BSB RD 2 - Oulton Park

[wull]

Not sure on the weather but I’m expecting a cracking weekend of racing, not sure who’s going to come out on top but hopefully some good close racing as always.

[Skub]

It's the weather here (fog and rain) for sitting in watching racing on the box. Maybe I'll fuck off back to bed and wait until it all starts.

[wull]

No coverage until tomorrow. Gonna be a shit Saturday, just have to check free practise 1 and 2 online. Suppose I better speak to the family

[wull]

Peter Hickman topped the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice session at Oulton Park for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team, regaining the advantage on his final lap of the session to set the benchmark by 0.091s from Danny Kent.

A hectic final ten minutes of the session saw the positions change at the top multiple times, with Hickman, Leon Haslam on the ROKiT BMW Motorrad and Kent on the Lovell Kent Racing Honda all having a spell at the top before the chequered flag.

Kent held on to second ahead of Haslam in the closing stages with Tommy Bridewell leading the BeerMonster Ducatis in fourth place with Josh Brookes completing the top five on the second of the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team M 1000 RRs.

Kyle Ryde was inside the top three in the final five minutes, but a flurry of faster laps at the end of the session dropped the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha rider back into sixth place ahead of Dean Harrison on the DAO Racing Kawasaki.

Glenn Irwin on the second BeerMonster Ducati, Jason O'Halloran on the leading McAMS Yamaha and Lee Jackson on the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki completed the top ten riders.

[wull]

FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team’s Peter Hickman topped the times after the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship action at Oulton Park today (Saturday). Hickman set his best time in the opening session of the weekend, which was enough to keep him ahead of Danny Kent by just 0.091s on the overall timesheets.

The first session took place in dry conditions and ended as a late tussle for the top spot with a flurry of fast laps in the closing 10 minutes. Hickman, Kent and Leon Haslam all had a spell at the top before the chequered flag fell with the former top of the times.

Hickman said: “It was a really tough start at Silverstone, but that's just the way things go sometimes. I was third at the test and then today we really pretty much picked up where we left off and ended up P1, which is always a nice way to start the weekend.

"I think the FHO Racing BMW is the best the bike has ever felt around here for me so I'm looking forward to seeing what we can do tomorrow. The development is still ongoing and the bike is heading in the right direction.

“The bike's got more grip than it's ever had before, it's more stable than it's ever been, it's faster than it's ever been in a straight line! It's just every little bit is all adding together and the end result is you end up with a better lap time and an easier bike to ride, which is actually a really difficult thing to do here, particularly Oulton Park.

"It's the same for everybody and it will definitely be more uncertain for the race tomorrow because we've not even gone as fast today as what we did at the test. You don’t know where everyone's at and what they're actually capable of doing until the race tomorrow – it will be interesting!”

Hickman was followed by Kent and Haslam in third, whilst Tommy Bridewell was just behind on the leading BeerMonster Ducati. All four riders produced their best effort of the day in the opening practice period with a damp start to the second session reducing the amount of dry running.

Josh Brookes was the only rider to improve his pace later in the afternoon on the second FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team machine. The Australian was able to take advantage of the improving conditions towards the end of the session following a light shower earlier in the day and completed the top five.

Kyle Ryde was sixth fastest on the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha, just ahead of Dean Harrison on the DAO Racing Kawasaki, who produced his best showing in free practice. Glenn Irwin was just 0.004s further back in eighth place on the second BeerMonster Ducati with Jason O'Halloran, who topped the recent test at Oulton Park, on the McAMS Yamaha in ninth.

Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson completed the top ten with Jack Kennedy and Christian Iddon completing the riders who progress directly into tomorrow’s eBay Qualifying 2 session ahead of the BikeSocial Sprint Race which kicks off the Bennetts BSB race action tomorrow.

[wull]

Tommy Bridewell set the pace in a damp final free practice session at Oulton Park this afternoon as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship contenders gear up for eBay Qualifying and the BikeSocial Sprint race this afternoon in Cheshire.

BeerMonster Ducati’s Bridewell toppled Ducati rival Christian Iddon from the leading position with 0.277s separating the pair at the finish with Josh Brookes for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team completing the top three.

Danny Kent was back inside the top five on the Lovell Kent Racing Honda, edging out Leon Haslam on the ROKiT BMW Motorrad and Lee Jackson who surged up the order into sixth place for Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki.

Tim Neave led the McAMS Yamaha pairing in seventh place, just ahead of his teammate Jason O'Halloran in eighth. Glenn Irwin and Jack Kennedy completed the top ten.

[wull]

Josh Brookes claimed his first pole position of the season for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team in a hard-fought Bennetts British Superbike Championship eBay Qualifying session at Oulton Park.

As the track continued to dry after this morning’s rain, the conditions improved and the final five minutes of the session became a constant change at the top as the times continued to tumble.

