— BSB 2012 – Round Eight – Cadwell Park
— Hill wins Cadwell
Race one:
1: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
2: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +2.753s
3: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +3.628s
4: Danny Buchan (MSS Bathams Kawasaki) +5.529s
5: Jon Kirkham (Samsung Honda) +6.570s
6: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +6.703s
Race two:
1: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +2.161s
3: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +2.594s
4: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +2.730s
5: Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +12.591s
6: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +17.425s
Championship standings:
1: Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 316
2:Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 276
3: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 255
4: Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 204
5: Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) 142
6: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) 125
Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph’s Glen Richards’ victory in the Feature race at Cadwell Park at the weekend has elevated him 9.5 points ahead of title rival Jack Kennedy in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag standings for the first time this season.
In the Sprint race Billy McConnell scored the victory after fighting off Christian Iddon as the race went down to the wire. Pole-sitter Richards took the advantage on the opening lap from team-mate Luke Mossey and McConnell. Iddon then immediately challenged to move through to third before snatching second. The leading trio then reshuffled again with McConnell taking the advantage, only for Iddon to push the Oxford TAG Triumph ahead a lap later.
Kennedy was battling with Richards, but as the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph rider moved ahead, the championship leader went wide and dropped down the order. Kennedy put in an impressive set of laps to close the gap but was unable to be close enough to attack in the closing stages. McConnell held the lead until the penultimate lap when Iddon made his move as the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph went wide at the Mountain section to give him the inside line into Hall Bends. McConnell hadn’t given up and remained in the slipstream before drafting ahead at Park Straight on the final lap.
In the Feature race Oxford TAG Triumph’s Christian Iddon took the lead off the line but Richards moved ahead at Charlies; however he was pushed back to second by Iddon by the end of lap one. Richards took the lead a lap later and 
then gradually edged out an advantage over Iddon who twice nearly lost his position during the race running wide at the chicane and then again at Barn on the final lap. Richards had the advantage at the line with Iddon claiming second as Richard Cooper claimed his first podium finish in the championship with a strong third place. Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph’s Billy McConnell and Luke Mossey completed the top five.
Richards said: “I am happy with the weekend we had; the team did a fantastic job and it’s a great result for our new sponsor Finning UK. Before the weekend I knew it was going to be tough to beat Billy (McConnell) so to have a first and third here is fantastic. I knew Jack had the wrong tyre in the feature race because I saw it on the grid so I knew he would have a tough one. I am over the moon with our result and now we look forward to Donington Park.”
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag, Cadwell Park, Sprint race result:
1. Billy McConnell (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph)
2. Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Triumph) +0.144s
3. Glen Richards (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) +1.153s
4. Jack Kennedy (Martrain Yamaha) +1.382s
5. Luke Mossey (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) +4.122s
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag, Cadwell Park, feature race result:
1. Glen Richards (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph)
2. Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Triumph) +2.096s
3. Richard Cooper (Oxford TAG Triumph) +4.252s
4. Billy McConnell (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) +8.780s
5. Luke Mossey (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) +8.941s
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship protected by Datatag standings after Cadwell Park:
1. Glen Richards (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) 275
2. Jack Kennedy (Martrain Yamaha) 265.5
3. Billy McConnell (Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Triumph) 228
4. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 185
5. Christian Iddon (Oxford TAG Triumph) 154.5
Metzeler National Superstock 600cc Championship (9 laps)
1 Lee Jackson (Kawasaki)
2 Joe Collier (Triumph)
3 James Rose (Yamaha)
4 Ben Grindrod (Kawasaki)
5 Josh Wainwright (Kawasaki)
6 Alex Olsen (Triumph)
Championship standings (after 10 rounds)
1 Burke 154pts
2 Rose 146
3 Jackson 129
4 Dixon 110
5 Lodge 82
6 Whitaker 79
9 Blackshaw 72
Tommy Hill fired a warning to the pretenders of his MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship crown by scoring a double win at Cadwell Park, but with one round remaining now until the Showdown the fight to be inside the top six has intensified with eight riders still capable of securing the final two slots.
