AHRMA Vintage Racing Schedule at AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days The American Historic Racing Motorcycle Association (AHRMA) will present a full gamut of vintage racing competition at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington at this year’s AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, July 27-29. This is the biggest event on the AHRMA calendar. Competition kicks off Friday with observed trials in the morning and dirt track racing that evening. There will be two complete rounds of road racing action (Saturday and Sunday) and two full days of historic motocross racing””with the vintage, pre-’75, bikes running Saturday and the post-vintage, through the early 80s, bikes taking to the track Sunday. A highlight of the motocross event will be the Race of Champions taking place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday. A full gate of past motocross champions is planned and the following are expected to attend: Brad Lackey, Danny LaPorte, Rick Johnson, Gary Jones, Billy Liles, Andy Stacy, Graham Noyce, Gary Semics, Mickey Kessler, Marty Smith, Tommy Croft, Ron Lechien, Rick Sieman, Marty Tripes, Jeff Smith, Dick Mann, John DeSoto, Jimmy Weinert, Mike Bell, Rex Staten, Donnie Hansen, Mark Barnett and Ron Pomeroy. An autograph session will follow. The weekend offers something for every vintage motorcycling enthusiast to see and do including the world-famous swap meet, the Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Auction, bike shows, a Tony DiStefano MX school, new-bike demo rides, stunt shows, seminars and much, much more. Please visit ahrma.org for the latest, updated information. For a comprehensive overview of AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, including directions and lodging information, visit the AMA’s Web site, www.amadirectlink.com, and look for the Vintage Motorcycle Days link under the “AMA Events” heading. Road Race Schedule: Friday July 27 Road Race practice day. Saturday July 28 Practice, 8 a.m., racing at noon. Sunday July 29 Practice, 8 a.m., racing at noon. Off-Road Schedule: Friday July 27 Trials 8 a.m., trials sign-up in woods area next to spectator camping. 10 a.m., trials starts in woods next to spectator camping area. Dirt Track Noon, dirt track sign-up begins at Ashland County Fairgrounds. 3 p.m., practice; 5:30, heat races; 8, racing begins. Saturday July 28 Vintage Motocross 7 a.m., vintage motocross registration opens. 9:45, VMX racing begins at MX track next to spectator camping. 11:15, OSSA Lap of Honor on MX track. 12:30 p.m., VMX Race of Champions. 1 p.m., Autograph session with invited Race of Champions riders at the MX track. Sunday July 29 Post-Vintage Motocross 7 a.m., Post-vintage MX registration opens in woods next to spectator camping area. 9:45 a.m., PVMX racing begins at track next to spectator camping area.

RED BULL U.S. GRAND PRIX PARKING INFORMATION Because there are limited access roads around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, a number of parking options were created to make it easier for fans whether on motorcycle or in an automobile to get to and from this year’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix. The main entrance on Hwy 68 will be closed to all general motorcycle and automobile traffic, with specific routes for the specific type of traffic (motorcycle, car & bus). Parking Options: – Free CSUMB-Laguna Seca fan shuttle – Free on-site motorcycle parking – Free MST public bus transportation – Paid on-site parking ($50 for 3 days advance purchase only) Free CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle General parking for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix is a Park-and-Ride system utilizing a shuttle between the Cal State University Monterey Bay (CSUMB) campus and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, operating from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The parking area for the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle is located off Hwy 1 in Marina, five miles north of Monterey. From Monterey/Carmel/Carmel Valley: Go north on Hwy 1, take the Lightfighter Dr exit in Marina and follow the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle signs to the parking area. From north of Monterey and Salinas (Santa Cruz, San Jose, San Francisco): Go south on Hwy 1, take the 12th St exit and follow the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle signs to the parking area. From Salinas: Go west on Hwy 68, turn right at Reservation Rd and continue northwest to Imjin Parkway in Marina. Turn left on Imjin Parkway and follow the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle signs to the parking area. Upon arrival at the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle parking area, fans board the free shuttle to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca where they will be dropped off at one of two locations, both near the Purple Parking lot. At the end of the day, fans will board the bus at the point they were dropped-off earlier in the day. The two separate shuttle boarding areas will reduce the number of people leaving from any one location. The “A” shuttle boarding gates are just above the Red Bull Energy Center in Red Parking 8A, while the “B” shuttle boarding is located at the Purple Parking area. (Note: The only difference between the “A” and “B” shuttles is the drop-off/pick-up location at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.) The CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle area has disabled parking and special ADA buses to transport disabled fans to and from the track. Please ask the parking attendants to direct you to the handicap parking area upon arrival at the CSUMB parking area. Common sense rules apply for the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle: – Backpacks, coolers, etc. are allowed at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, but they must fit on your lap on the bus. A UPS store in Yamaha Marketplace can ship larger items home. – No eating, drinking, smoking or listening to music without headphones. – No glass containers or pets are allowed on the buses or at the track. For 2007, several important measures have been taken to minimize the congestion and delays with the CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle during the peak period immediately after Sunday’s MotoGP race. Those measures include a 30% increase in shuttle buses and more boarding gates a total of 21. While these measures will reduce shuttle lines, they will not eliminate them during the peak period immediately following the MotoGP race. But with the scheduling of the AMA Superbike Championship race after the MotoGP race this year, many fans will stay to watch that race and spread out the exiting crowd. (There is also a 30-minute track crossing scheduled between the MotoGP and Superbike races to ease congestion on pedestrian bridges.) Free On-Site Motorcycle Parking Free motorcycle parking is available at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in the Purple Parking area, formerly known as Wolf Hill. This lot is unpaved. Volunteers will be present to provide complimentary kickstand pucks. Access to the on-site motorcycle parking is via Barloy Canyon Rd, off Reservation Road. This is a motorcycle-only entrance. No other vehicles are allowed access at this entrance. To get there from Monterey/Carmel/Carmel Valley: Go north on Hwy 1 to the Del Monte Blvd. exit in Marina. Take Del Monte Blvd to Reservation