirmation at this point, but with Michael Schumacher returning to the Formula One series to cover for the injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa, and Bauer still recuperating, it leaves Burns as the sole rider for the German Superbike Team making it seem unlikely that they would let him go, however, I didn’t expect to see Schumacher back in F1!

Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha 2009

Leon Camier won both races at the Knockhill round of the British Superbike Championship for the Airwaves Yamaha team today.

Race 1

From second on the grid, Leon Camier took the lead in race one on the second lap after passing Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda.

Towards the end of the race, Gary Mason on the Quay Garage Honda, lost the front end of his machine and collected Tristan Palmer on the Buildbase Kawasaki in the process, bringing out the red flag.

At the restart, it was once again Camier that took the lead, and held it for the remaining six laps. Easton finished in second, almost two-seconds behind Camier, followed by Josh Brookes in third for the HM Plant Honda team.

Simon Andrews on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki finished in fourth place ahead of James Ellison on the second Airwaves Yamaha and Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki.

Chris Walker claimed seventh place for the Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha team followed by his team-mate Graeme Gowland in eighth.

In ninth place was the Mirror Cup runner Tommy Bridewell riding the Team NB Suzuki followed by Jason O’Halloran in tenth on the SMT Honda.

Karl Harris crashed his Hydrex Honda while trying to pass Chris Walker at the Hairpin, and just a couple of laps later Julian De Costa and then John Laverty both went down.  David Johnson crashed out not long after leaving a list of retirees from the first race with no points.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 27mins 49.745secs 33 laps
2. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +1.805secs
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +1.904secs
4. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +4.001secs
5. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +4.875secs
6. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +4.898secs
7. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +6.587secs
8. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +7.326secs
9. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +9.551secs Cup
10. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda +9.728secs
11. Michael Rutter GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +9.928secs
12. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +11.750secs Cup
13. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda +22.387secs Cup
14. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +28.191secs
15. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda +1 lap
16. David Haire GBR DHR Racing Honda +1 lap Cup

DNS. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda Did not start
DNS. Jon Kirkham GBR North West 200 Yamaha Did not start
DNS. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda Did not start Cup

Race 2

Camier went onto win the second race of the day at Knockhill after passing Stuart Easton and then chasing down the race leader, Josh Brookes on lap 7.  However, Camier didn’t make the move stick until the following lap when he then began to edge away from the pack.

Brookes finished in second place for the Honda team ahead of James Ellison on the second Airwaves Yamaha, who had passed Easton earlier when the Hydrex rider made a mistake.

Easton claimed fourth place followed by Chris Walker on the Yamaha and Simon Andrews on the Kawasaki in sixth.  In seventh place was Walker’s team-mate Graeme Gowland ahead of Julian De Costa on the second Kawasaki.

Tommy Bridewell took ninth position ahead of Gary Mason, who had managed to get his Quay Garage Honda on the grid for the second race to take tenth place.

On lap 4, John Laverty crashed his Buildbase Kawasaki while a technical problem caused the retirement of Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki on lap 8.

Karl Harris retired his Hydrex Honda later in the race followed by the Worx Suzuki rider Michael Rutter on lap 21, who went off at the hairpin.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 24mins 41.486secs 30 laps
2. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +4.996secs
3. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +6.307secs
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +6.748secs
5. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +16.488secs
6. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +26.311secs
7. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +29.157secs
8. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +30.550secs
9. Tommy Bridewell GBR Team NB Suzuki +30.813secs Cup
10. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +31.621secs Cup
11. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +32.134secs
12. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda +36.114secs
13. David Johnson AUS Team Maxxis Adept Yamaha +42.160secs
14. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +44.008secs Cup
15. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +1 lap
16. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda +1 lap Cup
17. Kenny Gilbertson GBR Jx Fuelcards Kawasaki +1 lap
18. David Haire GBR DHR Racing Honda +1 lap Cup
19. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda +1 lap

DNS. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda Did not start
DNS. Jon Kirkham GBR North West 200 Yamaha Did not start
DNS. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda Did not start Cup

Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha - 2009

Last weekend the British Superbikes were at Oulten Park for the second round of the Championship with Leon Camier winning both races on the Airwaves Yamaha.

Race One

The first race had to be red-flagged after John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki crashed out at Hill top and leaving him unconscious on the track.

The Irishman was taken to the medical centre and it was later announced that he had suffered no serious injuries in the incident.

