ROUND SIX - BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP - CROFT CIRCUIT – 3 / 4 / 5TH JUNE 2005
06 June 2005 - Honda Racing

BRILLIANT QUALIFYING FOR CLARKE & HYDREX HONDA. RACE ONE FRUSTRATION CURED BY SWEET EIGHTH IN RACE TWO.

Kieran Clarke and the SMR/Colin Appleyard Hydrex Honda qualified very well in varying weather conditions at the sixth round of the Bennetts Superbike Championship in the North East of England this weekend.
Kieran was happy with his grid position putting himself in eleventh place on row three ahead of James Haydon (Virgin Mobile Yamaha) and second in the title chase Gregorio Lavilla (Airwaves Ducati). Just one second off the pole time, Kieran was very optimistic for the race.

Race One

Clarke did not make the best of starts but given that there is something approaching twenty factory machines on the grid he made a fist of it to fight through. Circulating with Scott Smart, John Reynolds and other notable stars he had battled to twelfth before the gearbox broke on lap sixteen. This was a very disappointing end to what would have been certain points towards the Championship.

Race Two

Another difficult start made for a hard ride and Kieran again found himself down among the midfield pack with a lot of work to do. As the two HM Plant Hondas raced away in the lead, the Hydrex Honda rider circulated with riders he normally would have left in his wake. With ten laps gone Kieran was offered another bite of the cherry as the red flag came out for a rain stoppage. The conditions were very much a lottery and most teams opted to stay with the original choice of tyre. The spots of rain were still falling at the restart and fourteen laps effectively became a hotly contested new race. At the halfway stage, Kieran was in twelfth but looking very threatening. Steady, fast and smooth riding paid dividends and at the flag, the Hydrex Honda was past many quick men and up to a terrific eighth. Clarke’s Championship challenge was further enhanced by this strong ride and he hopes for an even better result in the races to come.

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