LAVILLA TAKES VICTORY FOR AIRWAVES DUCATI AT SNETTERTON
10 July 2005 - GSE Racing

Airwaves Ducati rider Gregorio Lavilla claimed his third victory of the season in the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton today.

The Spaniard’s teammate, Leon Haslam, also took a fantastic second position but both riders were left wondering what might have been when they were each unable to complete a race. The pairing now lie third and fourth in the Championship standings with the team placed second in the manufacturer’s points table.

The Airwaves Ducatis were quick all weekend and benefited from recent work undertaken by team partner Q8Oils, testing a new oil prior to the event, developed in the UK as well as the laboratory in Rotterdam. The Dunlop-shod Ducatis were tested to the limits and achieved fantastic results.

The first race saw pole-sitter Leon chase Kiyonari off the start and Gregorio gain two places to sit in fifth. Leon settled into a good rhythm, chasing Kiyonari for the whole race and he claimed a comfortable second position. Gregorio was frustrated to lose the front end coming out of Sears on lap 4 and despite trying to continue, was unable to restart his Airwaves Ducati.

In race two, Leon started well again and was looking comfortable behind Rutter and Laverty in the early stages, before a mechanical problem prompted marshals to retire the young Englishman. Gregorio started well off the grid and began to work his way through the field in search of another victory. He passed Laverty and Rutter in style before pushing all the way to the chequered flag, winning by 2 seconds.

Airwaves Ducati Team Manager, Colin Wright, expressed his delight at the rewards from a contrasting day: “I am thrilled that we managed another race victory although it is definitely a case of what might have been. Leon was looking very quick all weekend and could have challenged for victory in race two whilst Gregorio proved his potential and was very unlucky in race one”.

Gregorio was delighted with his victory:”I’m not sure what happened in the first race, I just lost the front end when I was exiting the corner. The conditions were a lot different today and maybe that was the reason why. The bike felt good in the second race but I couldn’t relax at all and pushed hard all the way to the end. It was an exciting second race and keeps me challenging for the Championship”.

Leon summed up a mixed day: “I was really pleased with race one. I struggled a little bit speed wise but was always close to Kiyo in the corners but couldn’t catch him or get close enough to make a move. I was really hopeful for race two and very comfortable sitting behind Laverty and Rutter at the beginning. I knew I was quick so there was every chance I would have challenged for victory so that’s very frustrating. It’s very annoying with Kiyo also going down but that’s the way it goes”.

The ninth round of the British Superbike Championships takes place at Silverstone on 19th – 21st August.

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