MSS COLCHESTER Kawasaki continued their recent strong performances in this year's British Superbikes with yet more impressive results at Knockhill today.
Simon Andrews, despite a snapped scaphoid bone in his left wrist, battled through the field from the back of the third row to finish a stunning fourth in race one and a sixth in race two. These results elevated him to sixth position in the championship.
Knockhill virgin Julien da Costa qualified in an uncustomary seventeenth position. The reigning World Endurance Champion failed to finish in race one and was the victor in a close battle for eighth in race two.
The team’s seventeen year-old Superstock rider, Jess Trayler, leaves Knockhill still sixth in the championship after suffering a twenty second penalty in race one and a fighting fourth place in race two. The Superstock class were awarded two races at Knockhill because the paddock at Mallory Park can’t accommodate the vast Superstock entry.
Quotes
Nick Morgan, Team Manager
‘I’m driving back from Knockhill with mixed feelings. I think the fact I’m not doing back-flips speaks volumes about how far we’ve come with the ZX-10R this year. This time last year we were celebrating an eleventh placed finish. This year we’ve achieved a fourth but I know – and the times tell the story – we could have been on the podium. Simon’s broken wrist hasn’t helped. Neither did Julien’s lack of time at the track. We’ll have to make amends at Mallory in two weeks time.’
Julien da Costa, Superbike rider
‘It has been a difficult weekend and it all started with qualifying. It is such a hard track to pass on, there is only one line. My eighth position in race two was some consolation. At least all the circuits from now on, I know.’
Simon Andrews, Superbike rider
I wondered why my wrist was sore. An x-ray on Friday morning showed the left scaphoid was broken in half from my Snetterton testing accident. The bike’s been great this weekend bar for a few problems in qualifying. We went second quickest in warm-up this morning and I knew we had the pace. It’s a tall order from the third row but I gave it my best in race one. The pain slowed me a bit in the latter stages of race two but those points mattered.’
Jess Trayler, Superstock 600 rider
‘The bike’s been fantastic this weekend. The lap record was a 52.4 last year and I did a 51.8 this year. I got docked a twenty second penalty in race one, so even though I crossed the line in second I was awarded seventeenth. That hurt. My fourth in race two preserved my sixth place in the series with my best five tracks yet to come. I’m certainly not giving up, that’s for sure.’
