Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha heads across the Irish Sea to Mondello Park for round six of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship this weekend, 15 - 17 June. Recent signing, Hudson Kennaugh will partner Tommy Hill on the Pirelli-shod Yamaha YZF-R1 Superbike. Both riders will be eager to score a brace of solid point-scoring rides at the complex circuit. The Virgin Media Yamaha Supersport pairing of Billy McConnell and Tom Grant are keen to transform their season-long strong qualifying performances into deserved podiums.
The summer break has proved beneficial to both riders and the team after the hectic schedule of the opening five race meetings spread across just seven weekends. The four-week interim since Snetterton has allowed the team to focus on further development of the Superbike. All four riders took time out for some hard earned R&R before concentrating fully on training ahead of the second half of the season.
It is hoped that the recent improvements to the 2.18-mile circuit will alleviate the problems encountered twelve months ago when torrential rain and standing water cancelled the race day programme.
With promotion of the event in the hands of Failte Ireland - the Irish National Tourism Development Authority - local support for the event will be strong, and a sell-out crowd is anticipated.
The 26-strong Virgin Media Cup will once again sit out the trip to Ireland. The next on-track action that they will partake in will be a double header on the support programme for the 2007 Nickel & Dime British MotoGP over the weekend of 23 - 24 June, before heading north with the rest of the paddock to Knockhill in Scotland.
Rob McElnea, Team Principal:
"All the guys are pretty fired up to make an impact in the second part of the season. After the hectic start to the season the month break while the IOM TT races took place was more than welcome We have had time to develop the Superbike and all the guys have had time to recover and step up their training.
Mondello will be a shock to the system as it is a very aggressive short track and all our guys will have to be on top of their game from the first day, Billy and Tom Grant are due some good luck and I expect them to be battling for race wins in the Supersport race. Tommy should benefit from having Hudson pushing him and I am sure both will be at the sharp end in the Superbike races."
ITV 1 broadcast window, Sunday 17 June: 15.00 - 16.30
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