Battling Brits, led by Tom Sykes, bid for ‘wild-card’ World glory

DONINGTON PARK – Sunday 7 September
Hannspree World Superbike Championship Bennetts Round

Troy Bayliss is intent on a winning finale as he races Superbikes for the last time in this country at Donington Park on Sunday 7 September prior to hanging up his leathers at the end of the season, but five ‘wild-card’ British riders, among them Tom Sykes, are determined to spoil the party for the Aussie ace.

Sykes, riding Rizla Suzuki, made a big impression on his debut onto the world stage in the previous round at Brands Hatch, and now the 22 year old Yorkshireman is promising bigger and better things as the ‘home-pack’ aim for glory at the expense of Bayliss who is hoping to secure the crown for a third time in this his final season in the sport.

"I’m very excited about this opportunity and looking forward to mixing it with the regulars in the World championship again," said Sykes whose entry into the races at the Leicestershire circuit has to be rubber-stamped by the sport’s governing body the FIM.

"I will be carrying on from where I left off at Brands Hatch and hopefully taking it to the next level. I want to be racing closer to the sharp-end of pack with more of the big names of the world championship behind me again."

Sykes is the form man of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship having won three of the four races recently at Oulton Park and Knockhill and he reckons he can maintain that rich vein of form, although his rivals from the domestic series will have a big say in that.

Leon Haslam, the winner of the second race at Knockhill, returns to the world stage with the HM Plant Honda team – the 25 year old lives nearby to the circuit at Smalley and has enjoyed a successful pedigree at Donington Park, something that he will be working hard to continue in his efforts to secure a full time ride in the World Championship next term.

That is also the driving force for his team-mate Cal Crutchlow, another race winner in the British series, and currently placed second in the overall rankings – the Coventry rider will be riding on the world stage for the first time.

James Ellison, a former winner of the British Superbike Cup who has ridden MotoGP and seen American action, will be one to watch aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, while Lincoln’s Gary Johnson, riding the Robinsons Concrete Honda will be hoping to reproduce the form of this year’s Isle of Man TT Festival, in which he took four top six finishes.

Rob Frost, riding the Team Buff Triumph, and Chris Martin, aboard the Gearlink Kawasaki, have ‘wild-card’ promoters option tickets to ride in the World Supersport race while Peter Hickman and Derby’s Jon Kirkham have entries into the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup. Leon Hunt and Joe Burns have the opportunity to race in the European Superstock 600 Championship race.
Practice and qualifying for all classes are through Friday/Saturday 5/6 September.

Tickets are available now.

Disappointment at Donington

The hopes of tens of thousands of MotoGP fans, who had gathered at Donington Park, came crashing down today when misfortune struck on the opening lap for British contender James Toseland. The 27-year-old was determined to get a strong start from the grid after he qualified in a lowly 16th place as a result of wet weather and difficult track conditions yesterday.

The Yorkshireman had picked up several places but gathered too much speed, causing him to run too hot into the first corner at the Leicestershire circuit. The early mistake resulted in a high-side and Toseland was thrown from the Tech 3 Yamaha. Determined not to disappoint fans even further, the Isle of Man resident bravely re-mounted to pass the chequered flag.

Toseland injured his left hand during the accident as he karate chopped the tarmac on the way down and sustained an injury to his neck when the tyre of his bike contacted with him. He was lapped by many riders in the field but refused to admit defeat, despite missing the right footpeg and being forced to balance his foot on the exhaust, making it difficult to use the back brake.

A warm reception from the home crowd as he returned to the Tech 3 Yamaha garage was the reward for his efforts as they gathered to welcome him back and offer their consolation messages.

Toseland was visibly disappointed at the result: “Today was possibly the most disappointing day of my life,” he said, “because I have let everybody down. When I crashed I had two choices: to go back to the garage or to finish 30 laps and a lot of people had come here to see me ride 30 laps, so I did it for them.

“ There was nobody and nothing to blame for the incident except over-exuberance at the first turn, but the British weather has not been good to us and yesterday’s rain made it very difficult for us to find the right set-up for the bike. When you start from 16th place on the grid you either ride around at the back of the field or go for it and it’s in my nature to always give it 100 per cent, so I went for it.”

James and the Tech 3 Yamaha team now head to Assen for round nine of the championship next weekend. They are hoping for better luck in Saturday’s race.

