Dan Cooper - MAP Centurion Triumph Team

Last weekend saw the second round of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship take place at the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire.

It was however, a tough outing for the MAP Centurion Triumph team with the rider Dan Cooper failing to make it to the grid after developing an electrical problem on his bike while his team-mate AJ Ventor struggled to finish in fourteenth place.

The pair worked hard throughout the weekend to find a suitable set up at the ultra fast and super bumpy Thruxton circuit. Working around problems and altering set up the two Supersport riders still encountered issues. Dan Cooper was unfortunate in the second qualifying and suffered a clutch problem which forced him to miss the entire session and putting him in a low 18^th place on the grid. Whilst AJ Venter was finding it hard to get to grips with the track and had some problems with the suspension and shock set up, this eventually put him in 16^th place on the grid.

Cooper managed to make the sighting lap but then suffered with a starter motor failure on the grid before the start of the warm up lap, which forced him out of the race before it even started. AJ got a reasonable start but only managed to gain one position at the end of the opening lap and despite his efforts to make progress through the field could only manage to get 14^th at the end of the race.

Cooper commented;

“I’m totally gutted about this weekend it just didn’t seem to want to work in my favour. It seems to be a track that I’ve never gelled with and for some reason that bad luck continued this weekend. I went out of pit lane fine for the sighting lap and then when it came to the warm up lap it wouldn’t go, just gutted. I hope things will be back to normal at Oulton and that I can get some good points there.”

AJ said;

“It’s not been a great weekend for me, I could not get the suspension right in any session and I just felt like I was riding on a pogo stick. We tried so much to try and work round it and make it better but nothing seemed to click and gel and I just can’t wait to get away from here and to Oulton in a few weeks. It’s definitely been a tough one for the team and we all just need to put this one behind us and move forwards with the rest of the season.”

Jimmy Hill - MAP Centurion Triumph Team 2010

The Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship took place at the Hampshire circuit of Thruxton last weekend, resulting in a tough round two for the MAP Centurion Triumph team.

Jimmy Hill was wiped out of 2^nd position on lap eight of the 14 lap race and his team-mate Josh Caygill gained his best ever result in the Championship of eighth place.

Jimmy Hill had been working hard over the weekend and was consistently in the top four throughout the weekend and was eager to gain another podium position to follow on from his win at Brands Hatch a couple of weeks ago. The youngster ended up qualifying the MAP Centurion Triumph in second place on the grid, his first front row start of the season.

Jimmy got a fantastic start and was soon leading the pack but Josh Day made an impressive pass and further went onto win the race by 11 seconds. Jimmy was locked in a fraught battle for second place and the bunch were swapping paintwork on most laps. Jimmy finally made a break on lap eight but had his rear wheel clipped by Nikki Coates into the first corner causing Jimmy to have a massive high-side.

A battered Hill said “I’m really gutted to have lost out as it’s really difficult to make up points in this Championship. The MAP Centurion Triumph team worked really hard all weekend and I hit a patch of oil this morning in warm up and went down and did some damage to the bike, Brad, my crew chief worked really hard to make sure I got out on track for the race. I got a great start and Josh Day came round the outside of me and just was gone in the distance, I got my head down and finally got into second place after a real battle and I was eager to make a break when I was clipped from behind and it threw me over the bars and that was my race done, gutted!”

On the other hand Josh Caygill struggled during qualifying and ended up in 16^th position on the grid only one second off his team-mate Jimmy. A brilliant start saw Josh lying in 13^th place after the opening lap and as the freight train unveiled Josh was in amongst it, with only two seconds separating second to 12^th place it was anyone’s race. Josh worked extremely hard to make his way through the pack and after a few incidents and some confident passing manoeuvres Josh secured a stunning eighth position.

A delighted Caygill said “It’s been a long old weekend and I got injured here last year so I just wanted to make sure I didn’t get mixed up in it all at the start and wanted to have a good battle and get a good result for the MAP Centurion Triumph team. I’m made up with the result but gutted for Jimmy getting taken out as it would have been a great result for the team. It was carnage out there and I just wanted to try and stay out of the melee and just kept pushing hard. The laps went pretty quickly and I was moving positions on every lap, I didn’t even know what position I was in so was over the moon when I was told at the end!”

RidersMotorcylces.com Ducati 2010

Last weekend saw the British Superbike Championship taking place at Thruxton with the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati riders Michael Rutter and Martin Jessopp finishing both races in the top ten.

