Bikes: 2nd row start for Ellison ..

AT KNOCKHILL

2008 Bennetts British Superbike ChampionshipRounds 15 & 16 - Knockhill, Fife

Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison will start round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship from row two of the grid having posted eighth fastest time in yesterday's Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole qualifying session at a decidedly damp Knockhill in Scotland.

After a big crash yesterday in practice, Ellison bounced back in the wet conditions with a time of 53.587 seconds on his first visit to Knockhill in four years and will be hoping to add to his points tally following on his podium finish at Oulton Park last time out.

Team mate Guy Martin will start tomorrow's two 30-lap races from row four of the grid having qualified in 15th on the second of the Shaun Muir Racing Honda 1000cc Fireblades.

Also making a fourth row start will be the team's Metzeler 1000cc Superstock rider Kieran Clarke who, on his second race for the team, qualified in 13th place.

James Ellison:  "I'm a bit frustrated with the weather conditions, I had a problem with my visor misting up.  Just towards the end of the session we were getting into the 53's (seconds) and I just couldn't see so I came in and changed the visor but it was just the same.  We've made so many changes on the bike and it's much better and I'm really comfortable but I just couldn't see!  I think I could have been on the front row if it wasn't for that problem.  Also, I spent so little time on the track yesterday with me crashing.  Although we're going well in the wet I'm hoping for it to be dry tomorrow so we can work on the number one bike with the traction control."

Guy Martin:  "We're getting there. I'm happy with the boys and they've done us proud.  I've got the Ulster GP on my mind but its given me confidence that the boys have done what I've asked and we've no problems at all and it puts us in a good frame of mind for tomorrow.  I'm hoping for a good couple of points scoring rides and I'll be over the moon."

Kieran Clarke:  "We're just chipping away and we just want to do everything in stages and not take massive jumps forwards.  We have to build up and as long as we're higher every weekend and improving then it's a good build up for next year.  I need to get better every session and it's never easy when everyone else is on the pace, but it's not an excuse as I should be on the podium so we just have to keep chipping away.  The team has been working fantastically and I'm hoping for a mid to top ten place tomorrow at least."

Shaun Muir (Team Owner):  "Guy has worked really hard and I'm happy he's on the fourth row and there's no reason why he can't get a top twelve tomorrow.  He's had no problems, the bike is running like a dream and he's completely focused on the job this weekend.  James rode really well, obviously struggling after the big crash on Friday so I'm really happy with a second row start, although it could have been the front row if his visor hadn't misted.  James should be up there in contention for podiums tomorrow.  Also, Kieran has a fourth row start so I'm happy with that and he's certainly moved up quite a number of places and he could have a chance to score good points whether its wet or dry.  So, all in all I'm pretty happy with all three riders."

The first of the two 30-lap Bennetts British Superbike races gets underway at 1.00pm on Sunday with the second at 3.30pm.  The Metzeler Superstock 1000 race is scheduled for 12.10pm.  The British Eurosport 2 live broadcast window is 12.30pm to 4.30pm.

Qualifying1, Leon Haslam (Honda) 52.692s, 2, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 52.966s, 3, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 52.974s, 4, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 53.003s, 5, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 53.177s, 6, Leon Camier (Ducati) 53.268s, 7, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 53.295s, 8, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 53.587s, 9, Karl Harris (Yamaha) 53.768s, 10, Tristan Palmer (Honda) 53.876s. 15, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 54.734s.

Round 2 - 18th/20th April - Thruxton, HantsRound 3 - 3rd/5th May - Oulton Park, CheshireRound 1 - 10th/11th May - Brands Hatch GP, KentRound 4 - 24th/26th May - Donington Park, LeicsRound 5 - 13th/15th June - Snetterton, NorfolkRound 6 - 27th/29th June - Mallory ParkRound 7 - 18th/20th July - Oulton Park, CheshireRound 8 - 8th/10th August - Knockhill, FifeRound 9 - 23rd/25th August - Cadwell Park, LincsRound 10 - 12th/14th September - Croft, North YorkshireRound 11 - 26th/28th September, Silverstone, NorthantsRound 12 - 10th/12th October - Brands Hatch Indy, Kent


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