The MWR Kawasaki team were back in action today for round five of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship at Knockhill in Scotland where James Egan put in a solid ride to claim 22nd place at the chequered flag.
The South African rider was racing at the track for the very first time and his cause wasn't aided by inclement weather during practice and qualifying. It all meant he had to take part in the qualifying race yesterday but he duly took his place on the grid for today's race and soon moved up inside the top 30. Lapping quicker than what he'd done all weekend, James moved forward throughout the race and was lying in 22nd place when the race was stopped following a crash at the Hairpin.
The team were down to one rider for the weekend with Burnley's Harry Hartley being forced to miss the Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship race due to the 15 year old sitting school exams.
James Egan: "I'd never even seen the circuit before Friday's first practice session let alone ridden around it whilst the weather made the task this weekend that little bit harder. The bike was handling really well though so it allowed me to concentrate on learning the circuit and riding the bike rather than having to search for a good set-up. We made a gearing change prior to the race and whilst it allowed me to run quicker lap times, I ended up making a few mistakes, running wide into corners and not gaining as many places as I would've liked. I know Knockhill now so that's good for future reference whilst all the next circuits are ones I've either ridden at or tested at before. My learning period is over and it's now time to start getting results."
Mark Webster, Team Owner: "Considering James had never seen the circuit before this weekend, he put in a strong race and ran with, and beat, riders who've been coming here for a good few years. Qualifying saw mixed conditions so he had to contest the qualifying race but he came through that and improved his position throughout the race so we're pleased with that. The weather worked against us somewhat but we now head to circuits which we all know and with a good testing programme outlined, James and the team are all confident we'll now see him finishing further up the leaderboard. We've got the mileage in on the bike and James is happy with how it's working so now we want to really get stuck in and start getting in amongst the points.
"Unfortunately, this weekend was always going to be difficult for Harry to compete in but he'll be back with us at Snetterton and we're all very much looking forward to building upon the result he achieved last time out at Donington Park."
Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship (17 laps)1 Tristan Palmer (Ducati)2 Joe Burns (Kawasaki)3 Hudson Kennaugh (Kawasaki)4 Adam Jenkinson (Kawasaki)5 Filip Backlund (Kawasaki)6 Josh Day (Kawasaki)22 James Egan (MWR Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after five rounds)1 Jenkinson 91 pts2 Burns 773 Kennaugh 60= Backlund 605 Victor Cox (Kawasaki) 496 Daniel Johnson (Kawasaki) 46
The next round of the Pirelli National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships takes place at Snetterton over the weekend of 6/7 July.