Keep up to date with all James Toseland news at www.jamestoseland.com

Race result
1. C. Stoner 44’44.982; 2. V. Rossi +5.789; 3. D. Pedrosa +8.347; 4. C. Edwards +12.678; 5. A. Dovizioso +14.801; 6. J. Lorenzo +15.690; 7. N. Hayden +18.196; 8. C. Vermeulen +21.666; 9. S. Nakano +29.354; 10. A. West +41.030; 17. J. Toseland +1 lap

Championship standings (after round eight)
1. Rossi 162; 2. Pedrosa 151; 3. Stoner 117; 4. Lorenzo 104; 5. Edwards 82; 6. Dovizioso 68; 7. Hayden 57; 8. Toseland 53; 9. Capirossi 51; 10. Nakano 49

Byrne completes daily double to increase points lead

BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Round four – Donington Park – Spring Bank Holiday Monday 26 May

Shane Byrne tightened his grip on the chase for the Bennetts British Superbike title with a second winning double of the season in the fourth round at Donington Park in which the local favourite Leon Haslam had to settle for a second best in each of the races.


Riding the Airwaves Ducati, Byrne started from pole for the third time, but it was James Ellison who made the early running aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, though by the third lap, he had been taken by the determined Byrne.

He was beginning to pull clear of the pack when the Audi Safety Car was introduced to neutralise the race while marshals dealt with the ensuing fire, following the engine failure, of the Suzuki ridden by Luke Quigley.


“It was difficult, because after making a sensible start, I had just pulled out a bit of a gap when the Safety Car came out, and I had to think about tactics, but then I decided to just go for it,” explained Byrne.

“The wind was a real problem and at Redgate it actually blew the front wheel away and I had to pick the bike up a bit and balance it. It was a fine line between being safe and pushing on but fortunately my gamble paid off.”


Byrne held the upper-hand, crossing the line some 2.47secs up on HM Plant Honda rider Haslam with Tom Sykes third for Rizla Suzuki. Ellison had to settle for fourth place ahead of Leon Camier and Cal Crutchlow.

Karl Harris, suffering from arm-pump, had been running fourth, but dropped back to seventh ahead of Michael Rutter; Michael Laverty who had started from the pit-lane and Simon Andrews.

Haslam, who had blamed himself for a poor-start in the opener, made the perfect get-away next time out to lead, and soon his team-mate Crutchlow was running line adrift while Byrne, who had been sixth on the opening lap, was beginning to make up ground, though not without a scrap with his teamster Camier.



Byrne was running third with four laps remaining, and setting the fastest lap of the race, he closed in on Crutchlow, nosing inside him at the Melbourne Hairpin to go second. Next time round, with an indentical move he had taken Haslam, en route to completing his sixth victory.

“I didn’t make life easy for myself, but then I drifted through, kept it consistent and didn’t make any mistakes,” reflected Byrne, adding, “though that said I nearly fell off at the last corner on one lap.

“But, I got the double, and that is great for me and the team who have given me such a great package to work with – all I have to do is wobble around and win for them.”

Haslam came in second, ahead of Crutchlow, Camier, Ellison and Sykes.

Byrne leads the title chase 190-122 ahead of Crutchlow with Camier third on 107 points, while in the Daily Star Cup Buildbase NW200 Ducati rider John Laverty with a victory, and then a second place adrift of the Quay Garage Honda of Gary Mason extended his advantage to 171-87 ahead of Martin Jessopp.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship – round four
Race one result:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 32:01.058
2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +2.473
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.442
4. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +5.856
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +6.188
6. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +6.636
7. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing) +7.464
8. Michael Rutter (NW 200 Ducati) +9.809
9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +12.627
10. Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/Lloyds British Yamaha) +16.244

Race two result:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 31:06.337
2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.355s
3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.447s
4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.596s
5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.186s
6. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +7.446s
7. Karl Harris (Team Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +15.707s
8. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +26.794s
9. Simon Andrews (Lloyds Bitish Jentin Racing) +31.816s
10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +32.870s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 190
2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 122
3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 107
4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 96
5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 88

Next round – Snetterton, 13-15 June

Donington Ticket Incentive

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Get 3 days for the price of 1 only with Bennetts! Watch the practice on Saturday and qualifying on Sunday for free, saving up to 55%. Then join us for all the race action on Bank Holiday Monday.

Can Donington’s local hero, Leon Haslam, ‘shake’ off Shane Byrne from the top spot and win a place on the podium? Or will it be down to the young stars Cal Crutchlow or Leon Camier to take the lead at the 4^th round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

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Calling 0871 230 7134, quoting ref ‘Bennetts’

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We hope to see you there!

The Bennetts team