MCE British Superbike Championship

TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands

September 20, 2014

Qualifying Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

From Qualifying Knockout Session Three (wet conditions):

1. Christian Iddon, UK (Bimota BB3), 1:52.261

2. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:52.392

3. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:52.672

4. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), 1:52.778

5. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:52.868

6. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 1:53.226

7. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:53.708

8. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:53.836

9. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:54.823

10. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:57.446

From Knockout Qualifying Session Two:

11. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:39.349

12. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.382

13. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:39.543

14. Patric Muff, Switzerland (BMW S1000RR), 1:39.581

15. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.585

16. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.278

17. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.608

18. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:42.235

19. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:42.513

20. Kevin Valk, Netherlands (Kaw ZX-10R), no time recorded in Qualifying Two

From Qualifying Knockout Session One:

21. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Yam YZF-R1), 1:39.053

22. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:39.285

23. Ben Wilson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.286

24.  Joe Burns, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.411

25. John Ingram, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.700

26. Christophe Ponsson, France (Bimota BB3), 1:40.017

27. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.087

28.  Gary Mason, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.661

29. Mitchell Carr, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.767

30. Rhalf Lo Turco, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:43.795

Other Americans competing at Assen:

James Rispoli was 10th-fastest in British Supersport Qualifying with a time of 1:40.823 on his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6. Rispoli then placed second in the 11-lap “sprint” race, finishing 9.776 seconds behind winner Alastair Seeley in damp-but-drying conditions.

Jayson Uribe, riding his FPW Racing/R5R Honda, was 11th overall and eighth-quickest in the Moto3 class during British Motostar Qualifying with a time of 1:48.479.

Brandon Paasch qualified 15th in the Moriwaki 250 Junior Cup class with a lap of 1:44.823.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Round 10 20-21 September Assen

BYRNE AND KIYONARI CRASH OUT AS IDDON CELEBRATES HIS AND BIMOTA’S DEBUT POLE

Results

Datatag Extreme Qualifying:

1: Christian Iddon (Alstare Bimota Junior Team) 1m:52.261s

2: John Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +0.131s

3: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.411s

4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.517s

5: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.607s

6: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.965s

Report

The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown continued dramatically at Assen as Title Fighters Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed out of Datatag Extreme Qualifying, but it was delight for the Alstare Bimota Junior team who claimed a historic first pole position with Christian Iddon.

Kiyonari had led the dry track sessions, but as conditions began to change Byrne high-sided himself into the gravel, ending his hopes of a front row start and he lines up in twelfth on the grid for the opening race. Kiyonari then equalled his rival by crashing out in Q3 after a strong lap moved him second, but he later dropped down the order to head the second row in fourth.

Iddon meanwhile mastered the changeable conditions and stunned the Title Fighters with a determined ride to score his first pole position in the Championship.

“I am pleasantly surprised as I was not expecting this,” said Iddon. “We had been working hard to set the bike for the dry and we are not quite there, but in these conditions it was a case of going out and enjoying it. We will have to see what improvements we can make now tomorrow to try and get in the mix with the leading guys.”

American former MotoGP rider John Hopkins starts his Tyco Suzuki alongside Iddon on the front row with Tommy Bridewell, the top qualifier among the six Title Fighters, completing the front row on his Milwaukee Yamaha.

Kiyonari starts ahead of Dan Linfoot on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki with Aussie Josh Brookes completing a second row locked out by Title Fighters.

Jon Kirkham heads up the third row ahead of Title Fighter Chris Walker on the Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki and Martin Jessopp in a top ten that featured five different manufacturers.

For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

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

Kiyonari narrowly misses out on front row start in dramatic Assen BSB qualifying.

Ryuichi Kiyonari missed out on a front row start in the first race at Assen by just 0.1 seconds. The Japanese rider dominated free practice and often topped the timesheets during the dramatic Qualifying sessions at the Netherlands circuit. James Westmoreland starts eleventh on row four and Lee Jackson is twenty-second on the grid.

This weekend will see two BSB races and is the first of three rounds of the Showdown season finale. Buildbase BMW Motorrad rider Kiyo and his S 1000 RR Superbike are in contention for the 2014 MCE British Superbike title, with just 27 points separating him from current leader Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. Both Byrne and Kiyonari each have three BSB Championships under their belt and both are keen to win a fourth this year.

Following dry and clear conditions for most of the weekend so far, the arrival of rain in the last session added a touch of chaos to proceedings, with Kiyo slipping off unhurt in the dying moments of Q3 and, unexpectedly, Christian Iddon on the BMW-engined Alstare Bimota BB3 taking a historical Pole Position.

Kiyo will start on the second row from fourth place, while his 2014 title rival Byrne crashed out during Q2 and will have to start from twelfth position on the fourth row.

James Westmoreland made it through to Q2 and secured himself a fourth-row start for tomorrow’s first race, while Lee Jackson will line up in twenty-second place. The young Lincolnshire Superstock 1000 rider, who turned 19 this week, has been given the opportunity to ride a BSB-spec bike once again as the support series is not attending the overseas round of the British Superbike Championship.

Ryuichi Kiyonari said: “I am disappointed with fourth place, I wanted to be on the front. I made a mistake at the end of Q3 and came off so I lost the opportunity to try and improve.I will try harder tomorrow in the races and I will be pushing to win for the team.”

Tomorrow’s racing will be broadcast live on British Eurosport 2 beginning at 11:30am and can also be followed via free live tracking on www.britishsuperbike.com.

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

FRONT ROW FOR MILWAUKEE YAMAHA’S BRIDEWELL AT ASSEN

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell will start tomorrow’s opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown race at Assen from the front row after qualifying third fastest in changing conditions.

