Tommy Hill stormed to the fastest ever two-wheeled lap of Thruxton to qualify his Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha YZF-R1 on pole position, but could not transform the amazing feat into a race win. Unseasonably high track temperatures played a deciding factor in tyre wear during both races at Thruxton today, 15 April.
A decent start from the 22-year old, saw Tommy battling with the leaders over the opening laps of both races. Dicing with Shane Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari, respectively, Tommy looked strong over the opening laps. However, diminishing front-end grip left Tommy unable to keep up a consistent pace and he slowly lost contention with the leaders. Finishing 8th and 10th across the line, Tommy took home 14 more points towards his total, moving up into 11th in the Championship.
Despite another valiant effort, James Haydon is still searching for his first elusive points of the season. Lying in 14th on the final lap of race one, James lost out in a four-way battle to pass a back-marker and was relegated to 17th position. A stronger performance in the second race saw James consistently running in a point-scoring position. However, with the pace car taking to the track on Lap 11, James began to struggle to keep his lap times within the 1:17 time barrier. Although closing in on both Simon Andrews and Guy Martin, he was unable to secure the necessary 15th position that would have earned him his first point this year.
Tommy Hill: "Everyone knew that they would be in the same boat struggling with grip. The problem was that not only was the rear grip as bad as everyone else but my front kept trying to go all the time as well. By lap 4 in the first race and 6 in the second I just couldn't hold those times. It's so frustrating ‘cause I know that I can run up the front and really ride competitively, we just need to get it sorted then the results will come."
James Haydon:"Obviously I'm disappointed, In fact I'm gutted. Both races had good and bad moments but ultimately I ended up with a pair of 17th places. I'll continue to keep my head down on the bike and work to improve. I'll have some more time on the bike next week and see where we can go from there."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal:"Well, it's a 100% improvement from Brands Hatch, we showed the best potential for the bike in qualifying but we still have some work to do with tyres in the race scenario but it's the 2nd race in with a brand new bike. All in all the guys have worked fantastically to get us back on track. Tommy has been brilliant so now our heads are up and looking to Silverstone for results."
SupersportVirgin Media Yamaha's Australian rider, Billy McConnell, claimed the first British Supersport podium of his career, as he took full advantage of a mistake by team-mate Tom Grant in the closing stages of today's 20-lap race at Thruxton.
Despite running in the top five for 16 laps and leading for two, Tom Grant fell victim to the raised curbing at the Club Chicane. The 18-year old looked to set to mount a charge on Michael Laverty for the lead out of the last corner as the riders headed for the line and the start of the penultimate lap. Losing the front, Tom was lucky to escape serious injury, as the following rider, Ian Lowry, could not take evasive action. As the stricken Virgin Media Yamaha rider hit the tarmac, Lowry had no choice but to ride his Relentless Suzuki over him.
Although over ten seconds behind the leading trio, Billy McConnell took full advantage of his young team-mate's misfortune to steer his Virgin Media Yamaha YZF-R6 into third place across the line, and to claim his and the team's debut Supersport podium.
Billy McConnell:"Unfortunately it was my team-mate that went down, which is why I'm here, so it feels a bit funny to take 3rd. Having said that I'm thrilled to be here, all credit to Rob and the team for putting together this Supersport team, it's nice to be able to start paying him back with some good results."
Tom Grant: "Here I am gutted again, I'd had such a fantastic race and I knew that I was still there in contention for the win. As we came in to Club I was really close to Laverty and couldn't see the curb, then all of a sudden its there. I ran up it and the rest is history. Lowry actually run me over but I don't feel to bad, a little sore but nothing to worry about. I'll take that experience and move on to Silverstone to rectify it."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "It's a real shame for Tom Grant, he hasn't put a foot wrong all weekend then makes one tiny mistake and pays the price for it. Billy had a few issues but bought the bike home on the podium which is fantastic, our first Supersport podium ever and of the year. There is no doubt that the boys have shown their real promise and Tom's luck will change and he will get his just rewards."
Virgin Media CupThe 2007 Virgin Media Cup has continued where last season left off - by providing thrilling close fought races that throw the formbook out of the window. Local rider Leon Morris could not hold off the challenge from Championship leader BJ Toal, who stole through on the run up Woodham Hill into the Club Chicane to take his second win in as many races. Despite leading for eight of the scheduled 14 laps, Morris could not quite transform his debut pole to a race win.
