WORLDSBK.COM - bis 15.08.2010

[WORLDSBK.COM]

The British Round of the Superbike World Championship in recent years has seen a considerable influx of wildcards and one-event entrants, anxious to display their undeniable prowess in front of a wider, more prestigious audience. This year's race, which takes place at the revised Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit on the weekend of July 31/August 1, is no exception.

In the top class, the ‘Magnificent 7' World Superbike regulars will be joined by wildcard Tommy Bridewell on the Quay Garage Honda CBR1000RR, while two more Honda Fireblades will be entered for BSB regulars and occasional WSB entrants HM Plant Honda (photo) for Japan's Ryuichi Kiyonari and Australian Josh Brookes.

In the World Supersport Championship race Chaz Davies and Gino Rea will be joined by wildcards James Westmorland (CAME Yamaha), twin brothers Sam (GNS Racing Honda) and Alex Lowes (Seton Yamaha), Christian Iddon (Parkalgar Honda), Jenny Tinmouth (Jenny Tinmouth Racing Honda), Max Hunt (Racelab Yamaha) and David Jones (UK1 Triumph).

Barry Burrell (Buildbase Kawasaki), Gavin Hunt (Sloppy Racing BMW), Peter Hickman (Enviro Racing BMW) and Victor Cox (Blackhorse Kawasaki) all fly the flag as wildcards in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, while regular Joshua Elliott (Racedays Kawasaki), who was fighting for the win at Brno, and wildcard Luke Mossey (UK1 Yamaha) will be the British representatives in the European Superstock 600 Championship race.

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James Toseland can arguably be considered to be the senior member of the Brit-pack, in terms of achievement rather than age, as he was Superbike World Champion in 2004 and 2007 before switching to the MotoGP class for two seasons. Having returned to 1000cc production-based action this year, the Yamaha Sterilgarda man currently sits sixth in the Championship and is hoping for a boost as the season's end approaches.

"I've always had good support over the years and every British rider wants to do well at home. Hopefully we all have a great weekend and get some British riders on the podium. That's what it's all about - it's about getting a British rider on the podium at the British race," said Toseland, who was at Silverstone on Tuesday 20 July.

Speaking about the new circuit layout, Toseland added: "It seems a great layout. I watched MotoGP and they had a great race. There's a good five or six overtaking points for a bike. I'm looking forward to World Superbikes, especially with seven British riders. I think we've had five British riders on the podium this year. There's every chance that there will be three British riders on the podium at Silverstone, just like in Assen. I've always had good results at Silverstone. I won on the Ducati here in ‘05 and was on the podium in '06. It's been a track I've done well on, so I'm looking forward to coming back here. With MotoGP, Formula 1 and British Superbikes, Silverstone has got all the major events now - it's nice to be on this kind of stage."

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Just 15 points separate Spanish revelation Joan Lascorz from the top of the World Supersport points table, and with the Silverstone race just around the corner the Kawasaki Motocard.com man will be aiming to chip away at the lead of chief rival Kenan Sofuoglu.

The British round will be an unknown factor for everyone seeing as it is a totally revised track and this may play into the hands of the Turkish rider's rivals, in particular the 25 year-old from Barcelona, who was in terrific form at Brno, leading the race and then taking the chequered flag just a tenth of a second behind winner Sofuoglu.

"We could have won the race and the Kawasaki was very strong here," said Lascorz, who has won one race and finished second five times this year. "Kenan rode very well and he made a big pass on the final lap, and it left me too far behind to attack. I moved up in the championship as well, and there are still four races left so it was a good day for us."

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Hannspree Ten Kate Honda man Jonathan Rea flew the flag high for the World Superbike fraternity by clocking an incredible time of 2 minutes 08.553 seconds on his Honda FCC TSR CBR1000RR during the second qualifying session for Sunday's prestigious Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance race.

