The safety car was called into use following Hopkins’ crash which left no gaps when the riders restarted. As soon as the safety car left the track Tommy Hill sped off to stretch his lead and left Josh Brookes, Shane Byrne & Michael Rutter to fight for second & third.

Relentless Suzuki rider Josh Brookes came in second with a slight gap on Bathams Ducati rider Michael Rutter, who beat HM Plant Honda rider Shane Byrne by overtaking him on the last lap of the final lap in an exciting finale.

Round 7 – Oulton Park, Race 1:

1.  Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
2.   Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.492s
3.   Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.669s
4.   Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +5.755s
5.   Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +6.789s
6.   Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +7.128s
7.   Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +13.055s
8.   James Westmoreland (Motorpoint Yamaha) +18.699s
9.   Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +18.960s
10. Scott Smart (Moto Rapido Ducati) +21.619s

Britisih Superbikes 2011 Championship:

1.  S. Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 214 points
2.  J. Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 182
3.   T. Hill (Swan Yamaha) 165
4.   M. Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 129
5.   R. Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 121
6   J. Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) 111
7   J. Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 91
8.   G. Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 90
9.   S. Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 89
10. M. Rutter (Rapid Solicitors Ducati) 88

Honda motorcycles are behind no less than five teams in this season’s British Superbike Championship with Australian Glen Richards of Team WFR Honda leading the way for Honda riders after four rounds.

Based in Yorkshire, the WFR Honda team race on CBR1000RR Fireblades.  The team are new this season to the BSB Evo Championship and have got off to a flying start.  Graeme Gowland, who made his Superbike debut in 2009, is the other WFR Honda team rider while Alex Lowes left the team in May after failing to agree on a new contract.

WFR Honda were formed from the Embassy Racing squad who were so successful in previous Supersport and Superstock 1000 Championships. While riding for the Embassy Racing Team Glen Richards won back to back championships in 2007 and 2008 and now, along with his new WFR Honda Team is keen to impress in the British Superbike championship.

But Honda does not only excel in superbike racing.  Along with its full range of motor cars it is also known for other vehicles from lawn mowers to quad bikes; and they are not just used for racing!

Philippa is a farmer in Oxfordshire and uses her Honda ATV to tend to a herd alpacas! A far cry from racing around a track but it is the first of four new film shorts to be shown as part of the ongoing Honda television sponsorship of Channel 4 documentaries during 2011.

The new mini-documentaries each focus on a real-life Honda owner who put their Honda vehicle to more obscure uses.

Each of the short films is like a mini-documentary created by Hollie Newton at Wieden + Kennedy (W+K) and includes a unique website link relating to its story allowing viewers to see extra content online.

Honda will also be using social media with Facebook and Twitter campaigns to accompany the TV sponsorship deal linking to an online hub at www.honda.co.uk/stories where the videos will be available in full along with articles and other interesting stories. There is also a competition in the ‘Take Part’ section of the website, where Honda owners can upload their own stories and photographs, explaining the unusual ways in which they use their own Honda products.

W+K, the company behind the films, will select their favourite story and make it into the final mini-documentary to be shown later in the year as part of the Channel 4 campaign.

Honda will continue to use the strap line ‘Documentaries on 4, sponsored by Honda’ throughout 2011 for these new films, which were first aired last week during the Cutting Edge documentary, ‘Bums, Boobs and Botox’.

Sponsored Post

26-year-old  Jon Kirkham had a great race to win his first British Superbike race in poor weather conditions at Croft at the weekend by beating Samsung Crescent Suzuki team-mate John Hopkins while MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Gary Mason finished in third.  Kirkham had a great race clinching victory after starting in 16th position on the grid.

MCE Insurance BSB championship leader Shane Byrne had a great start and led the race while John Hopkins, the former MotoGP rider, also began well and made up ground moving from ninth to second.  But it wasn’t such a good race for Jenny Tinmouth who slid off the track on lap two.

Jon Kirkham becomes the fifth winner in the five BSB races this season.

Race One (18 laps):
1.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing)
2.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +2.940 seconds
3.Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +3.715 seconds
4.Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +13.335 seconds
5.Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +14.699 seconds
6.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +19.433 seconds

MCE Insurance British Superbike Race Two:

Shane Byrne, the HM Honda plant rider once again leads the MCE Insurance British Superbike championship after what seemed like an easy ride to win race two by just under two seconds.

