CROFT PRODUCES BEST RESULT FOR THE SEASON
16 August 2006 - M.A.R

The steady and methodical approach the M.A.R team have taken with Superbike Cup rider Michael Howarth is starting to pay dividends as he recorded his best overall result at Croft as Richard Marchant continues to progress in the Superstock Cup.

As with the previous round at Oulton Park Howarth quickly got to grips with the North Yorkshire circuit during qualifying recording a time which put him fourth fastest in the Superbike Cup.

With clouds looming in the first race the team took a gamble and opted for Intermediate tyres but with the rain not coming as expected it wasn’t long before Howarth’s tyres started to deteriorate. He hung in though and managed to finish fourth in the Cup.

In race two the heavens had well and truly opened and the Lancashire rider got one of his best starts of the season sweeping past many more experienced riders slotting into a position just outside the top fifteen outright as the first of the privateers.

He comfortably held of Andrews and Kirkham for most of the race before eventually finishing seventeenth outright as the second Cup rider.

Team boss Malcolm Ashley said it was probably the best performance from Howarth to date.

“We’ve adopted a slow and steady approach to bringing Michael and Richard on and it’s clear that it is working. Michael’s performance today is his best this season and we are quietly confident that a Cup win and some outright points aren’t too far off.”

The M.A.R team are already looking at testing schedules for Howarth over the winter with the possibility of squeezing some racing in at Daytona also being considered.

In the Superstock Cup Richard Marchant once again qualified for the main race and went on to finish inside the top thirty.

With the team undertaking extensive testing and race duties outside the British Superbike Championship the Essex rider has continued to improve and get to grips with both his ZX10 and the team.

Marchant has already signed up to join the team in 2007 with a test on the teams Superbike expected before the years out. M.A.R is also looking to bring a third rider into the fold.

The next event for Howarth, Marchant and the M.A.R team will be at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire on the August Bank Holiday weekend.

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