(
top) No. 7 James Ellison and No. 2 Leon Camier led Race 1 to a one-two win for Airwaves Yamaha. (
bottom) Hydrex Honda's Stuart Easton placed third and second at Donington Park.
The Airwaves Yamaha pairing of James Ellison and Leon Camier dominated the third round of the 2009 British Superbike Championship at Donington Park this past weekend with Camier extending his championship-lead with a race one victory and Ellison earning his first career-win in race two.
Hydrex Honda’s Stuart Easton did his best to mix it up with the R1-pilots by sticking his CBR1000RR on the box in third in the first race and doing one better in the second. Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha’s Chris Walker found his form again in the second race and finished in third position after a fine fifth in race one. It is both the team’s, and his, first visit to the podium this season.
On a more-somber note, Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli was injured in a freak accident during the sighting lap of the first superbike race when HM Plant’s Josh Brookes reportedly experienced brake failure heading into Melbourne Hairpin. It appears that the impact from Brookes’ machine was responsible for compound fractures of both the tibia and fibula of Gunitoli’s right leg, Brookes was uninjured. He will be out at least 10-weeks according to a team release.
"This has come as a terrible blow to us,” explains Worx Cresecent Suzuki Team Manager Jack Valentine. “Sylvain has been brilliant throughout testing and the early season races. He's done a first class professional job, proving just how fast and how smooth he can be. He's made such an impression - he's quite probably the best rider I've ever worked with. We're obviously upset, incidents like this shouldn't happen any time, but they're particularly hard to accept on sighting laps. However, we must now anticipate Sylvain's recovery. We're looking forward to his return, but by no means will we rush him back. It's important that Sylvain only returns when he's fully fit. In the meantime we will need to appoint a temporary replacement for him. We will need some time to consider our options and make an appointment - but in saying that, we will look to be making an announcement before Thruxton in a week's time."
2009 British Superbike Championship
Donington Park
Race One Results:
1. Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha)
2. James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha)
3. Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda)
4. Glen Richards (HM Plant Honda)
5. Chris Walker (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha)
6. Karl harris (Hydrex Honda)
7. Julien Da Costa (MSS Kawasaki)
8. Ian Lowry (Relentless Suzuki by TAS)
9. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki)
10. Graeme Gowland (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha)
Race Two Results:
1. James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha)
2. Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda)
3. Chris Walker (Motorpoint / Henderson Yamaha)
4. Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki)
5. Glen Richards (HM Plant Honda)
6. Ian Lowry (Relentless Suzuki by TAS)
7. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda)
8. Tristan Palmer (Buildbase Kawasaki)
9. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki)
10. Graeme Gowland (Motorpoint / Henderson Yamaha)
Championship Positions:
1. Leon Camier - 117 points
2. James Ellison- 89 points
3. Stuart Easton - 78
4. Sylvain Guintoli - 77
5. Glen Richards - 76
6. Karl Harris – 60
7. Chris Walker – 49
8. Gary Mason – 46
9. Ian Lowry – 40
10. Simon Andrews – 35
Other Rider Quotes:
James Ellison: "Today has been awesome. It felt fantastic to be on the podium in the first race and to get a one-two for Airwaves Yamaha, but of course the win topped it off. I knew I didn't have the pace to beat Leon in race one, and I'm sure that if he hadn't had technical problems he would have been joining me up the front in race two. Having not won in a while, I wasn't quite sure what to do towards the end, it was really quite hard to keep focused and the adrenalin is still going now. I have to say a massive thank you to everyone at Airwaves Yamaha for all the hard work they have put in. I can't wait to get to Thruxton for more of the same."
Stuart Easton: "It has been a real good day for all of us. The two podiums really are a credit to the whole team. I know everyone says that but they worked through the night to build me a new gearbox and the Hydrex Honda felt completely new this morning in warm up. They lowered the front end and worked on the suspension and I thought that 'the race should go ok'. Today has been a complete turnaround since practice and now we go to Thruxton and I can't wait! I also want to wish Sylvain a speedy recovery."
Chris Walker: "What a mega weekend! I am totally peaking for my boys in the team, we have had a tough start to the year and I was hoping coming to Donington would be the turning point but I never expected to be swagging the champers just yet. The plan was to work away with the bike and finish the weekend with two strong results and gather some crucial info, well we certainly did that and running at the front is the best info you can get. I want to thank my team of Chunky and big Col as well as Ian Prestwood, they have all been hurting with the lack of results and I am happy they have got something back for all their hard work"
