Jason O’Halloran dominates Thruxton BSB; leads series

Full weekend wrap from Thruxton BSB
All classes

Images by David Yeomans and BSB

British Superbike

Jason O’Halloran scored a hat-trick of wins to take his season victory tally to seven, only four rounds into the season.

O’Halloran swept the victories, but it was a close weekend at the high-speed Hampshire circuit, with seven riders, representing six different teams and five manufacturers stepping onto the podium.

The 33-year-old Aussie now leads the series on 232-points, 42-points ahead of Christian Iddon and 59-points ahead of team-mate Tarran Mackenzie.

Countryman Josh Brookes continues to struggle with chatter issues on the VisionTrack Ducati and could only claim two-points from his efforts over the weekend and is now 12th in the championship chase with 58-points.

2021 BSB Thruxton – Race 1

Jason O’Halloran claimed his fifth win of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season in the opening race at Thruxton.

O’Halloran got an incredible start from pole position to grab the lead ahead of Irwin and Peter Hickman, however a crash on the opening lap for Kyle Ryde and Joe Francis bought out the BMW Safety Car. Both riders were able to walk away from the crash, and the race resumed on lap four.

O’Halloran controlled the pace at the front, breaking away from the pack in the later stages of the race to build a more comfortable buffer before the race was halted. This leaves him just a single point adrift of Christian Iddon in the overall standings ahead of tomorrow’s two races.

Prior to his accident, Irwin was right in the fight for the podium, holding second position ahead of Hickman and Iddon in the opening stages with Ryan Vickers in contention too.

On lap five, Hickman’s FHO Racing BMW machine moved into second. Honda Racing’s Irwin was then pushed back a further place into fourth as Iddon then made a move, drafting through on the VisionTrack Ducati.’

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Iddon then pushed Hickman for second place, making a move at the Chicane as the battle intensified for the podium. It was a battle between Iddon, Hickman and Irwin for the final two places inside the top three as O’Halloran made his break at the front.

Irwin was soon up to third, as he produced a stunning move around the outside at the Chicane on lap 13. His progress came to a sudden end a lap later though as he crashed out at 119mph. With his stricken Honda Fireblade in the track, the race was red flagged. Irwin was able to walk away from the incident, whilst his rivals Iddon and Hickman climbed onto the podium.

Vickers had his best result in fourth place for the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team, holding off Lee Jackson who completed the top five for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, with four manufacturers in the top four positions.

Danny Kent was another rider to secure his best result in Bennetts BSB in sixth place for the Buildbase Suzuki team, ahead of Bradley Ray and Gino Rea.

Tarran Mackenzie was running sixth, but a cut of the Chicane meant the McAMS Yamaha rider was given a 2-second long lap equivalent time penalty, ending up in ninth place with Tommy Bridewell completing the top-ten.

It was another disappointing race for reigning champion Josh Brookes; he was outside the points in 17th place. The Aussie struggling with front-end chatter and searching for a solution.

2021 BSB Thruxton – Race 1 Results

2021 BSB Thruxton – Race 2

In the second race of the weekend, O’Halloran instantly launched to the front of the pack ahead of Glenn Irwin and Lee Jackson. Christian Iddon, Ryan Vickers and Peter Hickman were tucked just behind them on a fiercely competitive opening lap.

Vickers went for a big move on Iddon at the Chicane on lap three and made contact, pushing the pair of them wide. The RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki rider was then issued a long lap penalty.

At the front though, O’Halloran gradually broke away from the pack. Glenn Irwin held second though, bouncing back from his Saturday crash, just ahead of Vickers who ran third before taking his penalty.

Tarran Mackenzie meanwhile, burst through the field. The McAMS Yamaha ace initially ran outside the top eight before working his way up the order to move into the podium fight.

There was disaster for VisionTrack Ducati’s Iddon as Jackson collected him and the pair crashed out of contention whilst battling for a place on the podium. The DNF for Iddon meant he lost the lead at the top of the standings to O’Halloran as the duo continued to swap positions on the overall table.

This resulted in a frenetic five-way scrap for second place, with Glenn Irwin facing stiff opposition from Vickers, Bradley Ray, Mackenzie and Hickman immediately behind. Vickers crashed out unhurt on the final lap as he was pushing for his first podium in Bennetts BSB, whilst Mackenzie seized the advantage to take second behind his teammate.

