Dean Ellison - Co-ordit Yamaha

The Co-Ordit Yamaha British Superbike team have been forced to pull out of the remainder of the season due to financial difficulties.

The team released an official statement today, which said,

“It is with deep regret that Co-ordit Racing Team will be withdrawing from the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship.  With the down-turn in the economy I have had to make the reluctant decision to end the sponsorship to safe guard funds for what is predicted to be a hard time in our business sector.  The team will now try and secure funding so that we can return as quickly as possible.  Our thanks go out to all those sponsors who have helped and assisted with the team so far together with the staff at MSVR and Rob Mac Racing.”

Tom Grant About To Be Ridden Over In 2007

After the SMT Honda team have suffered injury upon injury with their riders for the 2008 season, they have signed up the young Australian Superbike rider, Jason O’Halloran to ride for them for then rest of the year.

The teams original rider, Adam Jenkinson, had a huge crash in the second race of the opening weekend at Thruxton where he broke both of his wrists putting him out of contention.

Replacement riders have included, Sean Emmett, Marshall Neill and Tom Grant.  Grant has now also been injured however, after being knocked off his machine in race two at Knockhill, leaving the team with no rider for the next three rounds of the Championship.

O’Halloran, is 20-years-old and started racing in 2002 and by 2003 he was the runner-up in the 125cc Australian championship.

This year he has been competing in the Australian Superbike Championship for Teknic Honda Racing, where he has already set a lap record in his debut season and is currently lying in fifth place with two rounds still remaining.

Leon Haslam

HM Plant Honda rider Leon Haslam, won both races this weekend in the ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park.

In race one, Tom Sykes led the race from the start on the Rizla Suzuki after starting from pole position, but Haslam remained on his tail until just over half way when Sykes had a front end slide allowing Haslam through.

Exactly the same scenario happened in race two with Haslam out braking Sykes on lap seven to take the lead moving Sykes again into second position.

In both races, Shane Byrne took third place on the Airwaves Ducati with Leon Camier on the second Airwaves Ducati in fourth.

It was a disastrous weekend for the second HM Plant Honda rider, Cal Crutchlow, who could only manage fifth place in race one after struggling to keep up with the pace and then crashed out in race two on the third lap going into Halls Bend.  He managed to rejoin the race but finished down in thirteenth place.

Haslam said,

“This weekend didn’t start great here for me, I had the crash in practice then we had a wet session and qualifying didn’t go according to plan and I was fourth.  But the HM Plant Honda worked like a dream today, it was unfortunate for Cal to crash out but these things happen.

To get the first double win of the year for the HM Plant Honda team is great and I think it might be the first time the team have taken the double here at their local circuit.

We had a bit of bad luck at the start of this year and I did lack a bit of confidence but the team have worked hard and the bike has increased ten-fold now and we are back to winning ways.”

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race one result:

1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda)

2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.551s

3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +8.819s

4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +11.981s

5. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +18.970s

6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +19.482s

7. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +22.094s

8. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +26.571s

9. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +33.816s

10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +34.606s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, race two result:

1.Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda)

2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.541s

3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.910s

4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.269s

5. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +16.556s

6. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +23.458s

7. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +27.178s

8. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +27.375s

9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +28.549S

10. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +37.426s

Shane Byrne

This bank holiday weekend sees the British Superbikes head to Cadwell Park for round nine of the championship.

shane Byrne is determined to win more points for the Airwaves Ducati team after a disappointing round at Knockhill, two weeks ago when he crashed out while in the lead of race two.  Byrne said,

“At this moment in time I would say that I have recovered 95% from my fall at Knockhill, but I will be back to full fitness in time for first practice on Saturday.  I really love the Cadwell Park circuit and, as always, my sole intention for going as quickly as I possibly can around there will be to get back to The Mountain - I can’t go over it enough!  I know that I gave the Airwaves Ducati team a lot of work to do after Knockhill so I want to repay them here this weekend with some results to really celebrate about.”

HM Plant Honda riders, Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam, are also intending to secure some good results this weekend at their home circuit.

Crutchlow, is now being chased by the Rizla Suzuki rider, Tom Sykes for the second place in the championship.

Leon Camier, is looking forward to riding his Airwaves Ducati at Cadwell park despite suffering his horrendous injuries at the circuit last year.

Camier broke his left leg after landing awkwardly going over The Mountain, throwing him off his machine and ending his 2007 season.  He said,

“I know it might seem strange after my accident last year, but I’m looking forward to going back to Cadwell Park.  It will be good to get on with racing and put last year’s crash behind me once and for all.  It’s a circuit that I like and that I believe the Airwaves Ducati 1098R can be competitive around, but it will definitely help if the weather remains consistent.”

