on-target-for-airwaves-ducati

Airwaves Ducati leave the first race of 2008 1st and 4th in the championship, after Shane Byrne won race one and came 2nd in race two on board the Ducati 1098 R. Leon Camier started his season well with a 4th and 5th place finish.

In the first of the two 20 lap races Shane Byrne had dropped a few places from his pole position start but moved through the field, taking the lead on lap 13. He pulled away in the final laps to take his first win for the Airwaves Ducati team. Having struggled early on in the race Leon Camier was in 5th by lap 15. He held off a number of challenges to cross the line in a hard fought 5th place.

An early red flag in race two resulted in a race restart and a new race distance of 15 laps. Following a poor start Shane worked his way through to 3rd position. In a close battle he managed to overtake Rutter on lap 13 to finish in 2nd. Camier put in some impressive laps as he attempted to chase down the leading pack, finishing in a comfortable 4th place.

Following race two an upbeat Leon commented; “It’s been a good start to the season for me. Colin has been setting me goals throughout this weekend and I have achieved them all so I am pretty happy. It was a realistic result for me today, considering my injuries and everything that has happened, and now we have gathered some really valuable information for the next race which is something I had been lacking. I am going to go away and work on getting fitter and stronger and look forward to Oulton Park; it’s a circuit I like and I think I can achieve a good result.”

Shane Byrne leaves Thruxton as a race winner and joint championship leader. “I’m really happy with race one but I am gutted that I didn’t get the win in race two! Race one was great and everything went to plan, credit must go to the Airwaves Ducati team as my bike has felt good all weekend and I knew I was capable of a winning performance. I am pleased with the first and second but I would have been happier if I had got a better start after the red flag and not let Cal Crutchlow get away from me. I had been leading before that so I reckon I was on for a double win but these things happen and I am really pleased to be leaving Thruxton as championship leader; bring on Oulton Park!”

Team Manager Colin Wright added, "Leaving the first round of the championship in 1st and 4th is bang on target, scoring points is the key to winning any championship, for Shane and Leon to collect so many points at round one is a credit to the Airwaves Ducati team. GSE Racing is renowned for success and I hope we will continue our tradition of fighting to win the BSB Championship."

Round 3 of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Oulton Park 3rd – 5th May.