Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha rider Tommy Hill recorded an impressive 6th place in treacherous weather conditions in round 2 of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at a stormy Donington Park yesterday (Sun 9 April). 21 year old lead rider Hill from Lingfield in Surrey was unlucky in the first race when despite a storming start, dramatically high sided at the first turn (Redgate Corner) on lap one. Hill took the full force of his bike and two others riders and came away with a few bruises. Team Mate, Langley Mill based Kieran Clarke, 21, was also a casualty of the melee and crashed out uninjured.
The current Virgin Mobile Cup champion Billy McConnell was looking to maintain the standard he had set himself in his first British Superbike race at Brands Hatch two weeks ago. After qualifying in 18th position on the grid, the 19 year old Australian went about picking off the pack of more experienced riders in front of him.
The slippery track was ever-changing and McConnell was steady and sure in his overtaking. On board the Pirelli-shod Yamaha YZF-R1, by lap 10 Billy had worked his way up to 14th position and some solid Championship points. The race was stopped with 5 laps to go as the rain set in causing numerous top names to crash.
The current British Superbike Champion Gregorio Lavilla stunned the Donington crowds with his victory in the first race and set a new circuit record of 1:31.243.
Prior to the start of race two the heavens opened and the British Superbike riders were given a thirteen minutes wet practice session. The 15-lap second race started with the rain still pouring down on the 2.5 mile circuit.
All three of the young Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha riders lined up on the grid in conditions any experienced rider would have found challenging. Tommy rode a fantastic race as the top names fell around him; Michael Rutter, Ryichi Kyonari, Karl Harris, Shane Byrne and James Haydon all fell to the conditions. Tommy kept his head and came home in a fine sixth position and valuable championship points. His team mates were not so lucky, Kieran had too many scares and retired uninjured. Billy tried to work out the wet conditions but slipped off with two laps to go, embarrassed but uninjured.
Vivaldi Suzuki rider Scott Smart caused the upset of the day by winning race two ahead of the two Airwaves Ducati riders.
Tommy Hill“The conditions were terrible at Donington and everyone who even got round the track was a hero. In the first race I went into the first bend at Redgate too hard and lost control of the bike. I was determined not to miss race two. With the rain beating down as hard as it was, I knew if I could just stay on my bike, I would have a chance of getting a good position. Seasoned campaigners like Byrne came off on the sighting lap and didn’t even start on the grid which gave me confidence. The bike felt great though and we are looking ahead now to Thruxton.”
Billy McConnell“After a great start to the season at Brands where I was in second position for most of the second race ahead of Lavilla and Halsam, I was feeling positive for Donington. I was pleased with my performance today. 14th place in the first race is something to work on and the weather just played too big a part in the second race. I am learning all the time and my confidence is growing.”
Kieran Clarke “Donington is my local circuit and I know it well but I don’t think I have ever ridden there in such bad weather conditions! I am not very happy with how it went this weekend but we are all working hard towards getting the results we deserve at Thruxton.”
Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha Manager, Rob McElnea “This weekend threw at us probably the most difficult conditions I have ever experienced. All our guys did a great job considering the majority of the seasoned riders made mistakes so for our young team to score points and come away from the weekend in one piece I will take that as a bonus and move on.”
Superbike Race One Result:1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 20m53.166s,
2, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.134s,
3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +5.246s,
4, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +9.361s,
5, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) +9.591s,
6, Karl Harris (Honda) +10.540s,
7, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) +11.533s,
8, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +20.235s,
9, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +22.451s,
10, Scott Smart (Suzuki) +23.216s,
11, Craig Coxhill (Kawasaki) +23.881,
12, Ben Wilson (Suzuki) +29.812,
13, Gary Mason (Honda) +32.623,
14, Billy McConnell (Yamaha) +39.824
Superbike Race Two Result:1, Scott Smart (Suzuki) 27m37.071s,
2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.576s,
3, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +2.297s,
4, Gary Mason (Honda) +5.943s,
5, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +30.768s,
6, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +33.586s,
7, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +36.829s,
8, Ollie Bridewell (Suzuki) +59.273s,
9, Chris Martin (Honda) +59.297s,
10, Malcolm Ashley (Kawasaki) +1:04.142s.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings (after round 2):1. Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 82points
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 58points
3. Leon Haslam (Ducati) 56points
4. Karl Harris (Honda) 41points
5. Scott Smart (Suzuki) 33points
6. Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 31points
7. Jonathan Rea (Honda) 30points
8 Shane Byrne (Suzuki) 26points
9. Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) 25points
10. Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 23points
10. Gary Mason (Honda) 23points
11. Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 20points
22. Billy McConnell (Yamaha) 2points
Related Linkswww.virginmobileracing.com
Related News