Rd. Turn right on Reservation Rd and go 4.3 miles to Barloy Canyon Rd at the entrance to the new East Garrison housing development. To get there from Salinas: Go west on Hwy 68, turn right on Reservation Rd, then left on Barloy Canyon Rd at the entrance to the new East Garrison housing development. To get there from Santa Cruz/San Jose/San Francisco: Go south on Hwy 1 to the Del Monte Blvd exit in Marina. Turn left on Del Monte Blvd and continue to Reservation Rd. Turn left on Reservation Rd and go 4.3 miles to Barloy Canyon Rd and the entrance to the new East Garrison housing development. Please note that Barloy Canyon Rd will have two-way traffic at all times. Motorcyclists can also utilize the free CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle. See details above. Free MST Public Bus Transportation As with all events at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, fans can ride for free on MontereySalinas Transit (MST) buses during a race weekend by showing their race ticket or credential. MST bus stops are within walking distance from most hotels in Monterey County. MST buses drop off fans at the MST bus stop in the Lakebed area, near Turn 5. MST is increasing buses by 30% for this year’s Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix weekend. MST bus lines 36, 37, 38 and 39 are operating all race weekend. Check www.mst.org for additional information and detailed schedules. There are also two MST Park-and-Ride locations one each in Monterey and Salinas. The Monterey Park-and-Ride is from Monterey Peninsula College on Fremont Blvd. The Salinas location is adjacent to the Municipal Garage near South Main and Nissen in Downtown Salinas. Common courtesy rules for MST buses include no eating, drinking, smoking or listening to music without headphones. Disabled Parking The free CSUMB-Laguna Seca Shuttle parking area has disabled parking, golf cart assistance and ADA buses for transportation to and from the track. Please ask the parking attendants to direct you to the disabled parking area upon arrival at the CSUMB parking area. At-track disabled parking passes can be purchased for $50 in advance. The passes are good for all three days in the Purple Parking lot. Transportation assistance (golf carts) and accessibility information is available from parking attendants. Paid On-Site Parking A limited number of general public on-site Purple Parking passes are available through the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca ticket office at a weekend price of $50. These passes are available by advance purchase only. Access to the Purple Parking area is only via South Boundary Rd. To get there from Montery/Carmel/Carmel Valley: Take Hwy 1 north to Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey Blvd, then follow Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey Blvd to General Jim Moore Blvd. Turn left on Gen. Jim Moore Blvd, then right on South Boundary Rd and continue through the track entrance. Follow the signs to Purple Parking. To get there from the west, including Salinas: Take Hwy 68 to Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey Blvd. You will pass the Hwy 68 entrance to the track enroute to Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey Blvd. Do not attempt to enter here. Turn right on Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey Blvd, then right on Gen. Jim Moore Blvd and make another right on South Boundary Rd. Continue through the track entrance where you’ll follow the signs to Purple Parking. To get there from the north, including Santa Cruz, San Jose and San Francisco/Oakland: Take Hwy 1 south to the Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey/Laguna Seca exit. Turn left on Hwy 218/Canyon Del Rey and continue to Gen. Jim Moore Blvd. Turn left on Gen. Jim Moore Blvd and right on South Boundary Rd, then continue into the track where you’ll follow the signs to Purple Parking.

Yamaha Announces Cross Promotion with Northeast Sport Bike Association (NESBA) Cypress California — Yamaha Motor Corporation is pleased to announce a cross-promotion with the Northeast Sport Bike Association (NESBA). This promotion activates the sponsorship agreement announced in February. Among the benefits of the promotion, Yamaha customers will receive a free 1-year NESBA membership with the purchase of a new Yamaha Sport Bike and a discount on track days just for visiting a participating Yamaha dealer. Yamaha owners will receive discounts by email for NESBA track days and current NESBA members will receive discounts on Yamaha products. Full details are available at participating dealers which can be found at ~http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/racing/nesba_dealers.aspx~ “Our goal is to provide additional benefits for Yamaha owners and NESBA members” said David Docktor, Yamaha Marketing Manager, “and to continue our focus of being a customer centric company. We are pleased to initiate these incentives through our dealer network.” “With 155 track days this year, NESBA is the largest single-entity sport bike track day organization in the country”, said Bob Blandford, president of NESBA. “No other club offers more riding opportunities at more venues”. We are extremely pleased to be working with Yamaha. Yamaha’s customer-focused culture aligns directly with NESBA’s core values, not to mention they have provided some of the best tools to ride on the race track.”

Team Yoshimura Suzuki rider Craig Coxhell claimed two thrilling race wins on his Suzuki GSX-R1000 in front of a record Australian Superbike Championship crowd of 12,500 spectators at Queensland Raceway’s innovative double-header round at the weekend, moving to second on the championship points table with one round left to run. In an impressive outing for all three Team Yoshimura Suzuki riders at the Ipswich circuit, Coxhell, Shawn Giles and Josh Waters continued their recent run of strong form in the 2007 Australian Superbike and Supersport Championships with two race wins, a lap record and six further podium results in both classes. The double-header concept at the 3.12km circuit saw Round Six’s two 16-lap races for each class conducted on Saturday with round seven’s two races held on Sunday. After both qualifying on the Superbike front row, Coxhell and Giles (pictured) were quick to show they had every intention of adding another Australian Superbike title to their respective CVs in Saturday’s opening race, Coxhell taking a thrilling 0.061sec win over reigning champion Jamie Stauffer with Giles third in the typically-tough and aggressive Superbike racing that has characterised this year’s series. Both Coxhell and Giles recorded times below the previous Superbike lap record although it was eventually Stauffer who claimed the new mark as he chased Coxhell for the race win. Coxhell’s win in race one was backed up by a third placing in Saturday’s race two for second overall for round six; the 24-year-old’s Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 repeatedly topping the speed trap times with 270kmh at the end of the back straight. Just 24 hours later, a win and a fourth placing in Sunday’s two races gave the 2003 Australian Superbike Champion second overall for round seven and catapulted the Shepparton rider to second on the championship points table. Giles, a three-times Australian Superbike Champion in 2000, 2001 and 2002, backed up his third in Saturday’s race one with sixth in race two, then added sixth and eighth placings on Sunday as he battled with the bumpy nature of the Queensland