The team had worked hard on their dry settings throughout the morning, making positive steps forward which they carried into the opening qualifying session. However the rain began to fall before the final stage of the race one grid-deciding session and that left both riders contending with the quick change in conditions. Bridewell fought his way through to third whilst Josh Brookes starts from the second row of the grid in sixth place after both riders experienced off track moments earlier in the session.

Brookes said: “In summary of qualifying, in the first session we made some changes and I didn’t really like them so we changed it again for Q2. I had a problem with the front tyre and it meant I spent longer in the pit box and everyone had done more laps when perhaps the conditions were better. I got one flying lap in but I didn’t see where it would put us and it can change so quickly with positions that I knew I had to have another go. I carried on and then nearly crashed – I went across the gravel and rejoined and once my heart rate went back to normal I regrouped ready for Q3. It felt a bit like Cadwell Park, the bike didn’t seem to work in the wet conditions so hopefully it is dry tomorrow.”

Bridewell said: “It was a bit of a shame I didn’t get another pole position, but the conditions weren’t easy! I went out quite early on just to find my feet and went steady, but I could see that however much I wanted to improve my bike the conditions were so difficult that it wouldn’t allow me to. I stayed out and to be honest I could have done with a fresher tyre at the end as it felt like it was shredding a bit as it was drying. I was on provisional pole for part of it and then got pipped, but a front row start was good enough. To be top of the Title Fighters is good and we just have to keep concentrating. We have made a massive improvement with the Milwaukee Yamaha and we will just keep on again tomorrow.”

For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com

More, from a press release issued by Mar-Train Racing:

ASSEN VICTORY KEEPS SEELEY & MAR-TRAIN IN SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP HUNT

Alastair Seeley kept both his and Mar-Train Racing’s British Supersport Championship hopes alive after his sixth victory of the season in today’s Sprint Race at Assen in the Netherlands during round 10 of the 12 round series.

It was a welcome return to the top step for both Seeley and the Mar-Train Yamaha after barren spells at Cadwell and Donington Park, and the Ulsterman is now looking forward to Sunday’s feature race to potentially further reduce the 40-point deficit to championship leader Billy McConnell.

Alastair Seeley:

“I want to dig deep and fight for this championship after a bit of a lull this past few rounds. We started the weekend off well but tipped-off yesterday, although it didn’t affect my confidence and when we got to the front today I just commanded it, watched my pit board and was able to take the win. It was a good call from my Mar-Train Racing crew with a good tyre choice in difficult conditions and a top class set-up that helped me win the race. The championship is still there to fight for, starting tomorrow in the feature race.”

Tim Martin – Team Principal:

“We have had good results at Assen before but full credit to Alastair, as when his back’s against the wall he comes out fighting, which is a quality I’ve always admired in him. I have to also mention my team today as they gave Alastair the perfect set in tough conditions. There’s no doubt our rivals are still in the driving seat in the championship, but we are not out of it just yet and will keep fighting until it is mathematically impossible.”

British Supersport Championship, Assen, Sprint race result:

1: Alastair Seeley (MarTrain Yamaha) 20m 26.371s

2: James Rispoli (Yamaha) +9.776s

3: Luke Jones (Triumph) +9.893s

4: Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki) +12.137s

5: Kervin Bos (Honda) +12.438s

British Supersport Championship standings:

1: Billy McConnell (Triumph) 307

2: Graeme Gowland (Triumph) 300

3: Alastair Seeley (Mar-Train Yamaha 267

4: Glenn Irwin (Kawasaki) 245

5: Luke Jones (Triumph) 219

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki Press Office:

HOPKINS & TYCO SUZUKI ON ASSEN BSB FRONT-ROW

Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins will start tomorrow’s British Superbike Championship 10th round at Assen in the Netherlands from the front-row of the grid after qualifying in second place.

Hopkins waited patiently and maturely during a wet and tricky Q3 session to take a front-row grid spot; his second successive BSB race-one front-row after qualifying on Pole at Donington Park a fortnight ago. And, with a confidence-inspiring set-up for both wet-and-dry conditions, ‘Hopper’ is confident of completing what he started this weekend on the team’s GSX-R1000 Superbike.

John Hopkins:

“Assen is fast and flowing and all about having confidence in your machine. I’m hoping we can take this qualifying through to race-day and turn it into results, which we couldn’t quite do at Donington Park. I had my one and only MotoGP pole position here at Assen, so I have some good memories of the place. My Tyco Suzuki is working really well here wet-or-dry so hopefully, yeah; we can turn today into some decent results on Sunday.”

His team-mate Josh Waters, who is making his Assen debut, got caught-out by the rain during Q2 when on a personal best-lap, but is confident he can improve his race two start position after qualifying in 13th for tomorrow’s opening race at Assen.

Josh Waters:

“Overall we’ve done a decent job and although I would have like to have made Q3, I’m confident that we can push in race one and get a good result. I’ve been making that top-six for a few meetings now and we’ve found solid consistency, so anything less on Sunday on the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 and I’ll be disappointed.”

Taylor Mackenzie also had to deal with a wet but drying track during Saturday’s British Supersport Sprint race and eventually finished 12th after fighting top-six in the early exchanges.

Philip Neill – Team Manager:

“We are all very impressed with John’s achievements today in difficult conditions, especially having sat-out the early part of the session to avoid a potential disaster – then to go out and bang in a front-row qualifying time in Q3. He had the dry set-up to go front-row and possibly Pole on the Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 here at Assen, and we already know as a team, we have worked hard to perfect our wet set-up, so again we are hopeful of something deserved tomorrow in whatever conditions.”