MCE British Superbike Championship

Oulton Park, England

September 10, 2016

Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 18 laps, Total Race Time 28:40.371, Best Lap Time 1:34.564

2. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -4.536 seconds, 1:34.732

3. Peter Hickman, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -7.761, 1:35.293

4. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Hon CBR1000RR SP), -8.016, 1:35.186

5. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP), -9.902, 1:34.861

6. Richard Cooper, UK (BMW S1000RR), -10.261, 1:35.474

7. Luke Mossey, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -13.711, 1:34.669

8. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW S1000RR), -16.299, 1:35.446

9. Shane Byrne, UK (Duc Panigale R), -16.380, 1:34.720

10. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -19.318, 1:35.577

11. Jake Dixon, UK (BMW S1000RR), -25.144, 1:35.398

12. John Hopkins, USA (Yam YZF-R1), -27.717, 1:35.016

13. Danny Buchan, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -30.038, 1:36.084

14. Broc Parkes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -34.332, 1:35.955

15. Stuart Easton, UK (Duc Panigale R), -34.825, 1:36.302

16. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), -37.913, 1:36.065

17. James Rispoli, USA (Yam YZF-R1), -41.189, 1:36.337

18. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), -43.748, 1:36.495

19. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kaw ZX-10R), -48.719, 1:36.735

20. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -71.458, 1:37.792

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

Haslam wins as JG Speedfit Kawasaki claim historic triple podium with the Showdown beckoning

Leon Haslam emerged victorious in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the triple-header weekend at Oulton Park. The intense Showdown deciding weekend produced a historic race one for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team who completely locked out the podium for the first time with James Ellison in second place ahead of Peter Hickman.

At the start of the race Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne hit the front of the pack from the pole position, but Ellison was instantly on the attack and had captured the lead before the stream of riders reached Clay Hill for the first time.

Ellison was then leading Byrne, Haslam and a fighting Tommy Bridewell, with fellow Showdown contenders Luke Mossey, Peter Hickman, Michael Laverty and Richard Cooper in hot pursuit. As Bridewell made a bid to move up the order, the Bennetts Suzuki rider crashed out heavily, he was able to get to his feet, but that now puts him out of Showdown contention.

At the front Haslam was hounding Ellison for the lead and took the advantage at Lodge on the ninth lap to force his team-mate back to second with Byrne sitting in third place. The trio had made a break at the front, but a huge moment for Byrne on the exit of Hislop chicane saw the championship leader take to the gravel and rejoin in ninth place.

It was a disastrous race too for Showdown contender Christian Iddon who crashed out at Brittens on the ninth lap and he now lies 35 points off sixth place in the standings with a maximum of 50 up for grabs in the two races tomorrow.

Glenn Irwin was another rider to crash out of contention, but the Be Wiser Ducati rider was able to walk away from his tumble at Lodge on the ninth lap.

Haslam was fending off his team-mate Ellison, but behind Hickman had taken advantage of Byrne’s mistake after getting the better of Jason O’Halloran and Mossey to move up into third place and despite pressure in the latter stages, he held the final podium position.

O’Halloran held fourth ahead of his team-mate Dan Linfoot, who still holds fifth place in the overall standings, with just a single point separating him and sixth placed Michael Laverty who finished in eighth position.

Two races tomorrow (Sunday) will decide which of the seven contenders will become the final three riders to join Byrne, Haslam and O’Halloran in the Showdown six which kicks off at Donington Park next weekend (16/17/18 September).

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, race one result:

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)

James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +4.536s

Peter Hickman (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +7.761s

Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +8.016s

Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +9.902s

Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +10.261s

Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) +13.711s

Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +16.299s

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +16.380s

Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +19.318s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Oulton Park, race one:

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 279

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 276

Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 224

James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 160

Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 156

Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 155

For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)

Race one winner

“A 1-2-3 for the team is just incredible and to take another win and the fastest lap in the process just doesn’t get any better! We’ve made big steps with the bike and are beginning to understand it more and getting the true potential out of the ZX-10R. There’s still a lot more we can unlock but right now it’s doing the job, and we know we can win, so that’s our main focus.

