ELEVENTH FOR MASON – WITH MORE TO COME
24 September 2005 - Stobart Honda

Stobart Honda rider Gary Mason posted eleventh fastest time during qualifying for the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at a breezy but sunny Donington Park today.

The 26 year old from Lichfield experimented with different tyres during the fifty minute session and whilst he was a little bit disappointed to have to start tomorrow’s two races from row three of the grid, he was upbeat about the potential of putting the VK, Vent Axia and The Mob backed machine up at the cutting edge tomorrow.

“We’ve been trying some different profile tyres which I feel more comfortable on, but the compound we tried was a bit too hard and we will put a softer one in tomorrow. I’m disappointed with eleventh but looking forward to the races tomorrow” said Mason.

Meanwhile team mate Michael Laverty, still feeling the effects of his Silverstone crash a month ago, qualified in a disappointing twenty third position.

Still struggling to regain his fitness the 24 year old Ulsterman improved as the day went on but knows he has work to do come race day.

“I’m still struggling to find the pace I need to get up there but I’m improving every session which is all I can ask for at the moment, but I would like to be further up the leaderboard. Hopefully I can get it together for tomorrow and get into the top ten at least” said Laverty.

Crew Chief Phil Borley commented: “We are a little bit disappointed with qualifying. Gary went quicker in the first session and we think he got held up in his last session through the last sector, so hence his position. Michael was struggling a bit with grip and probably race fitness and that is why he has ended up so low on the grid. So obviously we are expecting better results tomorrow.”

Superbike Qualifying

1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 1m31.458s, 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 1m31.662s, 3, Michael Rutter (Honda) 1m32.050s, 4, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1m32.117s, 5, Glen Richards (Kawasaki) 1m32.290s, 6, James Haydon (Suzuki) 1m32.342s, 7, John Reynolds (Suzuki) 1m32.612s, 8, Dean Thomas (Kawasaki) 1m32.804s, 9, Karl Harris (Honda) 1m32.903s, 10, Dennis Hobbs (Yamaha) 1m32.911s, 11, Gary Mason (Stobart Honda) 1m33.097s….. 23, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 1m33.960s.

2005 BSB 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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