MCE British Superbike Championship

Brands Hatch, England

July 20, 2014

Superbike Race One Results (all on Pirelliti tires):

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), 19 laps, 28:21.703

2. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -0.103 second

3. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -0.687

4. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -3.290 seconds

5. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4.378

6. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -5.160

7. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Duc 1199 Panigale R), -6.130

8. Richard Cooper, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -8.956

9. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -12.055

10. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -12.259

11. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -12.571

12. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -12.652

13. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -13.066

14. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -17.702

15. Patric Muff, Switzerland (BMW S1000RR), -22.923

16. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -23.040

17. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -25.876

18. Ian Hutchinson, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -31.956

19. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -31.986

20. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -32.459

21. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -32.999

22. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -50.166

23. Rhalf Lo Turco, Brazil (Kaw ZX-10R), -61.378

24. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -7 laps, DNF

25. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -7 laps, DNF

26. Gary Mason, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -9 laps, DNF

27. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -16 laps, DNF

Superbike Race Two Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires):

1. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 15 laps, 24:55.675

2. Richard Cooper, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4.627 seconds

3. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -6.082

4. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -7.253

5. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -8.247

6. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -14.094

7. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -16.720

8. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -19.427

9. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -24.495

10. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -37.219

11. Gary Mason, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -41.229

12. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -48.075

13. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -49.341

14. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -53.073

15. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -53.706

16. Ian Hutchinson, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -53.896

17. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -61.656

18. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -68.609

19. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -68.794

20. Rhalf Lo Turco, Brazil (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap

21. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Duc 1199 Panigale R), -7 laps, DNF

22. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), -9 laps, DNF

Superbike Championship Point Standings (after 10 of 26 races):

1. Byrne, 221 points

2. Brookes, 129

3. Ellison, 124

4. Kiyonari, 107

5. Bridewell, 101

6. Walker, 96

7. Linfoot, 90

8. Easton, 82

9. Cooper, 69

10. Hopkins, 64

11. Waters, 46

12. Smrz, 43

13. Westmoreland, 39

14. Kirkham, 26

15. Rutter, 24

16. Wilson, 22

17. Farmer, 21

18. Burrell, 18

19. Muff, 16

20. Jessopp, 13

More Americans competing at Brands Hatch:

James Rispoli, riding his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6, finished 12th in the dry Motorpoint British Supersport race. Rispoli finished 24.412 seconds behind winner Alastair Seeley and his Yamaha YZF-R6.

Jayson Uribe finished eighth overall and fifth in the Moto3 class in the dry Motul British Motostar race on his FPW Racing/R5R Honda. Uribe finished 24.083 seconds behind overall and Moto3 class winner Olly Simpson, who rode a KTM.

Anthony Alonso DNF the Motul British Motostar race on his SP125/BARF Racing Honda. 

Former AMA Pro regular Ben Young, a resident of Canada, placed 17th out of 39 riders in the dry 1000cc Superstock race. Riding his Team WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R, Young finished 36.712 seconds behind Danny Buchan, who won the race on a Kawasaki ZX-10R.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:

ROUND FIVE 20 JULY BRANDS HATCH GRAND PRIX CIRCUIT
KIYONARI STRIKES THEN WATERS TAKES DEBUT VICTORY

Results

Race one:
1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW
2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.103s
3: James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +0.687s
4: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +3.290s
5: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +4.378s
6: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +5.160s

Race two:
1: Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki)
2: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +4.627s
3: Keith Farmer (PR Racing) +6.082s
4: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +7.253s
5: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +8.247s
6: Jon Kirkham (Halsall Biker Gear Kawasaki) +14.094s

Championship standings:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 221
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 129
3: James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 124
4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 107
5: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 101
6: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 96

Report

Ryuichi Kiyonari beat off a hard-fought challenge from Shane Byrne to win the opening race of the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. However he couldn’t repeat the feat in the second wet race as Australian Josh Waters powered to his debut victory in the series.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne had led at the start, but was under pressure from James Ellison and Kiyonari. The Japanese rider snatched the lead with three laps remaining to take the victory by 0.103s aboard his Buildbase BMW.

Kiyonari said: “In practice I was not as fast, but the team changed things on the bike and got it working well. That is why I can I can hardly believe we won, it is down to my team and I am very happy.”