In customary fashion, dramatic events unfolded over the final few laps of the second round of the 2007 Virgin Media Cup. Morris bravely held off the advances of the rejuvenated Robbie Brown, who fell victim at the final hurdle as he out-braked himself into the notorious Club Chicane. Morris almost caught himself out as he clipped the curb on the exit to the start-finish, but held on to claim twenty points across the line. Robbie Brown crossed the line to take his first podium since Snetterton last season, and moves up to seventh in the title chase.
South African rider, Dane Hellyer, fell astray on the penultimate lap, losing the front and fourth place with a low-side at the fast Church corner. The 18-year old will now pick himself up and return home for the third round of the South African Supersport Championship, before flying back to the UK for round three in two weeks time.
Dean Hipwell had been in close contention for a podium position during the opening stages of the race before being claimed as another victim by the Club Chicane. However, the tall 18-year old re-mounted to finish in a gallant 15th.
Omagh-based rider, BJ Toal now heads to Silverstone in two weekend's time safe in the knowledge that he has extended his lead to 17-points at the top of the table. Toal will retain the Championship-leading Pirelli Diablo machine for at least one more round.
BJ Toal: "That's two starts and two wins now, you can't say fairer than that! I managed the lap record here as well, right in the closing stages. It's a great start to the season and I just want to continue as we started."
Leon Morris: "It was an awesome race, I knew that BJ was about but I was surprised to see Robbie, I'm not sure what happened to him at the end as he was right there before. Thanks to my sponsors Pro Tyre, Refined Recruitment and CSC Middleton that make this dream a reality, I chuffed, roll on Silverstone."
Robbie Brown: "I came to the meeting with a goal to get in to the top 10, so to be on the podium taking 3rd place is amazing. I broke my leg at Donington last year so it's a great comeback. I had a really good battle out there and a great race, and having lead it for a while I know that I can run up the front. Perhaps it will be the top step next time."
Niall Mackenzie, Cup Mentor:"BJ put in another stunning performance but Robbie Brown is the star of that story after such a bad injury last year, he'll be one to watch from now."
The third round of the 2007 Bennetts British Superbike Championship reaches Silverstone over the weekend of 27 - 29 April.
BSB - Race 1 Results:1 - Lavilla (Ducati),
2 - Camier (Honda),
3 - Kiyonari (Honda),
4 - Byrne (Honda),
5 - Sykes (Honda),
6 - Haslam (Ducati),
8 - Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha),
17 - James Haydon (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha)
BSB - Race 2 Results:1 - Lavilla (Ducati),
2 - Kiyonari (Honda),
3 - Byrne (Honda),
4 - Rea (Honda),
5 - Haslam (Ducati),
6 - Sykes (Honda),
10 - Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha),
17 - James Haydon (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha)
Championship Standings:1) Lavilla 50,
2) Camier 56,
3) Haslam 36,
4) Sykes 31,
5) Byrne 29
BSS - Race Result:1 - Laverty (Suzuki),
2 - Robinson (Honda),
3 - McConnell (Virgin Media Yamaha),
4 - Westmorland (Honda),
5 - Stuart Easton (Kawasaki),
6 - Hutchinson (Honda),
DNF - Tom Grant (Virgin Media Yamaha)
Championship Standings:1) Laverty 50,
2) Robinson 40,
3) Easton 22,
4) Westmorland 19,
5) Walker 17
Virgin Media Cup - Result:1 - BJ Toal,
2 - Leon Morris,
3 - Robbie Brown,
4 - David Paton,
5 - Midge Smart,
6 - Brad Howell,
7 - David Haire,
8 - Daniel Frear,
9 - Leo Aldersley,
10 - Ross Connolly,
11 - Alastair Fagan,
12 - Daniel Brill,
13 - Dan Smith,
14 - Ben Billard,
15 - Dean Hipwell
Championship Standings:1) Toal 50,
2) Morris 33,
3) Smart 27,
4) Hipwell 21,
5) Frear 19
Related Linkswww.virginmediaracing.com
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