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Northpoint Ekerold Honda did an excellent job of clinching second and sixth positions at round seven of the British Supersport championship at Snetterton today. The race saw a continuation of the exciting riding we have come to expect from both riders as Cal Crutchlow took yet another podium with an impressive pass on the final lap and Leon Camier gained more valuable points in his Championship defence.
With hot conditions at the Norfolk circuit, Crutchlow and Camier got good starts to the 19 lap race crossing the line in second and sixth at the end of lap one. Whilst Crutchlow embarked on battle with Stuart Easton and Tom Sykes which saw him drop back to third on lap three behind race leader and eventual winner Eugene Laverty, Camier fought hard to maintain fifth place for much of the race.
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| Like Camier who encountered the same challenge at Mallory Park two weeks ago, Crutchlow tried many passing manoeuvres to find a way around Sykes in the battle for second with a pace which saw the top three riders consistently breaking the lap record throughout the race around the 1.952 mile track. With Easton dropping out of the equation both riders made attempts to close down on Laverty who had gained some two second lead by lap six but being held up by backmarkers on lap 15, the chasing pair were unable to make an impression on the race leader. Crutchlow's determination however became very apparent as he put pressure on Sykes, fighting an even closer battle in the latter stages. The gritty 20 year old attempted a pass on the final lap at the Esses but Sykes firmly shut the door, leaving him to make an unlikely but spectacular pass at the bombhole which he executed perfectly. Aboard the Pirelli shod machine, Crutchlow crossed the line to take second place which maintains his championship lead by 19 points. In his 7th consecutive race he continues with his one-hundred-percent podium finishes so far this season. |
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Camier, who started from the second row of the grid, got a good start and set about an eight-wheeler battle for fifth aboard his Honda CBR 600RR. The 20 year old from Ashford held his position for the majority of the race and pursued Pere Riba in fourth who had gained a fair advantage over the chasing pack by lap five. Camier rode a defensive race throughout but was pipped at the post by Stuart Easton on the final lap to finish in a credible sixth position. The reigning champion has been working hard with his crew which is demonstrated in his bringing the bike home with a solid result. |
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| The 19 year old from Ashford set about chasing down the race leaders' and with Laverty's misfortune crossed the line to take a strong second position. With this boost to his confidence he is determined to build on such form at the next race in his quest to defend his title. |
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Cal Crutchlow said; I really enjoyed the race today and I'm pleased with the results. It was hard work and I was determined to get that second place position so it really came to a do-or-die pass on the last lap. I've managed to gain more valuable points for our championship challenge which is the most important thing at the moment. We've got a few weeks break before the next race but I'm definitely looking forward to it.
Leon Camier said; I suspected I was going to struggle a bit today against lighter riders on the long straights. We are working well together as a team and are looking for every opportunity for improvement. I know that we're going in the right direction and we can get more podiums so roll on Knockhill.
Race Manager Simon Buckmaster said; It was a great move by Cal to pass Sykes on the last lap. We always knew it would be difficult to beat Laverty here but clearly having Cal maintain the Championship lead by finishing in second today and Leon increasing his points score is a good result for us. Both riders are giving their all in pursuit of the title and the team is supporting them every step of the way. We will use the break between now and Knockhill to continue our development in order to further our success in the second half of the Championship.
Northpoint Ekerold Honda's next outing is at Round 8 of the British Supersport at Knocknill in Scotland on 16 July 2006. |