circuit, in the process consolidating fifth place on the series’ points table. Joshua Waters continued his impressive results aboard the Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R600 with second-place finishes in each of Saturday’s two 16-lap Supersport races backed up by second and third placings in Sunday’s two 16-lappers. Waters set a new Supersport lap record of 1:11.689sec in Sunday’s opening race, only to see it bettered just over three hours later in race two by just 0.047sec by Jason O’Halloran. The points haul from four podium finishes from four starts strengthened Waters’ hold on third place on the Australian Supersport Championship points table and gave the 20-year-old a shot at claiming the title in his first season aboard the Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R600 as the series heads to the final round at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway on 17-19 August. Robbie Bugden, third in the 2006 Australian Superbike Championship and the 2007 New Zealand Superbike Champion, had a frustrating meeting by his high standards on a satellite Team Yoshimura Suzuki GSX-R1000 at his home round. The Queenslander’s best results came in Saturday’s two races with seventh and fifth placings, a poor qualifying result leaving the 26-year-old with the challenge of a spirited charge through the field in each 16-lap race from his third-row grid position. The eighth and final round of the 2007 Australian Superbike and Supersport Championship takes place at Sydney’s Eastern Creek Raceway on August 17-19th. Phil Tainton – Team Manager: “It’s been a good weekend for the Yoshimura Suzuki team with Craig’s two race wins and Josh breaking up the blue team at the front of the Supersport field. “This year’s Superbike and Supersport championships are the most competitive for many years, which makes Craig’s wins all the more satisfying. “I’m extremely happy with how all the riders performed over the four days of the double-header event in conditions that were demanding on everyone. We had eight races to prepare for and varying temperatures over the two race days that placed a premium on bike set-up and tyre selection. “Josh’s races in Supersport were exceptional as the GSX-R600 is a brand new bike for us this season, and we don’t have the same amount of development time behind us as the other teams. Josh showed he could run at lap record pace on a bike that is still being developed. “Shawn and Robbie had up and down meetings by their standards. We’re still working on getting a set-up on the 2007 bike that Shawn feels comfortable enough with to challenge for race wins, with third in race one proof that we’re heading in the right direction. Robbie had a hard task after qualifying back on third row, but his race pace on the 2006 bike was good once he got clear track. “Congratulations to Jamie Stauffer on his two overall round wins on the weekend and clinching the 2007 Superbike championship.” Craig Coxhell: “To win two races and to finish the weekend second overall in both rounds is a great result for the team – as well as moving into second in the championship. “Thanks to the work by Phil and the guys my bike’s got a lot of horsepower, but trying to hold on to it around this circuit with all the bumps isn’t that easy. While I’m happy with the two wins, I’m disappointed that I let the other two races get away from me with bad starts. “The Australian championship is extremely competitive and I knew it was going to be tough coming home after three seasons in Europe. You can’t give these guys a start in the early laps and then expect to haul them in.” Shawn Giles: “The bike had good speed all weekend, and I can’t say enough about the team. I got good starts and was well-placed in the early laps but I had trouble maintaining a race-winning pace. “The layout of this circuit requires a bike that drives well off the turns and I struggled to find a set-up that gave me the confidence to push hard into the corners and then get hard on the throttle on the way out. It’s hard work fighting the bumps here on a Superbike. “The level of competition this season is as high as I can remember in the Australian Superbike Championship.” Joshua Waters: “I’m pretty happy with four podium finishes in the four races this weekend, but I really want to win – not come second or third. I was down in the dumps after qualifying on second row as it’s so hard in the Supersport class if you have to come from behind. You’re really up against it. “We’ve got good race pace with the Suzuki GSX-R600 now, but there’s still more to come – it’s only our sixth race meeting on the bike and it’s getting better with every outing. I was stoked with getting the lap record in Sunday’s first race, as the Supersport class is so competitive. I couldn’t believe it when I was told it was a 1:11.689. “Once I got clear track in Sunday’s final race I tried to chase down Jamie Stauffer and Jason O’Halloran but I could see from my pit board that I wasn’t gaining fast enough so it was better to go for points.” Robbie Budgen: “It’s good to finish all four races and get some points on the board, but I made it hard for myself with a bad qualifying session and a third-row start. The racing is unbelievably close this year. It’s so competitive out there it’s important to have the bike set-up spot-on. “I went from 13th to sixth in the final race on Sunday, so my race pace was good. There’s no doubt my bike had good speed, but I certainly made it hard for myself this weekend. Sixth overall for each round – Saturday and Sunday – wasn’t a bad result considering.” 2007 AUSTRALIAN SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP: Superbike Overall Results – Round 6 (Saturday, 30 June): 1 Jamie Stauffer, 2 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 3 Daniel Stauffer, 4 Russell Holland, 5 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 6 Robbie Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 7 Glenn Allerton, 8 Wayne Maxwell, 9 Scott Charlton, 10 Brendan Clarke. Superbike Overall Results – Round 7 (Sunday, 1 July): 1 Jamie Stauffer, 2 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 3 Daniel Stauffer, 4 Russell Holland, 5 Glenn Allerton, 6 Robbie Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 7 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000), 8 Gareth Jones, 9 Wayne Maxwell, 10 Scott Charlton. Superbike Championship Points (after 7 of 8 rounds): 1 Jamie Stauffer 325, 2 Craig Coxhell (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 260, 3 Daniel Stauffer 255, 4 Glenn Allerton 234, 5 Shawn Giles (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 193, 6 Russell Holland 187, 7 Wayne Maxwell 187, 8 Scott Charlton 165, 9 Robbie Bugden (Suzuki GSX-R1000) 158, 10 Shannon Johnson 154. Supersport Overall Results – Round 6 (Saturday, June 30): 1 Russell Holland, 2 Jamie Stauffer, 3 Joshua Waters (Suzuki GSX-R600), 4 Jason O’Halloran, 5 Jeremy Crowe, 6 Chris Seaton, 7 Judd Greedy, 8 Gareth Jones, 9 Nick Henderson, 10 Wayne Maxwell. Supersport Overall Results – Round 7 (Sunday, 1 July): 1 Jamie Stauffer, 2 Jason O’Halloran, 3 Joshua Waters (Suzuki GSX-R600), 4 Jeremy Crowe, 5 Gareth Jones, 6 Chris Seaton, 7 Judd Greedy, 8 Bryan Staring, 9 Nick Henderson, 10 Zac Davies. Supersport Championship Points (after 7 of 8 rounds): 1 Jamie Stauffer 303, 2 Jason O’Halloran 297, 3 Joshua Waters (Suzuki GSX-R600) 254, 4 Jeremy Crowe 235, 5 Russell Holland 228, 6 Gareth Jones 165, 7 Chris Seaton 153, 8 Wayne Maxwell 135, 9 Bryan Staring 132, 10 Judd Greedy 126.

