British Superbike Round 1 - Brands Hatch

The Postponed Race
The first round of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, Kent, was abandoned on the 6th of April, due to unseasonably heavy snowfall. 

As a result of extensive efforts on the part of series organizer MotorSport Vision Racing, the round was rescheduled to take place over the weekend of 10/11 May.  The grid positions for all classes will be as of final qualifying positions set on Saturday 5 April (see below). 

Race Results
Ducati's Shane Byrne took Race 1 and Cal Crutchlow took Race 2 on his Honda today in the rescheduled Brands Hatch British Superbike race.

Tom Sykes scored a well-deserved podium second place for Rizla Suzuki during the first race of the Brands Hatch GP round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, but he did not finish the second race.

In the opening race, starting from fourth place on the front row of the grid at the 2.3-mile long Kent circuit, Sykes battled with Ducati's Shane Byrne, eventually finishing a close runner-up.  He was in second position again in race two with only a handful of laps to go, when he crashed out unscathed due to a mechanical issue.  The race was won by Cal Crutchlow.

Rizla Suzuki's Atsushi Watanabe took a determined 12th place finish in race one at the Kent track, as the two times Japanese Champion continues to find his feet in the highly-competitive British Superbike Championship. His second race ended early when he was forced to retire.

The fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship will take place at Donington Park on Monday, May 26th.

Tom Sykes:  "The podium in race one has been a long time coming.  My Rizla Suzuki technicians worked really hard and I'm pleased I was able to repay them with some champagne.  As for race two, it was just unfortunate as I had the pace to win but crashed out due to a mechanical failure.  I don't want to dwell on the incident as we have had a lot of positives this weekend.  I just want to get on my Rizla Suzuki at Donington Park and finish both races on the podium. I know we are capable of that."

Race 1 Results:
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 29:24.345
2: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +1.855
3: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +3.111
4: Leon Haslam (Honda) +3.887
5: Leon Camier (Ducati) +4.996
6: James Ellison (Honda) +15.815
7: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +16.645
8: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +26.446
9: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +30.384
10: Tristan Palmer (Honda) +33.728
12: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +35.187

Race 2 Results:
1: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 30:31.299
2: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +0.110
3: Leon Camier (Ducati) +0.748
4: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +2.221
5: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +2.906
6: Leon Haslam (Honda) +3.097
7: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +3.121
8: James Ellison (Honda) +4.147
9: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +1 lap
10: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +1 lap
DNF: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki)
DNF: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki)

Championship Standings: (after three of 12 rounds):
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 140
2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 96
3: Leon Camier (Ducati) 83
4: James Ellison (Honda) 64
5: Leon Haslam (Honda) 56
6: Michael Rutter (Ducati) 55
7: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 52
8: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 52
9: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 49
10: Tristan Palmer (Honda) 29
15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki)
 

Troy Bayliss (Race 1 - 3rd, Race 2 - DNF):  Race 1 saw Bayliss caught up in a fight against Max Neukirchner and Noriyuki Haga, a closely contested race from the start right down to the finish line, in which Max eventually prevailed and Bayliss crossed the line in third. In Race 2 Bayliss' 1098 F08 suffered a technical fault, an engine problem that resulted in oil leaking, and which unfortunately led subsequently to his retirement from the race.

"I knew today's races would be hard and that proved to be the case. In Race 1 I felt the bike was missing a couple of things and struggling on the long corners but in the end I was happy to take a third place in Race 1. My compliments to Max who takes his first Superbike win, both him and Nori rode a great race and there was nothing I could do to get past them. Race 2? Let's just say I'm happy to leave Monza with a bigger points lead than I had when I arrived."

Background
Shane Byrne secured the first pole position of the season onboard the Airwaves Ducati at his local circuit (5 April).
The Kent rider dominated proceedings posting near lap record times as he headed all three Free Practice sessions and Saturday afternoon’s 50-minute Qualifying.

Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing) led the charge to topple Shane Byrne from the head of the leader board, posting his
fastest lap time of 1:26.364 mid-way through the session. This proved to be the fastest-ever time that the Pirelli-shod Rob Mac Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 had circulated the 2.3 mile track. 

Harris looked set on second position until HM Plant Honda rider, Cal Crutchlow’s blistering pace elevated the 2006 British Supersport Champion into second as the checkered flag dropped.  Team-mate, Leon Haslam rounded out the front row.

