The MWR Kawasaki team endured a day of mixed fortunes at Oulton Park yesterdayday with both James Egan and Harry Hartley making good progress in round three of their respective Pirelli National Superstock 1000 and 600 Championships but ultimately ending the day without scoring points.
South African Egan battled hard in what were two very competitive qualifying sessions to take 32nd on the grid for the 15-lap Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race and, just as in previous rounds, he continued to improve. With beautiful sunny conditions bathing the Cheshire venue and in front of a record crowd, a fastest lap only half a second adrift of riders running in the top ten meant he was rewarded with 23rd place at the chequered flag.
Conditions were also ideal for the Pirelli National Superstock 600 race and 16-year-old Burnley rider Hartley started the race from a season's best of 18th on the grid although gearbox problems in morning warm-up placed him on the back foot for the 14-lap race. Sadly, the problem resurfaced and his race was over before it had really begun as he crashed out at Druids on the opening lap after hitting a false neutral.
James Egan: "Progress has definitely been the key word this weekend and each time we've gone out, we've taken a chunk off our lap times. Even though we tested here last week, the increase in pace running against the top riders meant we encountered a few new problems but the team worked so hard all weekend and I felt really comfortable on the bike. We've got a good base setting with the bike now which is a good sign and my lap times are edging closer to the group ahead who are fighting for the points and to be getting closer all the time is very encouraging."
Harry Hartley: "It's been another tough weekend for us but with every meeting we are making progress. My lack of experience on a four-stroke makes it even harder as the pace is so fast and it was disappointing to crash out. We know what we need to do and aim to come back stronger at Donington Park and challenge for points next time out."
Mark Webster, Team Owner: "It's been a weekend of variation for the team but there are plenty of positives to take and the pace of the riders is getting better all the time. We suffered with a few gearbox problems with the 600 and Harry hit a false neutral in the race, which sent him tumbling out. It's a shame as his pace is getting stronger and stronger all the time and when all the pieces of the jigsaw come together, I'm confident he'll not only get in the points but will score a very strong result too.
"James is continually improving and when you look at the lap times, it's plain to see how competitive the class is but the encouraging part is that the gap to the riders in front of him is closing at each meeting. His lap times now are on a par with riders who were fighting it out at the head of the field last year and he's making progress all the time. It's been a bit of a mixed bag this weekend but there are plenty of positives to take and we're moving forward and making progress."
Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship (15 laps)1 Victor Cox (Kawasaki)2 Hudson Kennaugh (Kawasaki)3 Joe Burns (Kawasaki)4 Filip Backlund (Kawasaki)5 Daniel Johnson (Kawasaki)6 Marshall Neill (Kawasaki)23 James Egan (MWR Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after three rounds)1 Jenkinson 53 pts2 Cox 393 Burns 374 Kennaugh 365 Backlund 336 Johnson 31
Pirelli National Superstock 600cc Championship (14 laps)1 Jordan Simpkin (Yamaha)2 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)3 James Lodge (Kawasaki)4 Joe Collier (Triumph)5 Levi Day (Kawasaki)6 Tim Hastings (Kawasaki)DNF Harry Hartley (MWR Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after three rounds)1 Simpkin 65pts2 Hastings 483 Lodge 484 Collier 455 Hedger 296 Campbell 26
The next round of the Pirelli National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships take place at Donington Park over the weekend of 24/26 May.