The FCC TSR team, running with Kosuke Akiyoshi and Yuki Takahashi as Rea's team-mates, are a regular contender at the Japanese classic and they won the 2006 edition of the race.

Several other familiar WSB names slotted into the next five positions and they were headed by Daisaku Sakai, who raced at Monza this year, together with Suzuki stalwart Yukio Kagayama for the '09-winning team, Yoshimura Suzuki.

Honda Keihin Kohara were also close behind in third, with Shinichi Itoh and Makoto Tamada doing the riding duties. Two more Hondas complete the top 5, the Honda Team MuSashi Harc Pro machine with Ryuichi Kiyonari on board, followed by Toshiyuki Hamaguchi for Honda Crown Keibihosyou.

Tomorrow afternoon at Suzuka the decisive Superpole sessions will take place to assign the top 20 slots on the grid.

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Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) posted the best time in Supersport qualifying at Silverstone, with a 2'09.426 lap in the final qualifying session.

Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) pushed his way to second, with the final rider in the championship ‘big three' going third - Joan Lascorz from the Kawasaki Motocard.com team.

The top three riders are separated by only 0.035 seconds.

 

 

 

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1 50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.426

2 54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.456

3 26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'09.461

4 44 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'09.537

5 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.816

6 4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.916

7 37 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'10.190

8 55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'10.256

9 7 Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.258

10 25 Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.262

11 14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.389

12 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 2'10.438

13 99 Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'10.633

14 29 Lowes A. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'11.053

15 3 Westmoreland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'11.084

16 17 McConnell B. (AUS) Yamaha YZF R6 2'11.151

17 11 Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'11.163

18 34 Quarmby R. (RSA) Honda CBR600RR 2'11.507

19 31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 2'11.569

20 18 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'11.605

21 9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'11.936

22 8 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR 2'12.535

23 21 Iddon C. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'12.784

24 5 Lundh A. (SWE) Honda CBR600RR 2'13.920

25 12 Lowry I. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'14.084

26 36 Hunt M. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'14.288

27 110 Tinmouth J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'14.884

28 10 Toth I. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 2'16.529

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1  86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 2'09.742 

2  21 Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'09.964 

3   8 Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'10.509 

4  20 Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 2'10.613 

5  14 Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2'10.653 

6  77 Burrell B. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'11.700 

7   9 Petrucci D. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'11.716 

8  87 Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2'11.739 

9 119 Magnoni M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'11.744 

10  34 Giugliano D. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 2'11.798 

11  53 Lammert D. (GER) BMW S1000 RR 2'11.852 

12  65 Baz L. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 2'12.065 

13  30 Savary M. (SUI) BMW S1000 RR 2'12.155 

14   7 Mähr R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'12.170 

15  47 La Marra E. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'12.298 

16  10 Boscoscuro A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'12.688 

17  29 Beretta D. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 2'13.274 

18  28 Cox V. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'13.365 

19  11 Tutusaus P. (ESP) KTM 1190 RC8 R 2'13.482 

20  93 Lussiana M. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 2'14.004 

21  99 Leeson C. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'14.080 

22  35 Hunt G. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 2'14.286 

23  12 Vivarelli N. (ITA) KTM 1190 RC8 R 2'15.374 

24  45 Sletten K. (NOR) Yamaha YZF R1 2'16.249 

25  55 Svitok T. (SVK) Honda CBR1000RR 2'16.485 

26  64 Andric D. (BRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'16.589 

27  36 Thiriet P. (BRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'16.628 

28  66 Stoklosa M. (POL) BMW S1000 RR 2'17.502

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Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) moved himself into pole position in the final qualifying session, with a time of 2'09.742.

Maxime Berger (Ten Kate Race Junior) slotted into second, and Andrea Antonelli (Team Lorini) got into the top three thanks to his first day time.

Sylvain Barrier (Garnier Racing Junior BMW) is now also a front row starter, finishing fourth in the practice rankings, while the top Ducati rider was Lorenzo Baroni (Pata B&G Ducati) in fifth.

