A bumpy weekend for Arai’s riders…
JOSH BROOKES, HM PLANT HONDA
Race 1: Sixth Race 2: Eighth Championship Position: Fourth
“IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE”
Josh Brookes never looked comfortable on his CBR1000RR at the fast – and very bumpy – ex-airfield circuit. A dismal result (by his standards) moves him back to fourth in the Title Fighters' Shootout, 28 points behind the lead; five races – two at Silverstone and three at Oulton Park – remain for Brookes to make up the difference.
“We thought this could be a strong round for us, we were on the podium twice last year but haven’t been as competitive as we should have been and it has been a struggle. We had a bad start to the weekend and never really recovered and it was hard to know what we were doing wrong, but we need to look at what has happened in terms of the way we work through the changes and resolve it. Race two was better than race one for me, but we didn’t make any real drastic changes as it could have made it worse. We are just going to look at the weekend and then prepare for a better weekend at Silverstone.”
ALASTAIR SEELEY, RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS
Race 1: DNF Race 2: 15th Championship Position: Sixth
“MY HEAD’S NOT DOWN”
Alastair Seeley didn’t have quite the weekend he expected either at Croft with a first race DNF after being collected by another rider at the hairpin. Then in race two the BSB rookie battled bravely for points, eventually finishing 15th. He remains in sixth place in the Title Fighters' Shootout on 506 points.
“I had a good start in race one and was making progress until Gary Mason took me out at the Hairpin, and with a broken clutch lever I couldn’t re-start which I wasn’t too happy about. In race two I wasn’t feeling that comfortable with a number of small little problems hampering my progress, but that’s racing. Croft basically proved more difficult than I imagined but my head’s not down and I’m looking forward to Silverstone and Oulton.”
Quay Garage rider Tommy Bridewell was running inside the top ten in race one, and looking good to improve as the race progressed when he was unfortunate enough to experience an exhaust breaking which forced him into retirement on lap 13. However, with his performance in race one, his lap time was good enough to place him on row two of the grid for the day’s second race and he made the most of his opportunity. Slotting into fifth on the opening lap, Bridewell remained in contention for the final podium place as half a dozen bikes battled it out for third position throughout the race whereby he finished in seventh place, just two seconds off a podium place. The result consolidated the 11th place Bridewell holds in the points table going into the penultimate round at Silverstone.
JOSH BROOKES, HM PLANT HONDA
Race 1: Sixth Race 2: Eighth Championship Position: Fourth
“IT HAS BEEN A STRUGGLE”
Josh Brookes never looked comfortable on his CBR1000RR at the fast – and very bumpy – ex-airfield circuit. A dismal result (by his standards) moves him back to fourth in the Title Fighters' Shootout, 28 points behind the lead; five races – two at Silverstone and three at Oulton Park – remain for Brookes to make up the difference.
“We thought this could be a strong round for us, we were on the podium twice last year but haven’t been as competitive as we should have been and it has been a struggle. We had a bad start to the weekend and never really recovered and it was hard to know what we were doing wrong, but we need to look at what has happened in terms of the way we work through the changes and resolve it. Race two was better than race one for me, but we didn’t make any real drastic changes as it could have made it worse. We are just going to look at the weekend and then prepare for a better weekend at Silverstone.”
ALASTAIR SEELEY, RELENTLESS SUZUKI BY TAS
Race 1: DNF Race 2: 15th Championship Position: Sixth
“MY HEAD’S NOT DOWN”
Alastair Seeley didn’t have quite the weekend he expected either at Croft with a first race DNF after being collected by another rider at the hairpin. Then in race two the BSB rookie battled bravely for points, eventually finishing 15th. He remains in sixth place in the Title Fighters' Shootout on 506 points.
“I had a good start in race one and was making progress until Gary Mason took me out at the Hairpin, and with a broken clutch lever I couldn’t re-start which I wasn’t too happy about. In race two I wasn’t feeling that comfortable with a number of small little problems hampering my progress, but that’s racing. Croft basically proved more difficult than I imagined but my head’s not down and I’m looking forward to Silverstone and Oulton.”
Quay Garage rider Tommy Bridewell was running inside the top ten in race one, and looking good to improve as the race progressed when he was unfortunate enough to experience an exhaust breaking which forced him into retirement on lap 13. However, with his performance in race one, his lap time was good enough to place him on row two of the grid for the day’s second race and he made the most of his opportunity. Slotting into fifth on the opening lap, Bridewell remained in contention for the final podium place as half a dozen bikes battled it out for third position throughout the race whereby he finished in seventh place, just two seconds off a podium place. The result consolidated the 11th place Bridewell holds in the points table going into the penultimate round at Silverstone.