Cadwell Park

The SMT Honda rider, Tom Grant, suffered an horrific accident last time out at Knockhill, when in race two, he was hit by falling rider, David Johnson.

Johnson lost control of his Honda and ploughed into the side of Grant heading into the first corner, surprisingly, Grant suffered no broken bones but his arm was crushed resulting in surgery to reduce pressure on his swelling hand.

Team owner Robin Croft said after the race,

“What can I say, bad luck strikes again for SMT Honda!  Qualifying went really well for us and we had a good bike set-up for both wet and dry and Tom did a great job to get 12th on the grid.  In the first race, he had ninth place in the bag but he started to get a bit of arm pump in the last few laps and he was unable to stop a couple of riders getting by.  Nevertheless, 11th was still our best finish of the year and it added more points to our total.

Race two was a different affair but although Tom didn’t get a great start he was up inside the points when he got taken out.  Tom was riding well but simply got hit by a fallen rider and he didn’t know what hit him.  He’s in a lot of pain right now and although x-rays have shown nothing is broken, his arm got crushed by the impact and his hand was swollen up so he’s gone to hospital for an operation to relieve the pressure.  At this moment in time, it looks unlikely that we’ll be at Cadwell Park but we’ll have to see.  The bike is working well and we’ve got a good, young rider in Tom so let’s hope we can be back out on the grid soon.”

In April the team’s original rider, Adam Jenkinson had a huge accident at Thruxton, resulting in the rider breaking his right wrist.

He underwent surgery at Southampton hospital where he had a metal brace fitted to the outside of his wrist in preparation for an operation the next day before having it set in a cast.

He has been out of action since the accident and Grant has been riding for the team as a replacement until Jenkinson is fit enough to return.

Tom Sykes - Brands Hatch - WSB

Tom Sykes, the British Superbike rider for Rizla Suzuki, has secured another Wild-Card ride for the Donington round of the World Superbike Championship on September 7.

Sykes rode as a Wild-Card entrant at the Brands Hatch round of the WSB, where he finished in an impressive seventh place in race two after a retirement from the first race with a hole in his radiator.

The Suzuki rider took his third consecutive win at Knockhill last week in race one and took fourth place in race two, which ended early after several crashes.

Round nine of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday Monday, August 25th.

Here are the championship standings so far this season;

1 - Shane Byrne (Ducati) - 332
2 - Cal Crutchlow (Honda) - 222
3 - Tom Sykes (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 - Tristian Palmer (Honda) - 75

Tom Sykes

Tom Sykes on the Rizla Suzuki, took victory in the first race in round eight at Knockhill on Sunday, with the second race being won by Leon Haslam on the HM Plant Honda.

Race One

Sykes took second place off the line after qualifying on the second row, as Michael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati, led the race.

Leon Haslam was in third place after starting from pole position until he crashed out on lap ten, with his team-mate Cal Crutchlow having already crashed on lap six, a bit of a disaster for the Honda team.

Sykes almost high-sided off his bike as he attempted to get past Rutter, who shut the door forcing Sykes onto the curb.  He finally got past Rutter on lap nine and Shane Byrne past the Ducati rider on lap twenty to take second place.

James Ellison on the Hydrex-Bike Animal Honda, past Rutter next to claim the final place on the podium.

Scott Smart crashed out on lap nineteen on the Hawk Kawasaki, and on the next lap there was a coming together for the MSS Discovery Kawasaki rider, Billy McConnell and the Rizla Suzuki rider, Atsushi Watanabe.  Watanabe was seen being carried off track on a stretcher, although it is believed he is only badly bruised.

Lap twenty-seven, saw Shane Byrne making contact with the MV Agusta rider Chris Burns, nearly losing his second position.

Here are the results;

Pos – Rider – Bike – Team - Time

1 - Tom Sykes - Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki - 25:09.296
2 - Shane Byrne - Ducati - Airwaves Ducati - 25:12.389
3 - James Ellison - Honda - Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 25:12.775
4 - Michael Rutter - Ducati - North West 200 Ducati - 25:15.048
5 - Leon Camier - Ducati - Airwaves Ducati - 25:18.641
6 - Michael Laverty - Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki by TAS - 25:18.757
7 - Karl Harris - Yamaha - Team Yamaha - 25:28.347
8 - Simon Andrews - Yamaha - Jentin Racing / Lloyds British - 25:45.351
9 - Tristan Palmer - Honda - Tena for Men Honda - 25:48.393
10 - Gary Mason - Honda - Quay Garage - 25:49.317
11 - Tom Grant - Honda - SMT Honda - 25:49.377
12 - Steve Mercer - Kawasaki - MSS Discovery Kawasaki - 25:10.086
13 - David Johnson - Honda - Team MAXXIS - 25:17.264
14 - Martin Jessopp - Honda - Riders Racing - 25:18.241
15 - Chris Burns - MV Agusta - STP Superbike - 25:19.257
16 - Leon Morris - Ducati - Brookspeed - 25:39.011
17 - Aaron Zanotti - Honda - Red Viper Racing - 25:46.845
18 - Tom Tunstall - Honda - Hardinge - Ice Valley Motorsport - 25:52.310
19 - Shannon Etheridge - Kawasaki - MAR Adept - 25:13.987
20 - Michael Howarth - Honda - Tena for Men Honda - 25:27.590

