Combined press release:Supersport
Billy McConnell took a hard-fought race win for his Map Raceways Yamaha team, at round four of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship at Thruxton in Hampshire.
The race got off to a dramatic start with Dennis Hobbs high-siding, mid-pack through turn one. McConnell’s team-mate Lee Johnston hit Hobbs’ stricken machine and the crash brought out the red flags. Johnston was able to re-start but Hobbs didn’t make the grid.
It wasn’t an easy race for the talented Australian as he battled between first place and fourth for all 16 laps. He made a solid move on the last lap and was able to gap the chasing pack to come over the line 0.308secs clear of Steve Plater.
Billy: “That was a good race; it is always good to have a battle and then win it. My MAP Raceways Yamaha was really strong and I’m thrilled to have the Championship lead back. It was tough but I knew it would be. Dan Linfoot had very different corner speed to me due to his engine braking so it was good to get a break on him on the last lap. I can’t wait now to get to Snetterton for the next round.”
Ulsterman Johnston showed true racing grit to come back from the huge turn one crash and go out in the re-start. His MAP Raceways team worked hard to ready a spare bike and Johnston pulled in a painful but superb ninth place.
Lee:
“I was lucky to get away with that one and I hope Dennis Hobbs is ok. He high-sided in the middle of turn one and I hit his bike. I’ve hurt my right wrist and ankle but I had to get out there and race. I got a top ten which was my aim but now the adrenalin has worn off so I'm starting to feel sore. I hope to be fully fit for Snetterton as I want more top tens.”
The final member of the MAP Raceways Yamaha team, Allan Jon Venter also had a good race narrowly missing out on scoring a point. He had a big fight on his hands with a number of riders but his injury from Donington Park slowed him down towards the end of race distance.
AJ:
“It was a good race and I got away better on the re-start. I saw Lee’s crash and I’m amazed he was able to get back out in the second part. I got a little tangled up with about five guys which was good fun but I was just running out of strength at the end. I will be back to full fitness by Snetterton so I’m looking forward to that. I want to say thanks to MAP Group and to all my sponsors and to Dr Toby Branfoot who looked after me at Donington Park last weekend.”
The fifth round of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship will take place in three weeks time on the 19th-21st June at Snetterton in Norfolk.
Race result:1. Billy McConnell MAP Raceways Yamaha 20:54.4012. Steve Plater Honda +0.308
3. Dan Linfoot Yamaha +0.675
4. James Westmoreland Triumph +1.856
5. James Webb Honda +5.954
6. Ben Wilson Kawasaki +6.125
7. Paul Young Triumph +6.282
8. Hudson Kennaugh Yamaha +11.452
9. Lee Johnston MAP Raceways Yamaha +14.26310. Joe Dickinson Honda +14.347
16. Allan Jon Venter MAP Raceways Yamaha +17.786Championship points after round four of 12:1. Billy McConnell MAP Raceways Yamaha 722. Steve Plater Honda 70
3. Dan Linfoot Triumph 52
4. Ben Wilson Kawasaki 39
5. Daniel Cooper Honda 37
6. James Westmoreland Triumph 36
7. James Webb Honda 32
8. Tom Grant Honda 30
9. Lee Johnston Map Raceways Yamaha 2510. Hudson Kennaugh Yamaha 23
26. Allan Jon Venter MAP Raceways Yamaha 1 Superstock
Luke Jones kept his cool aboard his MAP Raceways Yamaha to pick up a third place finish and more championship points at the fourth round of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship at Thruxton in Hampshire.
The race started in dramatic fashion with a six-rider pile up off the line. Unfortunately for the MAP Raceways Junior Superstock team, two of the riders who went out were Mike McLean and Cody Nally. No-one was hurt in the incident but the Safety Car had to be deployed while the debris was cleared from the track.
Jones had got the hole-shot, missing out on the carnage and maintained his position behind the Safety Car for four laps. The Safety Car had only just returned to pit-lane and allowed the racing to start in anger when another incident saw it re-deployed for a further three laps. This effectively cut the Superstock race down to just seven racing laps.
Jones battled from first to third and back again only to be relegated to third on the last lap.
Jones:
“I had a really good battle and I enjoyed the race. I think I pushed too soon on the fast section and wore out my tyre. I’m happy to be on the podium as it is more points for me. I also feel more confident now too which is good. I didn’t see the big crash as I had got away well but sitting behind the Safety Car is distracting. I can’t wait to get to Snetterton as my confidence is up.”
Team-mate Nikki Coates also just avoided the crash to finish in a superb seventh place. Having crashed out of the previous two rounds to finish in the top ten has really given him a boost.
Coates said: “That was a lot better this weekend. I could have done with a few more laps as I know I could have moved even further forward. My lap times were the same as the race leaders so it was a shame the Safety Car had to come out. I do feel a lot more confident now I’ve got a good result under my belt. I can’t wait to get on track at Snetterton now.”
McLean and Nally’s race lasted only a few metres and both riders were gutted not to be able to run race distance.
Nally:
“I went to turn in and just got hit from behind, I did try to re-start but my handle bars were twisted. I’m hoping for some better luck next time.”
McLean:
“I was hit during the big crash but I didn’t go down. The impact obviously damaged my bike and it just wouldn’t start. It’s a shame to have a race cut so short when everything else had gone well all weekend. I just need to look to Snetterton now.”
The fourth round of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship will take place at Snetterton in Norfolk on the 19th-21st June.
Race result:1. Luke Mossey Yamaha 20:15.843
2. Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki +0.260
3. Luke Jones MAP Raceways Yamaha +0.8374. Michael Booth Honda +6.088
5. Daniel Kneen Honda +6.321
6. Patrick McDougall Yamaha +6.513
7. Nikki Coates MAP Raceways Yamaha +7.3428. Jesse Trayler Kawasaki +7.411
9. Matt Bilton Yamaha +7.790
10. Joe Burns Yamaha +8.952
DNF. Mike McLean MAP Raceways Yamaha 0 lapsDNF. Cody Nally MAP Raceways Yamaha 0 lapsChampionship points after round four of 12:1. Patrick McDougall Yamaha 54
2. Daniel Kneen Honda 52
3. Jesse Trayler Kawasaki 47
4. Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki 47
5. Joe Burns Yamaha 43
6. Luke Mossey Yamaha 43
7. Luke Jones MAP Raceways Yamaha 418. Matt Bilton Yamaha 34
9. Luke Stapleford Kawasaki 31
10. Michael Booth Honda 29
19. Nikki Coates MAP Raceways Yamaha 9