Paul Young and Triumph Daytona 675 on British Supersport podium Hinckley based privateer motorcycle racer Paul Young made history on the 1st of July by recording the first British Championship podium for the Triumph Daytona 675, a motorcycle designed and produced in a factory just down the road from Paul’s home. Scotland’s Knockhill race circuit produced all it’s usual drama, with weather conditions changing dramatically by the minute. The much delayed British Supersport Championship race was eventually started in the most difficult of conditions. A mostly dry track was dissected just after the tricky Glenvargill chicane by a torrent of water, which remained in full flow for the entire race. The weekend started unceremoniously in qualifying, with Paul’s first crash of the season. Left without the security of a spare bike, Paul played it safe for the remainder of qualifying and ended up with 12th position on the grid. Action on the grid just before the race was frantic, with tyre combinations of all types being fitted for the tricky conditions. Paul’s tyre combination of a wet front and full dry rear wasn’t his ideal choice, but proved effective enough to carve through the field, passing all but one of the factory supported riders, and hunt down championship leader Michael Laverty. Despite taking half a second per lap out of Laverty’s lead in the closing stages, Young ran out of laps and finished 2nd, just 1.8 seconds behind pole sitter Laverty. Paul Young “I just can’t describe how much this means to me. I’ve spent the last 2 years working towards this and it’s been a real hard slog. Running the team, developing the bike, racing it, and trying to hold down a full time job to help pay for it all. And now I’ve achieved my aim for this year, to put the little Triumph on the podium, it’s a real dream come true. I enjoyed every moment of that race. It might have looked a bit sketchy to the spectators when I had it sideways every lap over the river crossing, but it was all pretty cool and controlled. I suppose it’s a pity that I didn’t have a wheel ready with a dry front tyre on. It would have been a lot better for these conditions and I’d probably be celebrating a victory instead. I just hope this performance proves to people that I’ve got the commitment and drive to win at this level, and that the bike has the potential to win at this level. If I can do this with virtually no budget, think what could be possible with a major sponsor behind the team.” The British Supersport Championship returns to Oulton Park in Cheshire on July 15th, then it’s on to Paul Young Racing’s and Triumph’s local round at Mallory Park in Leicestershire on July 22nd. In addition to his British Championship campaign, Paul Young will be flying out to Japan the day after the Mallory Park BSS race to compete in the Suzuka 8 Hour Race, round 3 of the World Endurance Championship. This will be Young’s 4th appearance at this famous event were he has collected two podium finishes. Super Production class in 2003 with Corona Suzuki USA, and Superbike class in 2006 with the same Suzuki Sweden Team he will ride for in 2007. Young: “Suzuka is such a special race, it’s great to be going back. The team are great and I love working with them. And it makes a nice change from all the work and responsibility of running my own team in British Championship.” More, form a press release issued by Bridewell Brother Racing: Round 7 – 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Knockhill, Fife Saturday 30th June & Sunday 1st July 2007 DOUBLE TOP TEN FOR OLLIE 21 year old Wiltshire rider Ollie Bridewell overcame difficult conditions to record a pair of top ten finishes when round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visited Knockhill in Scotland at the weekend. Riding the Team NB 1000cc Suzuki, the racer from Etchilhampton near Devizes equalled his career-best eighth place in the opening race with another battling top ten placing in the day’s second race at heavy rain threw the meeting into turmoil. After a disappointing qualifying session, Bridewell lined up on row five of the grid and on a rapidly drying track, Ollie circulated in the leading bunch in race one before eventually finishing the 24 lap race in eighth place aboard the Pirelli-shod bike. Race two was again delayed as the organisers battled against the elements but it was eventually run over 26 laps and another battling performance saw Ollie bring the bike home in tenth place after a race long battle with the experienced Sean Emmett. It wasn’t such a successful weekend for 18 year old brother Tommy who failed to add to his points tally following on from his big accident two weeks ago at Mondello Park. Battered and bruised and struggling with suspension problems, Tommy posted a pair of brave top twenty finishes but had to concede defeat after a demanding weekend. Ollie Bridewell: “I’m reasonably happy with my performance and I don’t think anyone else could have ridden my bike any harder whoever they were. It was great to battling up towards the front with the likes of Lavilla, Emmett and Harris and I felt comfortable throughout the two races. We need to replicate this form into the dry conditions now and although we don’t have any testing planned between now and then, I hope to step it up a gear at Oulton Park in two weeks time.” Tommy Bridewell: “I’m still feeling the effects of that crash at Mondello and I think it knocked a bit of confidence out of me if I’m being honest. That said, we’d struggled all weekend with the rear suspension and we didn’t get a setting that I was happy with but at least it’s a couple of finishes and we move on to Oulton Park where I scored some good points last time there so the others had better watch out!” Team NB are not attending the official MCRCB test at Croft this week but will be in action at the next round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship which takes place at Oulton Park in Cheshire over the weekend of July 13th to 15th. More, from a press release issued by Centurion Racing: Trials and Tribulations for Centurion It was a problem struck weekend for the Centurion Racing Team this weekend at Knockhill Circuit, Scotland. James Westmoreland finished the Maxxis British Supersport race in 14th position and his team mate Dan Cooper had to pull in from the race due to a technical problem. In the appalling weather conditions the race was postponed to allow time for the marshals and MCRCB Staff to assess the situation. Finally getting under way the two youngsters were eager to get a good result after the long haul to the highlands for the team from Newquay. It was another qualifying drama for Westy as he was hindered with an electrical problem after a crash on Friday. Missing a lot of the sessions he managed to secure 14th place on the grid and the top qualifier in the Cup Championship. Cooper gained 20th position on the grid and despite running strong during the 20-lap race he was forced to pull in to retire on lap 14. Disappointed he said “It’s a long way to come from Stroud to have to pull in and I am totally gutted but there was nothing that could be done. I was tenth fastest in morning warm up and I was looking forward to gaining a decent result in the race. The weather certainly caused huge problems, I’ve not seen rain like that for a long time. We are testing at Croft on Tuesday (3rd July) and I get an opportunity to try out the new 07 Honda that we have, which I’m really looking forward too. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a decent result at Oulton Park in a couple of weeks time.” Westy was also a little disappointed saying “We had some more issues with the bike this weekend, similar to what we suffered at Mondello but found it difficult to put our finger on the exact problem. I got quite a good start during the race and was having some good battles throughout the race and managed to get in the points and also finish third in the Cup which I was fairly happy about. I’m looking forward to testing the 07 bike at Croft tomorrow and seeing what that’s like and what kind of results we can get on it.” Maxxis British Supersport Result: Laverty Suzuki Young Triumph Grant Yamaha McConnell Yamaha Lowry Suzuki Jessopp Ducati Hobbs Honda Hutchinson Honda Amor Honda Owens Honda Fitzpatrick Yamaha Hillier Kawasaki Elkin Honda Robinson Honda Dickinson Honda Westmoreland Centurion Racing Honda Cooper DNF Lap 14 More, from a press release issued by Samsung Superbike Team: Emmett secures two top tens for the Samsung Superbike team. Sean Emmett who usually races the Samsung Ducati in the Metzeler National Superstock Championship was promoted to run in the Superbike class aboard the Samsung Suzuki due to his team-mate Dean Thomas crashing during free practice and cracking two ribs. He took home two ninth place finishes for the team at the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship at Knockhill in Scotland. Thomas had been testing some new tyres and was running in about eighth to ninth place when his crash happened, “We tried some different spec tyres in the second session and went forward, I was comfortable in eighth which is great, plus they were consistent laps which would do full race distance. I just got caught out, I came out of the chicane and I didn’t go over it any quicker I just changed direction marginally faster than I had previously,” he explained. That was enough for the crash to occur, “I just flicked off and landed on top of the bike and did the old Randy Mamola style, you know legs off one side. I thought I had saved it and then we got onto the gravel and it started to tank slap and just as it pitched me off I caught the handle bars in the ribs again. It got me just in the same place as I got hit last year. So the top and bottom of it is I’ve cracked a couple of ribs