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1  41 Mossey L. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 17'55.916 (157,984 kph) 

2  21 Marino F. (FRA) Honda CBR600RR 0.036 

3  11 Guarnoni J. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 4.102 

4  27 Fanelli D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 4.295 

5  13 Lombardi B. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 4.653 

6  28 Le Coquen S. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 10.232 

7  52 Duwelz G. (BEL) Yamaha YZF R6 12.060 

8   9 Elliott J. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX-6R 17.268 

9  10 Calero Perez N. (ESP) Yamaha YZF R6 22.066 

10  99 Covena T. (NED) Yamaha YZF R6 27.070 

11   6 Lanusse R. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 35.699 

12  69 Major N. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 36.390 

13  26 Vrajitoru M. (ROU) Yamaha YZF R6 50.760 

14  66 De Tournay R. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R6 57.337 

15  19 Krajci T. (SVK) Yamaha YZF R6 1'10.288

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Local rider Luke Mossey (Sondelsport Yamaha) won a thrilling eight lap race with championship challenger Florian Marino (Ten Kate Race Junior), a contest that came right down to the very last corner.

Mossey held off Marino to win by only 0.036 seconds, with Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) third and Davide Fanelli (All Service System by QDP Honda) fourth.

In the championship standings, Guarnoni now leads Marino by 26 points.

 

 

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1  21 Berger M. (FRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'10.607 

2  20 Barrier S. (FRA) BMW S1000 RR 2'11.314 

3  86 Badovini A. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 2'11.494 

4  14 Baroni L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2'11.687 

5   8 Antonelli A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'11.971 

6  65 Baz L. (FRA) Yamaha YZF R1 2'12.304 

7  77 Burrell B. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'12.333 

8  53 Lammert D. (GER) BMW S1000 RR 2'12.397 

9  28 Cox V. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'12.530 

10   9 Petrucci D. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'12.630 

11  11 Tutusaus P. (ESP) KTM 1190 RC8 R 2'12.733 

12   7 Mähr R. (AUT) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 K9 2'13.240 

13  10 Boscoscuro A. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'13.282 

14  47 La Marra E. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'13.402 

15  87 Zanetti L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2'13.432 

16  29 Beretta D. (ITA) BMW S1000 RR 2'14.142 

17  30 Savary M. (SUI) BMW S1000 RR 2'14.301 

18  35 Hunt G. (GBR) BMW S1000 RR 2'14.355 

19  99 Leeson C. (RSA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'15.100 

20  12 Vivarelli N. (ITA) KTM 1190 RC8 R 2'15.287 

21  55 Svitok T. (SVK) Honda CBR1000RR 2'15.687 

22  64 Andric D. (BRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'16.412 

23  36 Thiriet P. (BRA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'16.801 

24  45 Sletten K. (NOR) Yamaha YZF R1 2'16.940 

25  66 Stoklosa M. (POL) BMW S1000 RR 2'17.990 

26 119 Magnoni M. (ITA) Honda CBR1000RR 2'29.500 

27  34 Giugliano D. (ITA) Suzuki GSX-R 1000 2'37.340

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1 35 Crutchlow C. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 2'04.969

2 65 Rea J. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'05.631

3 2 Camier L. (GBR) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2'05.776

4 7 Checa C. (ESP) Ducati 1098R 2'06.029

5 11 Corser T. (AUS) BMW S1000 RR 2'06.049

6 67 Byrne S. (GBR) Ducati 1098R 2'06.058

7 52 Toseland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R1 2'06.126

8 91 Haslam L. (GBR) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2'06.191

