Jon Kirkham claimed his second win of the season with a dominating performance as the re-scheduled opening round of the debut Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup season took place at Donington Park (26 May).
Riders took to the grid in pre-determined qualifying positions from Brands Hatch (5 April). Oulton Park race winner, Sam Warren stole the holeshot ahead of pole man Sean Emmett. Fastest man over the weekend, Jon Kirkham moved through to the lead as the field rounded Goddards for the first time of asking.
With clear track ahead, the local rider from Derby pulled clear of the chasing pack producing the fastest lap in the process (1:35.145s). Ben Wilson broke clear, leaving Emmett and Warren to trip themselves up in the battle for third.
Newcomer to the series, Richard Cooper faced the toughest task of all riders as he started from the back of the grid. However, by the end of lap one, Cooper had elevated his Co-ordit Yamaha through the congested field to 10th, eventually claiming a further place to finish ninth.
Emmett and Warren became embroiled in a tough battle, testing braking potential to the limit. Warren escaped a near massive highside exiting the Foggy Esses on lap 4, allowing Coates and Emmett to build a gap.
Adrian Coates, with a renewed determination, took his chance beautifully as he took the outside line around Emmett at Schwantz to propel his Stoneyford Concrete Yamaha into third. The former British 250GP champion didn't look back, putting his head down to ensure his first trip to the podium this season was secure.
Warren was on Emmett's heels again by lap 7, momentarily taking fourth only to find the more experienced Emmett force his way past yet again to maintain fourth spot.
Behind a lonely sixth placed Gary Mason, James Cox and Jack Kennedy fought tooth and nail throughout the race. Cox finally stole through on lap 8 to claim nine points and his highest placing of the season.
The rain of Sunday had cleared overnight to be replaced with hazardous blustery conditions. Adrian Coates narrowly escaped a flying corner marker board as he braked into Goddards on lap 7. As the conditions worsened, safety air fencing around the Redgate corner barriers became dislodged, forcing the race to be red flagged on the tenth lap for fears of rider safety.
The result was declared a result from the end of lap 9. Kirkham claimed his second race win ahead of Ben Wilson and Adrian Coates. The grid for the second Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup race will be determined from the finishing results of the Brands Hatch re-run, seeing a front row of Kirkham, Ben Wilson, Coates and Emmett when the riders take to the grid at 14.40.
Jon Kirkham: "I'm pleased for another win, it was really treacherous out there due to the strong wind. I've been strong all weekend so was pretty confident that if I got away ahead of the pack I could hold the pace for a win. Hopefully I'll be looking at a double win in the Cup today."
Ben Wilson: "It was very windy out there. It was a pretty good race, I could have got a better start, as soon as Jon got past into the lead I just got stuck behind the others a bit till I could get clear of them. I'll up my game a bit and look for the win in the next one this afternoon."
Adrian Coates: "I'm just glad we got through that unscathed, that wind was the worst I've ever felt in a race. I nearly got hit by one of the foam marker boards. In the last lap when it got red flagged I was tipping it into Old Hairpin and just got blown away off the apex into the track. I was glad to see the red flags out. I'm really happy to get on the podium and look forward to this afternoon's race."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "At last, we've had a dry race. Kirkham has been strong all weekend, he has dominated this and Superstock times so we knew he'd be the man. Sam Warren has really impressed in the dry, he is getting more and more experience. It's good to see Coates and Wilson up on the podium, Adrian was chipping away and catching Wilson towards the end there. It all makes for some great racing, fingers crossed for some dry conditions again this afternoon."
Race Result:1. Kirkham
2. B.Wilson
3. Coates
4. Emmett
5. Warren
6. Mason
7. Cox
8. R.Kennedy
9. Cooper
10. Etheridge
Championship Points:1. Kirkham - 61
2 - Emmett - 53
3. Warren - 46
4 - Mason -36
=4. B.Wilson - 36
British Eurosport Live TV Broadcast Window, 12.30 - 16.30 (Monday 26 May)
