Knockhill; Phil Burgan Academy Report
Added on Monday, July 2nd, 2007 by Carole Nash Editor
Knockhill; Phil Burgan Academy Report
Scottish success for PBRA
There were celebrations all-round for the Phil Burgan Race Academy (PBRA) at the seventh round of the British Superbike Championship at Knockhill this weekend. Despite treacherous weather conditions, PBRA-supported riders Jonathan Rea and Kev Coghlan scooped superb victories in their respective classes.
PBRA is committed to supporting British motorcycle racing stars of the future. The academy is supporting Rea in the domestic Superbike series, Coghlan in the British 125GP class and current World Superbike Championship leader James Toseland in 2007.
Ulsterman Rea capitalised on his pole position to secure the well-deserved victory in this weekend’s opening Superbike race by an impressive 6.8s over his second placed team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari. Torrential downpours drenched the 1.27-mile Scottish circuit at midday, but the fast drying surface caused few problems for Rea’s HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade.
It was a similar story for the second Superbike race as more rain engulfed the circuit, resulting in a further delay to the schedule. Wet conditions were declared for the event, which was reduced from 30 to 26 laps.
Once again 20-year-old Rea clinched the holeshot before powering his HM Plant Honda Racing CBR1000RR Fireblade across the line in first position. His positive results in Scotland have propelled him into second position in the series overall – just 11 points adrift of Kiyonari.
Rea’s PBRA team-mate Coghlan also re-established himself as a title contender at Knockhill this weekend in the British 125GP Championship. The young Scot was confident of victory ahead of his home round at the Dunfermline venue.
Coghlan maintained station at the front of the eight-litre contingent for the majority of the 16-lap race. Although he remains in second place in the series overall behind Luke Jones, the UK1 Racing contender has reduced his points deficit to just nine points ahead of the eighth round of the championship at Oulton Park on 15 July.
PBRA-supported Toseland is currently enjoying a four-week break in the racing calendar. However, the Isle of Man resident is back in action at Brno on 22 July, where he looks to maintain his position at the top of the World Superbike Championship standings.