Hill bided his time to perfection in each of the races before making the decisive move, each time on Samsung Honda’s Michael Laverty as the defending champion scored the maximum six podium credits available. Laverty’s podium finish secured his position in the Showdown alongside Hill, Brookes and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, who was sidelined this weekend.
“There was nothing easy about these wins. This is a very hard, physical circuit to ride and that has taken its toll; it certainly wasn’t easy for me out there,” said Hill.
“I couldn’t have asked for me today; two wins was the plan and we leave here with another six podium credits so it was a great result. I pushed hard again as you can’t afford to give an inch such is the level of the competition,” added Hill.
In the first race Hill held off the determined Lincolnshire rider Alex Lowes who sensationally followed up the team’s first pole position with a maiden MCE BSB podium finish in second place ahead of Laverty.
In race two it was title rival Josh Brookes on the Tyco Suzuki who took a resurgent second place with a hard fought performance, ahead of Laverty in third. Tommy Bridewell on the Supersonic BMW claimed fifth to maintain his position inside the top six.
Lowes’ fourth place in race two elevated him to sixth in the overall standings with a six point advantage over Ian Lowry in seventh and Noriyuki Haga in eighth. The Japanese Swan Yamaha rider is aiming to return to the next round of the championship after missing these two races.
James Westmoreland (WFR Honda), Chris Walker (Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki), Alastair Seeley (Tyco Suzuki) and Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) are also mathematically capable of a securing a place in the Showdown.
— Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki
After a month’s break Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing were back in British Superbike Championship action at the weekend but, competing at Cadwell Park, Lincolnshire, it proved to be a tough weekend for the team. Chris Walker battled hard for two points-scoring finishes but lost ground in the race for a ‘Showdown’ place whilst Gary Mason took 20th in each of the two 18-lap races.
Practice and qualifying saw a mixture of wet and dry conditions with Saturday seeing a monumental hail storm and Sunday’s solitary qualifying session didn’t go to plan for either rider with Chris taking 15th and Gary 21st. With only three riders on each row, due to the narrowness of the circuit, it meant they lined up for the first race on the fifth and seventh rows respectively.
Monday’s first 18-lap race was held in good, dry conditions and by lap three, both riders were holding onto solid top 15 places, Chris in a good tenth and Gary looking good for a point in 15th. As the race moved into its second half though, both riders were unable to hold onto their positions and it was a battle all the way until the end. Chris managed to hold on for 13th and three points but Gary slipped back to 20th.
The second encounter later in the day again saw dry conditions and both riders made good starts, Chris ending the first lap in 12th and Gary 14th. Each rider moved up a spot on lap three as they found themselves part of a huge freight train battling for 6th to 16th places but, try as he might, Chris was unable to find a way past fellow Kawasaki rider Michael Rutter and so had to settle for 11th at the chequered flag. The results from the two races moved him onto 100 points but meant he slipped back to 10th overall in the Championship table. Gary, meanwhile, got pushed back to 20th but, happier with the set-up, he did set his fastest lap of the weekend during the race.
There was joy for third team member Kyle Wilks though as he took 13th place in the Metzeler National Superstock 600cc Championship for his third points-scoring finish of the season.
Speaking afterwards, team owner Pete Extance said: “We came here with aspirations of moving forward and into the top six Showdown places, particularly as it’s one of Chris’ strongest circuits but it just hasn’t worked out that way. Both he and Gary struggled with the set-up of the bike, mainly with the front end, and it’s been a battle all weekend for everyone. Chris dug in well in both races and although it could have been worse, 11th and 13th weren’t ideal results but his effort and commitment were again 100% and he certainly earned his points. Gary battled hard too and it was a shame he didn’t get a point as he worked so hard with the bike. The second race saw him find a good setting and although it was late in the weekend, he went faster than he had done in the previous two days and he now has a good base to work from at Donington.”
