BSB Report – Croft 12th Sept 2010

Words:- Sue Symons

Photos:- Tony Todd

Michael Laverty ahead of Hill - Photo by Tony Todd

The weather was changeable for free practice and qualifying but thankfully race day was dry and sunny for the tenth round of the MCE British Superbike Championship. The ‘title showdown’ started here in North Yorkshire with the top six riders following the last round at Cadwell Park going into battle over the last seven races of the season for the ultimate crown. Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Tommy Hill is a strong contender for the crown along with HM Plant Honda team mates Ryuichi Kiyonari and Josh Brookes. Joining them in the top six are the Irish Relentless Suzuki by Tas riders Michael Laverty and Alistair Seeley, and Michael Rutter having a superb season on his Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati.

Michael Laverty leads Tommy Hill through the chicane - Photo by Tony Todd

Hill went on to snatch pole position for Sunday’s first race in a dramatic final qualifying dash with Laverty second and Rutter third, with Swan Honda’s James Ellison taking the last front row position in fourth. The second row of the grid was headed by local man Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) and next up was Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki). Along-side him was Stuart Easton on the second Swan Honda. A surprise qualification in eighth was 17 year-old Frenchman Loris Baz standing in for the injured Andrew Pitt on the second Motorpoint Yamaha. Heading the third row was the Ultimate Racing Yamaha of Peter Hickman securing his first top ten qualification of the season, while the HM Plant Honda’s had a traumatic time with Kiyonari having to settle for tenth quickest after falling early on in the final session and Brookes who was having problems with set up not where he wanted to be – way down in thirteenth!

Local Team and quite local rider Stuart Easton - Photo by Tony Todd

Laverty was first off the line in the race followed by Hill and Rutter, Hill snatched the lead at the hairpin on the fourth lap and stayed there beating Laverty to the chequered flag by a mere .155second. Unaware of the drama that unfolded behind them as the race progressed, Seeley crashed out of eighth at the hairpin on lap ten, then three laps later Rutter tumbled out of third at the same spot. Moments later Tommy Bridewell was forced to retire his Quay Garage Honda with a cracked exhaust, and then Ellison who was holding third pulled into the pits with a slow puncture.

It was so good to see Stuart Easton back on the pace and finishing third with Simon Andrews having his best result of the season so far in fourth, Linfoot rode well to finish fifth just ahead of Brookes with Baz making an impressive debut in seventh. A disappointing start saw former double champion Kiyonari languishing well down the pack in twenty second place but he fought back well eventually finishing eleventh at the chequered flag.

Big Ed with his Pirelli friend on the grid before BSB race 1 - Photo by Tony Todd

Grid Positions for the second race were determined by the fastest lap times in the first race and again Hill was on Pole from Laverty just ahead of the local Guisborough based Shaun Muir Racing team mates Ellison and Easton. Laverty powered off the line followed by Easton will Hill third, Hill snatched second on the fourth lap but Easton fought back regaining the position until a couple of laps later when Hill made his move again and set his sights on race leader Laverty. Easton held on to third ahead of Rutter and Ellison who were having a good scrap for fourth.

Hill lunged up the inside of Laverty at the hairpin to take the lead on the fifteenth lap but half a lap later at Tower Laverty snatched it back only to fall into the clutches of Hill again a few seconds later. A couple of laps later Laverty pulled off a superb late braking manoeuvre at Tower to take the lead and this time he held his ground going on to defend his lines in a sensational last lap to keep Hill at bay taking victory by just 0.2second. Easton was delighted to finish third again, while Kiyonari put on a better show snatching fourth from Rutter on the final lap. Ellison held on to sixth with Bridewell a well deserved seventh just ahead of struggling Brookes, while Linfoot continued his run of good form to finish ninth.

Hill leaves the North Yorkshire circuit with a 16 point advantage Laverty who is 11 points ahead of Kiyonari who in turn holds slender 1 point advantage over team mate Brookes!

Josh Wainright - Photo by Tony Todd

Sam Lowes (GNS Racing) claimed his fourth victory of the season giving him a 40 point advantage at the top of the table in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship.

Lowes set the fastest lap in qualifying before crashing heavily wrecking the Honda which had to be rebuilt for the race. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) made lightening start from his fifth place grid position to grab the hole-shot followed by James Westmoreland (Came Yamaha) with Graeme Gowland (PTR Honda) who incidentally started his illustrious career at Croft circuit a few years ago at a North East Club meeting, third. Sam Lowes was next up followed by his twin brother Alex (Seton Interceptor Yamaha) with Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/Macadam racing Yamaha) looking good in sixth. Billy McConnell got on the gas a bit early and high-sided his CAME Yamaha on the opening lap at Clervaux which brought out the pace car for three laps. By lap seven Westmoreland was up front with Gowland in hot pursuit but coming under pressure from Alex Lowes. Alex set a new lap record 1m 22.043s and moved into the lead on the following lap, then he made a mistake and dropped back to fifth allowing brother Sam to move up to second and chase new leader Gowland. But with five laps to go Gowlands engine blew big style depositing oil on the circuit which brought the race to a premature end. Sam was declared the winner with Westmoreland second Kennedy third and Alex Lowes fourth.

Jon Kirkham was crowned the Metzeler National Superstock Champion after taking his fourth victory of the season on his family entered BMW 1000. Kirkham inherited the lead when early leader Scott Smart was forced to retire his Moto Rapido Ducati with machine problems. Tristan Palmer (Jentin Racing BMW) settled into second which he held to the flag with Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda) snatching third from Barry Burrell (Buildbase Kawasaki) on the penultimate lap.

Luke Stapleford (Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing) took a well deserved maiden victory in an incident packed Metzeler National Superstock 600 race finishing ahead of Jimmy Hill (MAP Group Triumph) with John Simpson third but Simpson was later excluded from the results after his machine failed post-race scrutineering infringement and Adam Lyon (MCT Suspension Yamaha) was awarded third. It was not a good day for championship leader Josh Day who tipped off his AIR Racing Yamaha at Hawthorn on the second lap likewise Josh Wainwright (AP Kawasaki) won after did lead the race for a while before falling in the complex on the penultimate lap. Well done to Barnard Castle rider Rob Brown (NYRRSC Yamaha) having a one off ride at his local circuit where after qualifying 26th he finished the race in 20th position.

John McPhee (KRP/Bradley Smith Racing) took victory in the twice red flagged Speedy Retail British 125 GP race held over from Knockhill, just getting the better of early race leader Dean Brown (Colin Appleyard/Macadam Honda) before Tom Weeden crashed in the slippery conditions as light rain started to fall on Saturday evening.

Former series leader James Lodge may as well have stayed at home this weekend because he did not score a point crashing out in both races as well as losing his championship lead to Rob Guiver (SP125/Brockwell Engineering). Taylor Mackenzie (KPR Node 4 MMCG) took his second victory of the season in Sunday’s race finishing just ahead of Dean Brown with McPhee third, Ed Rendall (Banks/Breadline Racing) fourth and Guiver fifth.