again so that is me done for this weekend.” With Thomas out of action Emmett stepped in and qualified in twentieth place having got caught out when the rain started just twelve minutes into the session. However his lowly qualifying didn’t stop him getting through the pack in both the wet races. “It is fantastic!” grinned Emmett, “I got the chance to ride the Samsung Suzuki courtesy of Dean Thomas breaking two ribs on Friday. So Enzo Diclemente (team manager) asked if I wanted to ride it and I jumped at the chance. I’ve never ridden a Suzuki Superbike so I was intrigued; it is a really good bike. It is John Reynolds Championship winning bike from 05 and it is a well sorted bike. It has good speed both in the wet and in the dry it was going really well, so I adapted to it quickly, and that shows it is a decent bike. I got two ninths and they weren’t gifted to me so I’m really pleased. The problem is I really want to be back on a Superbike now!” Thomas is hoping to be recovered in time for Oulton Park and if not then Emmett will continue to race the Samsung Superbike, “I’m hoping Dean doesn’t get better!” quipped Emmett, “I think he will he has broken a couple of ribs which can take two to six weeks to heal. If he doesn’t get better then I’m on it for Oulton Park, if he does then I’m back on the 1098 Ducati Superstock machine. It was good and I’ve had a great weekend. I’ve really enjoyed my racing.” The eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Oulton Park on the 13th 15th July. More, from a press release issued by AIM Yamaha: AIM YAMAHA MAKE FURTHER PROGRESS AT KNOCKHILL Despite the monsoon conditions on the track, further progress was made at Knockhill with the development of the AIM Yamaha R1 Superbike allowing Steve Plater to complete both races in round seven of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike championship on Sunday, race one in 18th position and the second leg in 12th, equalling his best finish of the season from Mondello Park in the previous round. The weather threw everything it had at the short and technical Scottish circuit with conditions fine and sunny for free practise on Friday, to heavy rain on Saturday afternoon and then saved the worst conditions for race day when they had rain, hail, thunder and even a few sunny spells. Qualifying saw Steve secure 13th place on the grid for the start of Sunday’s double-header having posted his quick lap in the dry conditions before the rain came to spoil the show. STEVE PLATER Free practise was run in the dry and we had quite a lot of things to test as we try to move forward with the bike again. But in qualifying we only got five or six laps in the dry and then it started to get wetter and wetter and that was that. I was P8 for a while but then dropped to 15th before banging a fast lap in to get up to 13th before the rain started. But by the time the delayed first race got underway on Sunday the heavens had opened and flooded Knockhill to the point of near cancellation. Most riders went out on full wet weather tyres but a few brave souls opted for intermediates on a track that although sodden from the rain was beginning to dry. Steve began well, moving through to hold 12th position for a while but then as the bike developed a technical problem he faded to eventually complete the 24-lap race in 18th place. Adjustments were made to the Yamaha R1 prior to the second leg, which again was affected by the weather. The race was declared wet and this time Steve brought the AIM Yamaha home in 12th place to pick up a further four championship points. STEVE PLATER We had the same weather conditions as the first race. The guys made quite a good improvement to the bike so I could lap probably two seconds a lap quicker but we are still not fast enough and we are still struggling for rear grip as much on corner entry as exit but we have made a step forward and tried a different tyre from Dunlop and did find a bit more grip but we really do need some more testing time. “Considering how much rain has fallen today the track was actually not too bad. There was a drying line as the race went on and it was a case of rolling with it and just going with the flow. I did my fastest laps towards the end but that was because I was trying to stay in front of Kennaugh, which I did and was pleased to find I was the first Yamaha rider home. ALISTAIR FLANAGAN The bike development is going nicely now. We have a test at Croft on Tuesday and Wednesday so more improvements will be made prior to the next race at Oulton Park. Steve has brought some more points back from Knockhill and I am delighted that the AIM Yamaha was the first Yamaha across the finish line in the second race. That is a good sign that we are making progress with the bike. The next round is at Oulton Park on July 15 where it is hoped the weather will be kinder to the riders and spectators who got a soaking at Knockhill on Sunday. More, from a press release issued by Steve Plater’s publicist: STEVE PLATER SPLASHES TO POINTS FINISH AT KNOCKHILL Woodhall Spa Superbike racer Steve Plater rode through the torrential downpours to secure a points finish in the second race at Knockhill in the seventh round of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike championship. The weather threw everything it had at the short and technical Scottish circuit with conditions fine and sunny for free practise on Friday, to heavy rain on Saturday afternoon and then saved the worst conditions for race day when they had rain, hail, thunder and even a few sunny spells. Qualifying saw Steve secure 13th place on the grid for the start of Sunday’s double-header having posted his quick lap in the dry conditions before the rain came to spoil the show. “Free practise was run in the dry and we had quite a lot of things to test as we try to move forward with the bike again,” said Steve. “But in qualifying we only got five or six laps in the dry and then it started to get wetter and wetter and that was that. I was P8 for a while but then dropped to 15th before banging a fast lap in to get up to 13th before the rain started. That was as far forward as I could get, it was frustrating but the same for everyone so we will race tomorrow and see if we can gain some more information and move forward with the development of the R1 again.” But by the time the delayed first race got underway on Sunday the heavens had opened and flooded Knockhill to the point of near cancellation. Most riders went out on full wet weather tyres but a few brave souls opted for intermediates on a track that although sodden from the rain was beginning to dry. Steve began well, moving through to hold 12th position for a while but then as the bike developed a technical problem he faded to eventually complete the 24-lap race in 18th place. Adjustments were made to the Yamaha R1 prior to the second leg, which again was affected by the weather. The race was declared wet and this time Steve brought the AIM Yamaha home in 12th place to pick up a further four championship points. “We had the same weather conditions as the first race. The guys made quite a good improvement to the bike so I could lap probably two seconds a lap quicker but we are still not fast enough and we are still struggling for rear grip as much on corner entry as exit but we have made a step forward and tried a different tyre from Dunlop and did find a bit more grip but we really do need some more testing time. “Considering how much rain has fallen today the track was actually not too bad. There was a drying line as the race went on and it was a case of rolling with it and just going with the flow. I did my fastest laps towards the end but that was because I was trying to stay in front of Kennaugh, which I did and was pleased to find I was the first Yamaha rider home. The next round is at Oulton Park on July 15 where it is hoped the weather will be kinder to the riders and spectators who got a soaking at Knockhill on Sunday. More, from a press release issued by Littlewood Racing: Top ten for Gavin Littlewood at Knockhill Leeds based Superstock Cup racer Gavin Littlewood stormed to a blistering tenth place at Knockhill in Scotland for round six of the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Cup. Gavin started from thirteenth place on the grid but quickly worked his way up to ninth place and was as high as eighth on lap three on his RNR Coatings Suzuki GSXR 1000. The safety car was deployed on lap five and this bunched up the whole field negating the gap Gavin had built up on the chasing pack. On lap seven the safety car came in and the race got back under way but Gavin’s front tyre had overheated in the drying conditions and Gavin lost two places to move back to tenth position after an off track excursion. A further incident on lap ten saw another rider crash out in the wet conditions and his stationary motorcycle lay in a dangerous position at the Weir chicane prompting the race director to red flag the race after twelve of the scheduled eighteen laps. As the race had completed ¾ race distance it was declared a full result preventing Gavin the opportunity to make up further positions. Gavin now sits joint eighteenth in the championship standings and is confident of moving into the top fifteen at the next round at Oulton Park in two weeks time. Gavin Littlewood: The race went really well. I didn’t expect to finish were I did at a track I have never even seen before. I was running in eighth position and gaining on the riders in front. Then my front wet tyre went off in the drying conditions and I went over the grass losing me two places. Luckily I stayed on and finished tenth and lapped only half a second off the fastest lap of the race”. The next round of the Metzeler Racetec Superstock Cup Championships will take place at Oulton Park on the 13th 15th July.