Stuart Easton and John Hopkins battled for second place and was finally won by when the  Scotsman finished ahead of the ex-MotoGP rider.

Jon Kirkham began the race in pole position but spun off in the first lap after colliding with Michael Laverty.

Race Two (20 laps):
1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda)
2.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +1.887 seconds
3.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +2.269 seconds
4.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +2.461 seconds
5.Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +5.517 seconds
6.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +6.094 seconds

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship 2011:

1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) – 95 points
2.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) – 92 points
3. Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) – 89 points
4.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) – 59 points
5.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) – 57 points
6.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) – 54 points

Last season’s innovative rule change will remain in place, ensuring that no one runs away with the championship. Following the first nine events, the top six riders in the standings will qualify for “The Showdown” and become the “Title Fighters” for the remaining three events, battling it out to become champion. They will each be awarded 500 points, plus additional points for each podium they have achieved up to this point. Meanwhile the remaining riders will continue to contest the “British Superbike Riders’ Cup”.

As always race day at Brands Hatch will be broadcast live on British Eurosport on Bank Holiday Monday when you can join the commentator Jack Burnicle, who is once again joined by former BSB Champion James Witham.

Looking ahead to an exciting challenge for the championship, Witham says;

“There’s a lot of anticipation this year with riders returning to the championship, like former winner Shakey Byrne. He’s going to be quick, he’s tested really well and he’s with one of the top teams in HM Plant Honda. I think the fan’s favourite is Tommy Hill. After a good season last year, he’s swapped teams and he’s very confident.

“The defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari is going to take some beating if he gets his eye in, but we know how fragile he can be, little things can put him off his stride so he’s by no means a firm favourite in the championship for me.”

One of the biggest stories pre-season is the arrival of former MotoGP rider American John Hopkins in the paddock and Whitham thinks he could be a contender;

“John Hopkins is a big coup for the championship. He’s a colourful character, he’s loud and he’s got the biggest baseball cap in the world! I can’t wait to see how he’s going to get to grips with the best, quirky British tracks. There’s no doubt the man has got the talent if he’s still got the fire in his belly and he can get his head around the circuits.”

Making history will be Jenny Tinmouth, the first ever female rider to contest the British Superbike Championship. Having finished third in the British Supersport Cup last season, Tinmouth also set a new record for the fastest lap by a female competitor at the Isle of Man TT event.

TV Times for Brands Hatch:

Monday 25 April
1230-1800 LIVE Race day on British Eurosport 2
2200-2330 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

Tuesday 26 April
1330-1430 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

Thursday 28 April
0830-0930 Highlights on British Eurosport
1930-2030 Highlights on British Eurosport 2
2030-2145 British Superbike Extra (support race highlights) on British Eurosport 2

Sunday 1 May
1730-1900 Highlights on British Eurosport 2

The World Supersport Team PTR Honda have agreed to bring their riders to the NYRRSC before the World Superbike Round at Donington Park and the chat night will feature 2010 British Supersport Champion Sam Lowes plus 2009 British Superbike runner up James Ellison, they will be joined on stage by their new Team Manager Simon Buckmaster.

As a special treat the former PTR Honda rider Eugene Laverty, now riding in World Superbike, will also be taking part in the chat night.

North Yorkshire Road Racing Supporters Club (NYRRSC)

Non Members – £6 – Members – £4

Raffle

As well as testing the British Supersport 600cc machines, Gary Johnson has also been putting the Fireblade through its paces for his assault on the International Road Race calendar in 2011.

Testing took place over three days at Cartegena but was restricted to just one day at Guadix, where bad weather forced the team to abandon their second day at the circuit and head back to base.

Gary Johnson said, “All in all I’m really pleased with the test and how productive it was for us all. I was riding the 600 and the Superbike and getting both bikes set up to a comfy base setting, which we’ll be working on in more tests before the season starts. I know now where we need to go with the bikes and confident the team will get them to that position where everything will be perfect come the start of the season.

“We concentrated mainly on the 600 as this is the bike I will be running in the British Supersport Championship, from the off the bike felt great. We changed a number of things on the Honda with springs, suspension and tyres to see which worked best for me. We have definitely got something to work from now and going in the right direction.

“I did a few runs out on the Superbike, the Fireblade is an awesome bike and the power is immense on it. My times improved every time we made small changes which is great news and I feel confident about everything now.

