British Superbike News

Leon Camier 2009

Last weekend saw the British Superbike Championship heading to Thruxton with Leon Camier on the Airwaves Yamaha winning both races.

Race One

In the first race of the afternoon, Leon Camier, who had qualified in pole position for the fourth round of the championship, led home the Airwaves Yamaha team ahead of his team-mate James Ellison.

Stuart Easton on the Hydrex Honda crossed the line in third followed by MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider Simon Andrews who battled with Glen Richards on the HM Plant Honda for the fourth place.

As the race got underway it was Ellison who took the lead into the first corner with Easton in second as Camier dropped back to third.  Andrews came from tenth on the grid up to an impressive fourth place until he was pushed back to fifth by Richards before the end of the first lap.

Camier passed Easton on lap 3 before passing his team-mate to take the lead on the next lap as the battle continued behind him between Andrews and Richards for the fourth position.

Andrews made an impressive move on Richards with two laps of the race remaining but couldn’t hold it, however, later in the lap he made his move stick as he entered Campbell’s.

Tristan Palmer on the Buildbase Kawasaki did not start either of the races on Sunday after being thrown from his bike at the Noble bend during qualifying.  The 26-year-old suffered bumps and bruises and took part in the Sunday warm-up session but decided that he was in no condition to take part in the race and did not line up on the grid.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 25mins 27.557secs 20 laps
2. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +1.296secs
3. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +7.236secs
4. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +11.670secs
5. Michael Rutter GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +11.304secs
6. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda +11.515secs
7. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +15.872secs
8. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +19.707secs
9. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +23.199secs Cup
10. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +27.392secs
11. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +31.048secs
12. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +32.266secs
13. Jason O’Halloran AUS SMT Honda +32.392secs
14. Atsushi Watanabe JPN Relentless TAS Suzuki +33.021secs
15. Tom Tunstall GBR Hardinge Doodson Honda +33.294secs Cup

Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki Did Not Start

Race Two

The Airwaves Yamaha rider, Camier, took his sixth win in race two at Thruxton, again followed by his team-mate Ellison.

Brookes took third for the HM Plant Honda team followed by Easton on the Hydrex Honda and Michael Rutter on the Worx Suzuki.

An impressive ride for the Quay Garage Honda rider Gary Mason, who had qualified on the front row of the grid, and Michael Rutter who was alongside him, riding for the injured Sylvain Guintoli.

As the bikes left the line, it was once again Ellison who took the advantage and led going into Allard, while behind him Andrews sneaked up the inside of Easton to take third.

Camier was soon past Ellison and stretching the gap between himself and the other riders, setting the fastest lap of the race.

On lap 7, Easton passed Andrews at the chicane, while on lap 9 Brookes began to make progress, closing the gap as he then proceeded to pass Rutter, Richards and Andrews.

Atsushi Watanabe on the Relentless Suzuki, crashed out at the chicane on lap 14, ending his race as his bike hit the kerbing.

It was a disastrous weekend for the Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha rider Chris Walker after retiring on lap 1 of race one with a generator failure and then following an engine change, retired on lap 8 of race two with another mechanical failure.

Disappointment also for the Relentless Suzuki rider Ian Lowry at Thruxton after struggling for grip with his rear tyre leaving him with only an eighth place.

Here are the results;

1. Leon Camier GBR Airwaves Yamaha 25mins 25.643secs 20 laps
2. James Ellison GBR Airwaves Yamaha +3.505secs
3. Josh Brookes AUS HM Plant Honda +3.640ecs
4. Stuart Easton GBR Hydrex Honda +5.693secs
5. Michael Rutter GBR Worx Crescent Suzuki +6.632secs
6. Simon Andrews GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki +8.089secs
7. Glen Richards AUS HM Plant Honda +11.365secs
8. Ian Lowry GBR Relentless TAS Suzuki +11.648secs
9. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda +14.344secs
10. Julien Da Costa FRA MSS Colchester Kawasaki +17.324secs
11. John Laverty IRL Buildbase Kawasaki +21.427secs
12. Gary Mason GBR Quay Honda +25.302secs Cup
13. Graeme Gowland GBR Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha +33.961secs
14. Martin Jessopp GBR Riders Racing Honda +34.061secs Cup
15. Peter Hickman GBR Ultimate Yamaha +34.260secs Cup

Tristan Palmer GBR Buildbase Kawasaki Did Not Start