|
HM PLANT HONDA RIDERS GO IN SEARCH OF MORE PODIUMS AT CROFT |
|
|
|
Thursday, 10 August 2006 |
HM PLANT HONDA RIDERS GO IN SEARCH OF MORE PODIUMS AT CROFT
HM Plant
Honda British Superbike riders Ryuichi Kiyonari and Karl Harris head to Croft
circuit this weekend (12/13 August) in search of points and podiums at round
ten of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
Last time out, Kiyonari revelled in his second double victory of his ’06
campaign and took his place at the head of the series points’ table. While the
early part of the season proved frustrating for the Japanese superbike ace, the
latter part has witnessed a return to form for the Honda rider with five wins
from his last six starts.
Kiyonari currently has a slim five points advantage over Leon Haslam, who has
yet to win a race this season, but more importantly Kiyo now has a fourteen
point lead over third placed Gregorio Lavilla.
Last year, Kiyo claimed a win and a third place at the 2.17-mile track and will
no doubt be aiming to make it another daily double on Sunday; reasserting his
dominance on the ultra-competitive superbike series and extending his points
advantage in the process.
Meanwhile Harris, who makes the short trip from his home in Sheffield,
will be hoping that the home advantage will enable him to claim his elusive
British Superbike win aboard his Michelin-shod Honda CBR1000RR Fireblade.
This year, he has scored three second place finishes, the most recent at
Oulton Park last time out, but frustratingly the gritty Yorkshireman has yet to
make it onto the top step of the rostrum.
In the National Superstock arena HM Plant rider John McGuinness once again
takes to the track aboard his Honda CBR1000RR superstock machine. Three weeks
ago at Oulton Park, the Morecambe-based rider put his
recent run of poor form behind him and returned to his point-scoring ways. McGuinness
currently lies eleventh in the popular series and hopes to make his way up the
standings before heading to the Ulster GP road race next week.
Ryuichi Kiyonari: “It is good to finally be at the top of the standings,
but now we have to concentrate on staying there and the competition is very
fierce. Both Gregorio and I won a race at Croft last year so I know I have to
work very hard this weekend.”
Karl Harris: “The competition is fierce and I know I am so near to
grabbing that win, I just hope that it will be this weekend and if it is, it
will be brilliant.”
John McGuinness: “I’ve a good week ahead with the Ulster GP next week
and I hope that I can kick it off with a strong result at Croft this weekend.”
Qualifying for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place on
Saturday 12 August at 15.00 with racing on Sunday 13 August at 13.55 and 16.15.
Qualifying for the National Superstock Championship takes place on Saturday 12
August at 09.30 and 14.25 with racing on Sunday 13 August at 17.15.
The ITV broadcast window is 13 August 15.30 – 17.00
|
