BSB: Seeley Takes Victory For Relentless Suzuki At Oulton Park
Victory for Seeley – Lowry takes 8th
Oulton Park proved a successful day all round for the Relentless Suzuki team with Suzuki debutant Alastair Seeley winning first time out on the 2009 GSX-R1000 in the Superstock class and Ian Lowry taking a brace of top ten results in the British Superbike races.
Seeley seized his opportunity with both hands from pole position, and even when he’d slipped to sixth place at the end of the opening lap, the diminutive series leader didn’t panic. He immediately pushed past Scott Smart then set about reeling in McGuinness and Brogan at the head of the field. He hit the front with two laps to go, taking the win and the fastest lap of the race. Aussie Cameron Donald and BJ Toal brought home their Relentless Suzukis in 7th and 8th places respectively.
Ian Lowry, looking relaxed and confident with John Reynolds in his corner during free practice and qualifying, showed great maturity in both British Superbike races, taking a number of more experienced scalps in both outings.
Japan’s Atsushi Watanabe has been growing in confidence with each and every session on the 2009 GSX-R1000 Relentless Suzuki Superbike and the former All Japan champion scored points in both races [14th and 12th].
Ian Lowry
“I’ve had a great weekend and it’s really been steady away from the first session. I really love riding the GSX-R1000 Superbike and I’m learning every time I throw my leg over it. I enjoyed both races today and I didn’t try to over stretch and start performing any heroics. I got the chance to mix it with some of the series favourites and we’ve proven as a team the Relentless Suzuki package is good enough to be up there challenging for top results. I have a couple of weeks off now to cheer on my road racing team-mates at the North West 200, then it’s back to business at Donington Park.”
Alastair Seeley
“It’s been a perfect day… in fact it has been a perfect weekend and the GSX-R1000 is definitely the bike to be on in the Superstock class and also for next week’s North West 200. Philip told me to ride my own race and not let anything change my plans. The races in British championship are long in laps and I didn’t panic. I just got a feel for the circuit in the first couple of laps then began reeling in John and Steve. I was getting grip on the dry line and also hooking it up well on the wet sections and just kept to my game plan. I’m delighted to have 50 points from the first two races but also to have given Relentless Suzuki and all their sponsors a well deserved win.”
Philip Neill – Team Principal
“That’s more like it! After a tough start at Brands it’s pleasing to come away with positives for Suzuki, Relentless and all our sponsors. It’s also good to confirm the potential of the GSX-R1000 Suzuki. As a series rookie, Ian showed great maturity today and confirmed his credentials as a top flight British Superbike rider in amongst some very experienced company. It gives us great heart for the rest of the season.
“Atsu has been making steady improvements and as everyone knows, he has now settled in very well with our whole team. He improved in the second race and with a little more time we are sure he’ll show his full potential.
“In the Superstock class it was very pleasing to have all three riders in the top 10, and especially pleasing to have justified our decision to support Alastair Seeley at Oulton. It was a stunning display from Alastair and he really did dominate the class all weekend: from pole position in qualifying to the fastest lap of the race and of course winning on the 2009 GSX-R1000. It sets us up well for the North West 200 next week and after all the hard work from everyone in the team, we are now in the correct frame of mind going into the first international road race of the year.”
British Superbikes [Race 1]
Winner – Leon Camier 29:14.802; 2nd – Karl Harris +1.062; 3rd – Sylvain Guintoli +5.378; 4th – Stuart Easton +5.485; 5th – James Ellison +14.763; 6th – Glen Richards +15.145; 7th – Ian Lowry +19.939; 8th – Jason O’Halloran +20.261; 9th – Gary Mason +25.040; 10th – Josh Brookes +25.494
British Superbikes [Race 2]
Winner – Leon Camier 29:07.389; 2nd – Karl Harris +7.326; 3rd – Sylvain Guintoli +11.792; 4th – James Ellison +11.908; 5th – Glen Richards +12.295; 6th – Ian Lowry +15.447; 7th – Gary Mason +17.702; 8th – Simon Andrews +19.420; 9th – Chris Walker +19.535; 10th – Jason O’Halloran +25.749
National Superstock 1000
Winner – Alastair Seeley 27:35.596; 2nd – Steve Brogan +1.372; 3rd – John McGuinness +10.730; 4th – Scott Smart +20.730; 5th – Luke Quigley +24.976; 6th – Howie Mainwaring +29.114; 7th – Cameron Donald +33.155; 8th – BJ Toal +43.348; 9th – Marshall Neill +54.304; 10th – Conor Cummins +58.393
Fastest lap – Alastair Seeley 1:46.683