Stauffer now unbeatable in Australian Superbike title race For Immediate Release, 1 July 2007. Yamaha has once again headed the field at this weekend’s dual-round showdown of the Australian Superbike Championship, with all four factory riders delivering ultra-competitive campaigns across two full days of racing. The Superbike and Supersport teams were in fine form, and their frontrunning pace saw the riders dicing with each other for the podium spoils, with rival riders struggling to make ground at the technical Queensland Raceway. Riding identical factory Yamaha YZF-R1 machines, the Stauffer brothers enjoyed a spirited battle for race honours for much of the weekend, while Jason O’Halloran and Jeremy Crowe battled hard on their Supersport YZF-R6 bullets. With just one round remaining, Jamie Stauffer has built himself an unassailable lead in the premier class, and will be crowned back-to-back Australian Superbike Champion at Eastern Creek series finale next month. The competition was fierce in the Supersport field, and the battle between Stauffer and young gun O’Halloran looks set to re-ignite at the final round. Yamaha Racing Team Superbike Yamaha Racing Team rider Jamie Stauffer is the provisional 2007 Australian Superbike Champion after two comprehensive round wins at Queensland Raceway this weekend. Stauffer’s points push started early in the piece, and it was clear he would be tough to beat after hovering around the top of the timesheets for the initial sessions, with extra pace still to be unleashed. He was second in the opening race of round 6 on Saturday morning, crossing the line just 0.061 seconds shy of Craig Coxhell. Making no mistake in race 2, Stauffer was back to his regular winning form, taking victory ahead of his brother who held out Coxhell and Russell Holland. Sunday’s opening race saw the Stauffer brothers engage in an extremely entertaining battle, with Dan and Jamie showcasing their talent in front of a massive crowd. The duo fought gallantly to the flag, with Jamie executing a successful pass on Dan in the dying stages, taking the win. With the pressure well and truly off, Jamie cruised to a comfortable second place in race 2, securing a solid haul of points to award him the round win, and an unbeatable lead in the championship. He was understandably elated with the achievement and said the team had been instrumental in creating the best possible opportunity for him to take his second series title. “I knew what I had to do today and in the final race, it was a very strong run from Craig (Coxhell) and full credit to him for his efforts,” said Stauffer. “I can’t say enough about the Yamaha Racing Team, last year we wrapped up the Supersport championship with a round to go and we’ve done it this year in Superbikes.” “It says a lot about the bike, and the team. Everyone plays a large role and they all deserve congratulations for winning this championship too.” “Our tyre supplier Dunlop has been fantastic, and a key part of the championship was decided with their help.” And while Jamie stood in the spotlight for the majority of the weekend, it was a very solid outing for Dan, who came excruciatingly close to wrestling a race win away from his brother this morning. The result was a carbon copy of Saturday’s second race, where Dan also finished second to his brother. A sixth and fifth in his other races saw Stauffer collect a strong bag of points to ensure he finishes strongly in the championship. “It was a great weekend, and really good to be on the podium aboard the new R1, it’s certainly been very quick over the past 4 days and there’s probably even more to be found!” said Stauffer. “The team has done a fantastic job and really had very little time off since Tasmania, it’s an awesome result for them and I can’t thank them enough.” “The guys continue to provide me with the perfect race bike and the Dunlop tyres are perfect, the results really indicate that Dunlop is the winning tyre out there.” “Congratulations to Jamie for wrapping up his second title, it’s been another great year for him and I’m pleased to have been able to run with him on a number of occasions.” Jamie’s points advantage over second placed Coxhell is 65, and Dan needs just 5 points to claim the runner-up trophy at Eastern Creek. Yamaha Racing Team Supersport The race for the title of 2007 Australian Supersport Champion is well and truly on, with Jamie Stauffer and Jason O’Halloran set to continue duelling to the season’s chequered flag after a number of extremely close finishes this weekend. O’Halloran entered the round with the majority of wins under his belt, but was shadowed by Stauffer who has put together a run of very consistent podium finishes. As a result of the Queensland Raceway double-header round, the points advantage has now swung in Stauffer’s favour, by a small margin. The tenacity and grit of the teammates was shown on a number of occasions, as they raced handlebar to handlebar for much of the weekend. When racing at the limit, the potential for disaster is high, and the Yamaha riders did well to contain themselves despite a number of heart-stopping moments as they diced for the top position. Stauffer won Saturday’s first two-part race, and backed up with an uncharacteristic fourth in the second race, with the final podium place snatched away by O’Halloran. He was back in fine form today, winning both races and taking the lead of the Supersport class for the first time this year. O’Halloran was in prime position for a race win this morning, but an unfortunate mishap with his teammate saw him float wide of the ideal line, giving Josh Waters an opportunity to snap up second. O’Halloran came through in third, and bounced back for second in the second and final race of the weekend. On Saturday, he strung together a consistent pair of third places, and despite losing the championship lead is adamant he can bounce back and win at Eastern Creek. “It was a tough weekend, we had some good results but weren’t quite there and the other riders really stepped it up,” explained O’Halloran. “While it was disappointing to lose out to Jamie in the first race today it just shows that the Yamaha Racing Team is giving both of us an equal opportunity to race for the championship and that the bikes are the best out there.” “The tyres stayed in very good condition throughout the weekend, Dunlop does a great job in this regard and I’m confident that I can bounce back to winning form and take the championship at Eastern Creek.” A limping Jeremy Crowe made for a sad and sorry sight in pit lane, but once the leathers were on and the YZF-R6 was wound up, his ankle injury hardly seemed to bother him as he battled with the leaders once again. He collected a pair of 5th placings on Saturday, and was on the march today, this time taking a pair of 4th placings. A nasty crash on Thursday had him behind