CHALLENGING WEEKEND FOR CAME YAMAHA AT OULTON PARK

The CAME Yamaha team endured a challenging third round of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park after a promising start to the event.

Billy McConnell had powered to pole position for the CAME Yamaha team, qualifying inside the lap record with championship leading team-mate James Westmorland starting from third. However the team’s fortunes changed on raceday as a downpour just before the race left the riders facing tricky conditions. McConnell was running second and trying to close down the advantage to race leader Ian Hutchinson but he high-sided at Shell Oils corner which ended his hopes of a victory.

Westmoreland was then left to fly the flag on the second CAME Yamaha and despite making progress he was forced to take evasive action off the track as a rider crashed in front of him which dropped him down the order. A few laps later he was forced to retire after suffering a hole in the radiator, however he still holds the championship lead ahead of the fourth round of the championship in just under three weeks’ time at Cadwell Park.

Westmoreland said: “I was obviously disappointed not to have finished the race as in dry conditions we definitely could have fought for the win as we had been heading in the right direction throughout practice and qualifying. I think in that situation it would have been a real fight between me, my team-mate Billy and Graeme Gowland but it didn’t work out that way. It rained just before the race and I had never ridden the CAME Yamaha in wet conditions so it was always going to be a bit of a gamble on settings but that was the same for everyone. I knew I just needed to get some solid points and I think I could have been somewhere like fourth, but I got in the pack early on and then someone high-sided in front of me and I had to avoid them and take to the grass. This cost me time and momentum, but I was starting to try and work my way back until we started losing power so I had to retire and we discovered the problem came from a hole in the radiator. It is just unlucky, but of course it could have always been worse. I know we made good progress with the CAME Yamaha and the new K-Tech suspension and I didn’t lose the title lead so now we just look forward to coming out fighting at the next round.”

McConnell said: “It wasn’t obviously the best result for me but I know that we can take some real positives forward from the weekend at Oulton Park that will benefit us in the long-run over the rest of the season. We had found a great base setting, which was clear from the pace we set in qualifying and the new K-Tech suspension has made such a difference that we have already seen the benefits of even at this early stage. It was unfortunate it rained just before the start of our race as we had a great set-up for the dry conditions and we would have been up there I am sure of it fighting for the win. I was running second behind Hutchy and he was really setting a great pace and I wanted to try and stay with him, but I just pushed too hard and ended up high-siding at Shell Oils corner and that was it. Last year I didn’t push hard enough in the race there so this time I was determined not to make the same mistake again, but I just caught myself out. I know I have said this at the past few rounds but now I really need to start winning as I need to get my championship back on track, so we will see what happens when it comes to Cadwell Park.”

CAME Yamaha Team Manger Steve Rodgers concluded: “It started as a good weekend for the CAME Yamaha team and both riders showed they had the pace and the potential to finish on the podium, but it didn’t work out that way unfortunately. We had such a great qualifying session and when it came to the races Billy just pushed too hard and that was his race over. For James he had an off track moment which we think caused the stone to make a hole in the radiator, which is just unfortunate but we made some real positive progress over the three days and this will put us in a strong position for the next round at Cadwell Park. I know the whole team can bounce back with luck back on our side, so we are all feeling motivated to make amends next time out. We have to say big thanks to CAME again for their support and we will be out for the win for sure at Cadwell Park.”

Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, Oulton Park, race result:

1. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki)
2. Sam Lowes (GNS Racing Honda) +0.361s
3. Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/ Macadam Racing Yamaha) +9.269s
4. Dan Cooper (MAP Centurion Triumph) +11.615s
5. Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda) +15.611s
DNF Billy McConnell (CAME Yamaha)
DNF James Westmoreland (CAME Yamaha)

Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship standings after Oulton Park:

1. James Westmoreland (CAME Yamaha) 45
2. Sam Lowes (GNS Racing Honda) 45
3. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 34
4. Tom Grant (East Coast Racing Yamaha) 33
5. Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/ Macadam Racing Yamaha) 32
7. Billy McConnell (CAME Yamaha) 29

Image provided by SPH Photography