Glenn Irwin made a strong comeback on the final lap to get back ahead of Ray to claim the final place on the podium, his first of the season, whilst Hickman completed the top five for FHO Racing BMW.

2021 BSB Thruxton – Race 2 Results

2021 BSB Thruxton – Race 3

Rain fell before the final race of the day, but O’Halloran proved to be a master of all conditions, claiming his third race win of the weekend in the damp. He held off Danny Buchan and Danny Kent, who celebrated his first podium finish.

The race was declared wet, but with the chance of a drying track, tyre choices proved to be mixed and at the start of the race, O’Halloran took the lead. The McAMS Yamaha rider made a late change on the grid to an intermediate rear tyre, but that gave Hickman and Mackenzie the edge over the opening laps as they soon moved ahead with their choice of the rain rear tyre.

Hickman grabbed the lead, and together with Mackenzie, they initially had gapped the pack as O’Halloran diced with Lee Jackson for third over the opening laps.

Buchan made a charge through the order on board the SYNETIQ BMW with the intermediate rear tyre option, and by lap six he was hassling O’Halloran for third place. Buchan moved into second a lap later, but O’Halloran was instantly on the attack and he reclaimed the position as the track conditions continued to change and Hickman soon fell back into the clutches of the chasing group.

By the ninth lap, O’Halloran and Buchan made their move on Hickman to take the leading positions and two laps later the SYNETIQ BMW hit the front again. The McAMS Yamaha rider was leading again just a lap later and the pair continued to fight for win. At the chequered flag though, it was O’Halloran who had the edge over Buchan by 0.826s.

Meanwhile, Kent carved his way into a top-three position by lap 12 and he gapped the pack behind him to become the ninth different podium finisher of the season, a career first for the former Moto3 World Champion.

Vickers equalled his best result of the season in fourth place for the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team ahead of the battling Irwin brothers with Andrew Irwin scoring his best finish in 2021 in fifth place.

2021 BSB Thruxton – Race 3 Results

BSB Quotes

Jason O’Halloran

“It’s been a very good weekend. Another triple, seven wins so far this year, four in the last six races – it’s been an amazing couple of weeks for us. A huge thanks to McAMS Yamaha, it’s been another weekend of changeable conditions and we all made really good decisions together. When you are working together as a team and bouncing off each other and you get results like that it just keeps you going. To win in the dry this weekend was fantastic, but to win in those conditions in the final race was unbelievable. I’m probably happier with the third race win than any win so far – it was such a tough race. It was a gamble on the grid to go with an inter and to push at the end when it was raining was really tricky, but we made it happen, got another win and I look forward to Donington in a couple of weeks.”

Glenn Irwin

“I’m happy with the weekend in terms of points and managing to reduce the gap to the Showdown, despite yesterday’s crash. The Honda worked very well and on another day I reckon we could have had a 2-2-6, but it wasn’t to be. I can’t complain too much as I was happy to take my first podium of the season and also the team. Race 3 I learnt a lot and gained a lot of confidence at the end of the race, with the rain heavier at the end I started to really get into the groove. At the beginning when there was damp patches I lost a lot of time and when Andrew [Irwin] went past me it really woke me up! Big thanks to the team and I look forward to Donington National, where I have great memories from last season.”

Peter Hickman

“It was a bit of a tough weekend, because it didn’t quite go the way we wanted it to. Race one was obviously great, we were up the front and had another podium finish, which was great for me and the team as this has traditionally been a strong round for me in the past. I still felt like we were struggling a little and I think that was down to using the harder compound tyre that you have to use at Thruxton, but I have always struggled with it. It meant that the racing didn’t go exactly how I wanted, and I was happy with the first race but we come to win, not to finish third! Today, race two didn’t go according to plan, I think I was a bit too cautious with saving the tyre and that allowed the group to get away from me and I still had good pace at the end, but I left it too late so solid points for fifth. Race three was mixed conditions which was always going to be a gamble but I went for full wets and I was hoping it would rain some more, as I don’t really like inters and as it turned out it wasn’t the right decision. I did as much as I could and led for nine laps and did the work early on to try and make time on the field, but it didn’t go our way and it dried out. It wasn’t the worst race, I have some good points to take home and I am up to sixth in the championship. So onwards to Donington Park next!”

