Tuesday, May 3 2011
HOPKINS TAKES HISTORIC FIRST BSB VICTORY BY AN AMERICAN RIDER
Results:
Race one – top six finishers
1.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
2.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +4.150s
3.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +4.336s
4.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +4.646s
5.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +4.684s
6.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +5.105s
Race two – top six finishers
1.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing)
2.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.221s
3.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.521s
4.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.633s
5.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +1.026s
6.Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati ) +2.930s
Championship standings:
1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 70
2.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 59
3.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 58
4.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 56
5.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 45
6.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 35
Report
Reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and American John Hopkins took the victories in dramatic, thrilling second round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park.
HM Plant Honda’s Kiyonari worked hard to carve through the pack in the first race, moving from eighth on the opening lap to be third at half distance. Then after overtaking both Hopkins and Michael Laverty in quick succession he recorded his tenth victory at the Cheshire circuit.
Kiyonari who last October had clinched his third British title at the circuit was delighted: “I am very happy especially as it has been very difficult to get the best setting for my bike. The team has worked very hard, late into the night to get this good setting for me.”
Samsung Crescent Suzuki rider Hopkins took second place in the opening race: “That was real good. I have a great bike and to be at a track like this and be competitive is so good – we are back having a good time and I am loving it out there.”
Stuart Easton took third for MSS Colchester Kawasaki ahead of Swan Yamaha’s Laverty and Josh Brookes aboard the Relentless Suzuki.
Easton was quickly away at the start of the second race, running ahead of Brookes, Alex Lowes, Michael Rutter and Hopkins who was having a duel for supremacy with Byrne while Kiyonari was back in eighth place.
Lowes riding the BSB-EVO class WFR Honda moved into second place briefly before Brookes took up the pursuit of Easton, with Hopkins up to third on the eighth lap, but next time around Brookes lost control of his bike going into Brittens. He was thrown off as his bike somersaulted high over the track, and Easton.
“It was like a plane crashing as it came over me,” explained Easton who continued to lead the race after the intervention of the Safety Car, though with Hopkins running second. Laverty joined the front running action, grabbing the lead with three laps to go as he swooped through from third to first.
Hopkins attacked and dived ahead at Cascades and became the first American to win a race in the British series as he headed Easton to the flag by just 0.221secs. Laverty after an error at the chicane dropped back to fifth adrift of the Honda duo of Byrne and Kiyonari.
“That was awesome. I just stuck at it and gave it everything that I’d got. I am enjoying everything about racing over here,” said Hopkins as he celebrated his first victory in 11 years.
“That race was so tough – there was grass flying about, then a bike flying but I had a great bike,I kept it going and I am enjoying everything about that winning ride,” added Hopkins.
Lowes completed a daily double in the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class to comfortably lead the standings 95-57 from Scott Smart who ran his Moto Rapido Ducati into second place in each of the races. Simon Andrews and Barry Burrell each took a third place in the class.
Tommy Hill had broken the lap record to secure pole start but was unable to participate in the races after sustaining ligament damage to his left shoulder. He tumbled heavily from his Swan Yamaha during the raceday morning warm-up session on the Brittens section of the course, where moments earlier Loris Baz had tipped off his Motorpoint Yamaha spilling fluids.
Hill reflected: “It is a big downer for me and the team, so I just had to sit and watch the other boys then go home and get mended as soon as I can. These injuries I have been told can take five to six weeks to heal, but I will see a specialist on Tuesday and then we can go from there.”
There was disappointment also for Jenny Tinmouth whose racing debut as the first woman to contest the series was put on hold as after a troubled free practice with machine problems and a tumble from her Splitlath Aprilia she failed to meet the qualification criteria.
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