Delighted to be back racing after his Oulton Park crash, Dean Ellison bought the Co-Ordit Racing Team Yamaha R1 home in fourteenth place in race one scoring two, well deserved points. Race two saw another point scored at his home circuit with a fifteenth place as the team continues to advance within a closely competitive field. Points finishes had not come easy for rider or team as they overcame the effects of both physical and technical difficulties, throughout the weekend.
Ellison had made steady progress, necessitating the need to adapt his riding style to accommodate his healing injuries. Despite yesterday’s inclement and very wet weather free practice sessions, Ellison bravely worked through a number of chassis development steps, improving each session.
Dry weather prevailed for raceday today as Dean lined up the Co-Ordit Racing Team R1 for race one. As the riders fired off the line, Dean focused on the Rizla Suzuki of Atsushi Watanabe. Ellison eased himself into a comfortable race pace and by lap six he closed to within 2.9s of the Japanese star. By lap eight Ellison was through into 19th place, just as Luke Quigley’s Suzuki blew up in spectacular fashion on the approach to the Melbourne Hairpin. The safety car was deployed and fortunately for Ellison, the field bunched up, whilst the track was cleared.
The race re-started on lap eleven with Ellison able to hold off Watanabe and then pass Gary Mason for sixteenth place by the same lap. Ellison’s then dispatched Laverty, kept his head down and in determined fashion was able pass Scott Smart in the closing stages to finish fourteenth and claim two points.
Expectations were high as Dean lined up for the second race this afternoon. Ellison crossed the line at the end of the first tour in twenty-third sandwiched between Leon Morris and Tom Tunstall. Dean consistently lapped in the 1:34s bracket, reeling in riders in front of his Co-ordit Racing Yamaha to elevate himself through the field. As the Co-Ordit rider tried all that he could, to pass the Palmer, his rear tyre spun on the rim and promoted a high level of chatter that hindered further progression. For the remainder of the race, Dean determinedly rode round the chatter problem to keep Laverty at bay and finish in the points for the second time of the day.
Dean Ellison:
“Before the weekend I would have been happy for a couple of points and we’ve exceeded that by finishing in the points in both races. In the first race I was struggling putting weight on my leg changing direction and it was tough especially with downshifts. We made some changes for the second race and my first sector times were really good but the remainder of the lap was really difficult. Once you are riding you don’t feel the pain but your movement is restricted. I was making good progress despite this but then the rear tyre spun on the rim and the bike really suffered from chatter, so I had to back off and bring it home for the points finish. I’ve got a break now to rest up and I’m looking forward to Snetterton which will be less physical – we should be able to get some good results.”
Pete Bradshaw – Team Owner:
“A good day at the office for us today! It's been great to carry on from Snetterton and we’ve scored points. We are really pleased with the progress that Dean has made. We experienced some technical problems with one of Dean’s engines during practice and my thanks goes out to Rob McElnea for the speed and quality of his support, allowing us to rebuild the bike for today’s races.”
Race 1 Results:
1. Byrne
2. Haslam
3. Sykes
4. J.Ellison
5. Camier
14. Dean Ellison
Race 2 Results:
1. Byrne
2. Haslam
3. Crutchlow
4. Camier
5. Ellison
15. Dean Ellison
Championship Standings
1. Byrne – 190
2. Crutchlow – 122
3. Camier – 107
4. Haslam – 96
5. Ellison – 88
22. Dean Ellison – 4
Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship
Phil Bevan hoped to capitalise on his points scoring finish at the last round (Brands Hatch) but suffered a number of technical setbacks during the only dry qualifying session. Having sat out a large amount of the session, he was left with little running time and was only able to post a time of 1:39.381. Wet weather prevented any improvement in session two, so it was a 30th placed eighth row start for Phil.
Drama continued to blight Bevan as the Co-Ordit Racing Team removed his bike from the grid, seconds before the warm-up lap. As the field circulated, Bevan’s bike was given a further precautionary check before he was given the all clear to start from pit-lane. Bevan followed the field through Redgate for the first lap and steadily settled into the race. Phil to moved through to twenty-fifth place by lap nine when the race was red flagged for the onset of rain.
Pete Bradshaw, Team Owner:
“Phil Bevan has not had much luck this weekend but I think he showed that even starting from the pit lane, he was able to work his way back through the field before the race was stopped. “We’ll get the bike back to base and expect to be putting in a much stronger performance for the next round.”
Race Result:
1. Neill
2. Brogan
3. Coates
4. Seeley
5. Storrar
25. Phil Bevan
Championship Points
1. Brogan – 95
2. Neill – 64
3. Kirkham – 60
4. Seeley – 48
5. Cox – 30
25. Phil Bevan – 2
Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup
Grid positions for the first race were set by the qualifying session before the snow fell at Brands. As a result, 24 year old Richard Cooper from Nottingham would start from last place, having not been entered for the Kent event.
Although weather conditions had improved for race one, a blustery cold wind accompanied the dry track. Cooperman made his intentions clear as the lights went out, scything through the field to tenth by the end of lap one. Kirkham, Warren, Wilson and Emmett battled it out for the lead, while Cooper made his way up to ninth midway through lap two chasing down Jack Kennedy. Cooper’s then locked horns with James Cox and Australian Shannon Etheridge for the remaining laps. Cooper managed to pass Etheridge but was just not able to make an impression on Cox and Kennedy ahead. At three quarter distance the strong winds called for the deployment of the red flag for a dismantled section of air fence at Redgate Corner.
Cooper finished in a respectable 9th place, scoring seven points for his first outing in the Henderson R1 Cup series, looking forward to a second chance to impress Pete Bradshaw and the Co-Ordit team. Richard Cooper started from ninth, on the third row, for the second Cup race. Keen to improve on his earlier foray, Cooper battled closely with front-runners and seasoned professionals for the opening laps, moving up to fifth by lap three.
After lap six the relentless pressure began to tell on Cooper and he fell into the grasp of Mason, Jack Kennedy and Sam Warren. Trying a variety of different lines, Cooper did his best to come back but was forced to hold station, nursing home his bike that began to suffer from clutch slip.
Richard Cooper:
“I had similar results from different start positions, so I’m a little disappointed with that but conditions were really difficult out there – especially as I’m a little guy. I was really pleased that Pete asked me to ride the R1. Its perfect for me and its definitely where I want to be racing. Great to have another chance at Snetterton in a few weeks time, especially as I’ve raced there with the team recently.”
Pete Bradshaw, Team owner:
“Richard Cooper had a really good couple of races in the R1 Cup. It’s the whole ethos of Co-Ordit – to bring young riders on. On that note we’ve given Richard the R1 ride for Snetterton and hope he’ll continue to improve.”
Race 1 Result:
1. Kirkham
2. B.Wilson
3. Coates
4. Emmett
5. Warren
9. Richard Cooper
Race 2 Result:
1. Kirkham
2. B.Wilson
3. Coates
4. Mason
5. Emmett
8. Richard Cooper
Championship Points:
1. Kirkham – 86
2. Emmett – 64
3. Warren – 56
=3. B.Wilson – 56
5. Mason – 49
11. Richard Cooper – 15
Co-ordit Racing will now have a two weekend break before heading to Snetterton in Norfolk for round five of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship (13th-15th June).
Related Link:
www.teamco-ordit.com