Ellison took third ahead of his Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki team-mate Chris Walker with Dan Linfoot enjoying his best result of the season on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki in fifth place ahead of Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes.

Byrne was eager to make amends in race two, charging his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki into the lead but the race was stopped after three laps by a spectacular crash by Ellison. Ellison’s bike cart-wheeled across the track and Byrne was clipped by the flying machine. Byrne said: “It was a bit of worry when I saw it. James went onto the grass and his bike came around and hit me and that squeezed my fingers against the lever.”

The re-start lasted only four laps before it was halted by rainfall. The race restarted in wet conditions and Waters took charge on the Tyco Suzuki to take his maiden win in the series. Waters said: “This is awesome and not something I was expecting after the weekend I have had, but it was pretty cool when I got the lead. Then with five laps to go I was concentrating on keeping the gap.”

Waters took the win by almost five seconds from Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki’s Richard Cooper and Keith Farmer on the PR Racing Kawasaki, who also scored their first podium finish in the championship. Tommy Bridewell ran fourth on the Milwaukee Yamaha with Byrne finishing in fifth.

Some consolation for Byrne was being crowned the “Monster Energy King of Brands”, with the results across the two races combined to decide the victor. Byrne also increased his lead in the standings to 92 points over Josh Brookes who struggled to eighth, whilst race one winner Kiyonari was forced out of the second race by a technical problem.

For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

More, from a press release issued by Buildbase BMW Motorrad:

Kiyonari proves he’s back with another victory at a storm-lashed Brands Hatch.

Ryuichi Kiyonari has proven without a shadow of a doubt that he’s back to his winning ways following a sensational victory in what some are already calling the BSB ‘race of the year’. Kiyo took the fight to the current MCE British Superbike championship leader Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and denied him a much-desired win at his home circuit in hot and humid conditions.

The Japanese rider came through a challenging weekend which saw him only qualifying sixth, to blitz his way to the finish line in a thrilling race. Byrne led Walker and Ellison until the fifth lap when the Safety Car was deployed after Barry Burrell crashed at Druids.

As the yellow flags were lifted Byrne held the position, but soon got overtaken by his team mate Ellison, leaving Buildbase BMW Motorrad’s Kiyonari within striking distance. Kiyo hunted down the two team mates – overtaking both – to cross the line on his BMW S 1000 RR just 0.103 seconds ahead of a disappointed Byrne.

Lee Jackson made his British Superbike race debut today filling in for an injured James Westmoreland, and the young rider proved he was worth the gamble after finishing 16th and 18th in the two races. Jackson had a stunning ride in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race, which he led for some time and eventually finished third after a nail-biting battle with eventual winner and second place rider Danny Buchan and Jason O’Halloran.

The young Lincolnshire lad got off his Superstock S 1000 RR in Parc Ferme and jogged to the garage to form up on the grid for the first British Superbike race, going on to finish 16th.

While race one was warm and dry, by the time race two rolled around conditions had worsened significantly, with the skies to the north almost black and lit by sporadic lightning. The race was started, but soon red-flagged due to a crash. With the weather threatening to close in, it was re-started but lasted not even two laps before being red-flagged again due to rain finally reaching the circuit.

The third and final time the race was started in wet but drying conditions was a complete turnaround from the earlier fixture, with three riders making their podium debut as Josh Waters won, former BMW-riding Superstock 1000 champion Richard Cooper came second and Keith Farmer third. Kiyonari led the race in first place early on, but dropped back positions before retiring after his bike misfired. Feeling that the race had suffered enough incidents and re-starts already, he elected to pull to the side of the track and play it safe.

Ryuichi Kiyonari said: “I’m so happy to have another win so soon. I did worry that people might say ‘Kiyo was lucky at Knockhill, but that’s all’ so to win again was a big relief. We had problems this weekend getting the setup right because the chassis is really good, but the weather conditions kept changing. But overnight the mechanics got it working so well and I was fastest in warm up today. I knew I could ride with Shakey, Ellison, Walker – everyone. I relaxed a bit. The race was a bit stop start with the safety car, but I had a great battle with Shakey and I was lucky enough to win.

