Byrne aims to seal title – but Haslam, Sykes and Crutchlow chase wins
Published by Robin Goodwin
24 September 2008, 14:45
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Shane Byrne goes into the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone knowing that a top nine finish in the opening race will be sufficient to give him the crown he last held five years earlier.
The Airwaves Ducati rider is keen to finish the job: “I’m a bit disappointed not to have won the title in the previous round at Croft, but now I’m fully refreshed and heading to Silverstone where at the end of the day I have a very good chance of taking it, and that is what I am there for.”
Byrne powered himself clear of the pack with a string of eight race victories in the first half of the season, but has not tasted the winner’s champagne since success at Mallory Park in June, and that is something that he is keen to rectify.
“I’d love to win every race and have been up there in all of the races, only missing out on podium finishes at Croft and at Knockhill where I fell in the second race."
“I like to be on maximum attack, riding on the limit, but I have to ensure that I don’t fall down now, and that I take the championship – it will be good to get the job done in the first race at Silverstone,” added Byrne.
It should be a formality, but, nothing can be taken for granted in this fiercely competitive sport, and that is not lost on the pursuing pack, who while duelling primarily for the runner-up spot in the rankings, they know that should Byrne slip-up,as did Troy Bayliss in the World series at Vallelunga, then the title is still beckoning for them.
Leon Haslam, riding the HM Plant Honda, has charged into contention, winning four of the last five races to move into second place in the standings, though 388-294 down on Byrne. “I’m looking forward to the races, and I want more victories – the bike is fine and we are working well,” said the Derbyshire rider who will need to be at his best to head off the confident Tom Sykes.
Riding the Rizla Suzuki, Sykes has enjoyed podium finishes – among them three victories – in seven of the previous eight races, a run of form that has earned him a place on the World stage next year. He goes into these races just four points down on Haslam.
Cal Crutchlow, meanwhile, aboard the second HM Plant Honda is eager to recapture his early season form, when he was twice a race winner, in his efforts to improve on his current fourth place in the rankings.
This trio is determined to ensure that Byrne has to work hard for his title, and with Leon Camier, a winner last time out, stepping up a gear along with North West 200 Ducati rider Michael Rutter; the consistent James Ellison aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, the action at the sharp-end should be intense.
Simon Andrews on the Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha and Michael Laverty riding Relentless Suzuki will be keen impress while MSS Discovery Kawasaki riders Stuart Easton and Billy McConnell need an upturn in fortune as does Rob Mac Racing Yamaha rider Karl Harris.
For the record
Lap records - 2.2127 mile International Circuit
Superbike: Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati, 1m 25.377s, 93.30mph, 29/04/07
Supersport: Eugene Laverty, Honda, 1m 28.547s, 89.96mph, 17/09/06
Superstock: Hudson Kennaugh, Yamaha, 1m 28.276s, 90.24mph, 29/04/07
600 Superstock: Xavier Simcola, Suzuki, 1m 32.545s, 86.7mph, 28/05/06
125GP: James Westmoreland, Honda, 1m 32.917s, 85.74mph 21/08/05
KTM 990: Darren Fry, 1:36.471, 82.57mph, 28/04/07
Yamaha R1: to be established
Flashback: Rd 3 – 29 April 2007
Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Pole: R Kiyonari, Honda, 1m 25.383s
Race One - 20 laps
1. R Kiyonari, Honda, 28:49.500
2. J. Rea, Honda, 28:55.300
3. C Walker, Suzuki, 28:58.260
4. L Camier, Honda, 28:58.347
5. G Lavilla, Ducati, 29:05.573
6. L Haslam, Ducati, 29:05.847
Fastest lap: Lavilla, 1m 25.645s, 93.01mph/149.68kph
Race Two - 13 laps
1. R Kiyonari, Honda, 18:37.312
2. G Lavilla, Ducati, 18:39.762
3. J Rea, Honda, 18:49.070
4. C Walker, Suzuki, 18:49.90
5. L Haslam, Ducati, 18:53.648
6. T Sykes, Honda, 18:54.278
Fastest lap: Lavilla, Ducati, 1m 25.377s, 93.30mph/150.15kph
British Superbike Cup
Race One
1. T Palmer, Honda, 1:29.770
Race Two
1. M Neill, Suzuki, 29:44.325
Rider’s view
“Full of history, great facilities and you tell it is an F1 track as it so smooth and wide open – it is very like the circuits that you race on in Europe,”
Leon Haslam, HM Plant Honda
Superbikes on track
Friday 26 September
10.20-11.10 and 14.30-15.20 Free practice
Saturday 27 September
10.15-11.05 Free practice
14.00-15.04 Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole qualifying
Sunday 28 September
09.15-09.30 Warm-up practice
13.15 Race one – 20 laps
16.25 Race two – 20 laps
Superbikes on television
Sunday 28 September
12:30-16:30 - Live raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 28 September
19:00-20:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2 T
Tuesday 30 September
21:30-22:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Wednesday 1 October
01:10-02:05 - Highlights
Channel 4
Saturday 4 October
17:30-18:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 5 October
16:00-17:00 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Tuesday 7 October
19:00-20:00 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Saturday 11 October
15:00-16:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 12 October
11:30-12:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
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