“To see that my team-mates are second and third is brilliant. The team has put in so much effort over the last few months so to get the first ever BSB podium lockout is perfect way to repay them!”

More, from a press release issued by JG SpeedFit Kawasaki:

HISTORY MADE AS JG SPEEDFIT KAWASAKI TAKE MCE BSB PODIUM LOCKOUT!

10th September 2016 – It was a history making day at Oulton Park for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team, as Leon Haslam, James Ellison and Peter Hickman climbed the rostrum in the opening race to claim the first-ever MCE British Superbike Championship podium lockout.

It was a flying start for the three JG Speedfit Kawasaki riders, with Leon and James finishing first and second in the opening practice with Pete only 0.6s behind in tenth. Continuing that form throughout the remaining practice sessions, the trio came into qualifying with Leon second on combined times, James ninth and Pete 13th.

With this weekend seeing three races around the Oulton Park circuit, qualifying was held early on Saturday and all three riders were able to progress through the three sessions – the first time this season the entire JG Speedfit team made it to Q3. After an intense eight minute session, Leon secured third on the grid for the opening race, James sixth and Pete just behind in seventh. Continuing the incredible pace shown this weekend, all three were under the existing lap record.

Launching off the line, all three riders were running at the sharp end of the pack with James crossing the line at the end of the opening lap in the lead. Running third for the majority of the opening half of the race, Leon picked off title rival Shane Byrne on lap seven before moving into the lead on lap nine. With Pete picking his way through the pack to run fourth, a mistake from Byrne saw him run off track and Pete into a podium position. Holding positions to the flag, the trio made MCE British Superbike history by becoming the first ever team to claim all three spots on the podium.

Taking his fifth win of the season, Leon Haslam said “A 1-2-3 for the team is just incredible and to take another win and the fastest lap in the process just doesn’t get any better! We’ve made big steps with the bike and are beginning to understand it more and getting the true potential out of the ZX-10R. There’s still a lot more we can unlock but right now it’s doing the job, and we know we can win, so that’s our main focus.

To see that my team-mates are second and third is brilliant. The team has put in so much effort over the last few months so to get the first ever BSB podium lockout is perfect way to repay them!”

Making a welcome return to the podium, James Ellison is looking for more tomorrow “We’ve been doing a lot of work on the bike and the team has made some big steps. We had a test at Cadwell earlier this week and found a really good setting with the bike which has paid off here. The boys have done a fantastic job to give me I bike that I can race and fight for a win with which is mega. It’s not been an easy few rounds recently but we’ve shown we can fight for wins and our title challenge is back on track. I want to say a massive thanks to the whole JG Speedfit Kawasaki team and my sponsors, I’m looking forward to seeing what tomorrow brings!”

Over the moon to be back on the podium, Peter Hickman added “What an incredible race and it’s an amazing feeling to be part of the JG Speedfit Kawasaki 1-2-3, the first in BSB history! It has been a brilliant weekend so far, the bike has been working fantastic and I knew our race pace was strong – particularly towards the end of the race. I know I needed to keep my head, particularly when Jason was putting the pressure on but knowing the podium lockout was possible I really wanted to do it! I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s races and hopefully we can get our space in the Showdown.

GBmoto Racing Team Principal, Mark Smith-Halvorsen concluded, “What an incredible result, the odds of achieving a podium lockout are hugely stacked against us but we dreamed of this day all season and to do it here at Oulton is unbelievable. Sure, we had a bit of help but what an achievement and I’m so pleased for the entire team, our riders and our sponsors. I want to dedicate that result to all of the team, they’ve put in a huge effort to get us here. It’s not been easy but all three riders have done wonders for their Championship challenges and our goal for tomorrow is to confirm all three in the Showdown.”