9 84 Fabrizio M. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2'06.208

10 57 Lanzi L. (ITA) Ducati 1098R 2'06.361

11 96 Smrz J. (CZE) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2'06.458

12 50 Guintoli S. (FRA) Suzuki GSX-R1000 2'06.512

13 3 Biaggi M. (ITA) Aprilia RSV4 Factory 2'06.846

14 66 Sykes T. (GBR) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'06.853

15 111 Xaus R. (ESP) BMW S1000 RR 2'06.948

16 76 Neukirchner M. (GER) Honda CBR1000RR 2'07.067

17 41 Haga N. (JPN) Ducati 1098R 2'07.078

18 95 Hayden R. (USA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'07.793

19 25 Brookes J. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 2'07.900

20 23 Parkes B. (AUS) Honda CBR1000RR 2'08.044

21 8 Kiyonari R. (JPN) Honda CBR1000RR 2'08.241

22 87 Yanagawa A. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'10.133

23 46 Bridewell T. (GBR) Honda CBR1000RR 2'10.182

24 15 Baiocco M. (ITA) Kawasaki ZX 10R 2'10.236

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1  54 Sofuoglu K. (TUR) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.034 

2  26 Lascorz J. (ESP) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'09.353 

3  50 Laverty E. (IRL) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.642 

4   4 Rea G. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'09.768 

5  25 Salom D. (ESP) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.110 

6   7 Davies C. (GBR) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.154 

7 127 Harms R. (DEN) Honda CBR600RR 2'10.187 

8 117 Praia M. (POR) Honda CBR600RR 2'10.227 

9  99 Foret F. (FRA) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'10.282 

10  14 Lagrive M. (FRA) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.665 

11  29 Lowes A. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'10.688 

12   3 Westmoreland J. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'10.809 

13  55 Roccoli M. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'10.815 

14  44 Tamburini R. (ITA) Yamaha YZF R6 2'10.885 

15  31 Iannuzzo V. (ITA) Triumph Daytona 675 2'10.972 

16  11 Lowes S. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'11.175 

17  18 Aitchison M. (AUS) Honda CBR600RR 2'11.525 

18  17 McConnell B. (AUS) Yamaha YZF R6 2'11.539 

19  37 Fujiwara K. (JPN) Kawasaki ZX-6R 2'11.674 

20   9 Dell'Omo D. (ITA) Honda CBR600RR 2'12.471 

21   8 Chesaux B. (SUI) Honda CBR600RR 2'13.137 

22  21 Iddon C. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'13.216 

23  12 Lowry I. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'14.842 

24  36 Hunt M. (GBR) Yamaha YZF R6 2'14.936 

25 110 Tinmouth J. (GBR) Honda CBR600RR 2'15.141 

26  10 Toth I. (HUN) Honda CBR600RR 2'15.443 

27  34 Quarmby R. (RSA) Honda CBR600RR 2'15.651

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British riders dominated both races at Silverstone, sweeping to a 1-2-3 in race one and a record first to fifth in the second race. This was the first time that five riders from the UK have filled all top five places.

The absolute record is six riders from one nation (Canada) filling the top six places. As that feat took place at a race boycotted by the regular competitors in 1991, however, it has an unusual status in WSBK history.

Local knowledge was not a truly viable reason for all the local success in England, as the Silverstone circuit was much changed from the last time any of the top British riders raced there. But a local race is certainly a motivating factor for any rider, especially when competing in front of a partisan and committed home support.

For most of the top UK riders who performed well at Silverstone, podium success was not their only reward. Double winner Cal Crutchlow jumped up four places to fifth in the overall championship table, double second place rider Jonathan Rea consolidated his third place in the championship. Leon Camier, so unlucky in previous races, saw a sixth and a third place finish propel him up to eighth in the overall standings.

Leon Haslam, who was only on the podium once, saw his disadvantage to championship leader Max Biaggi cut back a little, as he chases Biaggi all the way in his attempt to win the World Championship. A very disappointed James Toseland did not get the home win he so desired, but his two solid finishes kept him in sixth place overall. In fact, the British wave in WSB this year built so high at Silverstone that four of the top six riders in the championship, and five of the top eight, are now UK competitors.

