Jon Kirkham took full honours to extend his championship lead at the end of a thrilling 12-lap Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup race at Oulton Park.
Lining up on pole position for the fifth time this season, Kirkham looked in confident mood sat astride the new blue liveried Metzeler Championship leader’s YZF-R1. As the lights went out, Kirkham took the holeshot with Ben Wilson in hot pursuit.
Once again, Wilson would use all of his aggressive and determined riding style as he attempted to power the Yamaha closer to race leader Kirkham, but as the opening laps counted down and the gap pulled away, it was all that Wilson could do to stay with the hot pace that Kirkham had set.
With Kirkham and Wilson focused on the track ahead an exciting dice for the final podium position unfolded that would only be decided as the chequred flag dropped. Richard Cooper led a five bike battle covered by less than a second. However, it looked as is the Co-ordit Racing Snetterton race winner was holding up the following riders and it wasn’t long before Nutt and Mason swept past.
Oulton Park 1 race winner, Sam Warren slipped under Jack Kennedy and Richard Cooper in one deft move at Shell Oils for fifth on lap 7, only to lose the front end of the Mission Racing machine in dramatic fashion at Island Bend the following lap.
Gary Mason was the man on the move, in his mind already standing on the podium for the first time this season, as he focussed on reining in Adrian Coates’ Stoneyford Conrete Yamaha. Just 0.2s separated the two combatants as they entered the final lap. With Coates’ concentration on Wilson for second, Mason made his move late on the brakes into Hizzy’s Chicane. Wilson was now in reach and Mason launched his Yamaha full-chat up Clay Hill and through Druids looking for the text-book pass at Lodge. However, Wilson’s pure determination kept his nose in front to gain his fifth podium of the season by 0.2s.
Jon Kirkham took his fifth chequered flag of the season, a comfortable 1.9s of empty tarmac behind the 23-year old. A perfect start to the Autumn Cup and an overall extension to his Championship lead of 37 points.
Round 8 sees the series move north of the border to Knockhill in Scotland (8-10 August).
Jon Kirkham: "I got a good start and put in some fast laps like I had in qualifying. There were yellow flags out for a few crashes and it pulled my pace back a bit. I enjoyed the race and knew that they were catching towards the end. It's the first win for the second half of the season and the 'Autumn Cup', so a good place to be for this point of the Cup."
Ben Wilson: "Jon got away from me early on and I pushed really hard to stay with him, he just had the pace on me though. I'm happy with second, though it's becoming a pattern and I'd love to break it with the win. I'd like to dedicate the race to the late Ollie Bridewell, my ex team-mate, this one's for you mate."
Gary Mason:"It's frustrating to jump off a Superbike onto an R1 as the bikes are so different. To be honest I just need to get a bit more confidence at the beginning of the race and pull my finger out. I'm always strong towards the end
of the race. I'm happy with that, all credit to Jon he rode hard from the start, I need to get away with him and who knows?"
Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "Again we are graced with some great racing from the lads out there. Kirkham was dominant again but the guys behind were definitely catching. Ben put in a strong ride and Gary came good at the end for a well deserved podium finish. We were lucky that the weather stayed with us and gave the audience some thrilling action to watch right the way through the positions."
Race Result:1. Kirkham2. B.Wilson
3. Mason
4. Coates
5. J.Kennedy
6. Cooper
7. S.Wilson
8. Shoesmith
9. Bishop
10. Neeves
Championship Standings:1. Kirkham - 1442. B.Wilson - 107
3. Warren - 92
4. Mason - 85
5. J.Kennedy - 75
