Easton transfers pole into victory
Added on Saturday, October 10th, 2009 by Carole Nash Editor
Easton transfers pole into victory
Stuart Easton transformed his maiden pole position start into another 2009 victory, in the opening British Superbike race at Oulton Park this afternoon.
The initial race was red flagged as the field tackled their fourth lap, due to Kark Harris enduring a heavy crash at the Shell Oil corner. Harris had been enjoying a fierce battle with Easton and his Hydrex Honda teammate, Tommy Hill, along with the Airwaves Yamaha pair of Leon Camier and James Ellison at the time of his crash.
With the obvious vacant spot, previously filled by Harris, there was also other spaces on the grid for the restart. Josh Brookes had suffered a technical issue during the opening lap and so was unable to take the restart. Also, Graeme Gowland crashed his Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha fairly severely at Cascades, meaning he was unable to restart this opening venture.
At the restart, Ellison made a blinding start to inherit the lead almost immediately. This was, however, short lived, as Easton was soon on the ball and regained the lead as the field headed into Cascades. Despite being demoted to second, Ellison was definitely not out and soon surprised Easton with a move into Hislop’s to steal the lead back.
Shell Oils corner appeared to be the favourite passing place throughout the race, seeing many moves taking place around the banked section of the Cheshire track. Newly crowned 2009 Champion, Camier, having had a bad start had dropped to fifth; by the third and fourth laps he began making amends and worked his way past fourth placed Hill and third placed Simon Andrews – both moves taking place at Shell. Easton also enjoyed a move on Ellison at the very same corner, giving him back the lead.
With two laps Easton soon found himself under immense pressure for the lead, with Camier now attached to the rear wheel of his Honda. The latter briefly found himself ahead, however Easton powered through to ensure he stayed in control.
A thrilling end to the first of three races at Oulton Park gave Easton his second victory, much to the delight of himself and his Hydrex Honda team. Camier followed closely in second, while both were backed up by their teammates, with Hill taking his first podium of the season in third and Ellison fourth.
Andrews suffered a problem part way through the race, meaning he dropped backwards as a result. This left him in an exciting squabble for fifth, battling it out with Sylvain Guintoli, Julien Da Costa, Ian Lowry, Chris Walker and John Laverty. The battle finished with Guintoli securing fifth, ahead of Andrews, Da Costa, Lowry, Walker and Laverty.
Commenting on his triumph, an ecstatic Easton said: “That was a proper victory, getting Leon on the track fair and square. It was a hard race and we had to fight all the way but I am so happy to have taken another win and the Hydrex Honda just keeps improving.”