Not Classified

DNF - Billy McConnell - Kawasaki - MSS Discovery Kawasaki - 18:10.609
DNF - Atsushi Watanabe - Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki - 16:27.886
DNF - Scott Smart - Kawasaki - Hawk Racing - 15:24.634
DNF - Kenny Gilbertson - Kawasaki - Astro Racing Kawasaki - 13:15.947
DNF - Leon Haslam - Honda - HM Plant Honda - 9:53.231
DNF - Guy Martin - Honda - Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 5:08.270
DNF - Cal Crutchlow - Honda - HM Plant Honda - 2:39.390
DNF - Dean Ellison - Yamaha - Co-ordit Racing - 3:18.893

Race Two

Leon Haslam took victory in the second race of the day at Knockhill after Shane Byrne crashed out and the race had to be stopped.

The race had previously been stopped after a three bike crash between Tom Grant, Kenny Gilbertson and David Johnson, on the ninth lap.

As the red flag was waved, Haslam was in the lead followed by Byrne, Rutter and Crutchlow. The race would now consist of only twenty laps.

Some of the riders had to restart the race from the pit lane as they had not got out in time, including, Cal Crutchlow and Guy Martin.

Here are the results;

Pos – Rider – Bike – Team - Time

1 - Leon Haslam - Honda - HM Plant Honda - 11:58.300
2 - Michael Rutter - Ducati - North West 200 Ducati - 12:01.514
3 - Karl Harris - Yamaha - Team Yamaha - 12:01.841
4 - Tom Sykes - Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki - 12:01.980
5 - James Ellison - Honda - Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 12:04.891
6 - Simon Andrews - Yamaha - Jentin Racing / Lloyds British - 12:14.176
7 - Cal Crutchlow - Honda - HM Plant Honda - 12:14.839
8 - Leon Camier - Ducati - Airwaves Ducati - 12:16.908
9 - Billy McConnell - Kawasaki - MSS Discovery Kawasaki - 12:21.728
10 - Chris Burns - MV Agusta - STP Superbike - 12:24.739
11 - Steve Mercer - Kawasaki - MSS Discovery Kawasaki - 12:24.905
12 - Tristan Palmer - Honda - Tena for Men Honda - 11:38.548
13 - Scott Smart - Kawasaki - Hawk Racing - 11:44.627
14 - Guy Martin - Honda - Hydrex Bike Animal Honda - 11:46.835
15 - Atsushi Watanabe - Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki - 11:47.653
16 - Martin Jessopp - Honda - Riders Racing - 12:00.088
17 - Gary Mason - Honda - Quay Garage - 12:00.247
18 - Michael Howarth - Honda - Tena for Men Honda - 12:01.172
19 - Dean Ellison - Yamaha - Co-ordit Racing - 12:09.165
20 - Tom Tunstall - Honda - Hardinge - Ice Valley Motorsport - 12:16.967
21 - Michael Laverty - Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki by TAS - 12:18.095
22 - Shannon Etheridge - Kawasaki - MAR Adept - 12:20.258
23 - Aaron Zanotti - Honda - Red Viper Racing - 12:04.868

Not Classified

DNF - Shane Byrne - Ducati - Airwaves Ducati - 11:57.702
DNF - Leon Morris - Ducati - Brookspeed - 1:57.400

Leon Haslam

Leon Haslam on the HM Plant Honda, claimed his first pole position of the season today in the qualifying session at Knockhill.

Michael Rutter on the NW Ducati was in second place followed by Shane Byrne on the Airwaves Ducati and an impressive fourth place for Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki.

Cal Crutchlow starts the second row of the grid on the second Honda ahead of Ducati rider Leon Camier and Suzuki rider Tom Sykes.

Championship leader, Shane Byrne, who is 99 points clear of the rest of the field, slid off the damp track in the session, but no damage was suffered and he returned moments later on a second bike.

