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STRONG SHOWING FOR HAWK AT SUNNY SILVERSTONE Australian pairing Glen Richards and Dean Thomas have both utilised the weeks between races to implement an intensive new training and dietary scheme whilst the team’s technical staff have continued to improve the stunning Hawk Kawasaki ZX-10Rs with engine and chassis changes.
Saturday delivered much improved conditions for the two qualifying sessions and Thomas hit form, constantly around the top of the time sheets and narrowly missing out on a front row start to finish fifth on the grid. Richards suffered a more torrid time. A fall in the second of the day’s sessions leaving the likeable Aussie 10th on the grid and facing an uphill battle from the start in the following day’s races. With conditions improving even more for Sunday’s races, a warm sunny Silverstone greeted race fans. With Hawk Kawasaki’s Richards and Thomas happy with the performance of their ZX-10R race machines both riders were hopeful that a strong start would let them breakaway with the lead group. As the lights went out to start race one Thomas made the break and Richards gained several places away from the line. As Dean pursued the Honda and Ducati at the front, Glen set about working through the field. The drama continued, with Honda-mounted Laverty and Harris, along with visiting WSB regular Ben Bostrom, crashing out heavily, bringing out the red flags, leaving the Hawk Kawasaki riders to line up fifth and sixth on the grid for the restart. With leading riders and championship rivals Kiyonari and Rutter sliding out at the same point on the circuit, the Hawk Kawasaki pairing moved up the field, racing hard with Richards finally overcoming Thomas to finish fifth and sixth, barely a second off the podium and with just over a tenth of a second separating the team-mates. This close formation finishing would be repeated in the second of the day’s races as the temperature at Silverstone continued to rise. Richards once again desperately needed a good start to improve his tenth position on the grid, and delivered in fine style. Rapidly moving through the field, Glen once again moved up behind his team-mate before making a pass. Unable to bridge the gap to fourth-placed Rutter, the green machines of Richards and Thomas once again crossed the line separated by just over a tenth of a second. “Well that’s great, I’m pretty pleased considering my start position and the fact that I trashed a bike yesterday”, smiled Richards “The bike is great, the improvements that the guys have made during the break have made it easier to ride fast and given it more power too, so as a rider I can’t really ask for much else! I’m even more pleased to score good points in both races after crashing out at Snetterton in the last round. And it’s good for the team that Deano’s able to run this pace too. The only bikes ahead of us were factory bikes, so it’s been real good”. Dean Thomas was also happy with his day. “It’s been a while since I could say this, but I’m pleased with things. The bike is just mega, and I kind now run at Glen’s pace, which I’ve known that I’m capable of, but I really wanted to show the team. The guys have put in so much work and it really feels like we’re all going the same way now. The biggest problem up to date has been me! Well, my riding actually. Stuart, (Hicken, Hawk Kawasaki team owner), pointed out that I was holding on too tightly, which was upsetting the bike. It sounded strange to me, but I’ve tried relaxing a bit more and hey presto! The results speak for themselves. At one point I was pretty sure I could overtake Glen, but it was a question of where on the track. He’s real quick and I didn’t want to risk taking us both out, so I followed him home. And the fact that we came home separated by the smallest margin in both races proves that we can do it, so I can safely say that this has been the best race weekend I’ve had in ages. Roll on Cadwell!” Hawk Kawasaki Team owner Stuart Hicken shared his riders’ delight at the day’s results. ”Well, we’re back and we’re back on form. I’ve said from the start of the season that I’m looking to put both riders in the top six at each race and we’ve done that here today. Glen, well, what superb racing. He came from 10th on the grid to top five in both races, and that’s only a few weeks after his collarbone injury and following a get-off yesterday. But today was really all about Dean. He took some difficult feedback about his riding, and to his credit, he’s used it to his advantage. I’ve been sure all season that we just needed to find that little thing that’s been holding him back and that once we found it he’d be up there. He’s taken some stick but today he raced all the way through to the end and he was definitely pushing Glen in places. I’m really pleased with the effort that the whole team has made during the break and throughout the weekend and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do at Cadwell in week’s time.” Hawk Kawasaki will contest the next round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park on Monday 29th August. You can catch the latest behind-the-scenes update on Hawk Kawasaki by watching “Hawk Speed”, the fly-on-the-wall series following the team at 7pm, this Friday, on Men & Motors. Race One Results: Race Two Results: Bennetts British Superbike Championship Positions after Round Nine: 1: Michael Rutter (Honda) 316 Manufacturers Championship Standings after Round Nine: 1: Honda 414
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