James Webb has had an immediate impact on the timesheets in the MAXXIS British Supersport Championship. The 18-year-old took the Isilon MSS Discovery Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R to eighth position on his debut for the team in the fiercely competitive series. The rider from Tunbridge Wells replaces Stuart Easton, who broke his heel mid-week in a practice crash for Kawasaki France. The 23-year-old former British champion will miss the remaining rounds of the British Supersport championship. In the Bennetts British Superbike class, Michael Rutter has been suffering from a frustrating engine management issue but still was the fastest Kawasaki in qualifying by recording the 12th best time.
Michael Rutter, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R (12th – 1m 28.194s)
“We are struggling a little really thanks to the engine management issue. The bike seems to be entering a flat-spot in the power and then there’s a big surge just when you don’t need it! The jump up to the next group on the time sheets is quite big, but I want to pull something out of the bag tomorrow for the team.”
James Webb, Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R (8th – 1m 31.166s)
“It’s been sad in a way to leave the Virgin Cup just as things were coming good for me there, but the Supersport ride for Isilon MSS Discovery Kawasaki was one I just couldn't refuse! It’s been brilliant to work with the team over the last couple of days and I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow.”
Jack Valentine, Race Team Manager
“We’ve not had a bad day. Young James Webb has done a really professional job for us. He had a little slip off this morning but in qualifying he made a couple of changes to the bike and then did the business: getting onto the second row of the grid is pretty good! With the Superbike I think the problem is that we’ve never been to this circuit with the bike before. The engine management problem is holding us back a bit as we need a smoother power delivery. We’re not sure what the problem is yet, so we are working hard to find it. The positives are that we’re still the lead Kawasaki out there.”
Nick Morgan, Team owner
“We are all very pleased with James. He’s got a great attitude and the right approach and he’s just got on with the job in hand. The bike is pretty much as Stuart had raced it at Croft and he’s gone quicker and quicker on it, I think he’ll go quicker tomorrow as well. I was initially hoping for top 15s from James, but I think top eights are realistic. On the Superbike, Michael’s making advances in some areas but it’s frustrating that we’ve had a few issues with the power delivery. We’ll do our best to sort it in time for the races tomorrow.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Sunday qualifying
1. Leon Haslam
2. Jonathan Rea
3. Tom Sykes
4. Gregorio Lavilla
5. Ryuichi Kiyonari
12: Michael Rutter, Isilon MSS Discovery Kawasaki
MAXXIS British Supersport Championship, Sunday qualifying
1. Billy McConnell
2. Ian Hutchinson
3. Michael Laverty
4. John McGuinness
5. Tom Grant
8: James Webb, Isilon MSS Discovery Kawasaki
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