Josh Brookes on Cadwell Park BSB Pole
Josh Brookes sets blistering pace to claim Cadwell Park pole with Shakey back in eleventh position
Josh Brookes maintained his blistering pace during the Datatag Qualifying session to claim the pole position for the eighth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park.
The Aussie powered his Milwaukee Yamaha inside the eight-year-old Lincolnshire circuit lap record with an impressive time of 1m 26.433s to top qualifying for the third time this season.
Brookes holds a 12 point advantage in the standings ahead of tomorrow’s two races and is pushing to add to his run of four consecutive race wins. His arch rival and nemesis Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne continued to have a tough weekend with the defending champion missing out in the final seconds of Q2 and he will start on row four in 11th place.
MCE BSB rookie Danny Buchan celebrated his best ever qualifying performance in the series, pushing Brookes all the way to the end of the session. The Be Wiser Kawasaki rider will start second on the grid after continuing his strong performance this weekend.
The battle for the final position on the front row was just as intense with Tommy Bridewell and Luke Mossey going head-to-head in the closing seconds. Bridewell on his last lap managed to power the Tyco BMW just ahead to have the edge.
Peter Hickman, like Bridewell a winner in the corresponding round of last year, set the fifth fastest time on the RAF Reserves BMW ahead of Aussie Billy McConnell who escaped unscathed from a spectacular crash in this morning’s free practice.
Michael Laverty, James Westmoreland, Martin Jessopp and Jack Kennedy completed the top ten with the latter pair securing their best qualifying performances of the season.
The MCE BSB event at Cadwell Park continues with raceday tomorrow (Sunday 23 August) with a programme of two MCE BSB races plus a further six support classes, including the thrilling Motorpoint British Supersport Championship.
Josh Brookes – (Milwaukee Yamaha) – “All weekend I have been fast, but I had a little slip off in the session this morning – I think we were chasing a unicorn! We were trying to improve the bike when it was already really good and where we gained a little bit, we lost a bit in another area and I slipped off and my confidence was a little knocked. It doesn’t matter how well you are going, even if you have a little crash it does do that so Q1 & Q2 I took it steady and was building up to give it everything in Q3. We have worked hard for it today.”
Datatag Qualifying
1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1m:26.433s
2: Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +0.459s
3: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +0.577s
4: Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.581s
5: Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +0.778s
6: Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW) +0.944s
Stapleford goes five up to extend lead in Supersport title chase
Luke Stapleford extended his lead in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship by winning the Sprint race to extend his advantage to 33 points over his nearest rival Kyle Ryde.
Stapleford was quick to take the advantage in the early stages, leading almost all of the way as Ryde was piling on the pressure and trying everything in his power to move ahead and he held the advantage to the finish.
Stapleford said: “To do that was great – I thought it would be close but I got a bit of a gap. I’ve got the pace and it was just a case of ticking off the laps.”
Ryde, who had struggled for pace in free practice, added: “I was sitting behind Luke who was making a few mistakes but then my rhythm was upset as Rispoli came in. I got a better start second time and I passed Luke but he passed me back – we lacked pace on Friday but we pulled it back today.”
Adrift of them was Jake Dixon on the Smiths Triumph and Team Traction Control Yamaha’s James Rispoli. The pair duelled intensely for third place with Dixon decisively taking the final podium position after powering in a record-breaking 1m 28.886s lap.
Glenn Irwin ran fifth for Gearlink Kawasaki, ahead of Team Traction Control Yamaha’s Andy Reid with the Gearlink duo of Ben Wilson and Luke Hedger easing Matthew Paulo, the winner of the Supersport EVO category into ninth place.
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Cadwell Park, Sprint Race result:
1: Luke Stapleford (Profile Triumph) 14m 58.862secs
2: Kyle Ryde (PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha) +1.676s
3: Jake Dixon (Smiths Triumph) +1.752s
4: James Rispoli (Team Traction Control Yamaha) +3.079s
5: Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) +8.095s
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship standings:
1: Luke Stapleford (Profile Triumph) 294
2: Kyle Ryde (PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha) 261
3: Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) 211
4: Jake Dixon (Smiths Triumph) 178
5: Andy Reid (Team Traction Control Yamaha) 140
Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship qualifying
Tarran Mackenzie maintained his run of form with pole position, which kept him ahead of series leader Mason Law whose late attempts to overhaul the young Scot saw him crash at Charlies. Law had just closed within 0.002s of Mackenzie but next time around, he was out of contention. Chrissy Rouse completes the front row.
HEL Performance British Motostar Championship qualifying
Taz Taylor looks strong to tighten his grip on the series lead after taking pole start with a lap in 1m 33.143s aboard his Moto3 RS KTM, almost half a second ahead of Ed Rendell with Scott Deroue, who starts the race six points down on Taylor, competing the front row of the grid. Josh Owens, the runaway leader of the 125GP, was fifteenth overall but fastest in that category ahead of Cameron Horsman.
HEL Performance British Motostar Championship Saturday race
Taz Taylor held off his Moto3 title rival Scott Deroue to take a hard earned victory that increased his lead over the Dutchman to eleven points. They had duelled throughout the ten lapper, with Tayor having the early advantage but Deroue was a constant threat, three times taking the lead. Taylor though did just enough to take the victory by 0.053s with Charlie Horsman third. Charlie Horsman won the 125GP category ahead of the series leading Josh Owens.
Santander Consumer Finance KTM British Junior Cup qualifying
Chris Taylor warned series leader Cameron Fraser that he intends to play catch-up in this round after taking pole start, with a time of 1m 46.019s, ahead of him though there was only 0.666s between them. Daniel Drayton, despite a tumble, completes the front row. Kevin Keyes, second in the standings and seven points down on Fraser, starts from the second row in fifth position.
Ducati TriOptions Cup qualifying
Series leader Leon Morris starts from the second row after setting the fourth fastest time, with his two closest rivals a little more than half a second faster. Dennis Hobbs starts from pole with a time of 1m 32.658s, just 0.086s up on Robbie Brown with Rob Guiver completing the front row.
Ducati TriOptions Cup Saturday race
Robbie Brown fully exploited the technical problem of Leon Morris to take the victory and with it the lead in the title chase. The drama began before the race, re-started after a second lap two rider tangle, had begun. Morris was pushed off the grid, though able to start from the pit lane after adjustments had been made. Brown took the lead on the second lap from Dennis Hobbs who was to drop back to fourth as Rob Guiver came through in second ahead of Phil Atkinson.
