The Airwaves Yamaha team of Leon Camier and James Ellison delivered another double victory during Round 12 of British Superbike at Silverstone. Camier won Race 1 and secured his British Superbike Championship title with one race to go.
Race 1:
Leon Camier, Airwaves Yamaha has had a remarkable season. Out of 11 rounds, Camier has finished off the podium only four times.
Team Airwaves Yamaha started on the grid in first and second after qualifying times separated them by a mere 0.097 seconds, but it was Hydrex Honda’s Stuart Easton, who took the holeshot and Camier fell to fifth leaving Ellison in second. By Lap 4, Ellison had moved to the lead in front of HM Plant Honda’s Josh Brookes and Easton with Camier climbing up behind him.
On the final lap, Camier passed Ellison taking the lead and first place winning his 17th race of the season and his first British Superbike Championship title.
Whilst first through fourth had finished, the race moved to Easton’s teammate, Tommy Hill, Buildbase Kawasaki rider John Laverty, and Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli all finishing more than nine seconds behind the leaders. Guintoli had crashed out of Race 2 in September at Croft, but did not suffer any major injuries.
The 23-year old Ian Lowry piloted his Relentless Suzuki to an eighth-place finish with his best career finish in 2009 being fourth during Race 1 at Donington. MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider, Simon Andrews, who started in seventh on the grid finished in ninth with his teammate, Julien Da Costa, finishing in tenth.
Race 1 Results:
1. Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha
2. James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha +0.244sec
3. Josh Brookes - HM Plant Honda +8.827sec
4. Stuart Easton - Hydrex Honda +9.164sec
5. Tommy Hill - Hydrex Honda +18.278sec
6. John Laverty - Buildbase Kawasaki +18.787sec
7. Sylvain Guintoli - Worx Crescent Suzuki +18.933sec
8. Ian Lowry - Relentless TAS Suzuki +22.408sec
9. Simon Andrews - MSS Colchester Kawasaki +22.921sec
10. Julien Da Costa - MSS Colchester Kawasaki +24.682sec
DNF:
Alastair Seeley - Relentless TAS Suzuki 18 laps Evo
Tristan Palmer - Buildbase Kawasaki 18 laps
Howie Mainwaring - Team Maxxis Yamaha 11 laps
David Haire - JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 10 lap Cup
Chris Walker - Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 9 laps
David Johnson - Jentin Yamaha 7 laps
Aaron Zanotti - Red Viper Honda 7 laps
Michael Rutter - Bathams Ducati 4 laps
Karl Harris - SMT Honda 0 laps
Race 2:
Airwaves Yamaha's James Ellison (7) has not finished outside the top-ten during the 2009 season.
After a restart to Race 2, it was Easton, again, who grabbed the holeshot with Brookes, Ellison and Camier following closely behind. Camier pressed forward and on Lap 4, while attempting to take the lead, Camier would make a mistake that sends him off track dropping from second to ninth. With Camier farther back in the pack, Ellison took the lead and the win marking his fourth career British Superbike victory. Camier returned to finish second followed by Brookes and Easton.
Hill, who recently joined Hydrex, finished in a solid fifth place with Da Costa and Andrews placing higher in Race 2 and swapping positions. Guintoli dropped back one position finishing in eighth with Lowry in tow in ninth. Alastair Seeley, who DNF’d Race 1 returned and took the final top-ten position.
With only one round left at Oulton and 39 points separating Ellison from fast-starter Easton, will Ellison be able to hold onto second place in the points race?
Race 2 Results:
1. James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha 18 laps
2. Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha +1.200sec
3. Josh Brookes - HM Plant Honda +2.583sec
4. Stuart Easton - Hydrex Honda +3.974sec
5. Tommy Hill - Hydrex Honda +9.774sec
6. Julien Da Costa - MSS Colchester Kawasaki +11.099sec
7. Simon Andrews - MSS Colchester Kawasaki +14.340sec
8. Sylvain Guintoli - Worx Crescent Suzuki +16.148sec
9. Ian Lowry - Relentless TAS Suzuki +21.434sec
10. Alastair Seeley - Relentless TAS Suzuki +23.963sec Evo
DNF:
John Laverty - Buildbase Kawasaki 13 laps
Gary Mason - Quay Honda 10 laps Cup
Graeme Gowland - Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha 10 laps
David Haire - JX Fuelcard Kawasaki 5 laps Cup
Dan Linfoot - Rob Mac Racing Yamaha 2 laps
Rider’s Quotes:
James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha - 2nd, 1st:
“It’s been a mega weekend. From the very first session we’ve been quick and the second race topped it off. It feels good to beat Leon fair and square on the track. I think I’ve managed to find something a little extra in me and the bike, which we will carry on to Oulton Park. Congratulations to Leon on a fantastic Championship win.”
Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha - 1st, 2nd:
"It’s a dream come true to become British Superbike Champion. I have to thank everyone who has helped me get here. The first race was one of the hardest of the season for me. I was pushing so hard and there were some places where I was a bit out of control. I kept trying to make passes, but they weren’t working out. Thankfully it all turned out ok in the end, it’s an unbelievable feeling to know I’ve finally done it!”
"I really don't know what to make of it all to be honest,” said Camier after his race win yesterday. “It is such a big moment for me to win the title. The first race was one of the hardest races of the season for me and there were some places that I was a bit out of control, which everyone could see. It was great to see James win the second race though and this has been an awesome weekend for the Airwaves Yamaha team and all of our sponsors. It has been a dream come true today and without doubt we will be celebrating tonight!"