“I hoped to do the same in race two, but Shakey told me not to be so greedy! Race two was just all over the place with different settings, weather changing and having to guess how it would happen. I predicted there would be more rain so I had a wet setup… but it didn’t quite get that wet. Next time I’ll know better. I’m still learning – I know I’m quite old, but I don’t know everything yet! I’m glad I could win for the team, for BMW Motorrad and for all my fans – thank you.”

Lee Jackson said: “The Superstock race was good, really fun, and very close. I was leading so I had the pace to win, but unfortunately I got beaten up by Jason O’Halloran on track which pushed me back and I couldn’t quite close back down on the front two. And from the podium I had to rush back to the garage to get out in the first BSB race!

“Switching to a Superbike is a big step. At first they don’t seem so different, especially as they’re both BMW S 1000 RRs. But it’s when you get up to peak power, or when you get hard on the brakes… they are amazing motorcycles. I was very glad to get the chance to try it and I’d like to thank the team for giving me the opportunity. It was a long hard weekend, but I don’t feel too bad now. However I think I might be suffering a bit tomorrow!”

Stuart Hicken, team owner, said: “I could not have asked for any more from my riders this weekend – nor from the team. Kiyo was a bit concerned that people might think he’s a Knockhill specialist, but we had confidence he can do it anywhere. And he took another win in what people are already saying might be the race of the season. It was clean, it was fair and it was all in Shakey’s back yard. The second race was interrupted twice, when Kiyo was doing well, but in the end it wasn’t to be. But we leave here in a great position: Kiyo’s fourth in the championship, he’s beaten Shakey twice and he’s on the pace. Bring it on, Thruxton.”

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch GP, race one result:

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad)2. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.103s3. James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +0.687s4. Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +3.290s5. Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +4.378s6. Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +5.160s7. Jakub Smrz (Millsport Ducati) +6.130s8. Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +8.956s9. John Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +12.05510. Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +12.259s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch GP:

1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2212. Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1293. James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 1244. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 1075. Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1016. Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 96

The next round in the 2014 MCE British Superbike Championship will be Thruxton in two weeks’ time.