British riders have now won 108 WSB races between them, with only ten more to go to join the top ranked nations in terms of WSB race wins - Australia and the USA - on 118 each. Italy is fourth, with 72 victories so far for. In total, riders from 14 different nations have won at least one WSB race.

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Troy Corser (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) qualified well in his comeback race at Silverstone, having missed Brno raceday after a big practice crash injured his chest. Corser came through a pre-Silverstone test at Mugello in fine style, and in qualifying Corser was on top form, going third in Q1 and then combined qualifying, but grip issues in Superpole put Corser in a still strong second row starting position. It went wrong for the Australian quickly in race one however, and even more quickly in race two.

Said Troy himself of race one, "I am disappointed. The first race was terrible. I had problems with my tyres and just tried to finish the race. For the second race we made some changes on the bike in order to improve the mechanical grip."

Corser was possibly in too determined a mood in race two, as he found the bumps on the first corner as he attempted to pass Max Biaggi. "I again had a good start, had good grip and the bike felt fine. So I started to push straightaway, I could ride as I wanted to ride, and the bike was doing what I wanted. I managed to pass Max Biaggi, but unfortunately I hit some bumps in the first corner and the bike just slid away."

Troy is now tenth overall in the standings, with three rounds and six races left to run.

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A very busy period for Jonathan Rea (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) has seen him recover from some periods of bad luck in his second full World Superbike season. After a win and a second at Brno in early July his latest WSB exploits at Silverstone netted him two second places and another 40 points, proving that both rider and team have made a consistent improvement when it matters most - over full race distance.

Rea has now punched three wins and five other podium places into his overall 2010 dance card, and his most recent successes have pushed him 39 points clear of top privateer Ducati rider, Carlos Checa, back in fourth place.

With his WSB results allied to a strong third place finish at the gruelling Suzuka 8-Hour endurance race, Rea is a rider moving back towards his true form as a potential champion.

Rea knew he had no answer to Crutchlow when his fellow Brit made his decisive moves in each race last Sunday, but as second top ranked British rider, top Honda rider and the most prolific points scorer of all in the past four races, he has a lot to look to be happy about as he enters his summer holiday period. "I'm really happy, really enjoyed riding at Silverstone this weekend and we've had a couple of good results to take into the summer break," said the rider from Northern Ireland.

"In race one Cal had a little bit more pace than me, where I was missing maybe a couple of tenths a lap," he continued, explaining his Silverstone race weekend in more detail. "The bike was working very well, but we got let down by the tyre a little bit, I think, because it definitely felt a lot different to the one I used in warm-up this morning. I thought I might have the pace in race two, but well done to Cal - he did a great job and rode absolutely superbly. My team gave me a great bike this weekend that allowed me to at least fight for the wins here."

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Giorgio Barbier, Racing Director Pirelli Moto, commenting on the weekend's tenth round of the series at Silverstone, said: "Superbike's return to the legendary Silverstone Circuit with its newly revised layout and surprisingly stable weather conditions, saw an armada of British riders fill the podium in both races. A stunning double victory went to Yamaha whose local rider Cal Crutchlow took the team's first two wins today. Cal logged his fastest lap on the penultimate circuit in Race 2, having already set the circuit record of 2'05.259 on lap 13 in Race 1, showing in both cases the durability of Pirelli Diablo Superbike tyres to the race end."

"It is also fitting that the popular tyre choice out of the 4 front and 3 rear tyres offered this weekend are available also in the British Superbike series that nurtured the talented pool of UK riders. The two Superbike race durations stopped the clock just one second apart, for an impressive consistency returning to Silverstone. It was also interesting to see four different manufacturers across the Superbike race podiums.

"Honda's performance in Supersport was absolute, taking the top three positions which included the Intermoto Czech privateer team, whose 20-year old rider Gino Rea took home his first Supersport podium. Congratulations to BMW Motorrad Italia for its first perfect season by winning the Superstock 1000 championship with Badovini at the helm and on Diablo Supercorsa SC2 tyres."

