O’Halloran’s podium streak continues with R1 victory at Thruxton

2022 British Superbike Championship
Round Six – Thruxton – Saturday

British Superbike Qualifying

Jason O’Halloran claimed his third SUPERPICKS Qualifying pole position of the 2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, setting an incredible lap time just 0.287s adrift of the fastest ever lap of Thruxton.

O’Halloran fired his McAMS Yamaha to the top of the times, with the front row completed by Peter Hickman and Andrew Irwin claiming their first front row starts of the 2022 season in second and third respectively.

Glenn Irwin heads the second row for Honda Racing UK ahead of Bradley Ray and defending champion Tarran Mackenzie, with the top six on the grid under the existing circuit lap record.

Lee Jackson and Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki head row three, edging out Kyle Ryde and Luke Mossey with Danny Kent completing the top ten on the grid for this afternoon’s eBay Sprint race.

British Superbike Qualifying Results

British Superbike Sprint Race

Jason O’Halloran kept his cool in the soaring heat at Thruxton to claim his sixth Bennetts British Superbike Championship race victory of the season in the eBay Sprint Race for the McAMS Yamaha team. It was a photo finish for the final podium position with just 0.003s separating Tarran Mackenzie and Bradley Ray at the chequered flag.

On the opening lap Glenn Irwin had initially taken the lead, but O’Halloran was instantly on the attack, dispensing with the Honda Racing UK rider to hit the front of the pack by the end of the opening lap.

O’Halloran was holding the advantage but his rivals were also in the mix with Mackenzie and Ray completing the leading trio by the eighth lap.

O’Halloran was able to maintain an impressive pace until the finish despite the high track temperature to extend his lead in the standings.

Jason O’Halloran – P1

“It was an exciting race! At the start, Glenn was trying to get in front and I just kept fighting back because I wanted to lead. I didn’t really know what pace to do to be honest, so I just tried to stick in the 15s as long as I could, I was just monitoring the gap behind me and then started to push a little bit more at the end. I saw .3 with one lap to go and I thought that would be enough, then just maintain it on the last lap so massive thanks to McAMS Yamaha – the whole team’s done a great job again, I’m feeling strong and that win felt good.”

Mackenzie and Ray were almost inseparable for second place. The pair traded positions throughout the closing stages with the final lap starting with Mackenzie ahead of Ray, but the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider made his move into the Club Chicane for the final time to move ahead.

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Mackenzie wasn’t settling for third place and the defending champion got a better exit to the finish line to beat Ray by just 0.003s.

Glenn Irwin had continued to hold off the second pack of riders in fourth place following an earlier battle with Peter Hickman on the FHO Racing BMW, who completed the top five.

Glenn Irwin – P4

“It’s been a productive weekend so far. Friday was a little underwhelming going by previous year’s here on the Hondas old and new, but I feel like I worked the team hard; I demanded a lot and they responded and worked brilliantly across the board. Qualifying wasn’t the first job of the weekend, it was a tick on the list, but the main job was today’s race, and to back up fourth on the grid with a fourth in the race from a championship point of view is strong, and also important to finish ahead of Pete [Hickman]. Our package today was great with the Fireblade and Thruxton is another track where we continue to improve and perform. We’ll be trying everything we can tomorrow to make a further step forward and fight for some silverware.”

The Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Racing Kawasaki pairing of Lee Jackson and Rory Skinner held sixth and seventh places respectively at the finish line, holding off Leon Haslam on the VisionTrack Kawasaki.

Tom Sykes was back inside the top ten with a ninth place for the MCE Ducati team, whilst Tommy Bridewell completed the leading ten riders for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati team.

For Josh Brookes, it’s been a tough weekend so far and, just like 2021, he’s suffered with a lack of grip on the MCE Insurance-sponsored and factory-supported Ducati Panigale V4R. Unable to lap at the pace required, both he and the team have worked tirelessly over the first two days and after qualifying in a disappointing 26th place, he was only able to take 20th at the chequered flag, 28-seconds behind the race winner.

Josh Brookes – P20

“After the problems I had at Thruxton last year, it’s the round I’ve been looking forward to the least but after good progress shown at Donington, Knockhill and Brands, I was holding onto that hope and that trend continuing when we got underway. It was clear straightaway though that the same problems existed, and it doesn’t matter what we try, I’m still suffering with a major lack of grip. No matter what we change, we don’t go forward, we just stay stagnant which is incredibly frustrating. You want to scream and throw things but that doesn’t change anything so it’s a question of staying composed and professional and just keep trying as hard as you can.”

Tito Rabat was having his first experience of Thruxton and BSB with TAG Racing Honda, the ex MotoGP star was the last rider home in 26th place, 46-seconds behind the winner of the 15-lap race.

British Superbike Sprint Race Results

British Superbike Championship Points

British Superstock Race One

FHO Racing with Kobelco’s Alex Olsen stormed to his first win of the year as he beat Davey Todd under half a second.

From pole, Olsen took the lead at the start and despite dropping to second for a few laps behind Todd, was soon back ahead and able to eke out enough of a gap for a clear run to the line.

Todd took second, as Charlie Nesbitt made a pass on Billy McConnell in the last lap for third, leaving McConnell to pick up fourth, just ahead of Lewis Rollo. McConnell now has a 17-point lead over Todd in the championship.

Countrymen Brayden Elliott and Levi Day finished 11th and 12th respectively.  Elliott has now slipped to third in the championship standings, 18-points behind McConnell.

British Superstock Race One Results

British Superstock Championship Points

British Supersport Race One

Jack Scott put his GP2 machine on the top step of the podium as he beat points leader and defending champion Jack Kennedy with a bold last lap move.

The One-Kovara Projects/RS Racing rider had spent the race closing in on Kennedy and on the final lap was ready to make his move, shoving his GP2 bike up the inside into the Complex to move to the front and moments later, took the flag.

Kennedy had to settle for second place, a full second behind, as Bradley Perie took third. Fourth went the way of Gearlink Kawasaki’s Luke Stapleford with Eugene McManus fifth.

Korie McGreevy was again the second GP2 machine home as he crossed the line 13th overall, just one place ahead of Cameron Fraser, who rounded out the GP2 top three.

Kiwi Damon Rees went out on the first lap.

British Supersport Race One Results

British Supersport Championship Points

GP2 Points

British Junior Supersport Race One

Mikey Hardie beat team-mate James McManus to the win by a mere 0.164s in today’s Junior Supersport race.

Hardie got the better of McManus after a tough race which went all the way to the flag, as Jack Kirsch took third.

Charlie Atkins took third, with Kieran Kent fifth at the end of a dramatic 10 lap race.

British Junior Supersport Race One Results