Further down the field, Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki), Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati), Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/
Lloyds British) and Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) fought hard to claim starting places on the second
row of the grid with just three tenths of a second splitting the four riders’ times.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship debutante, Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) and Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki By TAS) rounded out the top ten setting the scene for an exhilarating debut Pirelli exclusive Superbike race.

The riders will now move on to round 2 at Thruxton (18-20 April), where Pirelli secured its first Superbike pole, and
fastest ever two-wheeled lap of the Hampshire circuit at the hands of the Pirelli-shod Tommy Hill In 2007.

Qualifying
Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes and Atsushi Watanabe completed a successful but rain-hit qualifying session at Brands Hatch in Kent today, finishing in fifth and ninth places respectively.

The 50-minute session took place in cooler conditions than yesterday's free practice but came to a premature halt with 5 minutes left to run due to heavy rain hitting the challenging 2.3 mile circuit.  Sykes improved his times from the morning free practice session and was running close to a front row position when the rain started to fall.

"My lap times improved by 1.5secs taking us from 1min 28s this morning to 1min 26s, so just one more step forward and we will be there," explained Sykes.  "I'm disappointed at missing out on the front row but we have been working on improving front end feel.  I was on the front row of the grid and just got pipped as I came in for some adjustments.

"Shame the rain started as I think the lap I was on would have put me and my Rizla Suzuki on the front row for sure.  The second row of the grid is ok I feel a podium is achievable from there.  I'm looking forward to race day tomorrow.  We have a few changes to make and looking at the data we can make another step forward so I can't wait to get racing."

Watanabe continued to impress on his UK debut placing his Rizla Suzuki within the top ten which was the team's aim.  He spent his free practice sessions learning the demanding circuit and progressively dropped his lap times, improving by 1sec from free practice to qualifying.

"I am not so happy being ninth," he said.  "I wanted to be top five but my team is happy and we all work well together.  I am still learning the track but now I look forward to the race that will teach me more."

Team Manager Jack Valentine was happy with the team's progress over the weekend.  He commented: "I'm pleased with how qualifying has gone.  Shame it rained as Tom was on a quick lap and would have made the front row of the grid.  Watanabe has been fantastic; we had hoped for top ten, and that is what he has achieved.  He is competitive and has beaten riders who have raced here for years on his first time on track.  All in all it has been a solid qualifying. We have good race set-up so I'm looking forward to it."

Pole position was taken by Ducati's Shane Byrne with a time of 1min 25.832secs.  Racing gets under way Sunday with race one at 1345 and race two at 1630.

Qualifying Results
1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 1:25.832
2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +0.323
3: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +0.532
4: Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.720
5: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.809
6: Leon Camier (Ducati) +1.001
7: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +1.094
8: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +1.142
9: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +2.061
10: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +2.1 05

Race Preview
The Rizla Suzuki team of Tom Sykes and Atsushi Watanabe can't wait to start racing this weekend at the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch in Kent.

Round one of the 12-round championship will be unleashed on the 2.301 miles GP circuit, which is a firm rider's favorite.  The natural amphitheatre which embraces Brands Hatch proves superb viewing for spectators and a challenging track for the riders.

With the blind apex of Paddock Hill, the tight turn of Druids and the hard braking of Graham Hill bend it is a circuit which is difficult to master.  Watanabe, two times Japanese Champion, will be doing his level best to learn the full GP circuit for his UK race debut.

"I did track day on Indy circuit with John Reynolds, he help me learn circuit," explained Watanabe.  "I'm looking forward to racing the full GP track, everyone say it is tough to learn, I hope I learn fast!"

2007 Rookie of the Year Sykes can't wait to get on track.  He said: "I'm really looking forward to it and I must say it has come round so fast.  With all our pre-season testing I feel we are well prepared and I can't wait to start racing. I just hope we get better weather than at the Snetterton test."

Team Manger Jack Valentine said: "I'm looking forward to it.  We have done our testing and it went well, our riders are ready and I'm happy with everything at the moment.  We haven't seen the opposition yet as we haven't tested at a UK track but there is no reason why we can't run at the front.  Tom should be up there immediately and Atsushi won't take long until he is on the pace if the promise he showed in testing continues. Let's hope for some good weather and exciting racing."

Racing gets under way on Sunday April 6th with race one at 1345 and race two at 1630.