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On Target for Airwaves Ducatti |
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Sunday, 20 April 2008 |
Airwaves Ducati leave the first race of 2008 1st and 4th in the championship,
after Shane Byrne won race one and came 2nd in race two. Leon Camier started his
season well with a 4th and 5th place finish.
In the first of the two 20
lap races Shane Byrne had dropped a few places from his pole position start but
moved through the field, taking the lead on lap 13. He pulled away in the final
laps to take his first win for the Airwaves Ducati team. Having struggled early
on in the race Leon Camier was in 5th by lap 15. He held off a number of
challenges to cross the line in a hard fought 5th place.
An early red flag in race two resulted in a race restart and a new race distance
of 15 laps. Following a poor start Shane worked his way through to 3rd position.
In a close battle he managed to overtake Rutter on lap 13 to finish in 2nd.
Camier put in some impressive laps as he attempted to chase down the leading
pack, finishing in a comfortable 4th place.
Following race two an upbeat
Leon commented; “It’s been a good start to the season for me. Colin has been
setting me goals throughout this weekend and I have achieved them all so I am
pretty happy. It was a realistic result for me today, considering my injuries
and everything that has happened, and now we have gathered some really valuable
information for the next race which is something I had been lacking. I am going
to go away and work on getting fitter and stronger and look forward to Oulton
Park; it’s a circuit I like and I think I can achieve a good
result.”
Shane Byrne leaves Thruxton as a race winner and joint
championship leader. “I’m really happy with race one but I am gutted that I
didn’t get the win in race two! Race one was great and everything went to plan,
credit must go to the Airwaves Ducati team as my bike has felt good all weekend
and I knew I was capable of a winning performance. I am pleased with the first
and second but I would have been happier if I had got a better start after the
red flag and not let Cal Crutchlow get away from me. I had been leading before
that so I reckon I was on for a double win but these things happen and I am
really pleased to be leaving Thruxton as championship leader; bring on Oulton
Park!”
Team Manager Colin Wright added, "Leaving the first round of the
championship in 1st and 4th is bang on target, scoring points is the key to
winning any championship, for Shane and Leon to collect so many points at round
one is a credit to the Airwaves Ducati team. GSE Racing is renowned for success
and I hope we will continue our tradition of fighting to win the BSB
Championship."
Round 3 of the British Superbike Championship takes place
at Oulton Park 3rd – 5th May.
Race One Results
1. Shane Byrne –
Airwaves Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda
3. Micheal Rutter –
North West 200 Ducati
4. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda
5. Leon Camier –
Airwaves Ducati
Race Two Result
1. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant
Honda
2. Shane Byrne – Airwaves Ducati
3. Michael Rutter – North West 200
Ducati
4. Leon Camier – Airwaves Ducati
5. Michael Laverty – Relentless
Suzuki
Championship Points
1. Shane Byrne – 45 points - Airwaves
Ducati
2. Cal Crutchlow – 45 points - HM Plant Honda
3. Michael Rutter –
32 points - North West 200 Ducati
4. Leon Camier – 24 points - Airwaves
Ducati
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