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

TOUGH DAY AT THE OFFICE FOR MILWAUKEE YAMAHA AT BRANDS HATCH

The Milwaukee Yamaha team have vowed to come back stronger after a challenging fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch today. In the opening race of the day both riders were determined to fight their way through the pack, but for Josh Brookes he was unable to match his pace from earlier in the weekend and battled to sixth position, whilst Tommy Bridewell was forced to retire. The second race was halted twice and was restarted in wet conditions. Bridewell was eager to score points for his championship challenge after missing out in race one and worked his way up to fourth place with some decisive moves. Brookes meanwhile had been picking off the riders ahead of him, but then on the tenth lap he ran on at Surtees. The Australian was able to rejoin and salvage an eighth place finish to leave Brands Hatch in second place in the overall standings. Brookes said: “I am not sure why it has been difficult this weekend. The thing that troubles me the most is that I went faster on Friday than I have done the rest of the weekend. In second practice I did a lot of good times, consistently. The rest of the weekend I have not even been able to get close to those times and I even crashed in qualifying trying. We have had an off weekend, of course you would like to be perfect at every event, but for some reason I didn’t have a good feeling for the bike after the crash. “I thought I would go forward in the wet second race with those conditions, but I didn’t have the confidence in the wet either. At one point I was starting to get a feeling that I could make a bit of progress and then I ran off the track when the bike slid. I then just bought it home and thought, don’t bust it here, save it for the next round’”. Bridewell said: “Today was a testing day for me and the team to be honest. We showed a really good and strong pace all weekend. I loved riding my bike in all the conditions today though so all credit the team. We have made no secret we have had a niggling brake problem the last couple of races and it got the better of us in race one which forced me to DNF. We did everything possible to solve it and then it rained, so we can’t be certain we fixed the problem, but we didn’t have any issues in race two. All in all it has been a satisfying weekend, we are fifth in the championship, and we are not a million miles away so we can’t be too disappointed.” Team co-ordinator Mick Shanley said: “This weekend has not been what we expected, especially when free practice started well for us. In qualifying and the races though, we struggled to match that pace and we now need to work hard to work out why and resolve that ready for Thruxton. It has been frustrating as we know we should be pushing for more than what we have achieved today, but we need to focus our efforts on Thruxton and we will be doing everything to fulfil our potential.” For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com More, from a press release issued by Tyco Suzuki: WATERS TAKES DEBUT BSB WIN AT BRANDS HATCH WITH TYCO SUZUKI 20th July 2014 British Superbike Championship – Round 5, Brands Hatch GP Popular Australian Josh Waters took his maiden British Superbike victory, and Tyco Suzuki’s first top step of the season, during a shortened BSB race two at Brands Hatch on the GP circuit earlier today. The former Australian Superbike champion forced his Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 to the front of field in the opening laps of the 15 lap encounter on a wet and treacherous Brands Hatch GP circuit, and from there the affable Aussie stretched his lead to an unassailable five seconds. A delighted Waters, who heads to Japan tomorrow in preparation for next weekend’s Suzuka 8-hour with the Yoshimura Suzuki team said: “I’m absolutely over the moon to have got my first BSB win and to have done it with Tyco Suzuki is just amazing. The team have shown great faith in me and although it was unexpected, I felt great on the bike in that second race. I did think to myself, ‘they are going to catch me’ but I rode a pretty solid race and the GSX-R1000 was faultless. “It’s just what we all needed and the win is as much for Philip Neill and the boys in the team and everyone at Suzuki and Tyco; and all our other sponsors, as it is for me. It will certainly make my flight to Japan a lot more pleasurable tomorrow and my lucky Irish Leprechaun charm, that the boys got me, is packed and making the trip to Suzuka!” His team-mate John Hopkins had an equally impressive ride in the opening 20-lap race. Unfortunately Hopper stalled his bike following the warm-up lap due to a clutch adjustment problem, and when the full grid was forced into an additional warm up lap – the number 21 Tyco Suzuki was left to start from the rear of the grid. Visibly frustrated and fired up, Hopper showed some of his best moves on track this season, lifting himself to ninth at the end of the race. In the second race after a strong start, he drifted back to finish tenth. Hopkins said: “I’m obviously disappointed and was angry at the time to have to start from the back row of the grid, but also pleased that I was able to pass so many riders. I’m not sure what exactly the problem was with the clutch lever, but it was an encouraging finish, although I do believe we could have been in that front group challenging for a podium had we not had the problem.” Team Manager Philip Neill said: “What a fantastic ride from Josh today. I can’t express how happy we are for him as a team, as he is one of the nicest guys in racing and his talent is unquestionable. “It’s fair to say we have had a tough start to the year, but I’m confident this is a turning point. We have always been confident in the performance level of the GSX-R and a fighting ninth place for John in race one was also a very respectable result from the back of the grid. In Supersport Taylor is fighting as hard as ever, and again we believe he has the talent to progress further as the season progresses. We have already implemented some additional benefits this weekend off the track, which should help him push closer to where his talent deserves to be in the class.” Taylor Mackenzie said of his weekend: “It’s a case of trying to qualifying stronger in the coming rounds, but I was a lot happier with today’s performance than Saturday’s race. I had a really good morning warm up which inspired confidence and I wasn’t so far away from the front group in today’s race with some good lap times.” MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch Grand Prix, race two result: 1. Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) 2. Richard Cooper (Kawasaki) +4.627s 3. Keith Farmer (Kawasaki) +6.082s 4. Tommy Bridewell (Yamaha) +7.253s 5. Shane Byrne (Kawasaki) +8.247s 6. Jon Kirkham (Kawasaki) +14.094s 7. Dan Linfoot (Kawasaki) +16.720s 8. Josh Brookes (Yamaha) +19.427s 9. Chris Walker (Kawasaki) +24.495s 10. John Hopkins (Suzuki) +37.219s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch GP, race one result: 1. Ryuichi Kiyonari (BMW] 2. Shane Byrne (Kawasaki) +0.103s 3. James Ellison (Kawasaki) +0.687s 4. Chris Walker (Kawasaki) +3.290s 5. Dan Linfoot (Kawasaki) +4.378s 6. Josh Brookes (Yamaha) +5.160s 7. Jakub Smrz (Ducati) +6.130s 8. Richard Cooper (Kawasaki) +8.956s 9. John Hopkins (Suzuki) +12.055 10. Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +12.259s Follow us on Twitter: @tyco_suzuki Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/tycosuzukibytas www.tyco-suzuki.co.uk