Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha were hoping that race day at Mallory Park would provide better luck than the previous few days. Lead rider, Tommy Hill from Lingfield in Surrey had found the tricky circuit tough going and needed to make the most of his 17th position on the grid. Virgin Mobile Cup Champion Billy McConnell had gone well in practice but a set up problem in qualifying meant he started from 20th position. Local lad, Kieran Clarke was having trouble with a leg injury and was in 23rd place on the grid.
The conditions were perfect for the sixth round of the British Superbike Championship. The sun shone down on the new-layout circuit and the capacity crowd were set for a day of fantastic action. The world-famous 1.41 mile track is renowned for its twists and turns and always makes for close, stop-start racing.
In race one Tommy was caught up in a crash and came off uninjured but plucky Hill got back on his bike and set about picking off riders from the back of the grid. He rode fantastically well and made it up to 12th position by the end.
The young Australian, Billy McConnell was racing confidently, battling with Scott Smart a few places ahead of fellow Virgin Mobile Yamaha team mates Clarke and Hill. Making his way through the pack, Billy was up into 10th place.
But it was not to be McConnell's day when six laps from the end Scott Smart lost control of his bike and took out Billy who crashed, frustrated, disappointed but uninjured.
Half way through the race Kieran retired early after suffering with an old leg injury he had aggravated in a crash during Friday's practice.
Keen to do better in the second race, the young-gun Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha boys were back out but without Kieran whose leg injury was too painful for him to ride.
Tommy and Billy got fantastic starts making their way through the pack to finish 11th and 12th respectively. Billy was the star of the show, racing well beyond his 19 years and scoring championship points. The pace for the races at Mallory was fast and Scunthorpe-based McConnell showed he is a naturally talented rider.
Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha Manager Rob McElnea:"After the high of Tommy's performance at Silverstone last week where he was on pole for the World Superbike Championship as a wildcard, it was hard to come back down to earth for this round at Mallory. The team were all on cloud nine and looking forward to getting some good results this weekend. But for some reason, it just didn't come together and we are actually just relieved now to go home with the guys healthy, not too much damage to the bikes and some points for Tommy and Billy. Billy rode amazingly well and we are all so proud of the way he is developing. The team are testing next week and I know that we will be able to make the most of that to prepare for the next round at Snetterton."
Tommy Hill: "It was always going to be hard coming here after the high of the Worlds round, and it was. I wasn't very happy being so far down the grid but I did well in both races to make some positions back and come away with 12th and 11th. Testing will be really useful this week and we can all focus on going well at Snetterton."
Billy "Skippy" McConnell:"Since Mondello, there has been a change in the way that I approach races. I have suddenly realised I have got a lot still to prove if I want to make my mark this year. I know I can do it, I am committed and feeling really positive. Watching Tommy last weekend at Silverstone really inspired me. I have been training really hard. I am really pleased with my result in the second race 12th place from 20th on the grid is good going."
Kieran Clarke: "Mallory is my local track and I normally go well here, but after crashing on Friday in practice my confidence was knocked loads and my leg was playing me up again. It was tough to not go out in the second race and everyone has put a lot of effort in getting me here but it could easily have gone wrong and we just need to quit while we are ahead. Looking forward to testing next week."
Race one results: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari 27:06.734,
2: Leon Haslam +1.935,
3: Gregorio Lavilla +4.856,
4: Shane Byrne +7.325,
5: Michael Laverty +9.028,
6: Michael Rutter +11.249,
7: Karl Harris +22.092,
8: Dean Thomas +24.764,
9: Craig Coxhell +27.420,
10: Ben Wilson +36.253,
11: Gary Mason +47.509,
12. Tommy Hill Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha +47.509.
Race two results:1: Lavilla 26:21.786,
2: Haslam +1.310,
3: Kiyonari +4.188,
4: Harris +10.141,
5: SHANE Byrne +10.409,
6: Rutter +11.305,
7: Laverty +15.904,
8: Jonathan Rea +21.657,
9: Thomas +24.405,
10: Glen Richards +28.108,
11: Tommy Hill Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha +35.017,
12 Billy Mcconnell Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha +37.751.
Championship positions after six of 13 rounds:1: Lavilla 223,
2: Haslam 161,
3: Kiyonari 149,
4: Harris 110,
5:Byrne 105,
6: Rea 83,
7: Rutter 81,
8: Laverty 72,
9: Tommy Hill (Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha) 61,
10: Thomas 59,
20 Billy Mcconnell (Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha) 10.
26 Kieran Clarke (Team Virgin Mobile Yamaha) 2.
Related Linkswww.virginmobileracing.com
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