the eight-ball for much of the weekend, and he was glad that the niggling injury had not prevented him from taking to the track. “It’s always tough racing with an injury and I’m just pleased it didn’t cost me too much in terms of the championship,” said Crowe. “The team was very supportive this weekend and a good setup and tyre selection from Dunlop made the job much easier for me.” “I’m confident that I can come back at Eastern Creek and really throw down the challenge to Josh Waters to make it a 1-2-3 for the Yamaha Racing Team.” He is 19 points shy of third, and will do everything to ensure he is up with the best possible chance of making it a trifecta for the team for the second year running. The series final will be held at Sydney’s Eastern Creek from August 17-19. Round 7 Results. Superbike 1. Jamie STAUFFER, 45 2. Craig COXHELL, 42 3. Daniel STAUFFER, 36 4. Russell HOLLAND, 35 5. Glenn ALLERTON, 34 6. Robert BUGDEN, 28 7. Shawn GILES, 28 8. Gareth JONES, 24 9. Wayne MAXWELL, 23 10. Scott CHARLTON, 23 Supersport 1. Jamie STAUFFER, 50 2. Jason O’HALLORAN, 38 3. Joshua WATERS, 38 4. Jeremy CROWE, 34 5. Gareth JONES, 30 6. Christopher SEATON, 30 7. Judd GREEDY, 25 8. Bryan STARING, 25 9. Nick HENDERSON, 20 10. Zac DAVIES, 19 Round 6 Results. Superbike 1. Jamie STAUFFER, 45 2. Craig COXHELL, 43 3. Daniel STAUFFER, 35 4. Russell HOLLAND, 35 5. Shawn GILES, 33 6. Robert BUGDEN, 30 7. Glenn ALLERTON, 30 8. Wayne MAXWELL, 24 9. Scott CHARLTON, 24 10. Brendan CLARKE, 20 Supersport 1. Russell HOLLAND, 44 2. Jamie STAUFFER, 42 3. Joshua WATERS, 40 4. Jason O’HALLORAN, 35 5. Jeremy CROWE, 32 6. Christopher SEATON, 29 7. Judd GREEDY, 27 8. Gareth JONES, 26 9. Nick HENDERSON, 25 10. Wayne MAXWELL, 21 Championship Standings. Superbike 1. Jamie STAUFFER, 325 2. Craig COXHELL, 260 3. Daniel STAUFFER, 255 4. Glenn ALLERTON, 234 5. Shawn GILES, 193 6. Russell HOLLAND, 187 7. Wayne MAXWELL, 187 8. Scott CHARLTON, 165 9. Robert BUGDEN, 158 10. Shannon JOHNSON, 154 Supersport 1. Jamie STAUFFER, 303 2. Jason O’HALLORAN, 297 3. Joshua WATERS, 254 4. Jeremy CROWE, 235 5. Russell HOLLAND, 228 6. Gareth JONES, 165 7. Christopher SEATON, 153 8. Wayne MAXWELL, 135 9. Bryan STARING, 132 10. Judd GREEDY, 126

Chris Walker took two top six finishes at the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at a rain-drenched Knockhill in Scotland today. ‘Stalker’, starting from sixth on the grid, used all his experience to master the treacherously-wet conditions to finish a clear fifth in the opening race that was shortened by six laps. In the second water-logged event, shortened from 30 to 26 laps, he was relegated to sixth on the last lap and didn’t have time to regain the place he had held for most of the race. Cal Crutchlow had a tough weekend: In the opening race his visor fogged in the damp weather – reducing visibility – and he finished 11th. In the second race he was lying in 12th when he crashed out on the high-speed run to the hairpin at the 1.29-mile long track; fortunately unhurt. Honda’s Jonathan Rea won both races. Rizla Suzuki will attend the official BSB test at Croft in North Yorkshire on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 2nd-3rd, before returning to racing at Oulton Park on Sunday, July 15th. Chris Walker: “It’s been a solid day but I must confess I am smashed to have lost out on fifth place in the second race. I rode as hard as I could in the conditions and to lose a place on the last lap is simply gutting. “There was a lot of standing water on the circuit and it was very tricky but my Rizla Suzuki was doing what I wanted and I was comfortable riding it. I am still not quite used to the amount of grip the Dunlop tyres give in wet conditions, but with today’s experience under my belt if it rains again I’ll be wiser and faster.” Cal Crutchlow: “An 11th and DNF are not the results I wanted or that Rizla Suzuki deserves. In the opening race my visor misted and despite having top 10 pace I couldn’t see and had to slow down. Race two was wetter and I felt as though I had very little grip – I was proved right when I crashed. “It’s been a frustrating weekend but I’ll sit down with the team, analyse the areas where we can improve and will come back stronger, faster and more determined than ever to get into the top six.” Simon Buckmaster – Team Manager: “Chris did a very good job in some of the most difficult riding conditions I have ever witnessed. The rain didn’t waste any time falling, the circuit was soaked with standing water and he did exceptionally well today. It was great to see him racing competitively and this will give the whole team a boost. “Cal had high hopes for this round as it is one of his favourite circuits but he ended up struggling with the conditions. The learning curve for a Superbike rookie can be both unforgiving and punishing but we have every confidence he will pull through and look forward to sharing much better days with him soon.” “We now go to Croft for an official BSB test and hope the rain and flooding keeps away – we are past the half-way point of the season and really want to come on strong in the remaining six rounds of the Championship.” Race One Result: 1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 21:28.015, 2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +6.848, 3: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +8.851, 4: Shane Byrne (Honda) +13.782, 5: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +20.317, 6: Tom Sykes (Honda) +21.994, 7: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +28.222, 8: Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +42.951, 9: Sean Emmett (Suzuki) +43.552, 10: Karl Harris (Honda) +46.707, 11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) +51.530. Race Two Result: 1: Rea 22.56.710, 2: Haslam +5.858, 3: Kiyonari +9.453, 4: Sykes +9.508, 5: Byrne +14.306, 6: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) +15.171, 7: Leon Camier (Honda) +26.730, 8: Harris +34.846, 9: Emmett +49.449, 10: O Bridewell +53.371. DNF: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki). Championship Positions (after 7 of 13 rounds): 1: Kiyonari 248, 2: Rea 237, 3: Lavilla 220, 4: Haslam 205, 5: Byrne 151, 6: Camier 145, 7: Sykes 138, 8: Chris Walker (Rizla Suzuki) 104, 9: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 86, 10: Harris 79, 11: Cal Crutchlow (Rizla Suzuki) 56. More, from a press release issued by Martin Jessopp’s publicist: Sixth for Jessopp at Soaked Knockhill Martin Jessopp and the Riders Racing Ducati Team got their season back on track this weekend at a soaked Knockhill Circuit. Jessopp managed to gain sixth place in the Maxxis British Supersport Race at the tight 1.27-mile circuit. Jessopp who is still recovering from a fractured hand was in need of a strong result to regain his confidence after a run of bad luck at the last few meetings. The youngster