Christian Iddon

“It’s been a tough weekend all round as we have had minimal set-up time due to the changeable weather since Friday, so we’ve had to work with what we had. Yesterday’s race was a bit scrappy but I somehow managed to get a podium and I felt I could repeat that today when Lee collided with me and that was the end of that. In race three, the changing conditions meant it was a bit of a lottery and although we chose a good tyre combination, the best I could do was ninth. So, we regroup and go again at Donington Park in a couple of weeks.”

Josh Brookes

“We’ve continued to make changes this weekend, but it’s been to no avail. In the dry, I’ve had a chattering sensation in the middle of the turn and whilst you can ride round it to a certain degree, the spinning of the tyre isn’t something that’s as easy to overcome. I’ve struggled for drive and not going forward yet I’ve been wearing out the tyre as much as the boys at the front who have been going harder. It’s tough and it’s frustrating so we need to look into the issues a bit deeper to get out of the hole we’re in.”

2021 British Superbike Championship Points

British Supersport/GP2 Race 1

The GP2 machine of Charlie Nesbitt was the first across the line in the Quattro Group British Supersport Sprint race, while Bradley Perie was the first of the Supersport machines home. Launching off the line, Nesbitt was in full control of the race at the front, eventually taking the win by 4.298s.

It was a dramatic opening lap, with series leader Jack Kennedy being forced to retire just moments into the race. With Nesbitt edging away at the front, it was an intense battle for the remaining rostrum positions, with Perie, Lee Johnston and Jamie Perrin fighting it out throughout the final laps.

With a fast penultimate lap, Perie was able to secure second place, with Lee Johnston crossing the line third, ahead of the GP2 machine of Perrin. Kyle Smith completed the Supersport podium, while Mason Law joined Nesbitt and Perrin on the GP2 podium.

British Supersport/GP2 Race 1 Results

British Supersport/GP2 Race 2

Kyle Smith took a dominant win in the second Quattro Group British Supersport race, taking the flag by 6.9s. With the riders facing a wet Thruxton circuit at the start of the race, it was Lee Johnston who grabbed the holeshot, but the Dynavolt Triumph of Smith had soon found a way through just a few corners latter.

Pulling away at the front, Smith had Ben Currie in close contention for much of the race, with the duo trading places throughout the opening two thirds. However, a string of fast laps saw him able to edge away from Currie, holding on to take his second win of the season.

The GP2 machine of Charlie Nesbitt took the chequered flag, third on track, but it was Jack Kennedy who was able to bounce back from his DNF yesterday to complete the Supersport podium and retake the series lead. Joining Nesbitt on the GP2 podium was Mason Law and Jack Scott.

British Supersport/GP2 Race 2 Results

British Supersport Championship Standings

British  GP2 Championship Standings

Pirelli National Superstock Race 1

Alex Olsen made it two in a row in the Pirelli National Superstock class, taking victory in the opening race at Thruxton. The thrilling 15 lap race saw an action packed opening few laps, but it was Olsen who was able to edge away from the pursuers over the second half of the race, with substitute rider Luke Stapleford in close contention.

It was a thrilling battle for the final rostrum spot, with Chrissy Rouse, Billy McConnell, Tom Neave, Lewis Rollo, Keith Farmer and Luke Mossey all battling it out over the final lap.

Pirelli National Superstock Race 1 Results

Pirelli National Superstock Race 2

FHO Racing’s Alex Olsen doubled up on Pirelli National Superstock with victory in a thrilling second race at Thruxton. It was Luke Mossey who grabbed the holeshot to lead for the opening laps, but Olsen and Luke Stapleford were in close contention.

Stapleford made his move into the lead on lap nine, but Olsen was through just a few laps later, able to fend off the last lap challenge to take another win. Stapleford claimed second, with Tom Neave getting past Mossey on the final lap to claim the final rostrum position.

Alex Olsen

“I felt like we could relax a bit once we got that first win at Brands Hatch as we know we have the pace to fight at the front. It was great to give the team another victory in the first one and then my mind-set was that we could do it again. In the second race I needed to get to the front as soon as I could and set a pace. Luke Mossey got a bit of a gap and I had to use some tyre to get to him again, but when I got to the front, I thought I could control the pace. I just knew I had to push so hard on the last lap and braked as late as I could and I am just so happy with this weekend. I have to thank the FHO Racing BMW team.”

Tom Neave

“I think I’ve got the monkey off my back now, we’ve got our four bogey tracks out the way and some good tracks ahead of us where we had a lot of success at last year. I think this is just the start of getting back on top of riding that wave of success again. I needed a difficult race yesterday to make me have a better race today, I learnt a lot from it and really needed that podium to be honest after the three rounds we’ve had. There’s still time to turn the championship around, there’s still a lot of races to go and I think we can get back to our winning ways!”