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The Silverstone weekend saw Suzuki Alstare's Leon Haslam miss the target in his quest to make a major dent into Max Biaggi's points lead. A third and fourth place in the two races helped him to recover eight points on his Italian rival, but he missed out on the wins as his fellow Midlands man Crutchlow took the honours.

"I feel that today has been a bit frustrating because I think it could've and should've been better," said Haslam. "When our package is perfect, I know I can challenge for wins, but when it is not, it can be a bit of a struggle and that's how it was today. I made a bad start in the first race, but managed to close the gap on the leaders and was getting ready to mount an attack on Jonathan (Rea), but had gearbox problems for the last seven laps, so couldn't push harder and get closer to him. A podium is not bad though, and it was good to be up there with two other Brits."

"We used a different engine in race two, but everything else was the same, including the tyres. However, this time the grip feeling was completely different and I really had to work hard to keep in the top four or so. On the last lap, I had a big fight with James (Toseland). He passed me, but I was determined to get him back and that's what I did. On the last turn, he tried to get round the outside of me at the beginning of the start-finish straight and hit me, breaking my tail fairing and exhaust bracket in the process. It was a bit of a hairy moment, but happily we both stayed on our bikes and crossed the line OK. It was a tough end to a hard race but, just like race one, I was happy to finish ahead of Max."

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After some highs and lows in the 2010 season so far, the Ducati Xerox squad had something of a difficult weekend in England, despite Michel Fabrizio riding hard and well to take fourth in race one.

Fabrizio slipped from eighth to ninth overall, but is still very much in the contest for a top five finish, as he is only 28 points behind new fifth place man, Cal Crutchlow.

Fabrizio was resigned to the fact that home advantage played its part in Sunday's results, and was satisfied that fourth was the best he could do in race one. "Well as we expected, the British riders really had the bit between their teeth today and it was all I could so to stick with them," he stated post-race.

"I didn't expect Haslam to get past when he did but once he did, there wasn't much I could do about it, but nevertheless I'm pretty satisfied with fourth to tell the truth. In race two my rear tyre was moving around a lot and having lost a lot of ground I came in to try to change it but once I went back on track I realized that nothing had changed and, out of the points zone, I retired from the race."

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[WORLDSBK.COM]

The World Supersport race at Silverstone once again turned into another two-way battle between Irishman Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) and his Turkish rival Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda), and this time, in the fluctuating fields and fortunes of this year's series, it was Laverty's turn to have a perfect weekend.

Spurred on by his numerous British and Irish supporters, the Parkalgar man clinched the win on UK soil with a superb pass on the last lap, after letting Sofuoglu make all the running in the run-up to the chequered flag. This was Laverty's sixth win of the season and it shaved away a further five points from his Honda rival's lead.

Said Eugene in the post-race interviews: "It is nice to win our home race and it was a tough one. My plan had to change several times through the race. First I made a break but then Kenan put in some quick laps and then I decided to drop back and see where he was weak. I spotted his weak areas but he could have been sandbagging so I passed him again on the last lap with plenty of corners to spare and found that he really was weaker and not pretending. It is especially nice to beat Kenan in this sort of race because he is not used to losing this sort of fight and that makes it an important psychological win. My Parkalgar Honda was brilliant, we ran faster lap times than I expected and it was the best bike on the day."

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For a rider who was on the podium as recently as Valencia in 2009, and was a strong race winner in 2008, recent times have been tough for the most successful German rider in WSB history, Max Neukirchner.

Frequent serious injuries to his leg and back saw his promising 2009 season fall apart after the first big crash at Monza, and insult was added to injury by the fact that it was bad luck and not rider error that put the brakes on his climb up the ladder.