“It’s probably fair to say our chances of making the top six Showdown have now evaporated but we’ll keep working hard and the aim now at the four remaining rounds is to give both riders everything we can to finish the season on a high and notch up some good results and points. For Kyle, it was a good weekend and he was rewarded with his second best finish of the season so I’m pleased for him. Overall, it’s been a tough few days but we got five finishes from five starts and had no crashes so that’s always a nice statistic to have so a big thanks once more to Pr1mo and to all the team sponsors.”
— Gearlink Kawasaki
Ben Wilson on the Gearlink Kawasaki had a bad start in race one at his home circuit of Cadwell Park; Ben was fifth in qualifying but was unfortunate to suffer a technical problem on his Gearlink Kawasaki in the first sprint race, forcing him to retire. In race two he was placed in fifth again on the grid for the second race on Sunday and finished in sixth.
His new team-mate for the weekend at Cadwell Park was Scott Hudson; Scott has been racing for the Gearlink Kawasaki team in the National Superstock 600 class and moved up into the main Supersport Championship this weekend. He had two fantastic races for his first attempt finishing in in 17th place in race one and a great points scoring position in race two where he finished in 13th position.
Ben – “It’s been another frustrating weekend for me and I feel like it’s the story of the year for me. We have been working really hard to try and progress and move things forward but it’s pretty disheartening. I have to remember the success and the fantastic season Gearlink Kawasaki and myself had last year and I knew it would have been hard to beat something like that. I’ve not been able to find a good set up and the problem in race one was a nightmare and I just seem to have no luck this year.”
Scott – “I’m delighted that Michael and Norma gave me the chance to race the Supersport bike here and to be able to walk away with three Championship points is awesome. I really enjoyed the whole weekend and the difference between the two bikes is huge. I’ve never ridden on Pirelli tyres and it was a nice feeling to have some real grip and some power. The more time I spent on track the more time I wanted to spend on track! I hope to be on the Gearlink Kawasaki Supersport bike for the rest of the season and it would be nice to get a few more points also.”
Metzeler Superstock 600s
With Scott Hudson moving up into the British Supersport class he was replaced in the Metzeler National Superstock Championship for Gearlink Kawasaki by Jack Groves. The 23-year-old from Swindon, who has not raced a full season in BSB since 2009, stepped up to the pace and found himself gaining a couple of Championship points, finishing in 14th place.
Jack – “I was really pleased to step in at Gearlink Kawasaki in the stock 600 class for Cadwell Park, I’ve not raced at this circuit since 2009 and it has been hard to get back up to speed with it all. I’ve been training hard and become part of the KX Akademy, they have been helping me train and has become a big help. I’ve lost over a stone and really enjoyed my time racing with Gearlink Kawasaki and thank the team for giving me the opportunity. I hope to be racing with them for the remainder of the season.”
Team Manager Michael de Bidaph – “I’m really disappointed with the weekend, at a track we did so well at last year, coming here this year and struggling so much with everything has made things extremely difficult. We’ve been working really hard and changing several aspects on the Gearlink Kawasaki to try and help Ben progress and we struggled to get close to the times that were set last year here by Ben. We really have not been having the year we’d have hoped for and still hope that we can take one win away from this season.
We thought Scott did a great job in the Supersport class he got better as the weekend progressed and just kept digging deep, he stayed on all weekend and walked away with some Championship points which is brilliant. We want to keep working closely with him and hope he can keep improving and gain some more points.
Jack also did a great job for his first time out on our Superstock bike he also improved his times all weekend and settled in nicely to the Gearlink Kawasaki team, he was good to work with and also gained some valuable Championship points and it would be nice to improve on that at Donington with him.”
— Smiths Racing
The Smiths Racing Team were back in action at round eight of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship over the Bank Holiday weekend and the Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire proved to be a very successful venue for the Gloucester-based squad.
