Mallory Park; Dunlop Race Report
Added on Sunday, July 22nd, 2007 by Carole Nash Editor
Mallory Park; Dunlop Race Report
Dunlop-supported Shane Byrne demonstrated his championship-winning potential at the ninth round of the British Superbike series at Mallory Park with a superb victory and podium position. The 2003 British Champion secured two rostrum finishes at the eighth round of the series at Oulton Park, but scored one better at the 1.4-mile Leicestershire circuit this weekend. It was initially unclear whether the Mallory park event would go ahead at all after heavy rain - for the third consecutive round - disturbed Friday's practice sessions. Saturday's qualifying was also cancelled due to bad weather, so grid positions were determined by the rider standings after round eight. Byrne’s Stobart Vent Axia Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade and Dunlop’s Triple Tread Compound (TTC) rubber proved to be the perfect combination over the course of the weekend. A good start in the first 30-lap race enabled the 31-year-old British rider to secure his position with the leading pack. He moved up the field from fourth to third place by lap 14, and then to second position by the 16th lap. A mistake by race leader Ryuichi Kiyonari enabled Byrne to take the lead by lap 22 – a position he maintained until race distance. The second race was a similar story, with Byrne making early progress through the leading contingent. The Dunlop rider was heading for a fourth place finish before the event was red-flagged and the result declared on lap 22 due to a crash involving third placed Jonathan Rea. Dunlop also scored three other podium finishes in the Superbike class with Haslam (third in race one; second in race two) and Byrne (third in race two). Dunlop determination Dennis Hobbs demonstrated his determination to claim the British Supersport Championship title at the ninth round of the series at Mallory Park with another superb podium finish. The Padgetts Honda rider has been a regular frontrunner in the middleweight category since the third round of the championship at Silverstone and is determined to close the points gap on current series leader Michael Laverty. Hobbs clinched the holeshot at the 1.4-mile Leicestershire circuit and remained at the front of the pack until lap 18. However, he was passed by Relentless Suzuki team-mates Laverty and Ian Lowry at Shaw’s Corner and was unable to make any further headway over the remaining ten laps of the race. Dunlop-supported Hobbs’ result at Mallory Park has enabled him to maintain his third place position in the championship standings overall. He is now ten points adrift of second placed Lowry and 42 points behind Laverty ahead of the tenth round of the series at Croft. Race results British Superbike Championship Race one: 1. Shane BYRNE (Stobart Honda) 28:21.458; 2. Jonathan REA (HM Plant Honda Racing) +2.779; 3. Leon HASLAM (Airwaves Ducati) +2.938. Race two: 1. Ryuichi KIYONARI (HM Plant Honda Racing) 21:24.315; 2. Leon HASLAM (Airwaves Ducati) +1.780; 3. Shane BYRNE (Stobart Honda) +4.497. British Supersport Championship 1. Michael LAVERTY (Relentless Suzuki) 27.20.538; 2. Ian LOWRY (Relentless Suzuki) +2.743; 3. Dennis HOBBS (Padgetts Honda) +4.776. 2007 Championship standings (after round nine) British Superbike Championship 1. Ryuichi KIYONARI 298; 2. Jonathan REA 282; 3. Leon HASLAM 267; 4. Gregorio LAVILLA 246; 5. Shane BYRNE 228; 6. Leon CAMIER 179; 7. Tom SYKES 171; 8. Chris WALKER 151; 9. Tommy HILL 110; 10. Karl HARRIS 102. British Supersport Championship 1. Michael LAVERTY 165; 2. Ian LOWRY 133; 3. Dennis HOBBS 123; 4. Jamie ROBINSON 103; 5. Ian HUTCHINSON 83; 6. John McGUINNESS 81; 7. Billy McCONNELL 75; 8. Tom GRANT 59; 9. Stuart EASTON 55; 10. James WESTMORELAND 51.
