Hawk looking for strong weekend at Thruxton Round 3 – 14th, 16th and 17th April After the appalling weather at Donington Park last weekend Hawk Kawasaki are hoping that conditions will be kinder to them this weekend (14th, 16th and 17th April) at Thruxton Race Circuit, Hampshire. With poor results at the second round, Hawk are eager for six strong finishes at the third round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. With a large crowd expected at the 2.4 mile circuit over the Bank Holiday weekend the three riders, Dean Thomas (33), Craig Coxhell (23) and Peter Hickman (19) are aiming high. Coxhell, however, is carrying an injury that he sustained after crashing at Donington. He will be gritting his teeth and fighting through the pain barrier. The young Australian suffered a broken collarbone after high siding during the wet race at Donington whilst in fifth position. All three riders are looking to improve on their results from last weekend and Team Manager Stuart Hicken is hoping for a crash free weekend. The Hawk team are working hard in the short period of time to ensure the Kawasaki ZX10’s are ready for racing at Thruxton. Sheffield based Dean Thomas commented “Things certainly can’t be any worse than what they were at Donington and they can only get better this weekend at Thruxton. I really enjoy the circuit and got some pretty good results there last year. There are still some changes to be made on the Kawasaki but we are gradually moving in the right direction and things are progressing.” Coalville rider Coxhell said “This weekend is certainly going to be difficult for me due to my injury. Thruxton is the hardest and bumpiest circuit on the BSB calendar and it’s certainly going to test my strength but I need to get some more Championship points. I’ve been having intensive physio and laser treatment on my collarbone and it’s beginning to feel a little better. It might be a blessing that we now only have one qualifying session this year to enable me a little more time to heal.” The youngest rider in the squad Peter Hickman is keen to get out on the Hawk bike again saying “Every weekend I seem to be getting a feel for the bike and learning more each time I go out on track. I was unlucky not to finish in the points at Donington but that is my main target this weekend. I’m really enjoying my time, but the season is going so quickly already.” For more information on the weekend’s racing please see www.hawkkawasaki.co.uk Please note there is no track activity on Saturday 15th April. 2006 British Superbike Calendar: – Round 3 – 14 17 April Thruxton, Hampshire 21 April Official BSB Test Oulton Park Round 4 – 29 Apr 01 May Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 5 – 19 21 May Mondello Park, Southern Ireland Round 6 – 02 04 June Mallory Park, Leicestershire Round 7 – 16 18 June Snetterton, Norfolk 05 06 July Official BSB Test Croft Round 8 – 14 16 July Knockhill, Scotland Round 9 – 21 23 July Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 10 – 11 13 August Croft, North Yorkshire 17 August Official BSB Test Cadwell Park Round 11 – 26 28 August Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire 31 August Official BSB Test Silverstone Round 12 – 15 17 September Silverstone, Northamptonshire Round 13 – 29 Sept 01 Oct Brands Hatch, Kent More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki: Team Suzuki Press Office April 13, 2006. Thruxton is Rizla Suzuki’s home circuit that boasts a 112mph+ average lap speed, making it the fastest circuit the British Superbikes visit and a fact the team will be hoping to use to its advantage at the third round of the Championship this weekend. The 2.35-mile track boasts a 200mph straight and traditionally delivers close and exciting racing. Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and James Haydon are hoping the high-speed nature of the track will play to the strengths of the ultra-fast GSX-R1000 which has led through the speed traps at each of the previous two rounds. The ex-airfield track in Hampshire is situated less than 45-minutes from the Rizla Suzuki team headquarters at the Crescent Performance Centre in Verwood, Dorset. The team is expecting strong home support in the crowd when the racing starts on Bank Holiday Monday, April 17th at 13:30. Shakey Byrne: “At Brands Hatch and Donington Park, the GSX-R1000 has been a missile and I’ve been either fastest or close to it through all of the speed traps. “Add that base speed to my growing confidence in the bike as well as a lot of home fans supporting the team and we will come out fighting at Thruxton this weekend. I believe we can challenge at the front.” James Haydon: “After the rain, hail and cold temperatures of the last two rounds I’m really hoping for better weather this weekend it makes the racing more exciting and enjoyable for riders and spectators alike. “We made a breakthrough with set-up at the last round and we are getting stronger every time we ride the bike. The podium is my target for Thruxton.”