Shane Byrne and Cal Crutchlow power into the Holiday Monday round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on level terms but as they plan their tactics for riding the picturesque Oulton Park circuit they need to take check the form of both Michael Rutter and Karl Harris.
Rutter excelled in the recent Thruxton round, bagging a pair of thirds on the North West 200 Ducati while Harris, still sporting the bruises from his heavy crash last time out, has a good record at the Cheshire circuit, recording his best ever Superbike result, second, there last July.
Harris, who suffered facial and foot injuries when he was the innocent victim of another rider’s tumble, is determined to race on aboard the Rob Mac Yamaha and is promising to show the leading duo in the title stakes what might have been but for his untimely demised at the Hampshire circuit.
"I've seen the footage of the Thruxton crash a couple of times and it's just one of those things really,” said Harris. “The last thing I remember is seeing Sykesy crash and thinking ‘I better go left as his bike looks like it's going right' - but obviously it didn't!
“That's just racing. I feel spot on, though, and can't wait to get to Oulton Park as it's one of my favourite circuits. I've had some great results there over the past few seasons with podium finishes. The team has worked so hard this season and it's time for our luck to change for the better."
The gritty Yorkshireman however faces a buoyant Crutchlow who is keen to add to his maiden race winning glory aboard the HM Plant Honda: “That was a massive career milestone for me – my best achievement in racing after winning the British Supersport crown. I couldn’t have written the script better, my first races for the team bring a second place and then that victory.”
Like Harris, the 22 year old Coventry rider has a good pedigree at Oulton Park: “This is a circuit that I love. It has everything. It is technical, a real riders circuit and to get the best out of it, you have to compromise on machines settings. There are some real tight and twisty corners, then fast turns. It is a circuit that I enjoy racing, though there is no time to relax on any of the laps.”
It promises to be a classic showdown with Rutter rejuvenated with his new team and Byrne comfortable and fast aboard the Airwaves Ducati: “The season has started so well for me. I am really enjoying riding this bike and looking forward to getting back to racing again. I achieved a podium here last year so I am looking forward to continuing my run of good form, securing more championship points and hopefully extending my championship lead.”
Adding to the action at the sharp end will be Tom Sykes and his Rizla Suzuki team-mate Atsushi Watanabe while Stuart Easton and Billy McConnell have their MSS Discovery Kawasakis well on the pace and SMT Honda have Tom Grant replacing the injured Adam Jenkinson.
Adding further depth and quality to the 34 strong grid is the duel for the Daily Star Cup, a race within a race for independent teams, in which John Laverty, riding the BuildbaseNW200 Ducati is setting a hot pace but he can expect determined challenges coming in from Tom Tunstall aboard the Hardinge Ice Valley Honda, Malcolm Ashley riding the MAR-ARP Kawasaki and former title winner James Buckingham on the Quay Garage Honda.
Around the two Superbike races there is a full supporting programme featuring the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, the Relentless British 125GP Championship, the Metzeler National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships and the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup.
Practice and qualifying is through Saturday and Sunday with racing from 11.55 on Monday.
Superbikes on Track:
Saturday 3rd May
10.20 – 11.10 and 14.05-14.55 free practice
Sunday 4th May
12.10 - 13.00 free practice,
15.05 – 15.55 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole grid deciding qualifying
Monday 5th May
09.05 – 09.20 warm-up practice
13.00 Bennetts British Superbike Race One – 18 laps
15.30 Bennetts British Superbike Race Two – 18 laps
Television Schedule:
Monday 5th May
12:30-16:30 - Live raceday - British Eurosport 2
Monday 5th May
19:30-21:00 – Highlights - British Eurosport 2
Tuesday 6th May
20:30-22:00 – Highlights - British Eurosport 2
Wednesday 7th May
01:10-02:05 – Highlights - Channel 4
Thursday 8th May
19:15-20:15 - Bennetts British Superbikes Extra - British Eurosport 2
Saturday 10th May
19:30-20:15 – Highlights - British Eurosport 2
Lap records - 2.692 miles International Circuit
Superbikes: Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 35.436s, 101.54mph
Supersport: Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 1m 39.357s, 97.53mph,
125GP: James Westmoreland, Honda, 1m 45.819s, 91.58mph
Superstock: Lee Jackson, Yamaha, 1m 40.051s, 96.85mph
600 Superstock: to be established
Yamaha R1: to be established
Bennetts British Superbike Championship - Flashback - Rd 4th - 7th May 2007:
Pole: G Lavilla, Ducati, 1m 35.430s
Race One - 17 laps:
1. G Lavilla, Ducati, 27:29.245
2. L Haslam, Ducati, 27:29.464
3. R Kiyonari, Honda, 27:29.749
Fastest lap: S Byrne, Honda, 1m 36.206s, 100.73mph/162.10kph
Race Two - 17 laps:
1. R Kiyonari, Honda, 27:33.097
2. L Haslam, Ducati, 27:35.274
3. S Byrne, Honda, 7:36.660
Fastest lap: J Rea, Honda, 1m 35.479s, 101.49mph/163.34kph
British Superbike Cup
Race One:
1.J Buckingham, Honda, 28:42.212
Race Two:
1. J Buckingham, Honda, 28:49.193
Rider’s view of Oulton Park
“A circuit with its own special character, a bit up and down, challenging but fun to ride and somewhere that always makes for good racing,” Leon Haslam, HM Plant Honda.
