2008 British Superbike Round 6 - Mallory Park

Mallory Park Race Circuit

Text and Photos Courtesy Kawasaki Racing, Suzuki Racing, Yamaha Racing, Pirelli Tyre, Metzeler Tyre and British Superbike. Edited by webBikeWorld.

Race Results - June 29, 2008
Shane Byrne recorded his eighth win of the season in a thrilling opening 30 lap Superbike race at Mallory Park.

The 2008 pole position domination of Airwaves Ducati and HM Plant Honda was broken for the first time this season by Tom Sykes on the Rizla Suzuki, ahead of today’s two 30-lap races at Mallory Park.

Cal Crutchlow, opting for a hard rear Pirelli tire, took the hole shot into Gerard’s for the first time of asking, as the entire field looked to flow through the opening lap unscathed.

Unfortunately for Snetterton race 1 winner, Leon Camier, the Airwaves Ducati pilot clipped the rear Pirelli of Billy McConnell, crashing out of the race on the first corner.

Cal Crutchlow led a five bike break-away, followed by Michael Laverty, Leon Haslam, Shane Byrne and Tom Sykes. Haslam attempted a number of last gasp overtakes on the brakes at Shaw’s hairpin but only to his own detriment, losing valuable time on race leader Crutchlow.

Rob Mac Racing’s Karl Harris’ luck has yet to take a turn for the better. Sitting comfortably in sixth, ahead of Ellison and a spirited Palmer, a stone in his radiator brought the engine temperature soaring to dangerous levels, and Harris record his 8 DNF of the season.

Haslam made his move on teammate Crutchlow at Shaw’s on lap 18, taking the lead just as Byrne slipped his Airwaves Ducati under Laverty for fourth. Byrne was on the ascendancy, taking Sykes for third before edging into the lead in a twin versus four cylinder drag across the line for the start of lap 26.

With back-marker, Martin Jessopp putting his Honda into the mix, Byrne made a quick pass to break clear at the front, to take the checkered flag by a second from the HM Plant Honda pairing of Haslam and Crutchlow.

Shane Byrne, Race 1 Winner: "I think this circuit is a fantastic venue, they host a great race meeting but I hate the track, it doesn't suit my style. That said, I was really nervous before this race, it's really tight and twisty. I had some incidents throughout the race but still managed the win, obviously I'm delighted."

Race 2
Michael Rutter produced a fairy tale climax to the Superbike action at Mallory Park today, with his first win since
Oulton Park back in May 2005.

Changeable weather conditions made tire selection a complete lottery as the riders lined up for the second 30-lap
race. Tom Sykes, on slicks, took the hole shot from pole, the lead quickly changing hands to Michael Laverty who had opted for a wet Pirelli set-up. Rutter slipped in to second, a brave ride over the opening laps with the NW200 Ducati on full slicks.

As Laverty looked to make the most of the drying track during the early stages, the Relentless by Suzuki TAS rider lost the front end at Charlies chicane at the start of lap 4. This paved the way for Michael Rutter to take over the reins at the head of the field from MSS Discovery Kawasaki pilot, Billy McConnell.

A distinct dry line formed round the 1.41 mile circuit, as Rutter extended his lead to over six seconds by mid-race
distance. Riders who had also erred on the side of a dry set-up started to elevate their machines through the field.

Billy McConnell found himself swamped and eventually out of the points as Andrews, Haslam, Byrne, Crutchlow, Sykes and Harris dropped their lap times into the 59s bracket. Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) attempted to close the gap but each time Rutter responded.

In the closing stages, Byrne came under immense pressure from HM Plant Honda rider, Cal Crutchlow for second but managed to ride a defensive line through the Bus Stop on the final lap to extend his Championship lead.

Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) and Karl Harris took the opportunity of a Haslam error to mount a late charge on the
podium positions, finishing fourth and fifth respectively. For Rob Mac Racing rider, Harris, this was to be only his fourth finish of the season.

However, nothing could be taken away from Rutter, who rode an inch perfect race to claim victory and move into fifth
in the title race.

The action now moves on to round 7 at Oulton Park, for the second visit to the Cheshire circuit, as the second half of the season gets underway.

Michael Rutter, Winner Race 2: “It’s like a dream come true! The weekend had been a nightmare up to that point. I had a problem with my number one bike on the warm up lap of the first race and had to start from the back of the grid on the spare machine, then I crashed out and I thought it was a sign of things to come. I took the gamble on slicks for the second and it paid off tremendously. You just don’t know how racing will turn out. I’ve got to thank the whole NW200 Ducati team and Pirelli.”

Race 1 Results
1. Byrne (Ducati), 2. Haslam (Honda), 3. Crutchlow (Honda), 4. Sykes (Suzuki), 5. Ellison (Honda), 6. McConnell (Kawasaki), 7.Andrews (Yamaha), 8. Palmer (Honda), 9. Watanabe (Suzuki), 10. J.Laverty (Ducati)

Race 2 Results
1. Rutter (Ducati), 2. Byrne (Ducati), 3. Crutchlow (Honda), 4. Sykes (Suzuki), 5. Harris (Yamaha), 6. Haslam (Honda), 7. Andrews (Yamaha), 8. Camier (Ducati), 9. Palmer (Honda), 10. Smart (Kawasaki)

Championship Standings
1. Byrne – 280, 2. Crutchlow – 183, 3. Camier – 160, 4. Haslam – 148, 5. Rutter – 127, 6. Sykes – 126, 7. Ellison – 119, 8. M.Laverty –84, 9. Andrews – 69, 10. Easton – 62

Note: For informational use only. All material and photographs are Copyright © webWorld International, LLC - 2000-2009. All rights reserved. Read the Terms and Conditions. See the webBikeWorld® Site Info page.