As the Bennetts British Superbike championship made its
annual trip to the iconic Silverstone circuit, it proved to be a very
successful weekend for Team #109, with Dickies Junior Supersport series leader
Eunan McGlinchey completing the double in the class, taking victory in both
races to extend his lead in the standings. Despite a difficult opening two
days, and having to start from the second last row of the grid, Kevin Keyes
scored an excellent top ten finish in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 race,
progressing seventeen places through the field to take an eighth place finish,
maintaining his fifth place finish in the standings, with just twenty-five
points separating second to fifth in the table.
McGlinchey got his weekend off to a great start, finishing
the opening free practice session in third position, before making a few set up
changes for qualifying which saw him claim pole position for the opening race
of the weekend, finishing over three tenths ahead of the KTM of Brian Hart and
Kade Verwey.
The opening race of the weekend saw a three way breakaway
group at the front, with McGlinchey, Hart and Elliot Pinson all battling for
the win throughout the twelve lap race. The three were locked together right
until the final lap, and as they rounded the final corner McGlinchey was
trailing in second, chasing down the leader Hart. As the pair crossed the
finish line, it was McGlinchey who took an incredible victory onboard the
Kawasaki Ninja 400 by just one hundredth of a second.
It was a similar story in race two on Sunday evening with
McGlinchey, Hart and Pinson breaking away from the trailing pack once again,
with the three battling it out for each podium position once again. However, as
they entered into the final number of laps, McGlinchey had cemented himself at
the front of the group, and despite the best efforts of Hart and Pinson,
neither were able to stop McGlinchey from taking his second victory of the
weekend, which saw the Aghadowey rider extend his lead in the championship
standings as we approach the penultimate round of the campaign at Oulton Park
this weekend.
Speaking about his debut race weekend at the Silverstone
circuit, McGlinchey said; “It has been an absolutely brilliant weekend at
Silverstone, I loved every minute of it, and leaving with the results we
managed, I can’t wait for Oulton park now. I have to say a big thanks to
everyone at Team #109 for giving me a faultless bike all weekend, and to all my
personal sponsors that help me get where am.”
After a difficult weekend at Cadwell Park, Kevin Keyes was
keen to put the back luck behind him and get back to the sharp end of the
Pirelli National Superstock 600 class. However, after finishing in a solid
sixth position in the opening free practice session, a hose clip on the
radiator broke forcing him out of the second free practice session, and a small
electrical problem in qualifying cost Keyes and the team valuable track time in
qualifying. As a result Kevin was forced to start from twenty-sixth on the
grid.
Despite his issues Keyes put in a fantastic effort in the
race. After being pushed wide in the opening corner, the Edenderry rider set
about making up ground, and by the time the checkered flag was waved, he had
progressed an incredible seventeen positions through the field during the
twenty-two lap race to finish in a great eighth position, and score some solid
points in his chase for a top three finish in the series.
Following his excellent showing, Keyes maintained his fifth
place in the championship standings, with just twenty-five points between
second and sixth. With Ryan Vickers wrapping up the Pirelli National Superstock
600 championship following this weekends event, it is still all to play for in
terms of the top three, and with just a race wins worth of points between the
next five riders in the class, Keyes’ hopes of a top three position are still
well within reach.
Commenting on his weekend at the famous Northamptonshire
track Keyes said; “Well it was certainly a fun race, starting from twenty-sixth
on the grid and finishing in eighth. After such a tough beginning to the
weekend, only getting three laps of qualifying and being last on the grid, I’ll
that that result all day long. I have to say a huge thanks to all of Team #109,
my Dad, Colin Draper and Paul Tobin for all the efforts to get everything
sorted for today.”
Eoghan ‘James’ McManus, Team #109’s Junior Rider for the
last three rounds of the season, son of former Grand Prix rider Eugene McManus,
and younger brother of Motostar Moto3 front runner Eugene McManus Jr also had a
fantastic display at Silverstone. Eoghan approached our team ambassador and
rider mentor Glenn Irwin for advice at first at a local track-day, and seeing
how quick he was progressing at the on a 250 Kawasaki, he instantly offered
James a ride on our second Kawasaki Ninja 400. Team manager Paul Tobin said
“Eoghan is only fourteen years old and has only ridden a motorcycle a hand full
of times, and to come to Junior Supersport in BSB and finish in the top ten on
his first time at Silverstone is nothing short of incredible.”
Team #109 ambassador and rider mentor Glenn Irwin also commented
saying; “Eoghan’s progression is incredible, moving straight into the British
championship paddock from doing track days at home, and being so quick so soon
is absolutely fantastic. It is exciting to see how he continues to progress and
where he goes from here.”
With the next round of the series being held at Oulton Park
this weekend, it won’t be long before Team #109 is back on track, and we will
once again have a full stable of bikes on the grid, with both McGlinchey and
Keyes in action once again. With both the Dickies Junior Supersport and Pirelli
National Superstock 600 classes not making the trip to Assen at the end of the
month, this is the teams penultimate event, before the series finale at Brands
Hatch in October.
Team #109 Kawasaki would like to thank our sponsors for
their continued support; TTS Surfacing, MMD Construction, EMS Copiers, Cork
Motorcycle Racing and Vintage Club, LiftRite Ltd, Spears Racing, Fuchs -
Silkolene, R&G Racing, Kawasaki UK, Ohlins Racing, HEL Performance, Glenn
Irwin GI2, J-Tec Sports, SBS Brakes, JOG Tuning, Shoei Helmets UK, Feridax,
James McCann Photography, Gorman Crash Repairs, Jim McCann & Sons Family
Butchers, Unlimited Industries, MSS Performance, and Ross Motorcycles Cork.
Photographs courtesy of James McCann (www.jmccannphoto.com)
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