“I was happy at the end of Cartagena and was looking forward to getting myself out at Guadix. My crew chief James made a few changes after I’d done a few initial laps and these automatically took my times down on the 600, it’s all a learning curve for all of us and testing is all about finding the right set up.

“I jumped back on the Fireblade and was testing a new Pirelli tyre which I’ll be using on the roads but this forced us to make some changes with the bike. I was able to stay with the Suzuki riders of Kirkham and Hopkins so it gave me a lot of confidence. The second planned day at Guadix, the heavens opened and track activity was called off for the day so homeward bound we headed. I’m really happy with the progress we made and I know where we have to go but I’m very excited about it all. I can’t wait for the season to start now and get things going again.”

The young Irish rider Lee Johnston bonded with the new Honda immediately and ending testing feeling positive with his performance, saying;

“Testing was mega at Cartagena, the weather was kind to us and stayed dry for the three days, even though it was a little on the windy side. We spent the majority of the first day just making me comfortable on the CBR 600 as this was the first time I’d even sat on the bike. It felt good instantly so I knew we wouldn’t need to change much on it. We knew the bikes were good as Sam won the Championship on it in 2010 so we didn’t want to change much to start with.

“The second day proved to be challenging as there were a number of crashes which kept putting halt to proceedings and the third day we spent working on the forks and my times were coming down each time I went out on track which has given me my confidence back after a couple of dodgy years.

“We then headed to Guadix where I managed to complete 70 laps on the first afternoon and I managed to get a really good feel for the bike. The second day they weather turned a little more like what I’m used to back in Ireland, the track was flooded and therefore the day was cancelled. I would like to thank all the East Coast Racing team for making me feel so welcome and working so hard over the few days, I just can’t wait for Brands now.”

2011 British Supersport Dates

Rd 1 – 22 – 25th April
Brands Hatch Indy

Rd 2 – 30th April – 2nd May
Oulton Park

Rd 3 – 13th – 15th May
Croft Race Circuit

Rd 4 – 28th – 30th May
Thruxton

Rd 5 – 17th – 19th June
Knockhill

Rd 6 – 1st – 3rd July
Snetterton

Rd 7 – 15th – 17th July
Oulton Park

Rd 8 – 5th – 7th August
Brands Hatch GP

Rd 9 – 27th – 29th August
Cadwell Park

Rd 10 – 9th – 11th September
Donington Park

Rd 11 – 23rd – 25th September
Silverstone Arena GP

Rd 12 – 7th – 9th October
Brands Hatch GP

International Road Racing Dates

North West 200 – 21st May

Isle of Man TT – 30th May – 10th June

Ulster GP – 10th – 13th August

Scarborough Gold Cup – 17th – 18th September

Macau GP – 17th – 20th November

The privately owned wooded area will create endless options for the organising team to create one of the best Hare & Hounds circuit’s in the North of England, offering a blank canvas for the Ride team to work with.

The Woodland area has never been used for racing previously, but does offer a hard standing paddock and outstanding spectator viewing from one central ‘official’ spectator zone.

The course will ride in any weather conditions, and the woodland has a great base to it, ensuring ruts and tree roots won’t develop over the three events on the day.

Youth riders kick off the action Sunday at 8am with a one hour event, followed by the Sportsman, Sportsman Beginner, Over50 and Ladies at 10am for 2 hours. After a short break for lunch, the Expert, Over40 and Clubman class riders will be ready to do battle in the North Yorkshire woodland.

The event will be signed with Orange arrows from Helmsley centre. Overnight camping is available for a small charge of £5.00.

Signing on will start at 7.30am for the Youths – 8am for the morning riders and 10.15am for the afternoon riders.

A presentation of awards for the Youth competitors, and the morning adult event will be held at approximately 12.30pm, and then the presentation for the afternoon competitors will be at approximately 4pm.

To enter this event simply call 07576 095137 or visit our web site www.rideoffroaduk.co.uk

The previous round held at London’s O2 Arena proved to be a cracking event, leaving many of the battles undecided and to go down to the wire on this coming Saturday’s event in Liverpool.

Here is a brief summary of the action from London and whats to play for in the final round;

LPE Kawasaki signing Ashley Greedy stepped it up after clinching the German SX2 title this winter. Greedy claimed the British Open win rocketing from 8^th to 3^rd in points only 3 points behind  Martin Barr who will be absent for the final round and just two points behind CCM’s Tom Church.

