MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship ROUND THREE – OULTON PARK – 2/3 MAY
Tommy Hill, the leader in the chase for the MCE Insurance British Superbike title, shattered the four year old Oulton Park lap record to put his Worx Crescent Suzuki onto pole start for the Holiday Monday third round.
He enjoyed a scorching finale to the Swan Combi Roll for Pole session as he headed off the challenge of Flying Scot Stuart Easton to claim his second successive pole, bouncing back, as he had in the previous round from a spectacular high-side in free practice.
“I wasn’t prepared to settle for second so I pulled my finger out and went for it,” said Hill after his 1m 35.214secs charge around the 2.692 mile Cheshire circuit. “The team have got my bike working really well – it is mega so now I feel good to score more good points, keeping chipping away and staying consistent.”
Easton, fully recovered from the leg injuries sustained in pre-season testing, was not too disappointed as he settled for second best aboard his Swan Honda, running 0.394secs down, and reflecting: “That was a fairly typical qualifying session for me – I know my limit and didn’t want to push any harder than that.
“Importantly, I know what I can do in the race, so second on the grid is not a bad result. Now is the time for me to start winning races or taking podium finishes,” added Easton who goes into the races in third place in the standings.
Michael Rutter put his RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati, into third place on the starting grid, just ahead of Josh Brookes, whose win last time out moved him into second place in the title stakes, 34 points down on Hill.
“I’m bit surprised really to be on the front row,” admitted HM Plant Honda riding Brookes who put in a late surge up the placings. I gave it hell and got through, really stepping it up on the final laps.”
Alastair Seeley, a winner at the circuit last year en route to the National Superstock title, headed up the second row for Relentless Suzuki with a lap in 1m 36.113secs, to be ahead of former two times title winner, and six times race victor here, Ryuichi Kiyonari. His compatriot Yukio Kagayama lined up alongside with John Laverty eighth fastest on the Buildbase Kawasaki.
Michael Laverty and Quay Garage Honda rider Tommy Bridewell completed the top ten qualifiers while Aussie David Anthony, the leader in the chase for the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class title, set the pace in that category, running nineteenth fastest overall on the MIST Suzuki with a lap in 1m 38.402secs
Hudson Kennaugh, riding the MAR Kawasaki ran him close with Alex Lowes third fastest on his debut into Superbike action with the Redline KTM team running a third of a second up on Craig Fitzpatrick on the Close Print Finance Honda.
For the record
Swan Roll for Pole, top ten qualifiers
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m:35.214s
Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +0.394s
Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +0.408s
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +0.733s
Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.899s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +1.010s
Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +1.145s
John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +1.198s
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +1.368s
Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +1.576s
Superbikes on track
Monday 3 May
09.20 – 09.35 Warm-up practice
13.00 Race One – 18 laps
16.40 Race Two - 18 laps
Monday, May 03, 2010
Motogp Lorenzo rains in Spain
Jorge Lorenzo branded today's Gran Premio bwin de España at Jerez "a beautiful race" after edging out his compatriot Dani Pedrosa to take the win in front of an enthusiastic Spanish crowd.
Pedrosa brought his Repsol Honda home in second place, to make it a Spanish one-two, with reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi rounding out the podium in third. The 25 points secured today move Lorenzo to the top of the championship standings.
His traditional lightning start to the race saw pole holder Pedrosa lead into the first turn, with Rossi making up two places from the grid to move into second place. Nicky Hayden also got a good start from the second row of the grid to slot into third place as the field headed towards turn two.
Loris Capirossi's race ended at the last turn on lap three, as the veteran Italian pushed just a little too hard, lost the front and crashed uninjured. Aleix Espargaro also crashed shortly after, but was able to return to the race following running repairs in pit lane.
Ben Spies was the next casualty, pitting and retiring from the race after struggling with a front tyre problem on his Yamaha M1 while running in the top ten.
As the midway point of the race approached Pedrosa was leading well at a second-and-a-half ahead of Rossi, with Lorenzo a further two seconds back. The fight for seventh place was a close one, with San Carlo Honda Gresini team-mates Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli battling one another amongst a group of five riders.
At the same time Lorenzo was closing the gap on Rossi and on lap 21 passed his teammate before turning his focus to fellow countryman, Pedrosa. From there a superb duel developed between the two Spaniards.
