The MWR Kawasaki team enjoyed their best weekend of the 2013 season with Harry Hartley claiming a superb fifth place in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 race and James Egan posting another top 20 placing in the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race at Silverstone today.
Having qualified in a season's best seventh place aboard the MWR Kawasaki ZX-6R, 16-year-old Hartley made a strong start to the seven lap race and the Burnley rider found himself embroiled in a superb six man dice for fourth throughout. Although there was never more than inches between the six riders, Harry moved into fourth place on the fourth lap and despite coming under intense pressure, continued to keep his rivals at bay. On the final lap, Michael Robertson squeezed through and although Harry tried to fight back he just ran out of time but nevertheless, fifth position was an excellent result and recorded both his and the team's best finish of the season.
South African Egan also enjoyed a profitable weekend on the MWR Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R and was able to record his second best finish of the year. Starting in 27th on the grid, James moved forward throughout the race and lapping quicker than he'd done all weekend, he was rewarded with 20th place at the chequered flag, just a fraction away from taking 19th.
Harry Hartley: "After all the recent bad luck, it's nice to get a good finish and I'm delighted with the fifth place result. It was pretty hectic out there but I felt that I had everything under control when I was running in fourth although it was at the back of my mind that I could get knocked off again on the final lap. I stayed consistent and out of trouble and although Michael came by, I tried to get back straightaway but there just wasn't time to have another go. Overall though, I'm delighted with the result and it's great for everything to be coming together in the final few rounds."
James Egan: "It's a shame we can't start the weekend with the bike we've finished with as I was really happy with everything in the race. I got a great start and was not only lapping half a second quicker than what I did in qualifying but also within a second of the guys on the podium which shows the progress we've made. I was also only 16 seconds off the second placed rider in the end and it feels really good to know that everything we've done this season is coming to fruition. It's my second top 20 finish of the year so hopefully we can improve further at Brands Hatch and end the year on a high."
Mark Webster: "That's our best weekend of the year so far and both riders showed good pace in qualifying and in the race, deservedly being rewarded with good results. We knew Harry would be there or thereabouts in the race and he was very close to a debut podium whilst he showed great character and maturity to withstand the terrific pressure he was under. James, meanwhile, got quicker as the weekend wore on and lapped within a second of the second placed finisher in the race which shows just how far he's come. It's been a really encouraging weekend and we'll be looking to carry this on to the last round at Brands Hatch. Another strong result for Harry and points for James would be the perfect way to end the year. Plans are also coming along nicely for 2014 too and we hope to be able to announce everything soon."
Pirelli National Superstock 600cc Championship (7 laps)1 Luke Hedger (Kawasaki)2 Callan Cooper (Yamaha)3 Ben Godfrey (Kawasaki)4 Michael Robertson (Yamaha)5 Harry Hartley (MWR Kawasaki)6 Nick Anderson (Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after 11 rounds)1 Hedger 184pts2 Simpkin 1763 Cooper 1354 Lodge 1295 Collier 1176 Hastings 9116 Hartley 26
Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship (10 laps)1 Filip Backlund (Kawasaki)2 Hudson Kennaugh (Kawasaki)3 Lee Jackson (BMW)4 Josh Wainwright (Kawasaki)5 Tommy Aquino (Kawasaki)6 Marshall Neill (Kawasaki)20 James Egan (MWR Kawasaki)
Championship standings (after 11 rounds)1 Kennaugh 168pts2 Jenkinson 1483 Backlund 1254 Cox 1075 Jackson 1066 Aquino 102
