The final race of the day saw a thrilling contest, won Robbie Brown on his Yamaha just ahead of South African Allan Jon Venter on the Embassy MAP entered Triumph 675. Northern Ireland’s Lee Johnston, on another R6 Yamaha, finished a close third.
Earlier, varied track conditions threw up some surprises. Luke Jones, winner of the Thruxton opening round, suffered a number of crashes throughout the weekend, the ex-125 rider disappointed to qualify down in twenty-fourth position. Trevor Pennell Transport backed Lee Johnston qualified second ahead of championship newcomer and multiple supermoto champion Christian Iddon, who raised some eyebrows, placing his SMT Honda third. Thruxton pole-sitter Joel Morris completed the front row line-up, fourth.
Robbie Brown capitalized on his pole position as he led the field thro’ Old Hall Corner at the start. Team Haribo Starmix’s Chris Northover, second from Joel Morris and Lee Johnston. Johnston grabbed third place from Morris on lap one as the leading four began to break away. Just as the event seemed to be settling into a race between the four, the Safety Car was deployed on lap three for a fallen rider at Island Bend. The field re-grouped and the race re-started on the sixth tour. Lee Johnston profited from the pause as leader Brown was unsettled by challenges from the Irishman and Northover after the re-start at Island Bend – Brown down two places to third.
Northover suffered the effects of pressure next as he ran wide at shell, making contact with Brown. Northover previous mountain bike riding experience came in handy soon after as the phased rider went on at Hizzy’s Chicane ending his challenge for a podium place. AJ Venter was also steadily building a challenge and by mid-race had moved up to third setting fastest lap on the eighth (1m 43.703s), ahead of Jimmy Hill’s Emco Yamaha. The drama continued as Venter was gifted second as Johnston ran wide at Shell Oils Corner – just the catalyst necessary for a challenge to Brown for the win. Despite his best attempts, the Johannesburg rider would finish second ahead of Johnston, Hill and an impressive ride from Christian Iddon on the SMT Honda. UK1’s Luke Jones added to his weekend of misery crashing out on lap five.
Robbie Brown: “Honest to God, that was one of the longest races I’ve been in – incredible! I tried my hardest to break loose but then the safety car came out and they came past me and I couldn’t get back into the rhythm so I thought follow them and go past. Then I had AJ behind me and I had to look round to see how hard to push but I went sideways at the chicane and I expected him to come past at the last bend but I held him off.”
Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship - Race Result:1 – Brown (Yamaha)
2 – Venter (Triumph)
3 – Johnston (Yamaha)
4 - Hill (Yamaha)
5 – Iddon (Honda)
Championship Points:1. Brown 33
2. Northover 29
3. Jones 25
= Johnston 25
= Venter 25
Related Link:
www.metzelermoto.co.uk