On the same weekend they unveiled a new partnership with Finning UK and CAT, Aussies Glen Richards and Billy McConnell shared the two race wins as McConnell kept his outside hopes of the title alive with a superb victory in Sunday’s sprint race but the win for Richards in Monday’s feature race was particularly sweet as it saw him lead the series for the first time this season.
With Richards, Luke Mossey and McConnell securing a first ever 1-2-3 to box out the front row for the team in qualifying aboard their 675cc Triumphs, Sunday’s 10-lap race saw Richards grab the lead before McConnell hit the front on lap four. Richards broke the lap record but slipped back due to a radiator problem and had to settle for a third place finish behind McConnell and rival Christian Iddon as Mossey ended up in fifth.
Monday’s 15-lap race started in damp conditions but with a rapidly drying track Richards moved to the front on the second lap and despite coming under extreme pressure throughout the race from both Iddon and Richard Cooper, he held on masterfully for his sixth win of the season. McConnell and Mossey took fourth and fifth to complete an excellent weekend for the team and with main title rival Jack Kennedy only finishing seventh, it also meant Richards took over at the top of the table with four rounds remaining.
Despite suffering a heavy crash in Saturday’s free practice session, Johnny Blackshaw qualified in sixth place for the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship race and a great start saw him running in third place for the first half of the race only to retire with a steering problem.
Glen Richards: “To come away with a first and third place, as well as the championship lead is brilliant and I’m over the moon with how the weekend’s gone. I had a small problem in the first race with the bike running a bit hot, which turned out to be a holed radiator, but I was able to hold onto the final podium spot and claw a few points back on Jack. Then when I saw he was running an intermediate tyre on Monday, I knew it was vital I finished ahead of him and finished well. It was greasy off line so I concentrated really hard and tried to ride as controlled a race as possible and it all worked out perfectly. It’s only a slight lead but it’s the first time I’ve been there all season so long may it continue.”
Billy McConnell: “It was fantastic to get back to winning ways on Sunday and claim a few points back and although I couldn’t repeat it on Monday, I’m still in there fighting. The fourth place finish was my fault as I made a few mistakes and ran off line a couple of times where it was still damp so I lost a bit of ground and any chance I had of getting on the podium once more. The bike’s working well and there’s still plenty of races left so we can go to Donington, where we had a good ride in the World Supersport Championship earlier in the year, in a good frame of mind. I’ll keep chipping away and, hopefully, more wins will come my way.”
Luke Mossey: “Cadwell’s not really my type of circuit as it’s tight and twisty and I prefer faster, more flowing circuits so to come away with a brace of fifths is very pleasing. I was happy with how qualifying went and although I couldn’t get onto the podium this weekend, I’m pleased with how I rode and with the haul of points whilst the fastest lap of the race in Monday’s race was an added bonus. The next few circuits suit my style a lot more so I’m very hopeful of continuing the form there and getting back onto the podium.”
Johnny Blackshaw: “The race couldn’t have been going any better for me but on lap nine, the handlebars locked on me on two occasions and I had no option other than to retire. The big crash on Saturday set me back a bit so the steering issue could have been a result of that and it’s a great shame as our pace was really strong. It’s disappointing but I was pleased with how I was riding, putting in some consistent lap times and a definite podium position was on the cards so we’ll take the positives from the weekend and look forward to the next round at Donington.”
Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: “It’s pretty much been a faultless weekend and we’ve had no major issues at all. All the little problems were ironed out during practice and from that moment on, the boys were able to concentrate on racing and that was borne out in both the results and in the championship positions. To take both the Supersport race wins and come away with the championship lead is just reward for the hard work of all the team and it’s been a brilliant effort by everyone concerned. The only disappointment of the weekend was Johnny being forced to retire and it was a really cruel end to his race as he was riding really well.”
— Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki
Byrne was looking to continue where he left off at Brands Hatch in the previous round where he scored a double victory but the former double BSB champion crashed out during free practice on Saturday injuring his shoulder.