With two laps to go Lorenzo caught up with the factory Honda rider and made his move to pass, but Pedrosa held his line and the two almost touched as the excitement continued to increase.
In the end it came down to the last lap and as Pedrosa drifted wide at the Dry Sack corner while trying to defend his line Lorenzo swept through to assume the lead, which he held to the chequered flag. Crossing the line the Fiat Yamaha rider was 0.543s ahead of Pedrosa, with Rossi placing third to complete the podium.
Lorenzo promptly celebrated his win by jumping fully clothed into the lake in the centre of the Jerez circuit…
"I saw the lake on Thursday and thought it would be funny to jump in. I think the fans liked it, but I didn't really think about how heavy I'd be with wet leathers and for a minute I thought I wasn't going to get out," declared Lorenzo. "The dream nearly turned into a nightmare."
The Fiat Yamaha rider was eventually rescued by marshals and returned to pit lane to continue the victory celebrations.
"After a bad start I rode like a demon to get the front and I had a great fight with Dani when I eventually caught him. When I tried to pass him the first time we nearly crashed, but I knew I had to try again on the final lap. I know it's better to win races calmly from the front; today I had to fight on every lap," concluded the new Championship leader.
Completing the top five were Ducati Marlboro riders Nicky Hayden, who repeated his fourth spot from Qatar, and Casey Stoner, with Andrea Dovizioso taking sixth place.
Mika Kallio completed an impressive rise from last place on the grid to take seventh, with Melandri, Randy de Puniet and Álvaro Bautista also placing inside the top ten.
Pedrosa brought his Repsol Honda home in second place, to make it a Spanish one-two, with reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi rounding out the podium in third. The 25 points secured today move Lorenzo to the top of the championship standings.
His traditional lightning start to the race saw pole holder Pedrosa lead into the first turn, with Rossi making up two places from the grid to move into second place. Nicky Hayden also got a good start from the second row of the grid to slot into third place as the field headed towards turn two.
Loris Capirossi's race ended at the last turn on lap three, as the veteran Italian pushed just a little too hard, lost the front and crashed uninjured. Aleix Espargaro also crashed shortly after, but was able to return to the race following running repairs in pit lane.
Ben Spies was the next casualty, pitting and retiring from the race after struggling with a front tyre problem on his Yamaha M1 while running in the top ten.
As the midway point of the race approached Pedrosa was leading well at a second-and-a-half ahead of Rossi, with Lorenzo a further two seconds back. The fight for seventh place was a close one, with San Carlo Honda Gresini team-mates Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli battling one another amongst a group of five riders.
At the same time Lorenzo was closing the gap on Rossi and on lap 21 passed his teammate before turning his focus to fellow countryman, Pedrosa. From there a superb duel developed between the two Spaniards.
With two laps to go Lorenzo caught up with the factory Honda rider and made his move to pass, but Pedrosa held his line and the two almost touched as the excitement continued to increase.
In the end it came down to the last lap and as Pedrosa drifted wide at the Dry Sack corner while trying to defend his line Lorenzo swept through to assume the lead, which he held to the chequered flag. Crossing the line the Fiat Yamaha rider was 0.543s ahead of Pedrosa, with Rossi placing third to complete the podium.
Lorenzo promptly celebrated his win by jumping fully clothed into the lake in the centre of the Jerez circuit…
"I saw the lake on Thursday and thought it would be funny to jump in. I think the fans liked it, but I didn't really think about how heavy I'd be with wet leathers and for a minute I thought I wasn't going to get out," declared Lorenzo. "The dream nearly turned into a nightmare."
The Fiat Yamaha rider was eventually rescued by marshals and returned to pit lane to continue the victory celebrations.
"After a bad start I rode like a demon to get the front and I had a great fight with Dani when I eventually caught him. When I tried to pass him the first time we nearly crashed, but I knew I had to try again on the final lap. I know it's better to win races calmly from the front; today I had to fight on every lap," concluded the new Championship leader.
Completing the top five were Ducati Marlboro riders Nicky Hayden, who repeated his fourth spot from Qatar, and Casey Stoner, with Andrea Dovizioso taking sixth place.
Mika Kallio completed an impressive rise from last place on the grid to take seventh, with Melandri, Randy de Puniet and Álvaro Bautista also placing inside the top ten.
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