Martin Jessopp finished race one in sixth place, following up with an impressive fifth place in the second race while his team-mate Michael Rutter claimed fifth and seventh respectively.

Jessopp’s lap time in race one put him in pole position for the second race and he made the most of the opportunity, battling for third place with Honda riders Stuart Easton and Ryuichi Kiyonari before finishing fifth – his career best finish in the series.

Jessopp said:

“My bike was really stable in the fast stuff on the back of the circuit. But those Honda’s are so fast up the straights. I was really strong in the fast left out the back but Stuart (Easton) got wise and realised where I had the advantage and started blocking me and that’s when Kiyo got by.

I’m over the moon with my results though. It would have been nice to have done the next bit and finished on the podium but I’ve got to be happy. This is promising for Oulton. I love that place. The bike will work well there and the Honda’s won’t have the long fast sections of track to stretch their legs like they’ve been able to do here.”

Rutter said:

“In the first race I got a bad start, pushed too hard and ended up losing grip to early in the race so I wasn’t able to go with the leading four in the closing stages.

I got a bit mugged early in the second race and couldn’t get with Kagayama and then Easton came by me. I should have gone with him but I was losing grip but it’s probably my fault. I’m still riding the Ducati with too much lean angle. I need to adapt to a style like Martin’s and sit it up earlier out of corners to get better drive. It’s coming though and I think Oulton in two weeks time is really going to suit our bike.”

Team owner Phil Jessopp added:

“This weekend has been really good for us. We’ve had a few technical issues in practice but the team worked well to overcome them and I’m delighted with the results. Martin rode well to mix it with Easton and Kiyonari and was unlucky not to get a podium finish.

Michael also rode well, especially with that fifth place in the first race. He was right with the leading quartet until his rear tyre lost grip. And now we’re looking forward to Oulton where the Ducati really will come into its own.”

Tommy Hill - Race 1 - Thruxton 2010

This weekend saw an incident packed second round of the British Superbike championship with the Worx Crescent Suzuki of Tommy Hill winning race one and Josh Brookes on the HM Plant Honda taking the second race of the day.

The Quay Garage Honda rider Tommy Bridewell was unable to take part in this weekends championship round after suffering a crash in the second free practice session on Friday.  As Bridewell attempted to put in some fast laps he clipped the kerb on the entry to the Club chicane, seeing him go down with his hand trapped under his machine.  Despite initially walking away from the crash, Bridewell needed to be treated by the circuit medics before being transferred to Salisbury Hospital.  The Honda rider underwent surgery to amputate  the damaged little finger of his right hand but was warned that he could be out of action for up to six months.

The Swan Honda rider James Ellison was another casualty of the weekend after crashing out during the final free practice session on Saturday resulting in a broken femur and ending his chance of points at this weeks round.

Race 1

As the race got underway it was Stuart Easton on the Swan Honda that worked his way to the front ahead of pole sitter Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki and Yukio Kagayama on the second Worx Crescent Suzuki in third.  John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki was in fourth place followed by Michael Rutter on the Riders Ducati, Alastair Seeley for Relentless Suzuki in seventh and Josh Brookes in eighth.

Dan Linfoot, the replacement rider for the injured Neil Hodgson at the Motorpoint Yamaha team, was an early casualty of the race, crashing at the same corner that caught out Ellison.  Howie Mainwaring another replacement rider, this time for the injured Simon Andrews on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki, lost control of his machine lap 7, ending his race.

Brookes past Rutter on lap 8, moving him up to fourth position and was hot on the tail of Hill as Kagayama made a move on Easton at the front to lead.  On lap 15, Brookes took his turn at the front after passing both Easton and then Kagayama before the charging Tommy Hill sailed past on lap 18 after Kagayama made a mistake, taking the flag as he crossed the line for the final time.

Brookes followed in second place with Kagayama in third, Easton in fourth, Rutter in fifth, Martin Jessopp in sixth, John Laverty in seventh, Gary Mason in eighth, Ryuichi Kiyonari in ninth and Michael Laverty in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki 25mins 27.870secs 20 laps
2. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +0.818s
3. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +1.185s
4. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +1.510s
5. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +5.670s
6. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +7.490s
7. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +9.154s
8. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +9.300s
9. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +9.493s
10. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +17.014s
11. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +18.413s
12. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +25.819s
13. David Anthony AUS MIST Suzuki +37.459s E
14. Gary Johnson GBR AIM Suzuki +37.571s E
15. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda +37.754s E

25. Hudson Kennaugh RSA MAR Kawasaki 19 laps completed E
26. Luke Jones GBR PR Racing M/C & Moore Yamaha 7 laps completed
27. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki 6 laps completed
28. Howie Mainwaring GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki 6 laps completed
29. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha 4 laps completed
30. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki 4 laps completed E
31. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Motorsport Honda 2 laps completed

Race 2

Josh Brookes took the chequered flag for the HM Plant Honda team in the second race of the day at the Thruxton circuit from third on the grid.

