BATTLING TOP TEN FOR BRUISED MASON
30 August 2005 - Stobart Honda

Stobart Honda rider Gary Mason rode through the pain of a torn cruciate ligament sustained in a high speed qualifying incident to post a tenth position in race two of round ten of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at a warm and sunny Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday Monday.

In front of another record crowd of around 40,000, Mason added to his tenth position with an equally brave eleventh place in the first race and as a result he goes into the final three rounds of the series in eighth position in the championship

Following the withdrawal of Michael Laverty due to injury Mason was left to uphold the VK, The Mob and Vent Axia backed team’s honour but by his own admission he struggled.

“I’m a bit peeved because of my injury, but I just did the best I could. It was really difficult to change direction and I could only push as hard as my knee would let me” said Mason.

Team owner Paul Bird was philosophical leaving the track at which the team claimed the championship in 2003 with Shakey Byrne. “Its not where we wanted to be this weekend but all things considered there’s not a lot more we could do. Hopefully we’ll have Michael back for Oulton Park and we can get back to winning ways before the end of the season. It’s frustrating for everyone concerned that we are not where we wanted to be and we knew this year would be a very difficult task for us all.”

The team is next in action at Oulton Park, Cheshire in two week''s time.

Bennetts British Superbike Race One Result

1, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 27m41.871s, 2, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +4.180s, 3, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) +4.607s, 4, Karl Harris (Honda) +5.045s, 5, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +5.311s, 6, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +7.498s, 7, James Haydon (Suzuki) +13.062s, 8, Michael Rutter (Honda) +13.765s, 9, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +13.974s, 10, James Buckingham (Suzuki) +14.625s, 11, Gary Mason (Stobart Honda) +27.331s.

Bennetts British Superbike Race Two Result

1, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 26m41.146s, 2, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.444s, 3, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +9.839s, 4, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +10.751s, 5, Karl Harris (Honda) +15.894s, 6, James Haydon (Suzuki) +16.284s, 7, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) +16.460s, 8, John Reynolds (Suzuki) +24.476s, 9, Steve Plater (Honda) +28.365s, 10, Gary Mason (Stobart Honda) +30.347s.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings (after Round 20)

1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 326pts

2, Michael Rutter (Honda) 324pts

3, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 317pts

4, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 243pts

5, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 199pts

6, Karl Harris (Honda) 169pts

7, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 145pts

8, Gary Mason (Stobart Honda) 127pts

9, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 113pts

10, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 96pts

2005 Bennetts British Superbike Race Dates

R1: 26–28 March, Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy) www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R2: 8–10 April, Thruxton, Hants www.barc.net

R3: 22–24 April, Mallory Park, Leics www.mallorypark.co.uk

R4: 30 April–2 May, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R5: 13–15 May, Mondello Park, Co Kildare www.mondellopark.ie

R6: 3–5 June, Croft, N Yorks www.croftcircuit.co.uk

R7: 24–26 June, Knockhill, Fife www.knockhill.co.uk

R8: 8–10 July, Snetterton, Norfolk www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R9: 19-21 August, Silverstone, Northants www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk

R10: 27-29 August, Cadwell Park, Lincs www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R11: 9–11 September, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk

R12: 23–25 September, Donington Park, Leics www.donington-park.co.uk

R13: 7–9 October, Brands Hatch, Kent (GP) www.motorsportvision.co.uk

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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