printBritish Supersport Championship – Round 4, Oulton Park – Race
Roundup
At Monday’s Bank Holiday meeting at Oulton Park in Cheshire TAS Suzuki
pilot Tom Sykes finally rediscovered his form on the all–new GSX–R600
machine stepping onto the podium for the first time this season with a fine 3rd
place. The wily Yorkshireman had blitzed the opposition in qualifying with a
pole time that was virtually matchless, leaving the team with high hopes. After
a mediocre start in the race, Sykes forced his way into the lead on lap two,
a position he held to mid distance, before suffering from arm–pump, which
caused him braking problems in the latter stages.
Team–mate Ian Lowry also rediscovered his ‘purple patch’ finishing
in amongst the leading riders in 6th place. Lowry rode a mature yet strong race
and in the closing stages he began to reel in former World Supersport star Pere
Riba and former British Supersport champion Stuart Easton.
Both riders can take confidence from these results as the championship now moves
to the home round for TAS Suzuki at Mondello Park, Ireland in three weeks time.
Before then both riders will be able to relax and enjoy the North West 200 road
races on the Antrim Coast on May 13th.
Tom Sykes
“That was more like it. We have been building up and building up and now
I feel like I’m actually riding the thing – we’re almost there
and my confidence is at about 95%, so there’s more to come. I personally
have struggled to set the bike up exactly the way I wanted it, but now it feels
like my Suzuki! There was a bit more aggression today but I suffered at the end
with arm pump and I couldn’t get the same pressure on the brake which is
a bit disappointing but it’s nice to be back on the podium. Now we have
something to bite on and we have a good record at Mondello so I’ll be looking
for the win.”
Ian Lowry
“A great weekend from my perspective from qualifying to race day and I
have to be pleased with that result on the TAS Suzuki. I felt really good on
the bike today, which was superb in every department and at the end I could see
Riba and I was closing but I got caught up in a few back–markers and decided
to take a safe and solid 6th place. I’m happy!”
Philip Neill – Team Manager
“It’s good to be back on the podium, but I suppose with a pole position,
a strong pole position – then you expect a lot. After dominating the qualifying
by nearly one second I have to be honest and say I’m a tiny bit disappointed
but then the new GSX–R600 has had four months of racing development against
the opposition who have been developing the same machine for four years – so
yes I’m more than happy with our bikes and a podium is the boost we all
needed. K-Tech were superb this weekend and I can have no complaints with our
Pirelli tyres.
Ian Lowry really came of age here today with a fantastic result. He was so mature
out there and used his head. What can I say…pulling time on someone with
the experience of Pere Riba as a Supersport rookie and to pass someone with the
experience of Simon Andrews and leave him was impressive, compared with the other
rookies in this class, he is miles ahead."
1 May 2006