British Super Bikes – Round 2 – Oulton Park

Tommy Hill talks to the media at Oulton Park


Author: Chris Maher, Pictures Courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography

British Super Bikes 2011

Round 2 – Oulton Park – 30^th Apr to 02^nd May

The MCE Insurance British Super Bike’s moved onto Oulton Park for the second round of the championship. Once again the weather was kind with a dry weekend forecast, although a little cooler than Brands.

Josh Brookes showed a little more form in the practice sessions with his Relentless Suzuki. But it was Tommy Hill’s Swan Yamaha that provided the quickest times. Stuart Easton’s MSS Colchester Kawasaki came to the top end of the free practice sessions along with Michael Laverty & John Hopkins. Struggling once again this weekend was BSB rookie Jenny Tinmouth’s Splitlath Motorsport Aprilia who tumbled at Lodge in FP3. Topping the EVO class FP once again was Team WFR Honda’s Glen Richards & Alex Lowes. Graeme Gowland being out due to a wrist fracture at Brands Hatch.

In the Roll For Pole Qualifying session. Swan Yamaha’s Laverty & Hill were unbeatable. American John Hopkins Samsung Suzuki & French Man Loris Baz’s Motorpoint Yamaha. Missing front the top slots though this time round were both HM Plant Honda’s who were on row 2 & 3 of the grid for race one.

John Hopkins - 3rd in Qualifying at Oulton Park — John Hopkins – 3rd in Qualifying at Oulton Park

Front Row Grid

Tommy Hill – Swan Yamaha
Michael Laverty – Swan Yamaha
John Hopkins – Samsung Cresent Racing Suzuki
Loris Baz – Motorpoint Yamaha

Race 1

Drama started before the racing got underway at Oulton. Loris Baz crashed his bike in the Warm Up session spilling oil / petrol onto the track & Tommy Hill, following, slipped off & damaged muscle fibres to his shoulder. This has put him out of today’s racing & possibly the next round as well. Jenny Tinmouth was expecting to be the first BSB female rider this weekend after last week’s disappointment, but was unable to qualify under the 107.5% time rule. Spare parts still plaguing the Splitlath Aprilia Team.

The Grid now lines up with Laverty on Pole, Hopkins, Baz then Brookes.

It was Laverty who made it into turn one firstly to take the lead with Brookes second. Steve Brogan was the first casualty on the lap 1. Hopkins moved up to second from Brookes by lap 2, with Easton & Bryne on his tail. Alex Lowes (WFR Honda Evo) rode at the front end of the race in the first half, clocking a 1.36s lap that put him on the front row in race 2. Kiyonari moved up to race lead by lap 11 & went on to win the race.

Chequed Flag for Ryuichi Kiyonari - Oulton Park — Chequed Flag for Ryuichi Kiyonari – Oulton Park

Result – BSB

Ryuichi Kiyonari – HM Plant Honda
John Hopkins – Samsung Cresent Racing Suzuki
Stuart Easton – MSS Colchester Kawasaki
Shane Byrne – HM Plant Honda

Result – EVO

Alex Lowes – Team WFR Honda
Scott Smart – Moto Rapido Ducati
Barry Burrell – Buildbase BMW Motorrad
Patrick Muff – Tyco Honda

Race 2

HM Plant’s Ryuichi Kiyonari takes pole for race 2. Lowes, Brookes then Easton 4^th.

Stuart Easton’s Colchester Kawasaki leads the race into turn 1, followed by Brookes, Lowes then Bryne. WFR Honda’s Glen Richards is out by lap 3 and Brookes takes the lead. One again, Alex Lowes WFR Honda Evo machine jostles for the top positions but looses positions on some of the tricky corners. Stuart Easton is back in the lead by lap 9 but Brookes, hot on his tail slides off his Relentless Suzuki at Britten’s Chicane who’s machine spins through the air & across the front of Easton, narrowly missing him. The race is red flagged & the pace car is sent out.

Easton, Hopkins & Laverty lead on the re-start. John Hopkins Samsung Cresent Suzuki moves into the lead by lap 17 with Laverty, Easton then Kiyonari. Michael Laverty runs across for the 2^nd time at Hislop’s and back in behind Byrne who’s in 5^th.

Ex MotoGP rider, American John Hopkins, wins his first race in 10 years for Samsung Cresent Suzuki. Hopkins is the first American also to win a BSB race in its history.

Result – BSB