Shane Byrne transferred pole position into race win to claim his fourth win at Thruxton Circuit on his return to Ducati (20th April). The move to a Pirelli control tyre for 2008 provided a frenetic and close-fought opening race of the season. With a level playing field in terms of rubber, it was left to individual teams to select a favourable compound around the fast and abrasive 2.356mile Hampshire circuit.
In race two Cal Crutchlow looked to be in dominant form, making the early running in the search for his debut victory, as he led the field for the first 12 laps. However, the sheer grunt of the new Ducati 1098 proved too much for Crutchlow and Shane Byrne expertly bided his time before making his move for the lead on his Airwaves Ducati on the 13th lap. A rejuvenated Michael Rutter on the North West 200 Ducati, left his passing manoeuvre until lap 18 to claim third position ahead of Leon Haslam.
Shane Byrne, Airwaves Ducati: “I have to thank Airwaves Ducati for giving me the opportunity this season. The whole team has worked so hard this weekend, and after the disappointment of Brands Hatch it’s fantastic to finally get the season off to a winning start.”
Race 2:
HM Plant Honda rider, Cal Crutchlow emphatically claimed his maiden British Superbike win in a second race marred by a seventh lap incident involving Tom Sykes’ flying Rizla Suzuki collecting Rob Mac Racing’s Karl Harris. The Yamaha rider was struck by the flying Suzuki and, once up on his feet, rushed to the Thruxton medical centre. After the short enforced delay, race distance was altered to 15 laps, without Karl Harris and Adam Jenkinson who unfortunately crashed his Yamaha at the 160mph right-hand Church corner.
Tom Sykes dusted down his leathers to storm into an early lead, but HM Plant Honda’s Cal Crutchlow powered to the front at Club on lap 2, never to look back. As Crutchlow pulled the pin on the way to his debut British Superbike win, a mammoth battle unfolded in the battle for podium positions between Sykes, Rutter, Byrne and Haslam.
Haslam retired at the end of the sixth lap, leaving the way open for Race One winner, Byrne, to hunt down Rutter for second position. Byrne finally made his move two laps from home to claim second on the Airwaves Ducati. Michael Rutter consolidated third position and in doing so, the NW 200 Ducati riders first double podium race meeting since Knockhill in 2005.
As the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship moves on to Round 3 at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday, Cal Crutchlow and Shane Byrne jointly head the points table.
Cal Crutchlow, HM Plant Honda: “I knew we had it in us to take the win but to be honest, I didn’t think it would come this early in the season. I controlled the race from exactly where I wanted to be - at the front - but didn’t expect to win by so much. All the boys at HM Plant Honda have done a fantastic job through pre-season testing to now. I know there’ll be more wins to come this season.”
Fuchs-Silkoline British Supersport
Race 1:Steve Brogan (HM Plant Honda) and Glen Richards (MAP Embassy Racing) re-ignited their 2007 season long Superstock battle throughout the 18-lap Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport season opener at Thruxton (20th April). Richards made the better start from pole but could not hold off the advances of Liverpudlian Brogan, who snatched the lead as early as the second lap on the fast approach to Church corner. The ensuing 16 laps proved the perfect testament to close racing that the Pirelli single tyre regulations had brought with the onset of the 2008 season. The notoriously fast and abrasive Thruxton Circuit lived up to its reputation of producing thrilling race action.
A red flag incident at the Club Chicane at the culmination of lap six involving Dennis Hobbs and James Webb saw the safety car deployed for the following three laps. With the action recommencing again on lap 10, Richards timed his move perfectly to pass Brogan just over the start/finish line to lead the restart. However, Brogan regained his rightful place at the front on the run up Woodham Hill into Club out-braking the reigning National Superstock Champion in a battle of nerves.
Australian, Glen Richards applied constant pressure on the Fireblade-mounted Brogan, allowing Chris Martin the chance to elevate his Gearlink Kawasaki into a podium position and quickly close ground on the leading duo. The final four laps saw a flurry of action, with Martin briefly stealing second on the final lap. Brogan held a defensive line into Club for the final time, taking the chequered flag less than a tenth of a second from Richards.
The breath-taking action takes a two-week break before lining up on the grid for round three at Oulton park over the May Bank Holiday (3rd-5th May).
Focussed Events KTM Super Duke BattleGuest journalist rider, Alastair Fagan capitalised on a front row start to claim the win at the end of the opening race of the day at Thruxton (20 April).
The Fast Bikes Magazine journalist took the lead from 2007 Championship runner-up Kelvin Reilly with a trademark Thruxton overtaking manoeuvre on the brakes on the run up Woodham Hill into the Club Chicane, as the riders looked to complete the opening lap.