In the early stages of eBay Q2, Josh Owens had been one of the first riders to set a flying lap to put him fastest for the Crendon Honda by Hawk Racing team, but as times improved, he dropped down the order before a crash at Lodge ended his session in the closing moments.

Tim Neave then put the McAMS Yamaha at the top, the Bennetts BSB rookie hitting the top in the final seven minutes, but just a lap later it was Danny Kent and the Lovell Kent Racing Honda team who had moved ahead.

Kent continued to set a string of faster laps, but Leon Haslam had been back to the garage, made some changes after an initial sighting lap and was soon attacking for the Omologato pole position. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider went fastest with three minutes left on the clock ahead of Kent and Jack Kennedy, but there were plenty of changes still to come.

Storm Stacey proved to be strong in the changing conditions and he moved the Starline Racing Kawasaki to the top with three minutes remaining, but then Brookes was also on a flying lap and he nudged him down to second.

Stacey’s next lap put him back at the top, but Haslam then had one last dash for the Omologato pole position, moving ahead with less than a minute of the session remaining.

Brookes though was determined and he excelled in the drying conditions to move ahead with 30 seconds of the session remaining, with Haslam and Stacey completing the front row for this afternoon’s race at the chequered flag.

Glenn Irwin had been in the top three too in the final five minutes but the BeerMonster Ducati rider was nudged into fourth in the closing stages when Brookes surged up the order. Jason O'Halloran saved his best lap until the very last of the session to move fifth with Luke Mossey on the Tactix by Lloyd & Jones BMW completing row two.

Andrew Irwin had progressed through eBay Q1 and will head the third row for Honda Racing UK this afternoon ahead of Peter Hickman and Kennedy. Tim Neave completed the top ten to ensure both McAMS Yamahas were inside the top ten.

Christian Iddon was just outside the top ten in eleventh place ahead of Kent and Charlie Nesbitt with Owens starting 14th just ahead of Tommy Bridewell.

[Bustaspoke]

Some good racing in the rain,so glad I decided to watch it from the sofa instead of riding there
The Supersport race was a good one,when they finally managed to start it.

[wull]

Josh Brookes claimed his second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race win of the season for the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team, celebrating the opening victory at Oulton Park in the BikeSocial Sprint Race that was red flagged on the penultimate lap for rain.

Brookes got a flying start from the Omologato pole position to lead the pack into Old Hall for the first time ahead of Storm Stacey, Leon Haslam, Glenn Irwin and Jason O'Halloran. It was disappointment for the McAMS Yamaha team though when O’Halloran crashed out at Cascades on the second lap.

Haslam made a move on Stacey at Island to move second with Glenn Irwin moving into third at Hizzys on the opening lap and the trio then became the force at the front of the field.

Brookes was withstanding the pressure from his ROKiT BMW Motorrad and BeerMonster Ducati rivals as they continued to try to line up an attack for the lead.

As the race reached the penultimate lap, rain began to fall at the race was subsequently red flagged as Brookes became the first race winner in the Milwaukee Grand Slam. Haslam became the fifth different podium finisher of the season so far in second place, whilst Glenn Irwin completed the top three.

Peter Hickman delivered a determined ride to carve his way through the field to finish fourth on the second FHO Racing BMW Motorrad machine, closing in on the leading trio over the closing stages of the race.

Tommy Bridewell had an equally strong performance, finishing the race fifth on the second BeerMonster Ducati after starting 15th on the grid after a difficult eBay Qualifying session earlier in the afternoon.

Bridewell had got the better of Andrew Irwin who led the Honda Racing UK charge in sixth, just ahead of LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde. Christian Iddon meanwhile was able to stay ahead of Stacey in the closing stages to get his best result of the season so far in eighth, as Stacey ended his positive day in Cheshire with a top ten finish.

Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson completed the top ten ahead of tomorrow’s two races.

[wull]

Josh Brookes maintained his position ahead of his Bennetts British Superbike Championship rivals at Oulton Park, topping a damp warm up session ahead of today’s two races.

Brookes held a 0.266s advantage over Storm Stacey who had another strong showing in the damp conditions for the Starline Racing Kawasaki team, narrowly ahead of yesterday’s podium finisher Leon Haslam.

Danny Kent had a spell at the front before ending the session fourth fastest ahead of Christian Iddon on the Oxford Products Racing Ducati and Jason O'Halloran, who was back on track following a crash in yesterday’s BikeSocial Sprint Race.

Charlie Nesbitt was seventh fastest with Davey Todd splitting the Hawk Racing teammates as Josh Owens held ninth with Tommy Bridewell completing the top ten for BeerMonster Ducati.

[wull]

Tommy Bridewell became the fourth different race winner in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the second race at Oulton Park as the BeerMonster Ducati rider held off the pressure from his title rivals to claim victory.

