BSB Knockhill; Dunlop Race Report
Added on Saturday, June 30th, 2007 by Carole Nash Editor
BSB Knockhill; Dunlop Race Report
The British Superbike Championship contingent faced a weekend of tricky conditions at the seventh round of the series at Knockhill. Intermittent rain showers disturbed practice and qualifying sessions but the weather caused even more disruption to race day.
Torrential downpours resulted in a severe delay to the opening Superbike race. The reduced-distance event was declared a wet race so tyre-choice seemed obvious for many of the premier class competitors. However, ten laps into the 24-lap event and a dry line had appeared around the 1.27-mile Scottish track. By lap 15 it had started to rain again and the competitors were able to complete full race distance with their chosen set-ups.
Despite all the disruptions, Leon Haslam capitalised on his front row grid position to score a podium finish in the opening Superbike race and add more vital points to his championship tally.
It was a similar story for the second Superbike event. More rain resulted in a further delay to the schedule and wet conditions being declared for the 26-lap race. Haslam once again emerged as the top Dunlop rider – this time scoring a well-deserved second place finish aboard the tyre manufacturer’s Triple Tread Compound (TTC) rubber.
Although victory eluded the Airwaves Ducati rider at Knockhill, the popular 24-year-old has closed his points gap on his third placed team-mate Gregorio Lavilla to just 15 points. Haslam has now established himself as a real title contender.
Dunlop’s Motorsport division now heads to Croft for the official British Superbike test on 3-4 July. The team hopes to further test and develop the TTC rear tyres in wet conditions in preparation for the eighth round of the series at Oulton Park.
Race results
British Superbike Championship
Race one: 1. Jonathan REA (HM Plant Honda Racing) 21:28.015; 2. Ryuichi KIYONARI (HM Plant Honda Racing) +6.848; 3. Leon HASLAM (Airwaves Ducati) +8.851.
Race two: 1. Jonathan REA (HM Plant Honda Racing) 22:56.710; 2. Leon HASLAM (Airwaves Ducati) +5.858; 3. Ryuichi KIYONARI (HM Plant Honda Racing) +9.453.
British Supersport Championship
1. Michael LAVERTY (Relentless Suzuki) 18:53:493; 2. Paul YOUNG (Paul Young Racing Triumph) +1.868; 3. Tom Grant (Virgin Media Yamaha) +2.306.