The Isle of Sheppey rider was transferred to hospital whereby he underwent an operation to repair damage to shoulder ligaments on Sunday but was back at the track for race day and plans to be back for the first of the Showdown rounds at Assen in a month’s time.
Meanwhile, Easton could only manage 20th place during qualifying, meaning his chances of squeezing into the top six of the all-important Showdown were slim and that was compounded when he could only manage 19th in the opening race. The Scot, from Hawick, improved to 14th in the second race to remain 12th in the standings but his chance of the British title has now gone.
Therefore, it was left to Keith Farmer to uphold honour for the Paul Bird Motorsport Team as he took a resounding fourth win of the season to increase his lead at the top of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 table.
Farmer, from Clogher in Northern Ireland, took maximum advantage of his pole position to lead from start to finish in the damp conditions and with the result, he moves ten points clear going into the final three rounds.
Paul Bird, Team Owner: “Shakey’s injury is a real setback but hopefully he will make it back for Assen and the start of The Showdown but this is racing and these things happen. As for Stuart, I spoke to him between races and he knows he needs to up his game in the final four rounds as those results are not good enough. I thought Keith did a fantastic job and once he hit the front in those conditions, he was gone so that result salvaged some pride for us.”
— AP Kawasaki
The Lincoln-based AP Kawasaki team endured mixed fortunes at their local round of Cadwell Park today with a strong result by Josh Wainwright in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship race offset by a lowly finish by Patrick Medcalf in the 1000 category.
A fifth place qualifying position gave Wainwright an excellent chance of taking a podium position and although he slipped back on the opening lap, the Thamesmead rider regrouped and was in contention for third place when the race was stopped prematurely on lap ten meaning he was classified in fifth place.
It was a tough weekend for the Superstock 1000 competitors with heavy rain affecting both of their qualifying sessions and, as a result, it left Medcalf way back in 29th on the grid for the 14-lap race. A strong performance was hoped for but more rain fell just before the race got underway and, also struggling with flu, it was a long race for the Australian. However, he battled all the way to the end to move up to 20th at the chequered flag.
Josh Wainwright: “I’m more than happy with the result today and the whole weekend’s been a real confidence booster for me. The team have worked really hard and with a few changes to the bike I’ve been able to move forward so a big thanks to them as it’s enabled me to be closer to where I want to be. I was losing a bit of time at the beginning of the lap but was really strong through the woodland section so it’s a shame the red flag brought the race to an early end as we were fighting it out for the podium. These things happen though and it’s still a good result so we can head to Donington now in a strong frame of mind.”
Patrick Medcalf: “It’s been a tough weekend for me and I’ve been battling with both the flu and the weather conditions throughout. I really suffered in qualifying as the rain came at the wrong time for me and I was really lucky to be on the grid at all. I was right at the back of the grid which was always going to be hard work and with a poor start, I certainly didn’t help myself. I gave it my all and moved up to 20th but we’ll just have to put the weekend behind us and move on. I enjoy Donington so we’ll look to get back in amongst the top ten finishers there.”
Alan Greig: “It’s certainly been a mixed weekend for the team with one side of the garage getting a great result and the other side suffering. Josh had a strong weekend and although a mistake in the race dropped him back, he fought back well and was one of the fastest riders on the track in the second half of the race. A podium place looked a distinct possibility in the final two laps of the race but with the red flag coming out we didn’t get those two laps whilst we also lost Freddie Russo’s lap record from last year! For Patrick, it was a bad weekend although given his physical condition; it’s a miracle he was able to ride at all as he was really suffering with a lack of energy. In Q2, we decided to hold him back for the last few minutes but with the rain falling, we had to send him out so we only just scraped onto the grid. It was always going to be difficult being that far back on the grid so to get up to 20th was no mean feat and although he didn’t score any points, the team are pleased with Patrick’s efforts once again. It’s onto Donington now and with a test planned for the two riders, we’re hopeful of getting two good finishes there and some good points in both races.”