Greedy also shares the points lead in the SX2 class with South African Neville Bradshaw on the MVRD Honda and sits 5^th in the SX1 points. Bradshaw now sits in the top five in all three pro classes.

Buildbase CCM pilot Church had yet another solid performance in London putting him 12 points in front of Bradshaw in the SX1 title chase and a lead in the British Open with the absence of Barr. Meanwhile No Fear Golden Tyre Rabbit Racing Kawasaki pilot Jack Brunell sits in 3^rd in the SX2 class just two points short of Greedy and Bradshaw, 3^rd in SX1 and 6^th in the British Open.

KTM’s Harry Kimber and Cobra’s Dylan Woodcock will look to duke it out in the 65cc class after splitting wins in Belfast and London and are tied on points heading to Liverpool.  KTM’s superstar schoolboy Ben Watson clinched the Supermini title after two flawless wins so far leaving him 28 points in front. KTM’s James Dunn maintains Championship leads in both the Youth Lights and Clubman Open classes. In the Quad class only one point separates Jonny Kelly and Michael McAneney.

Standings

British Open Points

1-50 Martin Barr 41
2-4 Tom Church 40
3-331 Ashley Greedy 38
4-1 Gordon Crockard 30
5-272 Neville Bradshaw 30

SX2 Points

1-331 Ashley Greedy 35
2-272 Neville Bradshaw 35
3-155 Jack Brunell 33
4-69 Adam Chatfield 25
5-3 Mike Brown 25

SX1 Points

1-4 Tom Church 44
2-272 Neville Bradshaw 32
3-155 Jack Brunell 29
4-1 Gordon Crockard 28
5-331 Ashley Greedy 27

Tickets for the Future West ACU British Supercross FINALE are available through the Echo Arena box office on 0844 8000 400 or visit www.fwsx.com

As a small bonus, British Eurosport are scheduled to show highlights form the previous round from the O2 London at 10pm tonight February 18th.

The guests at this months event will be former TT winner Tony Jefferies, father of the late David Jefferies. He will be joined by long time friend and manager of the BSB Crescent Suzuki team, Jack Valentine.

Both guests will have plenty of stories to tell and will also be answering any questions thrown at them from the audience. NYRRSC welcome everyone to the event and their is a small entrance fee of £3.00 for members and £5.00 for newcomers.

The NYRRSC runs a chat show every month to raise money for local racers within the area to help them fund their racing campaign throughout the season.

Those who are into betting online have seen Danica Patrick make some waves – be it in IndyCar or NASCAR – and Katherine Legge make noise in ChampCar, and now we’ve had yet another breakthrough on British Superbike.

31-year-old Jenny Tinmouth is the first female to land a ride on a British Superbike, which is definitely a noteworthy feat.

She’s a mechanic who runs her centre named Two Wheel Workshop in Ellesmere Port and now she’ll be known for much more. She’s been given a slot with the Splitlath team and will make her debut shortly.

Racing isn’t something new to Tinmouth; as a matter of fact, it’s something she’s been around since her young schooldays. Her cousins used to race cars and she was drawn to the speed as well.

Specifically to professional motorsport, she’s not as new to it as you might think. She started back in 2003 and has been working her way up to the national level ever since. Back then, she raced in the British 125GP Championship and she won a British Supersport Cup and finished third in the Championship last season. More importantly, she has already proved to be consistently fast at every level.

She has already made motorcycle racing history by becoming the fastest woman around the Isle of Man TT circuit, lapping at an average of almost 120mph.

It will probably help her garner attention that she’s a very attractive woman – at least from a marketing perspective. As we’ve seen in the case of Patrick, she’s just an attention grabber regardless of whether she wins or lose. She’s very competitive but casual fans always want to know how she’s doing.

The same might turn out to be true for Tinmouth, who is a tall, slender blonde.

She still has plenty of time to work out the kinks – if there are any – prior to her debut. The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season opener is on Easter weekend, from April 22-25 at Brands Hatch. She’ll partner with Hudson Kennaugh.

Expect some extra eyes to be drawn to the sport when she’s ready for live action. It’s just another great storyline for British Superbike as the 2011 season is set to get underway shortly.