From a press release issued by Monstermob Ducati, and is it just us who notices that Inline Fours are not competitive for race wins in the British Superbike Series, which is being held up as the model for the future of AMA Superbike?

MONSTERMOB DUCATI BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

Round 7
2002 MCN British Superbike Championship Rockingham
June 22/23

ROCKINGHAM RETURN FOR HISLOP

The MCN 2002 British Superbike Championship hits the halfway stage when the action returns to the purpose-built Rockingham facility on the outskirts of Corby, Northamptonshire this weekend.

MonsterMob Ducati’s Steve Hislop enjoys a 16 point lead going into the two 22 lap races and is keen to get back into his winning ways after a couple of races in the doldrums. But any thoughts of his season-ending accident at the same track towards the end of last season is planted firmly in the back of the 40 year old Scot’s mind:

“That was a racing incident and could have happened anywhere. I never let my big Brands crash affect me so I don’t see this weekend being any different. I left Brands with a good base setting after the few problems we’ve endured recently and I’m confident our bad run is behind us now” said a rejuvenated Hislop.

For team mate Stuart Easton, he is hoping to rack up an unprecedented seventh successive win when he goes for glory in the MB4U.com Supersport race aboard the MonsterMob 748cc Ducati.

The 17-year-old from Hawick has a 59-point lead at the head of the standings and is hopeful of increasing that advantage this weekend, despite not getting a good result there last year:

“I didn’t really like the place in the wet on my 250cc bike last year but this year is a totally different proposition. I’m feeling confident and hope I can continue my good run” said the Scot who has also set five successive pole positions in his domination of the class.

For team owner Paul Bird, it will be his first visit to Rockingham after missing the race whilst away on business last year:

“I hope it’s kinder to us this year than last and I’m looking forward to seeing the place as I’ve heard a lot about it. Ask me after the weekend if I like it or not and that may depend on whether we’ve increased our lead in both championships!” jested the Penrith businessman.


MCN British Superbike Championship

Points after Round 6 (12 races) of 13 rounds (26 races)

1 Steve Hislop MonsterMob Ducati 20 25 25 25 16 10 25 10 13 20 4 20 213

2 Sean Emmett IFC Ducati 25 16 13 20 11 13 16 8 25 25 0 25 197

3 Michael Rutter Renegade Ducati 9 13 9 13 13 25 20 12.5 0 16 16 16 162.5

4 Steve Plater Virgin Mobile Yamaha 16 10 10 10 20 9 10 3 16 13 20 10 147

5 John Reynolds Rizla Suzuki 13 20 20 16 0 0 11 5.5 20 0 25 13 143.5

(Half points awarded in race eight due to abandonment of race after oil spillage)