Pirelli National Superstock Race 2 Results

Pirelli National Superstock Championship Standings

Pirelli National Junior Superstock Race

Zac Corderoy took the Pirelli National Junior Superstock victory after a red flag for weather brought the race to a premature end. George Stanley grabbed the holeshot, leading for much of the race with Corderoy and Liam Delves in close contention.

Moving into the lead on the penultimate lap, Corderoy was declared the winner with the red flag coming out on the final lap. Stanley took second ahead of Delves and Joe Talbot

Pirelli National Junior Superstock Race Results

Pirelli National Junior Superstock Championship Standings

British Junior Supersport Race One

Cameron Dawson took a dominant win in the opening Hel Performance British Junior Supersport race, taking the chequered flag by 4.532s. Launching off the line, the youngster was unchallenged on his way to the victory, with Adon Davie and Ash Barnes joining him on the podium. Joe Farragher was fourth, with Zak Shelton fifth.

British Junior Supersport Thruxton Race One Results

British Junior Supersport Race Two

Cameron Dawson made it two from two with another dominant win in the Hel Performance British Junior Supersport class. Launching off the line, the MSS Performance Kawasaki rider cruised away to take the chequered flag by 4.395s. Joseph Tomas had a fantastic race behind to take second place, while Adon Davie completed the podium in third.

British Junior Supersport Thruxton Race Two Results

British Junior Supersport Thruxton Championship Standings

British Talent Cup Race 1

Carter Brown (City Lifting by RS Racing) came out on top in a five-rider fight in Race 1 at Thruxton, the number 74 beating polesitter Jamie Lyons (C&M Motors Ltd/Tooltec Racing) to the top step. Cormac Buchanan (Microlise Cresswell Racing) took third to get back on the podium, with points leader Evan Belford (City Lifting by RS Racing) suffering a tougher race to take sixth – and his former closest challenger in the standings, teammate Jonny Garness, crashing out late on.

Off the line, Lyons got a great start from pole to stay ahead, with Buchanan tucking into second. But very briefly, the Kiwi striking quickly to take the lead as the top two were joined by Brown in an early three-rider break.

Belford began the race with a good start to get up into fourth, a bridge between the two early groups. But that wouldn’t last long either as the fight for the lead became a six-rider scrap, with Buchanan leading Lyons, Brown, Belford, Ollie Walker (Moto Rapido / SP125 Racing) and Harrison Crosby (Banks Racing) at the front.

Drama then hit for Belford as he cut the final chicane on Lap 4 and dropped off slightly, leaving the Lyons, Brown, Buchanan, Walker and Crosby group in a fight for the win that would go down to the wire – and Belford fighting with James Cook (Wilson Racing) and and Garness, two other riders a little more used to fighting for the podium of late.

At the front it remained a constant concertina but no one was able to make a break, and starting the last lap it was Crosby ahead and Brown in hot pursuit. Lyons then made his move, sweeping round for the lead, but out of Church for the final time Brown hit the front and there he was able to stay. Holding on out the chicane and on the drag to the line, the number 74 took his second win of the year – and moved up to second in the standings too.

Lyons took second and his first podium of the season after an impressive weekend so far, and the same is true of Buchanan as he got back on the box in third. Walker was forced to settle for fourth, and drama hit for Crosby as he highsided out just before the line – losing out on a finish and bringing out the Red Flag. He got to his feet but headed to the medical centre.

Cook beat Belford to complete the top five, but there was late drama for Garness as he and Bailey Stuart-Campbell (151s Racing) came together at the end of Lap 12 and crashed out. Troy Jeffrey (Stiggymotorsport) was then classified seventh, at the head of a big group completed by Kiyano Veijer (Microlise Cresswell Racing), Sullivan Mounsey (iForce Lloyd & Jones), Lucas Brown (Amphibian Scaffolding / SP125 Racing) and Rhys Stephenson (Rocket Racing) in 11th.

Ryan Hitchcock (Wilson Racing) is sidelined through injury after a crash on Friday.

British Talent Cup Race 1 Results

British Talent Cup Race Two Cancelled

Following inclement weather ahead of the start for the Honda British Talent Cup on Sunday at Thruxton, Race 2 of Round 4 was first suspended and then cancelled.

British Talent Cup Championship Standings