BSB Croft Test – Review Feature

BSB Croft Test – Review Feature

Sean Emmett has been replaced by James Haydon for the next round of the British Superbike Series and it has not been announced if this is a permanent position or not as Sean is having surgery on the elbow he badly damaged when he highsided at the first round held at Brands Hatch, Sean is having the elbow pinned as he has been suffering badly from the injury with infection and not being able the use his arm through pain.

There is a rumour that the replacement is permanent as it has been said that Sean is not giving the series the level of determination and fitness that the team require,but this is just that a rumour.

When I last spoke to Sean at Oulton Park he was looking very fit but was not happy with the outcome of his injury which was giving him a lot of pain.

At the official superbike test which was held at Croft this week John Reynolds made his return to fitness and was ahead on times by 8 places in front of his team-mate Scott Smart.

Surprisingly enough though was Ryuichi Kiyonari was not in attendance which is somewhat unusual as he is normally the rider who does the most testing out of all the BSB riders,the Kiyo Kid fell at Mondello and is probably undergoing further treatment on the ankle he broke after his horrific crash at Mallory Park so he can return to racing at the next round which will be at the Croft Circuit,Kiyo’s was heavily strapped at Mondello having fallen there but was not showing any signs of problems regarding his ankle although he was in some pain.

Leon Haslam was the top rider of the day and is obviously full of confidence after his first win of the season at Oulton Park and a great second place at Mondello,especially as the Croft test day was a wet day with very little dry track time Leon is gaining more confidence as the series runs on.

Jonathan Rea who astounded all at Mondello was in a good second position in the first session of the day and he will only get better and his unfortunate fall at Mondello has obviously not damaged his confidence at all.

Young gun Tommy Hill now fully fit after his accident at Mallory Park which ended up with him having surgery on a very bad gash on his right arm is now back into the fray and will be going all out to gain some much needed points.

Dean Ellison having split from the Jentin Racing team has in fact put together his own privately owned Fireblade to race in the series after reports stated that things were not right regarding tyre choices at a very wet Oulton Park.

Jeremy McWillaims was not at the croft test and it is thought that he is resting his shoulder which he injured when falling at Thruxton.

Michael Rutter was also running well after his historic win at the Northwest 200 and Steve Platter was also in a better position in the second session.

James Haydon aboard the Virgin Mobile Yamaha put in some excellent times and can only be commended as a rider to watch out for,how he has never been given a permanent place in the series is just unbelievable as his dedication ,fitness and ability are shining through.

Here are the times for the Official Test day at Croft.

First session:

1. Leon Haslam GBR GSE Racing Ducati 1min 32.462 secs 2. Jonathon Rea IRL Red Bull Honda 1min 33.408 secs 3. Michael Rutter GBR HM Plant Honda 1min 33.625 secs 4. John Reynolds GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 34.201 secs 5. Tommy Hill GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 34.441 secs 6. Karl Harris GBR Honda UK Racing 1min 34.804 secs 7. Jon Kirkham GBR Sendo Dienza Performance Kawasaki 1min 35.037 secs 8. Gary Mason GBR Stobart Honda 1min 35.395 secs 9. James Haydon GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 35.851 secs 10. Nick Medd GBR ARCO Medd Racing Kawasaki 1min 36.614 secs 11. Gregorio Lavilla GBR GSE Racing Ducati 1min 36.708 secs 12. Scott Smart GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 36.708 secs 13. Kieran Clarke GBR Hydrex Honda 1min 36.924 secs 14. John Laverty IRL Vitrans Ten Kate Honda 1min 37.656 secs 15. Ben Wilson GBR Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki 1min 38.156 secs 16. Tristan Palmer GBR Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki 1min 38.180 secs 17. Richard Wren GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 39.748 secs 18. Steve Plater GBR Sendo Dienza Performance Kawasaki 1min 42.995 secs 19. Marty Nutt GBR Nutttravel.com Racing Honda 1min 42.995 secs C 20. Luke Quigley GBR Jentin Racing Yamaha 1min 43.618 secs 21. Michael Laverty IRL Stobart Honda 1min 44.745 secs

Second Session:

1. Leon Haslam GBR GSE Racing Ducati 1min 27.336 secs 2. Tommy Hill GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 27.408 secs 3. Michael Rutter GBR HM Plant Honda 1min 27.444 secs 4. Karl Harris GBR Honda UK Racing 1min 27.508 secs 5. James Haydon GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 27.687 secs 6. Jonathon Rea IRL Red Bull Honda 1min 27.914 secs 7. Steve Plater GBR Sendo Dienza Performance Kawasaki 1min 28.081 secs 8. Ben Wilson GBR Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki 1min 29.075 secs 9. John Laverty IRL Vitrans Ten Kate Honda 1min 29.482 secs 10. Kieran Clarke GBR Hydrex Honda 1min 29.852 secs 11. Nick Medd GBR ARCO Medd Racing Kawasaki 1min 30.228 secs 12. Jon Kirkham GBR Sendo Dienza Performance Kawasaki 1min 30.700 secs 13. Tristan Palmer GBR Vivaldi Racing Kawasaki 1min 31.098 secs 14. John Reynolds GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 31.433 secs 15. Scott Smart GBR Rizla Suzuki 1min 31.510 secs 16. Marty Nutt GBR Nutttravel.com Racing Honda 1min 31.940 secs C 17. Richard Wren GBR Virgin Yamaha 1min 32.354 secs 18. Gareth Glynn GBR Jentin Racing Yamaha 1min 32.603 secs C 19. Michael Laverty IRL Stobart Honda 1min 37.181 secs 20. Dean Ellison GBR Slingshot Racing Honda 1min 43.346 secs

LOVE IS GIVING SOMEONE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY YOU, THEN TRUSTING THEM NOT TO.

Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, But rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, vacuum in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming…….WOO HOO, there goes another engine!