MAP Raceways Croft Update '09
By: londonbikers.com |
Published 14 September 2009, 15:53 | Views: 1,260 | tags: bsb, bss, british supersport, superstock, metzeler national 600cc, fuchs-silkolene, map raceways, yamaha, billy mcconnell, lee johnston, allan jon venter, mike mclean, luke jones, nikki cotes, cody nally, croft, north yorkshire
Combined class press release (13/09/09):
McConnell Battles to Second Place at Croft
Billy McConnell took a hard fought second place at round ten of the Fuchs- Silkolene British Supersport Championship at Croft in North Yorkshire today.
Starting from pole position aboard his MAP Raceways Yamaha, McConnell got the hole-shot and immediately got his head down to try and break away. Unfortunately on lap five the safety car came out and that was the turning point of McConnell’s race. His tyres had cooled down so less effective and this saw him drop to fourth at one point, before clawing his way back to second place and taking valuable points for the title chase.
McConnell:
“The race was where I wanted it until the safety car came out. Plater was back in seventh and we had him on my pit board so I knew the score. We were running a soft rear and when the safety car came out it cooled down. I got a good start and had a nice gap, once the safety car had gone in we just had nine laps to run and my tyre had started to slide.
“I could have had a go at Plater on the faster stuff on the last lap but I hadn’t followed him for long enough to know his weak points. The team has worked really hard and for lalter to come from ninth to take the win, then fair play. It’s just made the Championship harder as I’m now seven points behind him. I’ll just have to win the next two rounds.”
Allan Jon Venter had an action-packed race and finished in ninth place. He got bumped through turn one which pushed him down the order and then had a moment when he ran wide.
Venter:
“I got a good start but there was carnage in the first corner and then I got bumped again at the hairpin. With four laps to go my tyre had cooled off and as I tried to pass Dan Linfoot I ran wide. I’ll now keep an open mind as we head to Silverstone.”
Lee Johnston had hoped for a top-five finish having qualified in sixth place but the odds were stacked against him thanks to a turn-one collision and his tyre going off. He raced to 11th position.
Johnston:
“I’m really disappointed as from sixth on the grid I really should have had a result. I got pushed really wide at turn one and that left me way back. I started to come through the pack and got as far as 11th, I really worked my tyre and it went off which really didn’t help matters. I’ve got to thanks to Jason and Brad for a great setup and qualifying it’s a pity it didn’t come together in the race.”
The penultimate round of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship will take place at Silverstone in Northamptonshire on the 25th – 27th September.
Race Results:
1. Steve Plater Honda 25:38.321
2. Billy McConnell MAP Raceways Yamaha +0.298
3. Ben Wilson Kawasaki +0.683
4. James Westmoreland Triumph +1.211
5. Ian Hutchinson Honda +1.572
6. Daniel Cooper Honda +4.360
7. Dan Linfoot Yamaha +6.816
8. Marty Nutt Yamaha +7.192
9. Allan Jon Venter MAP Raceways Yamaha +7.218
10. Jack Kennedy Yamaha +7.575
11. Lee Johnston MAP Raceways Yamaha +13.543
Championship standings:
1. Steve Plater 170
2. Billy McConnell 163
3. James Westmoreland 126
4. Ben Wilson 121
5. Daniel Cooper 91
6. Ian Hutchinson 65
7. James Webb 54
8. Tom Grant 54
9. Sam Lowes 46
10. Craig Fitzpatrick 42
11. Allan Jon Venter 42
12. Lee Johnston 41
Fourth for Coates at Croft
Nikki Coates aboard his MAP Raceways Yamaha raced to fourth place during the tenth round of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 race at Croft in North Yorkshire today.
The young Ulsterman had hoped for a podium finish but unfortunately his front-row start didn’t translate into the result he had wanted, and he came home in fourth place.
Coates:
“I got a bad start and was too careful getting through the pack. I was wary after all the other incidents we’ve had this year. I should have pushed sooner as I let the front runners get away. I want to go one place better at Silverstone, I like the track and I’ve had good results there in the past.”
Luke Jones had what he described as a frustrating race as every time he moved forward another rider would make a harsh move and put him back again. He finally finished in ninth place.
Jones:
“I got a good start and on the first lap I made up a number of places. On the last corner on lap two I hit a false neutral and ran on. That dropped me to about 16th and I lost the group I had been battling with. I got back through some of them but every time I made a place someone put a do-or-die move on me and ran us both wide. It was very frustrating. I can’t wait to get to Silverstone as I love it there; it is one of my favourite tracks.”
Mike McLean also had an eventful race finishing in 18th position; he lost a lot of places avoiding another rider and had to work hard to pull himself back into the top 20.
McLean:
“I got a good start and I made a few places into the first corner. Then a rider in front of me had a near high-side and I had to brake on the back straight, as I tried to get away I was in the wrong gear so that held me back too. I had hoped for points as I’d qualified in 16th. I’ll just have to try and make up for it at Silverstone.”
Irishman Cody Nally had even more bad luck when he was punted off at the first corner. He picked his MAP Raceways Yamaha up and returned to the action but had to retire as his handlebars were too badly bent.
The 11th round of the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship will take place at Silverstone on the 25th – 27th September.
Race result:
1. Luke Mossey Yamaha 20:04.452
2. Jamie Hamilton Kawasaki +2.507
3. Luke Stapleford Kawasaki +4.581
4. Nikki Coates MAP Raceways Yamaha +11.582
5. Jess Trayler Kawasaki +15.238
6. Daniel Kneen Honda +15.489
7. Johnny Blackshaw Yamaha +15.670
8. Jonathan Dickson Yamaha +15.737
9. Luke Jones Map Raceways Yamaha +15.931
10. Matt Bilton Yamaha +16.463
18. Mike McLean MAP Raceways Yamaha +26.794
DNF: Cody Nally Map Raceways Yamaha 6 laps
Championship standings:
1. Jamie Hamilton 165
2. Luke Mossey 118
3. Luke Jones 112
4. Jesse Trayler 101
5. Matt Bilton 92
6. Daniel Kneen 88
7. Patrick McDougall 82
8. Luke Stapleford 77
9. Joe Burns 53
10. Leon Hunt 48
11. Nikki Coates 46
35. Mike McLean 4
Photos
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