Jon Kirkham recorded his second double of the season in front of a packed house at Donington Park, as the International Round of the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup took place at the British MotoGP (21st June).
Starting the opening race from pole position, Kirkham took the holeshot for the reduced nine-lapper. In a mirror of the May Bank Holiday races, Ben Wilson tucked into second place hot on Kirkham's heels, with Emmett, Warren and Jack Kennedy in close pursuit. Unfortunately for Wilson, his challenge would end midway through the third circulation as the Boston rider fell victim to Coppice. Rejoining the race down in 17th, he was forced to retire from proceedings two laps later.
This left a breakaway group at the front, headed by the dominant Kirkham, to pull clear of the field. The slippery track conditions came into play, claiming a number of riders in the process including Co-ordit Racing team boss, Pete Bradshaw. Standing in for Snetterton race winner, Richard Cooper, Bradshaw saw his hopes of glory vanish with a crash in each race. However, he will bounce back in time to take the reins at Mallory Park next weekend.
Sam Warren re-ignited his season long battle with Sean Emmett, eventually forcing his way through to take his third podium of the season, with Emmett holding off the challenge of Snetterton podium sitter Jack Kennedy for third. Posting the fastest lap of the race (1:52.09s) on his final lap, Kirkham took the flag with over five seconds to spare.
The second race, reduced to just seven laps with time constraints and fading light coming into play, looked as if it may be yet another Kirkham, Emmett, Warren battle. Kirkham stole the lead into Redgate from pole with the usual protagonists hunting him down.
Gary Mason and Charlie Bishop crashed out on the opening lap, leaving the wet weather specialists at the front to battle for honours.
Warren, a victor in the wet at Oulton Park last month, crashed spectacularly on lap 5, leaving Jack Kennedy to make the sole challenge in preventing Kirkham from his second Donington double.
However, Kirkham proved that he is unstoppable at his home circuit. Faced with constant pressure from Kennedy, the Derby rider finally broke the Irishman's tow to claim his second win of the day and his second fastest race lap to boot.
Newcomers to the series, Tony Rainford, Jim Hodson and Tom Luton, improved significantly in race 2. Despite back row starts the trio acquitted themselves in more experienced company to finish just outside of the top ten.Steven Cusick took the opportunity of a second visit in four weeks to the Leicestershire circuit to record his first top ten result of the season. This will fill the young Glaswegian with confidence as the championship resumes for points next weekend. Paul Shoesmith made a return to the fold after missing the past few rounds. The Isle of Man TT rider claimed 8th in race two after narrowly missing out in a race-long dice with Cusick in the opening race.Team MCN entrant, Michael Neeves, posted his best results to date with two top ten finishes. The senior MCN road tester found his ‘wet' feet this weekend and will look to transfer this into tangible points at Mallory.The riders will have a few short days to recover before resuming the 2008 Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup championship battle at Mallory Park next weekend, with the climax of the Spring Cup (28/29 June).
Rob McElnea, Team Principal:
"It was a tough weekend for all the lads, a fantastic opportunity for us all to come and showcase our series at this, the biggest event on the calendar. The schedule of races late on Saturday were always a compromise and what with our lucky weather window following us, the odds were stacked against us! JK was outstanding as was Jack Kennedy. Sam Warren had a big crash in the second race in the scary conditions but got away with it. All the guys have a quick turn around for Mallory this weekend where the winner of the Spring Cup will collect his prize. Kirkham has had a great start and looks favourite, but others will have different ideas."
Race 1 - Result (9 Laps)
1. Kirkham
2. Warren
3. Emmett
4. J.Kennedy
5. Etheridge
6. Mason
7. Coates
8. Nutt
9. Bishop
10. Neeves
11. Cusick
12. Shoesmith
13. Garside
14. Rainford
15. Kentish
Race 2 - Result (7 Laps)
1. Kirkham
2. J.Kennedy
3. Emmett
4. Etheridge
5. Coates
6. Wilson
7. Nutt
8. Shoesmith
9. Neeves
10. Cusick
11. Rainford
12. Hodson
13. Luton
