Camier Victorious in Race One

By Burning Rubber on Sep 14, 08 02:05 PM

British Superbikes, Croft Circuit.

LEON Camier took the spoils in the first of today's British Superbike races at Croft Circuit.In a race which saw four different riders take the lead, it was the Airwaves Ducati star who took the chequered flag at the end of a tough 20-laps.

At the green light, it was polesitter Cal Crutchlow who grabbed the holeshot, but the HM Plant Honda rider soon lost out to the ever-popular Tom Sykes, who barged his Rizla Suzuki machine into the lead as the pack came round to start the second lap.

Sykes' time at the front was to last six laps, until Leon Haslam took the lead, where he stayed for the next six, as the race reached and breached its midway point.

Camier meanwhile had started to weave his way through the field, passing team-mate Shakey Byrne, Crutchlow and Sykes before starting to hunt down Haslam.

On Lap 13 he made his move on the Pocket Rocket as they headed through Tower, and within two laps had gapped the Honda to give himself a healthy cushion.

Haslam was unable to find any more, and had to settle for second, as the battle raged for third.

Byrne tried his hardest to make up the places, and after passing Sykes on Lap 18, it looked like he would be taking the final podium spot.

However it all changed on the final lap, as Sykes refused to give up third, and made a move on the hairpin which forced Shakey wide and let Crutchlow through as well. Sykes got third, Crutchlow fourth and Shakey found himself fifth.

In the Superbike Cup, Gary Mason kept the frontrunners honest, taking the win and finishing 11th overall. John Laverty closed even further in on the title with a second, while local rider Chris Burns crossed the line third on the MV Agusta.

Top Ten:

1: Leon Camier, Airwaves Ducati
2: Leon Haslam, HM Plant Honda
3: Tom Sykes, Rizla Suzuki
4: Cal Crutchlow, HM Plant Honda
5: Shane Byrne, Airwaves Ducati
6: Michael Rutter, North West 200 Ducati
7: Michael Laverty, Relentless Suzuki by TAS
8: Karl Harris, Team Yamaha
9: James Ellison, Hydrex Bike Animal Honda
10: Simon Andrews, Jentin Racing/Lloyds British.

Superbike Cup:

1: Gary Mason, Quay Garage
2: John Laverty, Buildbase NW200 Ducati
3: Chris Burns, STP Superbike