Motorcycles and news

The torrential rain had disappeared to leave a rapidly drying track as the Virgin Media Yamaha Supersport riders lined up next to each other on the third row of the grid. Both Tom and Billy had opted for a dry tyre combination, a decision that would prove to pay dividends during the second half of the reduced 20-lap race.

Michael Laverty took the holeshot and broke clear at the head of the field, while Tom and Billy tucked into a four-wheel Yamaha express in 10th and 11th. Dennis Hobbs left the track through Seat Curves depositing mud across the circuit resulting in deployment of the safety car for three laps. This played into the hands of the Virgin Media Yamaha riders.
As the chasing pack closed up, Tom instantly took advantage at the re-start moving underneath a few riders into sixth by the end of lap 11. The tyre gamble paid off as Tom elevated his Yamaha YZF-R6 into third on lap 16, Billy was on a charge himself, and claimed a few scalps moving into fifth the following lap.

Jamie Robinson passed Tom for third on the track in the closing stages but with a 20-second jump start penalty would be relegated to 14th, paving the way clear for Tom’s debut podium in his rookie Supersport season.

Team-mate Billy McConnell firmly put the qualifying demons of Knockhill behind him as the young Australian took fourth at the chequered flag - just 1.2-seconds behind Tom Grant. However, the plaudits must go to Tom Grant whose continual promise has finally been rewarded with his first Supersport podium and moves up to fifth in the Championship.

Tom Grant:

“Rob chose dry tyres all round, I was a bit concerned to start with but what a choice it turned out to be. I’m dead chuffed. I need to thank Rob and the team for sticking with me and supporting me so well through the first half of the season, I owe them these results. I did not know that Robinson had a penalty so it was a sweet moment when I came in off the circuit.”

Superbike

A monumental effort by the Knockhill circuit staff enabled a reduced racing programme to take place at a rain soaked round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship today, 1 July.

The unseasonably heavy rainstorms that have blighted the UK throughout the week finally reached the Scottish circuit during late morning. Race Director Stuart Higgs made a swift decision to red flag the National Superstock race five laps into proceedings due to the threat the downpour posed to the riders. Further activity on track was suspended while the Knockhill ground staff admirably attempted to clear the rivers and puddles flowing across many parts of the circuit.

Race one got underway later than scheduled as the rain appeared to be clearing. Drama unfolded as the riders gingerly took to the 1.27-mile circuit for the reduced race distance of 24-laps. At the end of the two warm-up laps, Tommy Hill’s Yamaha YZF-R1 came to a sudden halt at the Real Radio Hairpin. Unable to re-start, Tommy was forced to run back to pit lane and start on his spare machine. Although 18-seconds back from the next rider at the end of the first circulation, Tommy put in a super-human performance with a string of fast laps to elevate himself into the points by lap 12.

Hudson Kennaugh got a good start and quickly passed Steve Plater for 13th. As the rain started to fall again by mid-race, Hudson was closing in on Sean Emmett and Karl Harris. However, with the conditions worsening, Hudson settled for 12th and four more valuable Championship points.

By the time Tommy had passed the mid-order riders and had clear track in front of him the gap to team-mate Kennaugh was an unassailable 20-seconds with laps quickly running out. Unfortunate circumstances prevented Tommy from another top ten finish even though his consistent lap times deserved better.

With more torrential downpours, the race schedule for the day was re-arranged to coincide with live ITV1 coverage. The British Supersport race was postponed in order to run the second Superbike race. Rain-laden skies held firm for the second Superbike race as Tommy Hill made an excellent start catapulting his Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha up into sixth at the culmination of the first lap. Battling with Chris Walker, Karl Harris and Shane Byrne, Tommy looked to have the better of the latter two riders as he settled into sixth position. However, Tommy fell victim to the conditions as he used slightly more front brake than the previous lap that left him crashing out of the race at the John R. Weir chicane.

Hudson Kennaugh pulled himself back from a start that saw him swallowed up by the chasing pack to secure another point scoring finish. Capitalising from the misfortunes of a few riders ahead, Hudson moved up to 13th position clinging to the tails of Steve Plater for the remainder of the race.

Tommy Hill:

“My bike just cut out on the warm-up lap, it gave me no warning. I managed to run back and jump on my spare but it’s not set-up for the wet. All I could do was work my way through the slower riders to get into a point scoring position. The crash in the second was my mistake. It was the only part of the circuit that I was losing out on and on that lap I ran in a little too hot and grabbed a bit more brake than usual and down I went. I’m absolutely gutted cause I felt really strong elsewhere. I guess it’s always a risk that we all take in those conditions.”

Rob McElnea, Team Principal:

Due to the unforeseen weather circumstances round six of the Virgin Media Cup at Knockhill was cancelled on the grounds of rider safety. The postponed race will now be run later in the season.

Niall Mackenzie, Cup Mentor:

“They made the right decision to postpone the Virgin Media Cup race due to the weather conditions delaying all the proceedings. Obviously the lads are all disappointed but that’s just the way it goes sometimes. We will run a double header later on in the season, which will make for some good racing.”

British Superbike Race 1 - Results
1 - Rea (Honda), 2 - Kiyonari (Honda), 3 - Haslam (Ducati), 4 - Byrne (Honda), 5 - Walker (Suzuki), 12 - Hudson Kennaugh (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha) 13 - Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha)

British Superbike Race 2 - Results
1 - Rea (Honda), 2 - Haslam (Ducati), 3 - Kiyonari (Honda), 4 - Skyes (Honda), 5 - Byrne (Honda), 13 - Hudson Kennaugh (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha) DNF - Tommy Hill (Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha)

British Superbike Championship Standings
1 - Kiyonari 248, 2 - Rea 237, 3 - Lavilla 220, 4 - Haslam 205, 5 - Byrne 151, 9 - Tommy Hill 86, 20 - Hudson Kennaugh 14

British Supersport Race Results
1 - Laverty (Suzuki), 2 - Young (Triumph), 3 - Tom Grant (Virgin Media Yamaha), 4 - Billy McConnell (Virgin Media Yamaha), 5 - Lowry (Suzuki)