From a press release issued by MSS Discovery Kawasaki:

MSS DISCOVERY’S RIBA FIFTH IN SUPERSPORT THRILLER AS DA COSTA SECOND AGAIN AT DONINGTON PARK

MSS Discovery Kawasaki’s Pere Riba finished fifth in a thrilling final round of the British Supersport Championship at Donington Park, Leics on Sunday.

ZX-6RR rider Riba was one of five riders to smash the lap record in an 18-lap battle as the leading five riders crossed the finish line separated by just one second.

“I got into fourth place with two laps to go but didn’t have that extra little bit of confidence I needed to push harder,” admitted Riba. “We gambled a little bit on the rear race tyre after we’d lost valuable set-up time with the wet practice on Friday.”

“To be that close to the win is heartening and overall we are happy that our first year together with MSS Discovery and the ZX-6RR has been successful,” added Riba who confirmed his fourth place in the championship standings.

MSS Discovery’s Julien da Costa took second place for the second race in succession and moved into a final position of sixth place in the National Superstock championship ­ after contesting just four of the 13 rounds.

“I was really hopeful of a win today,” said Da Costa who set a new lap record as he took the lead on the second lap in the 16-lap battle, he continued: “I knew there was a battle for the championship going on around me and I didn’t want to get involved.

“The guys chasing the title were really riding determined and when one of them crashed out in front of me I started to think about finishing the race. Donington Park is a great race track but I was still learning the best lines towards the end of the race!”

Da Costa’s team-mate Steve Allan took 14th place, the Scotsman disappointed not to end the season in better fashion but victory in round eight for Allan helped him to seventh place in the series.

“It just didn¹t happen for me and I went as hard as I felt I could in today’s race,” said Allan. “I didn¹t want to risk crashing ­I’ve been there before this year and it’s just not worth it. I was involved in a good race and the 16 laps flew by and I’m happy to get a couple of finishes in the bag at the final event of the year.”

British Supersport Championship race result (18 laps ­ 45.00 miles):

1 Craig Jones, Triumph, 29m 00.659s ­ 93.00mph
2 Michael Laverty, Ducati, 29m 01.076s
3 Tom Sykes, Suzuki, 29m 01.456s
4 Jason Vincent, Honda, 29m 01.539s
5 Pere Riba, MSS Discovery Kawasaki, 29m 01.753s
6 Karl Harris, Honda, 29m 03.390s
7 Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 29m 09.236s
8 Paul Young, Honda, 29m 12.148s
9 Luke Quigley, Suzuki, 29m 17.009s
10 Simon Andrews, Yamaha, 29m 19.092s

Final British Supersport Championship points: 1 Harris 232, 2 Vincent 196, 3 Laverty 178, 4 Riba 128, 5 Sykes 123, 6 Quigley 102, 7 Leon Camier (Honda) 99, 8 Jones 93, 9 Andrews 89, 10 Crutchlow 75.


National Superstock Championship race result (16 laps ­ 40.00 miles):

1 Danny Beaumont, Yamaha, 25m 43.997s ­ 93.19mph
2 Julien da Costa, MSS Discovery Kawasaki, 25m 48.014s
3 John Laverty, Yamaha, 25m 57.597s
4 Lee Jackson, Yamaha, 26m 00.211s
5 Les Shand, Yamaha, 26m 03.137s
6 Aaron Zanotti, Suzuki, 26m 03.381s
7 Howie Mainwaring, Yamaha, 26m 03.412s
8 David Johnson, Suzuki, 26m 12.223s
9 Ben Wylie, Yamaha, 26m 16.890s
10 Marshall Neill, Suzuki, 26m 17.486s
14 Steve Allan, MSS Discovery Kawasaki, 26m 24.770s

Final National Superstock Championship points: 1 Beaumont 214, 2 Andy Tinsley (Suzuki) 187, 3 Ben Wilson (Suzuki) 172, 4 Tristan Palmer (Suzuki) 170, 5 Shand 121, 6 Da Costa 90, 7 Allan 82, 8 Laverty 70, 9 Neill and Mainwaring 69.