The MWR Kawasaki team had one of their best weekends of the season in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships with both Harry Hartley and James Egan enjoying strong rides, Hartley particularly impressing as he gave the team their first top ten finish of the season.

Burnley's Hartley was in fine form all weekend on the 600cc Kawasaki ZX-6R and posted a season's best of 12th in qualifying to start the 12-lap race from the third row of the grid. He got a great start to move inside the top ten and although it proved to be a lonely race for the 16-year-old, he was comfortable in ninth place and he duly took not only his best finish of the year so far but also his first ever top ten finish in the highly competitive Pirelli Superstock 600 class.

Team-mate Egan found the going tough around the 2.69-mile circuit and had to contest the Last Chance Qualifier in order to make it onto the grid for today's 14-lap Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race. Lining up in 35th and on the ninth row of the grid, it was a big ask for the South African but he fought hard and, lapping quicker than he'd gone all weekend on the Kawasaki ZX-10R, he was rewarded with a well deserved 22nd place at the flag before being elevated to 21st after another competitor was excluded.

Harry Hartley:  "This weekend's been a lot better for me and qualifying further up the grid enabled me to have a much better stab at a top ten finish. I got a bit boxed in on the first couple of laps but fought my way through and soon managed to open up a gap to the riders behind me. By that time, the group ahead and got away and although they were coming back to me initially, I made a couple of mistakes and ended up in no-man's land so concentrated on bringing the bike home. I'm pleased to get my first top ten finish especially as Oulton Park is my local round and all my sponsors, family and friends were here to support me."

James Egan:  "I really enjoyed the race and to move up from 35th on the grid to 22nd is pleasing especially as it's been a difficult weekend. Things just haven't gone for me so I've concentrated really hard on getting back to my usual, smooth style rather than trying to force the issue and it paid off in the race. The first few laps were pretty hectic but once I got into my rhythm I was able to move forward and with another full race under my belt, it was a good experience. I'm heading back home now to see my family so I'll be back for Cadwell Park with the batteries fully recharged."

Mark Webster:  "I'm really pleased with Harry's performance this weekend as he's been on the pace throughout and has shown the value of qualifying well. He was immediately able to run the pace of the top ten in the race and he's gone on to get both his and the team's best result of the season. What's especially pleasing is that he's only been in the championship for a short while and is already beating riders who've won races and who have been in the series for a number of years. That bodes well for the rest of the season and confidence is high.

"James had a good race and it was nice to see him battling hard for every position and moving forward all the time. The good thing with James is that he gets quicker all weekend and never stops improving so the aim now is to get qualifying sorted. Starting from way back on the grid, there's only so far you can improve so if we can get James a few rows forward on the grid, I'm confident he'll be able to get away with the top 15 and run with them."

The next round of the Pirelli National Superstock 600 and 1000 Championships take place at Cadwell Park over the weekend of 24/26 August. For further information, please visit www.mwrkawasaki.co.uk or www.britishsuperbike.com.

Pirelli National Superstock 600cc Championship (12 laps)1 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)2 Joe Collier (Triumph)3 Callan Cooper (Yamaha)4 Jordan Simpkin (Yamaha)5 James Lodge (Kawasaki)6 Mason Law (Kawasaki)9 Harry Hartley (MWR Kawasaki)

Championship standings (after eight rounds)1 Simpkin 143pts2 Hedger 1393 Collier 954 Lodge 915 Hastings 756 Robertson 6518 Hartley 15

Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship (14 laps)1 Tristan Palmer (Ducati)2 Adam Jenkinson (Kawasaki)3 Tommy Aquino (Kawasaki)4 Hudson Kennaugh (Kawasaki)5 Jimmy Storrar (BMW)6 Victor Cox (Kawasaki)21 James Egan (MWR Kawasaki)

Championship standings (after eight rounds)1 Jenkinson 131 pts2 Kennaugh 1233 Burns 994 Backlund 79= Palmer 796 Cox 71