Shane Byrne is the dominant force of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship as it enters the second half of the campaign with a return visit to Oulton Park. This seventh round provides the HM Plant Honda riders Cal Crutchlow and Leon Haslam the chance to show what might have been in their earlier visit to the Cheshire circuit.
Back in May, they had a tough time, with Crutchlow taking a tumble and then Haslam being excluded from the results on the second race after a tangle with Tom Sykes – both riders are keen to set the record straight by heading off their Airwaves Ducati rival who took a winning double then.
Byrne, the title winner five years ago, has now taken eight race victories, and four second places in the dozen races so far, and that has left him well clear of the pack: “ To have a 97 point lead at the halfway point of the season is a great feeling but all of us in the team are aware that there’s still a lot of hard work ahead in order to finish the job and win the championship.
“All of the circuits on the BSB calendar that I don’t like are now out of the way and the second half of the season kicks off at Oulton Park where I secured my first double win for the Airwaves Ducati team.
“I’m feeling really confident but I know I need to stay focused and just take each race one at a time,” added Byrne who is not taking the threat posed by his nearest rival in the title stakes, Crutchlow, lightly, knowing that the Coventry rider will be pushing hard.
“I want to take it to him in the second half of the season. I am looking forward to Oulton Park as it is a great circuit and I am going for two wins there," said Crutchlow, adding: "I think it will be hard to close the lead to Shane but I am going to keep plugging away and if I am not beating him and winning then I need to be right behind him.
“It is good to be second in the overall standings and to be the top Honda rider; I am looking forward to the rest of the season. I have been consistent so far this year and the only three times I have not been on the podium it hasn't all been my fault, with the crash at Oulton Park for example.”
Leon Camier, the teamster of Byrne, is third in the title stakes, just ahead of Haslam who believes that he should have won both races in the previous visit to the circuit: “I have a mixture of feelings after the last round we had there. In the first race I had a fantastic battle with Shane Byrne and I feel like I should have won that race.
“Then in the second race I was sitting in second with Tom Sykes then we had a coming together and I ended up fifth then was excluded. That race should have been a win too so I am confident ahead of the next round. Results wise I want a top two in both races."
Adding to the action will be Michael Rutter, fresh from his victory at Mallory Park aboard the North West 200 Ducati; Tom Sykes riding Rizla Suzuki and the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda duo of James Ellison and Guy Martin. Michael Laverty, riding Relentless Suzuki,should be at the sharp end of the action.
Yamaha riders, Karl Harris on the Rob Mac Racing bike and Simon Andrews aboard the Lloyds British Jentin machine should also be well on the pace along with Billy McConnell on the MSS Discovery Kawasaki.
John Laverty, riding the Buildbase NW200 Ducati, expects to extend his advantage in the Daily Star Cup, but under pressure from Honda riders Tom Tunstall, Martin Jessopp and Gary Mason, not forgetting STP MV Agusta rider Chris Burns.
Lap records - 2.692 miles International Circuit
Superbikes: Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 35.436s, 101.54mph, 23/07/06
Supersport: Cal Crutchlow, Honda, 1m 39.357s, 97.53mph, 11/09/05
125GP: James Westmoreland, Honda, 1m 45.819s, 91.58mph, 11/09/05
Superstock: Jon Kirkham, Yamaha, 1m 40.046s, 96.86mph, 05/05/08
600 S/stock: Allan Jon Ventner, Triumph, 1m 43.703s, 93.45mph, 05/05/08
Yamaha R1: Sam Warren, Yamaha, 1m 49.219s, 88.73mph, 05/05/08
Flashback
Round 8 – 15 July 2007 - Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Pole: J Rea, Honda, 1m 34.914s
Race One - 17 laps:
1. R Kiyonari, Honda, 31:03.104
2. S Byrne, Honda, 31:23.179
3. C Walker, Suzuki, 31:23.994
Fastest lap: R Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 43.960s, 93.22mph/150.02kph
Race Two - 14 laps:
1. J Rea, Honda, 24:33.750
2. K Harris, Honda, 24:45.853
3. S Byrne, Honda, 24:53.699
Fastest lap: R Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 43.501s, 93.63mph/150.69kph
British Superbike Cup
Race 1: 1. T Palmer, Honda, 32:51.933
Race 2: 1. T Palmer, Honda, 26:06.126
SUPERBIKES ON TRACK
Friday 18th July
10.15-11.05 and 14.30-15.20 free practice
Saturday 19th July
10.15-11.05 free practice
14.00-14.50 Swan Combi Roll for Pole grid deciding qualifying session
Sunday 20th July
12.02-12.17 warm-up practice
13.15 Race One – 18 laps
16.30 Race Two – 18 laps
SUPERBIKES ON TELEVISION
British Eurosport 2:
Sunday 20th July
13.00-14.30 LIVE raceday
15.30-18.00 LIVE raceday
21.00-22.00 Highlights
Monday 21st July: 17.00-18.30 Highlights
Tuesday 22nd July: 20.00-21.00 Highlights
Wednesday 23rd July: 22.00-23.30 Highlights
Tuesday 29th July: 21.00-22.00 Highlights
Thursday 31st July: 22.30-24.00 Highlights
Saturday 02nd August: 19.00-20.30 Highlights
Tuesday 05th August: 20.15-21.15 Highlights
Thursday 07th August
1300-1400 Highlights
1915-2015 Highlights
Friday 08th August: 14.00-15.30 Highlights / 21.00-22.30 Highlights
Saturday 09th August: 15.30-17.00 Highlights
Sunday 10th August: 11.30-12.30 Highlights
Channel 4:
Wednesday 23rd July: 01.10-02.05 Highlights
Rider’s view:
“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