Fagan began to power his Pirelli-shod KTM 990 Super Duke into a healthy lead as Wood made an identical move on Reilly the following lap to kickstart his challenge for the lead. As Wood opened up the legs of the V-twin KTM, Reilly embarked on a furious race-long battle with Edmeades, Gault and Heal, that would see a last corner move at the notorious Club Chicane push both Reilly and Gault out of contention for the final podium position. James Edmeades stole the final opportunity to claim third position and 16 valuable championship points.
Dave Wood closed the gap on Fagan’s lead to just 0.3s on the final lap but lost valuable ground as the pair battled to pass back-markers, settling for second at the chequered flag.
Alastair Fagan: “It wasn’t an easy race. I managed to pull a 2 second gap but then Wood started to catch me again in the back-markers towards the end of the race. Obviously I’m pleased that KTM gave me the opportunity to race today and I’m happy to take the win at my home circuit.”
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race 1 – Result:
1. BYRNE - AIRWAVES DUCATI 20 LAPS
2. CRUTCHLOW - HM PLANT HONDA +2.306
3. RUTTER - NORTH WEST 200 DUCATI +3.573
4. HASLAM - HM PLANT HONDA +10.946
5. CAMIER - AIRWAVES DUCATI +18.745
6. SYKES - RIZLA SUZUKI +19.048
7. J.ELLISON - HYDREX BIKE ANIMAL HONDA +19.406
8. ANDREWS - JENTIN RACING/LLOYDS BRITISH +22.403
9. EASTON - MSS DISCOVERY KAWASAKI +22.709
10. M.LAVERTY - RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS +23.902
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race 2 – Result:1. CRUTCHLOW - HM PLANT HONDA 20 LAPS
2. BYRNE - AIRWAVES DUCATI +1.807
3. RUTTER - NORTH WEST 200 DUCATI +2.136
4. CAMIER - AIRWAVES DUCATI +7.942
5. M.LAVERTY - RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS +11.863
6. EASTON - MSS DISCOVERY KAWASAKI +12.461
7. J.ELLISON - HYDREX BIKE ANIMAL HONDA +13.632
8. SYKES - RIZLA SUZUKI +18.759
9. MARTIN - HYDREX BIKE ANIMAL HONDA +23.395
10. McCONNELL - MSS DISCOVERY KAWASAKI +23.899
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings:1. BYRNE - AIRWAVES DUCATI 45
1. CRUTCHLOW - HM PLANT HONDA 45
3. RUTTER - NORTH WEST 200 DUCATI 32
4. CAMIER - AIRWAVES DUCATI 24
5. SYKES - RIZLA SUZUKI 18
5. J.ELLISON - HYDREX BIKE ANIMAL HONDA 18
7. EASTON - MSS DISCOVERY KAWASAKI 17
7. M.LAVERTY - RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS 17
9. HASLAM - HM PLANT HONDA 13
10. J.LAVERTY - BUILDBASE NW200 DUCATI 9
Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Race – Result:1. BROGAN - HM PLANT HONDA 18 LAPS
2. RICHARDS - MAP EMBASSY RACING TRIUMPH +0.094
3. MARTIN - GEARLINK KAWASAKI +0.586
4. KENNAUGH - RACEWAYS YAMAHA +1.348
5. LOWRY - RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS +1.999
6. GRANT - THOMSON GROUP/ ROB MAC PRO RIDE +4.779
7. NUTT - NUTT TRAVEL / T+G +4.942
8. HUTCHINSON - AIM RACING +5.552
9. YOUNG - MAP EMBASSY RACING TRIUMPH +5.557
10. NEATE - GEARLINK KAWASAKI +6.512
Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship Standings:1. BROGAN - HM PLANT HONDA 25
2. GLEN - MAP EMBASSY RACING TRIUMPH 20
3. MARTIN - GEARLINK KAWASAKI 16
4. KENNAUGH - RACEWAYS YAMAHA 13
5. LOWRY - RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS 11
6. GRANT - THOMSON GROUP/ ROB MAC PRO RIDE 10
7. NUTT - NUTT TRAVEL / T+G 9
8. HUTCHINSON - AIM RACING 8
9. YOUNG - MAP EMBASSY RACING TRIUMPH 7
10. NEATE - GEARLINK KAWASAKI 6
KTM Super Duke Race – Result:1. FAGAN - GUEST - FAST BIKES 12 LAPS
2. WOOD - ART OF RACING +0.957
3. EDMEADES - REDLINE M/CS/VSG +8.711
4. HEAL - LITTLE WOOD FENCING +8.957
5. GAULT - FOWLERS OF BRISTOL +9.168
KTM Super Duke Championship Standings:1. FAGAN - GUEST - FAST BIKES 25
2. WOOD - ART OF RACING 20
3. EDMEADES - REDLINE M/CS/VSG 16
4. HEAL - LITTLE WOOD FENCING 13
5. GAULT - FOWLERS OF BRISTOL 11
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