from Yeovil ran strong and consistent times throughout the weekend and managed to qualify the 749 Ducati in fifth position on the full grid. Only a poor start let the 21-year-old down and he got blocked into the first corner and was pushed back to eighth after the first lap which left him with a lot of work to do, in what turned out to be a very interesting and close fought 20-lap race. With riders exchanging positions on every lap, the horrendous weather conditions thankfully held off for the Supersport race after already being delayed due to torrential conditions earlier in the day. Jessopp was locked in a tight battle throughout the race with various riders including James Hiller, Sam Owens and Billy McConnell with the riders changing positions on every lap. Jessopp fought a hard race to finish in sixth and is now lying in 12th in the Championship after three DNF’s. Commenting he said “I’m pretty happy with the result as I’ve had a couple of bad meetings and needed to get back into the top six and hopefully move up the Championship tables. The team have worked really hard this weekend to get things moving back in the right direction. I felt a lot more comfortable on the bike and my hand hasn’t given me as much grief as it has done in previous rounds. We’re heading down to Croft for the test on Tuesday and hopefully we will be able to get some good track time there too. I’m looking forward to Oulton Park in a couple of weeks time.” Supersport Result: Laverty Suzuki Young Triumph Grant Yamaha McConnell Yamaha Lowry Suzuki Jessopp Riders Racing Ducati Hobbs Honda Hutchinson Honda Amor Honda Owens Honda More, from a press release issued by Stobart Motorsport: BYRNE AND SYKES JUST MISS KNOCKHILL PODIUM 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Round 7 Knockhill, Fife Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport riders Tom Sykes and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne just missed out on a podium each having had to settle for a fourth place finish in each of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship races which comprised round seven at a weather affected Knockhill earlier today. Qualifying on the front row of the grid for the second time this year, 21 year old Sykes followed up a sixth place finish in race one with a superb fourth place result in race two, just missing out on a podium position by 0.055 seconds as he battled with defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari. Meanwhile 30 year old Byrne overcame vision problems in race one to post a fourth place finish which he followed up with a hard earned fifth place in the second of the day’s races to round off a decent day’s work for the team. Both races were reduced in distance due to torrential rain which fell at the Fife venue but the organisers did well to battle against the elements to prepare the track for two cracking races which as a result sees Shakey and Tom in fifth and seventh places in the championship respectively. The team moves on to Oulton Park in two weeks time whereby the Stobart, VK and Vent Axia backed team will be looking to return to the podium. Shane Byrne: “I just got really beat up at the beginning and just tried to pick my way through. On my own I had a good pace but trying to pass people was a totally different matter and I just rode quite sensibly. I knew I had Leon Camier behind so that was important to me championship-wise. Tom got a couple of points off me as well but a fourth and fifth from a bad qualifying I am quite happy with really. I could have done with a couple of podiums but they will come.” Tom Sykes: “I got a decent start in the second race and just took it a bit steady at the start to make sure I didn’t spin it up. I settled into my race and just took it lap by lap as we’d made some changes from the first race and it took a couple of laps to get settled in, the whole package was brilliant. I was so close to Kiyonari at the end, I tried my hardest but I just couldn’t quite get past him at the hairpin. It’s really gutting to be just 0.055 seconds off the podium but I’m happy to get fourth. I’ve learned a few things today which will help me in the future and I’d like to thank the whole team and hope I can put it on the podium soon because they deserve it.” Paul Bird: “It’s been a good day considering the weather and we had two strong points scoring rides from both riders in both races. We’re looking forward to Oulton Park now and hopefully some decent weather!” Race 1 Result: 1, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 21m28.015s, 2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +6.848s, 3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +8.851s, 4, Shane Byrne (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) +13.782s, 5, Chris Walker (Suzuki) +20.317s, 6, Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) + 21.994s, 7, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +28.222s, 8, Ollie Bridwell (Suzuki) +42.951s, 9, Sean Emmett (Suzuki) +43.552s, 10, Karl Harris (Honda) +46.707s. Race 2 Result: 1, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 22m56.710s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +5.858s, 3, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +9.453s, 4, Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) +9.508s, 5, Shane Byrne (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) +14.306s, 6, Chris Walker (Suzuki) +15.171s, 7, Leon Camier (Honda) +26.730s, 8, Karl Harris (Honda) +34.846s, 9, Sean Emmett (Suzuki) +49.449s, 10, Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +53.371s. Bennetts British Superbike Championship Positions after Round 7 1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 248pts 2, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 237pts 3, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 220pts 4, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 205pts 5, Shane Byrne (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 151pts 6, Leon Camier (Honda) 145pts 7, Tom Sykes (Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda) 138pts 8, Chris Walker (Suzuki) 104pts 9, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 86pts 10, Karl Harris (Honda) 79pts Round 1 7th to 9th April Brands Hatch GP, Kent Round 2 14th/15th April Thruxton, Hants Round 3 27th/29th April Silverstone, Northants Round 4 5th/7th May Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 5 18th/20th May Snetterton, Norfolk Round 6 15th/17th June Mondello Park, Co Kildare Round 7 30th June/1st July Knockhill, Fife Round 8 13th/15th July Oulton Park, Cheshire Round 9 20th/22nd July Mallory Park, Leics Round 10 10th/12th August Croft, North Yorkshire Round 11 25th/27th August Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire Round 12 21st/23rd September Donington Park, Leics Round 13 12th/14th October Brands Hatch Indy, Kent