Tommy Hill produced a spirited ride in the second race at Oulton Park, today, 7 May to claim his highest finish of the season. In a change of events from the first race, that saw Tommy record a lonely tenth, Tommy blasted his Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha YZF-R1 into the lead on the first lap as Leon Haslam braked for Hislop's chicane. The 22-year old rider from Lingfield in Surrey powered his 1000cc machine to a sustainable lead of ten bike lengths for the next two laps. Leon Haslam, hot on his tail, slipped underneath at Lakeside on Lap four as the front-runners broke from the chasing pack.
2006 Champion, Ryuichi Kiyonari passed Hill at the same spot the following lap, before the leaders settled in to concentrate on putting in a string of fast laps. Shane Byrne attempted to pass the determined Hill, flames pouring from his Akrapovic exhaust to deter the former champion. Unfortunately, he had started to lose grip and Tommy could not prevent the passing move that came on Lap 12. Tommy put his head down, battling for fourth and the possibility of catching Byrne for the final podium position. However, coming into Lodge corner at the end of the fifteenth circulation, Lavilla slipped ahead of Tommy.
The final lap saw Jonathan Rea and Tom Sykes close down Hill. The three young riders exited Lodge and rose up Deer Leap in a drag to the chequered flag. Tommy narrowly missed out, but recorded seventh and his best result of the season.
Tommy's team-mate for Round Four, Hudson Kennaugh, put in a pair of promising debut rides onboard the Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha to finish just outside the points on both occasions. The National Superstock rider relished the opportunity to ride a Superbike on slicks for the first time and developed well throughout the weekend.
Tommy Hill:"It was a great turn around from the first race, I got a really bad starts in Race 1 and it was all I could do to get 10th which I obviously wasn't very happy with. We made some changes for the second race which gave me a much better start and I proved just what I can do when I'm up there and running at the front. My grip started to go at the end but we can now work on that for the next round. I'm gutted that I got passed by Rea and Sykes in the last corner but there was just nothing I could do."
Hudson Kennaugh: "What an awesome experience I have had this weekend. In both races I didn't get the best starts so it made really hard work of getting back up towards the points. The bike is quite different from my Superstock and I just need a little more time to make the switch. Obviously riding in both classes this weekend has been a challenge but it has been a fantastic opportunity for me."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "This is just the weekend that we needed, to finish the job off on race day. We had problems through qualifying but kept working on it through the weekend. Tommy got a much better start in Race 2 and ran up the front for three quarters of the race and proved just what he can do. Snetterton will be good for us we know the bike is competitive and the tyres are close. We now have some really good data to work with and the result was just what Tommy needed.
It has been a big weekend for Hudson; to run in both classes is a tough call as Oulton is a very physical track. The transition from Superstock to Superbike was probably a bit more than he could of anticipated but he made some good progress. It's a shame he didn't quite score any points as he would of got his just rewards."
BSB - Race 1 Results:1 - Lavilla (Ducati),
2 - Haslam (Ducati),
3 - Kiyonari (Honda),
4 - Rea (Honda),
5 - Sykes (Honda),
6 - Byrne (Honda),
10 - Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha),
16 - Hudson Kennaugh (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha)
BSB - Race 2 Results:1 - Kiyonari (Honda),
2 - Haslam (Ducati),
3 - Byrne (Honda)
4 - Lavilla (Ducati),
5 - Rea (Honda),
6 - Sykes (Honda),
7 - Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha),
17 - Hudson Kennaugh (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha)
Championship Standings:1) Lavilla 169,
2) Kiyonari 140,
3) Rea 109,
4) Haslam 104,
5) Camier 96,
9) Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha) 52
Supersport:Virgin Media Yamaha's weekend turned as bitter-sweet as the weather this afternoon during the Supersport race at Oulton Park. Billy McConnell's chances of a second podium this season could hardly have been better as the 20-year old Australian lined up second on the grid. Launching his Yamaha YZF-R6 from the lights, Billy settled into third during the opening laps. Dicing with Ian Lowry and Guy Sanders, Billy looked to have the edge as he posted the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:39.939 on lap seven. However, as happened at Brands Hatch, Billy was about to undo all of his efforts. Making a passing move on Ian Lowry into Druids, the front tucked and Billy unceremoniously crashed out of proceeding.
Team-mate Tom Grant battled back from a sluggish start that saw him circulate in 13th during the opening lap. By Lap 8 Tom had moved stealthily through the field into fifth, holding John McGuinness at bay for the next five laps. With three laps left, McGuinness moved ahead for fifth, leaving Tom to settle for ten points towards his championship challenge as he crossed the line in sixth position.
Tom Grant:"All in all it was not a bad end to the weekend. I've struggled with my ankle and got a really bad start. I managed to pick my way back from 13th to 5th over a handful of laps. When McGuinness put me back to 6th I'd just run out of steam. For Snetterton I'll be fitter and back to top form."
Billy McConnell: "Obviously I'm absolutely gutted. I was having a really good race and making time back up on Lowry after he passed me for 3rd a few laps earlier. I saw the gap for 3rd and went for it and just as I got passed him I just lost the front. I've got to move on to Snetterton knowing that I'm the fastest guy out there but I need to convert that into race results."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal:"I'm devastated for Billy, its another chance gone missing and he deserves his time at the top. He had great rhythm in the race and could see Hobbs getting away from him. I think he under estimated just how fast Lowry was running when he made his move to reclaim 3rd. Tom has put in anther solid performance for us, he is still injured yet made up places from his 3rd row qualifying position, earning more valuable points."
Race Result:1 - Hobbs (Honda)
2 - Lowry (Suzuki),
3 - Laverty (Suzuki),
4 - Sanders (Kawasaki),
5 - McGuinness (Honda),
6 - Tom Grant (Virgin Media Yamaha),
DNF - Billy McConnell (Virgin Media Yamaha)
Championship Standings:
1) Laverty 82,
2) Lowry 56,
3) Hobbs 50,
4) Robinson 47,
5) Easton 35,
8) McConnell (Virgin Media Yamaha) 25,
10) Grant (Virgin Media Yamaha) 21.
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