Here are the results;

Pos – Rider – Bike – Team – Qualifying Time

1 - Leon Haslam - Honda - HM Plant Honda 52.692
2 - Michael Rutter - Ducati - North West 200 Ducati 52.966
3 - Shane Byrne - Ducati - Airwaves Ducati 52.974
4 - Michael Laverty - Suzuki - Relentless Suzuki by TAS 53.003
5 - Cal Crutchlow - Honda - HM Plant Honda 53.177
6 - Leon Camier - Ducati - Airwaves Ducati 53.268
7 - Tom Sykes - Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki 53.295
8 - James Ellison - Honda - Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 53.587
9 - Karl Harris - Yamaha - Team Yamaha 53.768
10 - Tristan Palmer - Honda - Tena for Men Honda 53.876
11 - Billy McConnell - Kawasaki - MSS Discovery Kawasaki 54.109
12 - Tom Grant - Honda - SMT Honda 54.409
13 - Gary Mason - Honda - Quay Garage 54.634
14 - Kenny Gilbertson - Kawasaki - Astro Racing Kawasaki 54.705
15 - Guy Martin - Honda - Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 54.734
16 - Atsushi Watanabe - Suzuki - Rizla Suzuki 54.818
17 - Chris Burns - MV Agusta - STP Superbike 54.891
18 - Scott Smart - Kawasaki - Hawk Racing 55.112
19 - Simon Andrews - Yamaha - Jentin Racing / Lloyds British 55.157
20 - David Johnson - Honda - Team MAXXIS 55.202
21 - Steve Mercer - Kawasaki - MSS Discovery Kawasaki 55.317
22 - Tom Tunstall - Honda - Hardinge - Ice Valley Motorsport 55.330
23 - Leon Morris - Ducati - Brookspeed 55.351
24 - Martin Jessopp - Honda - Riders Racing 55.638
25 - Dean Ellison - Yamaha - Co-ordit Racing 55.930
26 - Michael Howarth - Honda - Tena for Men Honda 56.279
27 - Aaron Zanotti - Honda - Red Viper Racing 56.407
28 - Shannon Etheridge - Kawasaki - MAR Adept 56.885

Craig Jones - Brands Hatch

The British Superbike riders are at Knockhill this weekend for round eight of the Championship as spectators, teams and riders remember Craig Jones.

Craig Jones, 23, died last week after injuries sustained in round seven of the Championship when he crashed.

The HM Plant Honda rider, Cal Crutchlow will be wearing one of Craig’s crash helmets during the race as a mark of respect to his best friend, he said,

“I’m so fired up for this weekend.  I want wins - nothing else.  Knockhill is tight and twisty and it’s up-hill and down-dale but I do enjoy going north of the border.  I’m hoping the sun will shine but we will do our best whatever the weather.

This will be a special, but hard weekend for me, after one of my best mates - Craig Jones - passed away at the start of the week.  I will be wearing one of his actual helmets that he wore this season for the weekend and I’ll be proud to do so and I hope my results will make him proud of me.”

Jim Moodie will also take a lap of honour on the Valmoto Triumph which Craig won the British Supersport series on four years ago.

The tribute by Moodie will take place at 11am on the Sunday morning, with the triumph bearing the number 18.

In the free practice today, Leon Haslam and Shane Byrne were joint leaders at the Fife circuit, followed by Tom Sykes and Cal Crutchlow.

Stuart Easton was back on track today after suffering a broken wrist at the Snetterton round, however, after a dozen laps out of the circuit, he was replaced for the afternoon session by Steve Mercer.  Easton felt he could not ride competitively as his wrist was too weak.

John Laverty high-sided heavily off his Ducati in the first free practice session and suffered concussion and rib injuries.

Here are the top ten riders;

1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 49.004s

2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.000s

3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.002s

4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +0.008s

5. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 0.193s

6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +0.317s

7. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +0.324s

8. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +0.396s

9. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +0.494S

10. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +0.537s

Fans get the chance to meet the riders and drivers when they sign autographs and show their racing machines off in the pit and paddock area.

The Airwaves Ducati riders, Shane Byrne and Leon Camier will be attending ahead of round 8 of the British Superbike Championship at Knockhill on Sunday.

Niall McKenzie, Jamie Whitham and Rob McElnea are all to be at the event along with a Suzuki stunt rider and there will be a Gordan Sheddan Touring Car demo.

Kicking off the event will be ‘go fast jet-pack man’, Texan, Eric Scott, who will fly over the square and track powered only by a jet-pack strapped to his back.

The race car of the late David Leslie, who died in aircraft crash earlier this year, will be on show in a fitting tribute to the Scotsman.

The free event is being hosted for the first time by Glasgow City Council along with a strong road and bike safety awareness message.

Here’s a little clip from last year’s ‘Superbikes In The Square’;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmyjx9rwK5o