A move to the Ten Kate Honda team for 2010 was a dream move, the team having taken several riders who had come to a crossroads in their careers and helping them to move upwards again. As the results of his team-mate Jonathan Rea have indicated, the Honda appears to be a top package one weekend yet a more challenging one next time, until recently at lest.

Neukirchner and his team made a real breakthrough for raceday at Silverstone, going from 18th on the grid to 11th in race one. But for a technical DNF in race two he would have been on course for another finish in the points, closing in as he was on the top ten.

Speaking on Sunday night Max was buoyed by his raceday change of fortune, with even his no-finish a mere addendum to his positive train of though. "Yesterday we were nowhere and we made some good improvements today," said Max. "The first race was brilliant, and I was able to ride some good laps, but in race two the bike just stopped. I think it would have been possible to get into the top ten. That was the first time this year I feel I have had a very good feeling from the bike and I could fight with some other guys."

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BMW Motorrad and the BMW S 1000 RR are now able to celebrate their first international title after Ayrton Badovini of Team BMW Motorrad Italia STK secured an early title victory in the FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, run as a support category to the FIM Superbike World Championship. After the race weekend in Silverstone he is leading the championship with 175 points and cannot be beaten over the three remaining rounds. The Italian rider has dominated the season and has won every race so far, a winning streak which the Italian hopes to continue.

Are you proud of your achievements in 2010 on the BMW S 1000 RR?

"I am really happy with the way this season has gone so far. When our team started developing the bike back at the beginning of the year I did not expect to piece together such a successful season. To win the championship so early in the season is incredible for us and we never imagined this level of success."

How vital to your success has been the support and expertise of the team around you?

"There is not a rider and a team, we are all one. Without a team working with you the success is not possible, without a rider the success is not possible. We know to be successful we need to work closely together and as one. Only then can you win. BMW Motorrad Italia STK is an unbelievable team and without them this year this level of success would not have been possible. I owe a lot of my success to their efforts and hard work."

You've always looked very comfortable on the S 1000 RR. Did you change many things over the course of 2010?

"In the early stages of the bike's development we focused a lot on the development of the chassis and the electronics - two key factors in racing. The team does everything to make the bike suit my riding style. We have made some really positive steps throughout the year and we are continuing to push the bike forward with every race weekend. On top of that, the bike comes with a very strong engine and engine settings that work out very well for me. And this is crucial if you want to win races."

How important is it for you to maintain a 100 per cent victory record?

"I am a racer, and I try to win every race. I have focused more and more on winning every race because psychologically it affects your rivals, and then they come to a race meeting not expecting to beat me. I am almost trying to beat my opponents before we even get out on to the track. So the more I win the more desperate and depleted my rivals become. I want them to be thinking about what I'm doing because then they lose focus on their own job. I want them to think I'm the favourite."

What does it mean to you to win this championship?

"It means everything to me. In the past I have raced in this series and had a lot of difficulties with one thing and another, but now I feel like we have pieced the perfect season together and it feels amazing. I just want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me over the year and to those who have believed and put faith in my ability to achieve."

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With the teams and riders taking a well-earned summer break to recharge their batteries, WorldSBK.com also follows the trend and as a result will be shutting down for the next couple of weeks.

When racing resumes in September three more rounds in Germany, Italy and France remain to wrap up the other three championship titles still to be decided.

In World Superbike, the battle will be between Max Biaggi (Aprilia Alitalia) and Leon Haslam (Suzuki Alstare), while Kenan Sofuoglu (Hannspree Ten Kate Honda) and Eugene Laverty (Parkalgar Honda) are now the only two realistic contenders for the Supersport crown.

Ayrton Badovini (BMW Motorrad Italia STK) has already wrapped up the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup, but European Superstock 600 honours are still to be played out in an all-French tussle, between youngsters Jeremy Guarnoni (MRS Racing Yamaha) and Florian Marino (Ten Kate Race Junior Honda).

So join us again in a short while for the final three exciting rounds of these championships and enjoy your holidays!

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