CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD HELD BY LAVILLA
17 September 2006 - Airwaves Ducati

Its all change at the top as the ‘Black Mint’ Airwaves Ducati team leave Silverstone this weekend with Gregorio Lavilla now leading the championship.

He will go into the season finale at Brands Hatch as the one to beat after he achieved two 2nd places today. Former championship leader, Leon Haslam had a day of mixed results, failing to finish the first race but coming 3rd in the second.

In race 1 Haslam was leading by the end of the first lap with Lavilla back in 5th. Then having done well to stay on the bike after a massive high speed wobble, on lap 2 the reigning Champion picked off a rider a lap to end up 3rd by the end of lap 5. With Kiyo and Leon moving away at the front, Greg was locked in a battle with Rutter, Rea and Harris for the final podium spot; however they all advanced one place when Leon came off his Ducati 999F06 on lap 8. With Kiyo stretching his lead, Greg continued to fight off the challenge from behind and with an unassailable 10 second lead going into the final lap Kiyo took the chequered flag with Greg finishing in a well fought 2nd place.

The second race saw Leon take the lead from the start with Greg moving from 4th to 3rd by the end of the first lap. Kiyonari took the lead on lap 3 leaving the Airwaves Ducati’s in 2nd and 3rd but with only a second separating the top 3 the competition for podium spots looked as if it would go to the finish. Greg overtook his team mate on lap 6 and Leon started to drop off of the pace as the battle for 1st continued between Greg and Kiyo. However Greg had little opportunity to steal the lead and the race finished with Greg 2nd and Leon 3rd. The day’s results mean that Greg goes into the final round with 377 championship points and a slender 1 point lead over Kiyo, Leon is a only 8 points behind on 368.

After failing to finish the first race Leon Haslam was quick to look ahead to Brands and not dwell on the day’s disappointments. “I was pushing a bit too much in the first race and I made that little mistake which cost me a finish. I then had to change to my second bike which I don’t like as much but I am obviously pleased with the second race result. Brands will be a great weekend now and I for one am really looking forward to it!”

Current championship leader Gregorio Lavilla commented, “I am really happy with my results today and being in the lead going into the final round is obviously a nice place to be, even if it is only by 1 point! In the first race my start was not great and the bike was feeling a bit different to yesterday but after I had a close call early on I settled down and it was good to come out with a podium finish. The second race was much better as we had made some changes to the bike, my Dunlop tyres felt good and my lap times were quicker so I felt much more comfortable. Going to Brands as championship leader does not affect me, I will go there to put in the best performance I can and hopefully the title will be ours again.”

Colin Wright was quick to praise the teams performance “in spite of the fact that we achieved another three podium positions, its been a tough weekend for us. Both Leon and Greg have experienced problems but overcame them and presented themselves as true professionals. I am very proud of them and all the guys and girls who make GSE Racing so special. Whatever the outcome at Brands we will end the season on a high – may the best man win!

The final round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place on October 1st 2006 at Brands Hatch.

www.airwaves-ducati.co.uk

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