Brookes led the race from the start ahead of Yukio Kagayama, Gary Mason and Tommy Hill, however, Hill was aiming for a double race win and soon past both Mason and then Kagayama.  The Swan Honda rider Easton, set an impressive pace from eleventh on the grid and was soon up with the front runners.

While the fight for third position was going on between Easton, Kagayama, Rutter and Martin Jessopp, the two front runners Brookes and Hill were able to get away leaving Brookes to take the flag for the first time in over a year for the HM Plant Honda team.

Easton finished in the third spot ahead of Kiyonari in fourth, Jessopp in fifth, Michael Laverty in sixth, Michael Rutter in seventh, John Laverty in eighth, Alastair Seeley in ninth and Gary Mason in tenth.

Here are the results;

1. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda 25mins 23.986secs 20 laps
2. Tommy Hill GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +0.391s
3. Stuart Easton GBR Swan Honda +7.112s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda +7.146s
5. Martin Jessopp GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +7.263s
6. Michael Laverty GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +7.789s
7. Michael Rutter GBR Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati +8.241s
8. John Laverty GBR Buildbase Kawasaki +10.378s
9. Alastair Seeley GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +12.218s
10. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +12.240s
11. Yukio Kagayama JPN Worx Crescent Suzuki +17.507s
12. Dan Linfoot GBR Motorpoint Yamaha +18.284s
13. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +24.639s
14. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Racing BMW +29.956s
15. Chris Walker GBR CW Racing Suzuki +33.357s

28. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Finance Honda 17 laps completed E
29. Christian Iddon GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda 17 laps completed
30. Michael Howarth GBR Magic Bullet Two Wheel Suzuki 10 laps completed E

Neil Hodgson - Brands Hatch 2010

Neil Hodgson and Simon Andrews are both to be replaced at this weekends second round of the British Superbike championship after suffering injuries.

Andrews suffered a broken foot at last weekends round of the World Superbike championship at Valencia while riding as a replacement rider for the injured Chris Vermeulen for the Kawasaki team.  Andrews had a coming together with Vittorio Iannuzzo on the start/finish straight, sending him flying into the pit wall followed by his bike.

Howie Mainwaring has now been drafted in to take the place of Andrews for the MSS Colchester Kawasaki team, following his second place finish in his Superstock race at Brands Hatch from thirteenth on the grid

Hodgson injured his shoulder after crashing out in his race at Brands Hatch, aggravating the existing problem he suffered while training last year in America.

Dan Linfoot will now be on the grid to line-up for the Motorpoint Yamaha team with Hodgson supporting him behind the scenes at the circuit.

Stuart Easton - Swan Honda 2010

This weekend the second round of the British Superbike championship of 2010 takes place at the Thruxton circuit.

The Swan Honda rider Stuart Easton is expected to be fit to ride after a trip to the hospital following the opening round at Brands Hatch.

Easton was injured in a testing accident at Cadwell Park at the end of March when he lost grip entering turn 2 ‘Charlies Corner’ and was thrown into the tyre wall before being hit by his bike.  The Scottish rider received a deep cut to the back of his knee and underwent surgery to repair the damage.

After contracting an infection to the injury, Easton has been given strong antibiotics and has since had the wound restitched and has been having frequent salt baths to aid the wounds recovery process.

Despite still not being 100% fit, Easton is said to be recovering well and is now back in training so hopefully will be in a much stronger position than he was at his last outing at Brands Hatch.

Donington Park

A revised calendar for the 2010 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli has been announced today due to the major changes involving Donington Park which is unable to be included for the coming year.

The Donington Park round due to take place on 10-12 September will now be held at the Croft circuit and on May 21-23 is now being held at the Cadwell Park circuit.

Other changes to the calendar show the Knockhill round has moved to the 2-4 July while the 16-18 July round will be held at the Snetterton circuit.

* – Denotes three BSB races at these events, all others two.