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Team Virgin Press Report:
Scorching times and a spell in the gravel trap showcase the roller coaster ride for Steve Plater and Simon Crafar at today’s British Superbike races at Knockhill, Fife today.
The pair were flying early on in the first race with both riders scything their way through the pack to gain ground on the leaders. After the lottery of qualifying yesterday in poor weather conditions that were changing with almost every lap, the Virgin Mobile Aiwa Yamaha pair had a point to prove and were out to make amends.
Right from the start the duo were off to a fast and furious pace, Steve carving through slower traffic to get on terms with the leaders while Simon was picking off factory star at a pace. But it all came to an abrupt end for Steve on lap four when he fell from the Yamaha R1 at Clarks Bend, speaking from the pits immediately after the fall he said: ‘To be honest, I don’t know why I fell. I don’t think I did anything unusual at that point.
‘I was on a closed throttle at that point and then suddenly I was in the air. There may have been something on the track. Another rider was right behind me and he said that he was at a loss to explain the fall.
‘Luckily, I am perfectly OK, just a bit battered and bruised but I’ll be OK for the next race.’
Simon wasn’t about to let his pace drop off though, at a track where it is notoriously difficult to find anywhere to be able to pass Crafar was on fire, eventually finishing the race a superb sixth – from 12th on the grid.
‘It was a tough race because of the traffic I had to get past but I am really happy with the way it went. The bike felt really good and because the team and I have been concentrating on getting it to turn how I like I was able to use that to it’s fullest effect here at a track that is narrow and bumpy,’ Simon said.
The second race saw the pair again make up ground, passing other riders with aggression and skill. Steve was keen to make up for his first race fall and this time got locked into a battle with fellow four-cylinder rider John Reynolds to eventually take fifth place.
‘I was real happy with my performance in that race, if not my eventual placing! The track is so short and narrow that once you are in traffic it is always tough to break through anywhere. John and I had a good scrap though which shows just how far the Yamaha is progressing to be able to take on and lead machines which have years of race development behind them. ‘The Yamaha is still only just five months old, to be on this pace in the British Superbikes is amazing.’
Simon consolidated his first race performance with a creditable ninth place.
Race one result:
Winner: Steve Hislop, Ducati, 2 Sean Emmett, Ducati, 3 Michael Rutter, Ducati, 4 Paul Brown, Ducati, 5 John Reynolds, Suzuki, 6 Simon Crafar Yamaha, 7 David Jefferies, Suzuki, 8 Glen Richards, Kawasaki, 9 Paul Jones Yamaha, 10 Dean Ellison, Ducati
Race two result:
Winner: Shane Byrne, Ducati, 2 Brown, 3 Emmett, 4 Reynolds, 5 Steve Plater, 6 Richards, 7 Hislop, 8 Dean Thomas, Ducati, 9 Simon Crafar, 10 Ellison.
12 Paul Jones