Before the red flag,  Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda was leading as they left the grid followed by his team-mate Karl Harris, Leon Camier in third and Glen Richards on the HM Plant Honda in fourth.

Laverty crashed on lap 2, after Harris made his move on Easton to take the lead, the race was stopped while the medical team attended to the rider.

At the restart it was again Easton that led the pack ahead of Harris, Richards and Camier.   Camier then went up the inside of Richards forcing him wide and allowing Simon Andrews on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki through to sit in fourth place.

Harris pulled-away from the other riders as Worx Crescent Suzuki rider Sylvain Guintoli slid up the inside to pass Andrews and began his chase of the leaders as Andrews went down after snagging the kerb with his foot-peg and ending his race.

Camier tailed Harris before making his move at Cascades and pulling away while Guintoli and Easton swapped places behind, with Guintoli finally making his move stick to take third behind Harris.

James Ellison finished in fourth place on the second Airwaves Yamaha ahead of Richards in fifth and Ian Lowry on the Relentless Suzuki in sixth.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha
2. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda
3. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda
5. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha
6. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda
7. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki
8. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda
9. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda
10. Joshua Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda
11. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha
12. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki
13. Jon Kirkham GBR Jentin Yamaha
14. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki
15. Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki
16. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda
17. Michael Rutter GBR North West 200 Yamaha
18. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha
19. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda
20. Kenny Gilbertson GBR JX Fuelcard Kawasaki
21. Dan Stewart GBR Wilcock Consulting Honda
22. Brian McCormack IRL MAR Kawasaki

Race Two

Camier also won the second race of the day, almost 7seconds clear of second place man Karl Harris, as he continued his winning streak in this seasons championship.

Off the line it was once again Easton that took the lead followed by Harris as Simon Andrews slotted into the third place spot ahead of Glen Richards for the HM Plant Honda team and Camier in fifth.

Easton made a pass on Harris but it was snatched back as the Hydrex Honda stopped on track with a problem while Andrews and Richards battled for that podium position.

Camier took the lead on lap 3 as Andrews and Richards scraped fairings and swapping places with Richards claiming the position.

As Richards passed Andrews, so did James Ellison on the Airwaves Yamaha while Sylvain Guintoli lined them up in his sights, passing Andrews and then Ellison to claim third.

Andrews finished in eighth place after developing gear problems on his machine while the Josh Brookes retired his HM Plant Honda to the pits with an engine problem.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha
2. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda
3. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Worx Crescent Suzuki
4. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha
5. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda
6. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki
7. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda
8. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki
9. Chris Walker GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha
10. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda
11. Jon Kirkham GBR Jentin Yamaha
12. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki
13. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda
14. David Johnson AUS Maxxis Adept Yamaha
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha
16. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda
17. Aaron Zanotti GBR Red Viper Honda
18. Alastair Fagan GBR Red Viper Honda

Walker ‘The Stalker’ as he is known to his legion of fans had a disappointing season away from British Superbike racing, having started in the Supersport World Championship, riding for the GIL Kawasaki team. Sadly the bike was not competitive and Walker ended the season riding in the five final rounds of the World Superbike series aboard the Honda VK Vent Axia.

He scored some points on his first WSB ride at Brands Hatch, but was unable to do much more than that, crashing twice at the other UK track Donington Park.

Walker was last seen in the BSB in 2007, when again by his own standards he had a pretty poor season, finishing the season in seventh place in the riders standings was not enough for his employers Rizla Suzuki and his contract was not renewed.

In fact things have been patchy for Walker since leaving his first stint in British Superbike in 2001 and moving to Moto GP. A best forgotten time for the English rider, he promptly left for World Superbikes Fuchs Kawasaki team in 2002.

He finished the WSB Championship in ninth position that year and switched bikes for the GSE Ducati with who he would record his best ever World Superbike results, finishing the 2003 season in sixth overall. The fact that his old BSB adversary Neil Hodgson won the WSB championship that year would have hurt, but Walker can take heart in the fact that Hodgson had the better bike in the form of a factory Ducati.

It was the British Superbike battles with Hodgson that stick in my mind most from Walkers career and really got me hooked on BSB. It had started for Walker in 1997 when he would battle with team mate Niall MacKenzie on the Yahamas, battles with Steve Hislop and Troy Bayliss would happen in the following seasons, until the ultimate dog fight with Hodgson.

I hope that if Walker does get a contract it is with a competetive team and perhaps we will see once again just how good he can be.