Tommy; “The frustration I felt in race one was somewhat eased in race two and I have to be reasonably satisfied with that performance. I felt in race one that I could have got a good result but then the exhaust split and my race was over. It just goes to show how important a good grid position is and, from row two, I got a good start in the second race and went with the leaders. I hung on in there but I was on the limit and to be dicing with a load of factory bikes and riders was good. I thought a podium was possible at one point but it didn’t happen but I’m pleased for the team and sponsors, who have done a great job for me again. Roll on Silverstone and I’m hoping we can challenge once again for that elusive podium.”
Jentin Racing BMW Motorrad Steve Brogan’s first BSB-EVO race was a nail biter, with the Liverpudlian rider pushing through the pain of his raw elbow – which he injured in a heavy fall in free practice on Friday – to chase eventual first-placed rider Hudson Kennaugh and take a very well deserved second. Brogan’s second race proved to be equally dramatic; following a good start, he moved into first place in the EVO class, with fellow championship contenders Kennaugh and Gary Johnson close behind. As the chequered flag approached, the two rivals managed to get past, making their moves stick. In a tight battle Brogan chased them to the line, finishing a very close third, and leaves Croft with a 38-point championship lead. He was pretty upbeat after a tough weekend;
Jentin Racing BMW Motorrad Steve Brogan’s first BSB-EVO race was a nail biter, with the Liverpudlian rider pushing through the pain of his raw elbow – which he injured in a heavy fall in free practice on Friday – to chase eventual first-placed rider Hudson Kennaugh and take a very well deserved second. Brogan’s second race proved to be equally dramatic; following a good start, he moved into first place in the EVO class, with fellow championship contenders Kennaugh and Gary Johnson close behind. As the chequered flag approached, the two rivals managed to get past, making their moves stick. In a tight battle Brogan chased them to the line, finishing a very close third, and leaves Croft with a 38-point championship lead. He was pretty upbeat after a tough weekend;
“Considering the fall I had on Friday, I’d have been glad to be out there at all. The team did a fantastic job getting the bike ready to race in a very short time. To get a second and a third is very good, considering the position we were in just two days ago. We’ve got two more rounds, five races, on tracks I love, and two weeks now to rest my arm. I’ll be back at full fitness and I’m going to go for the championship title!”
Padgett’s Honda rider Glen Richards continued his unbroken spell of podiums since winning at Knockhill four races ago, by taking third-place in the Superstock 1000 race. Despite suffering a major off in Supersport practice which hampered his qualifying efforts in that class, the tough Aussie chased through the field from 11th place after suffering his second lacklustre start of the day. With six podiums from seven finishes, Richards can only reflect on where he might have been in the championship, had he not missed out on the first three races after his dramatic high-side at the first round. HM Plant Honda rider Steve Plater, continuing his return to fitness, finished seventh.
In the earlier Supersport race Richards had set the tone for his day by dropping down to 23rd place on the first lap, but once the race was in its stride, he got his head down and quickly made his way up to 15th and then lap-by-lap made his way through to 9th at which point the red flag came out because of oil on the track. Supersport team-mate Ian Hutchinson was holding onto 8th place in the race when he suffered electrical gremlins that compromised his race pace, to the extent that he decided to preserve his machinery and retired after completing 9 of the 14 laps.
Deane Brown finished second in both 125GP races, with John McPhee winning the first on Saturday and ending up third on Sunday.
The next round of BSB is at Silverstone, with racing on September 26th.
Padgett’s Honda rider Glen Richards continued his unbroken spell of podiums since winning at Knockhill four races ago, by taking third-place in the Superstock 1000 race. Despite suffering a major off in Supersport practice which hampered his qualifying efforts in that class, the tough Aussie chased through the field from 11th place after suffering his second lacklustre start of the day. With six podiums from seven finishes, Richards can only reflect on where he might have been in the championship, had he not missed out on the first three races after his dramatic high-side at the first round. HM Plant Honda rider Steve Plater, continuing his return to fitness, finished seventh.
In the earlier Supersport race Richards had set the tone for his day by dropping down to 23rd place on the first lap, but once the race was in its stride, he got his head down and quickly made his way up to 15th and then lap-by-lap made his way through to 9th at which point the red flag came out because of oil on the track. Supersport team-mate Ian Hutchinson was holding onto 8th place in the race when he suffered electrical gremlins that compromised his race pace, to the extent that he decided to preserve his machinery and retired after completing 9 of the 14 laps.
Deane Brown finished second in both 125GP races, with John McPhee winning the first on Saturday and ending up third on Sunday.
The next round of BSB is at Silverstone, with racing on September 26th.
For more news / informatrion on Arai Helmets please visit www.whyarai.co.uk
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