Peter Hickman led the pack into Old Hall on the opening lap as the FHO Racing BMW Motorrad rider grabbed the initial advantage off the line, but he crashed on the exit of the corner unhurt. That gave Bridewell the lead ahead of Andrew Irwin, Kyle Ryde and Leon Haslam.

Jason O'Halloran’s torrid luck at the Cheshire circuit continued when he crashed out unhurt art Cascades on the opening lap and his stricken McAMS Yamaha took Josh Owens down with him.

Ryde was up into second place by the end of the opening lap, but Haslam was moving up the order and he soon was just behind Bridewell and ready to try to fight for the win ahead of Andrew Irwin and brother Glenn.

Haslam was trying to attack Bridewell and defend against Andrew Irwin at the same time, a moment for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad rider at Lodge gave his Honda Racing UK rival the chance to move ahead. However, Haslam was instantly on the attack and back ahead into second by the time they reached Old Hall again.

Bridewell was holding the advantage and the leading group became a pack of five with Bridewell, Haslam, Andrew and Glenn Irwin plus Ryde who later lost ground in the closing stages.

Bridewell made a break over the final three laps to score his first win for BeerMonster Ducati this season, but behind Glenn Irwin had charged into second to make it a 1-2 for Paul Bird’s team.

The fight for third went down to the wire and Andrew Irwin made a move down the inside at Lodge for the final time, but Haslam wasn’t giving up the podium and he managed to regain the advantage on the run over Deer Leap to the chequered flag.

Andrew Irwin had to settle for fourth place, his best result of the season so far for Honda Racing UK, ahead of Ryde and yesterday’s race winner Josh Brookes who managed to get back ahead of Christian Iddon.

Lee Jackson was eighth for the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team with Jack Kennedy once again back inside the top ten for Mar-Train Racing Yamaha team with Dean Harrison taking his first top ten finish of the season for DAO Racing Kawasaki.

[Bustaspoke]

Some entertaining racing once again & the support classes were as good as ever.
It was good to see the Oxford team get some solid results after their Silverstone woes.CI said on the podcast the other week that they had spent a day at Mallory setting the bike up.For me,the biggest surprise so far is LH setting up the team & being so competitive from the start,I'm glad that he got the Rider of the meeting award .
That's the first time in years that I've seen riders 'giving it handbags' after the Lodge corner Superstock incident

[wull]

Glenn Irwin denied Leon Haslam his first race win of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season as the BeerMonster Ducati rider celebrated his second victory of the season, making it three different race winners at round two. The Northern Irishman now take the standings lead by four points ahead of the next event at Donington Park (May 19/20/21).

Andrew Irwin was the rider with the best launch off the line to lead his brother Glenn and previous champions Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam with race two winner Tommy Bridewell and Kyle Ryde close behind.

On the third lap, Glenn Irwin made a move on his brother for the lead with a dive down the inside at Old Hall, and then Haslam was next to have the Honda Racing UK rider in his sights. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ made a pass of his own on the sixth lap to move into second.

A lap later, Haslam had a huge moment on the ROKiT BMW Motorrad into Old Hall and that meant he lost ground on Glenn Irwin ahead of him that he needed to claw back as he got back into his race rhythm.

Bridewell was then on the move and launched himself into third place to relegate Andrew Irwin back a further position, as Haslam split the BeerMonster Ducati teammates on lap ten.

Glenn Irwin was fending off the challenge but Haslam was typically determined, making a brave move into Old Hall on lap 12. The BeerMonster rider was unsettled, giving his teammate Bridewell the opportunity to move into second place.

Glenn Irwin was back into second at Lodge later on the same lap though with a decisive move on his teammate. He recaptured the lead a lap later when he passed Haslam on the brakes into Hizzys.

The leading pack were inseparable but Glenn Irwin had enough to hold the advantage to the finish on the final lap, with Haslam in second. Behind however, Ryde had been carving his way through and was into third after a dive down the inside on Bridewell at Hizzys with three laps to go.

Ryde held off Bridewell to the finish with Brookes claiming a top five finish ahead of his FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team teammate Peter Hickman and Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon.

Lee Jackson moved into eighth on the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki ahead of Andrew Irwin who eventually finished in ninth and Jason O'Halloran, who worked hard to secure a top ten finish after a 17th place grid start after his race two crash.

[wull]

If this continues it’s going to shape up to be a great season. It’s good season different riders taking the win and being at the front, great seeing Tommy start so strong but it’s great seeing Leon back at the sharp end especially on the beemer. Hopefully it continues.

[Skub]

A great set of races in all the classes. Good to see local lad Nicky Coates at the sharp end of that beemer cup thang. Him,Rutter,Seeley and Haslam,all still fire in the belly.

How much does Cooperman love his racing?