Silverstone Success for Team JH Racing
Tuesday 27th September, 2011 at 12:09
COMMENTS (1)
Ben Holland and Lee Watson achieved their best results of the season at round seven of the Eastern Airways British Formula One Sidecar Championship. The sidecars were part of a programme of the prestigious British Superbike Championship for the fourth and final time this season at the 3.7 mile Silverstone GP circuit.
The weekend started with a 20 minute practice session late on Friday evening, the team had made some set up changes from Donington Park and Ben and Lee ventured onto a circuit that very few of the competitors including Team JH Racing had ever raced around. At the end of the twenty minute session the team were fifth fastest with a lap time in the 2 minute 20's.
Saturday lunchtime saw the sidecars qualifying session get underway. After spending a few laps caught up behind other competitors, two quick laps at the end of the session saw Ben and Lee jump from 17th to 3rd and then to 2nd. As chequered flag came out to end the session the number 60 machine was confirmed to start on the front row for the very first time in a British Championship event.
The first race of the weekend was on Saturday evening and a tentative start saw Ben and Lee dropping to 3rd. The LCR Suzuki quickly climbed back up to second, however as Ben turned the bike into the fast Club corner another competitor tried to dive up the inside. The pass didnt stick and they clipped the back of the bike before spinning off and turning the bike upside down. Luckily the contact hadn't sent Ben and Lee too far off course and they managed to maintain 2nd place when the safety car came out to allow medical attention for the injured competitor. Ben had an uncomfortable time in the bike as the fairing had a few breaks and had actually come out of the brackets making steering and changing gear difficult for him. Once the safety car pulled in the on track action erupted once more. Unfortunately Ben and Lee dropped down to 3rd, then an epic two-team battle for 3rd ensued with the number 60 LCR coming out on top to cross the line just three seconds behind the race winner. The teams first ever podium in the British Championship and first silverware since October 2011.
Sunday's second race in front of a bumper British Superbike Crowd saw Team JH Racing start from 3rd position on the grid after the race one result. The pair dropped to 4th from the start, however some sustained pressure on the third place crew saw them up to third. Over the second half of the race a five team scrap for 2nd became a four, then a three, then a two, with several brave passes by different teams. Ben and Lee managed to hold on to 2nd place and were delighted to cross the finish line to take 20 points and their second ever British Championship Podium.
Speaking after the second race Ben said; "I am over the moon with those results, I have been looking forward to this round all year and after the handling issues at Donington I was concerned we'd struggle again here. The team have worked hard to get the bike handling well from the off this weekend with the new Maxton suspension working brilliantly and the larger diameter Avon rear tyre giving us lots of grip. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to finish the first race with the damage to the bike from the first lap collision, however thankfully we were ok to nurse it home for 3rd. Today unfortunately we got dragged into a battle for 3rd and by the time we had got out of it the front team had pulled out an insurmountable lead".
Unfortunately Lee couldn't fully enjoy the 2nd place celebrations after the race as he required medical attention on the podium after feeling faint when getting off the bike. Speaking later in the day he said; "Ben has been in outstanding form this weekend, the team have given us a bike that's felt awesome all weekend. A huge thankyou to Ryan at www.holidayextras.co.uk, Roger of Wallace Interior Solutions and Rimor Engineering for helping us out with Tyres for this weekend. To finally get on the podium and to do it twice in one weekend, at a BSB round, its incredible. We just need to make sure that we carry this form into next weekend for the three Irish races with double points to see if we can get ourselves a good final championship position".
The team now lie seventh in the RKB-F1 Eastern Airways British Formula One Sidecar Championship with the final round running this weekend at Mondello Park, Ireland.
The weekend started with a 20 minute practice session late on Friday evening, the team had made some set up changes from Donington Park and Ben and Lee ventured onto a circuit that very few of the competitors including Team JH Racing had ever raced around. At the end of the twenty minute session the team were fifth fastest with a lap time in the 2 minute 20's.
Saturday lunchtime saw the sidecars qualifying session get underway. After spending a few laps caught up behind other competitors, two quick laps at the end of the session saw Ben and Lee jump from 17th to 3rd and then to 2nd. As chequered flag came out to end the session the number 60 machine was confirmed to start on the front row for the very first time in a British Championship event.
The first race of the weekend was on Saturday evening and a tentative start saw Ben and Lee dropping to 3rd. The LCR Suzuki quickly climbed back up to second, however as Ben turned the bike into the fast Club corner another competitor tried to dive up the inside. The pass didnt stick and they clipped the back of the bike before spinning off and turning the bike upside down. Luckily the contact hadn't sent Ben and Lee too far off course and they managed to maintain 2nd place when the safety car came out to allow medical attention for the injured competitor. Ben had an uncomfortable time in the bike as the fairing had a few breaks and had actually come out of the brackets making steering and changing gear difficult for him. Once the safety car pulled in the on track action erupted once more. Unfortunately Ben and Lee dropped down to 3rd, then an epic two-team battle for 3rd ensued with the number 60 LCR coming out on top to cross the line just three seconds behind the race winner. The teams first ever podium in the British Championship and first silverware since October 2011.
Sunday's second race in front of a bumper British Superbike Crowd saw Team JH Racing start from 3rd position on the grid after the race one result. The pair dropped to 4th from the start, however some sustained pressure on the third place crew saw them up to third. Over the second half of the race a five team scrap for 2nd became a four, then a three, then a two, with several brave passes by different teams. Ben and Lee managed to hold on to 2nd place and were delighted to cross the finish line to take 20 points and their second ever British Championship Podium.
Speaking after the second race Ben said; "I am over the moon with those results, I have been looking forward to this round all year and after the handling issues at Donington I was concerned we'd struggle again here. The team have worked hard to get the bike handling well from the off this weekend with the new Maxton suspension working brilliantly and the larger diameter Avon rear tyre giving us lots of grip. I was worried that we wouldn't be able to finish the first race with the damage to the bike from the first lap collision, however thankfully we were ok to nurse it home for 3rd. Today unfortunately we got dragged into a battle for 3rd and by the time we had got out of it the front team had pulled out an insurmountable lead".
Unfortunately Lee couldn't fully enjoy the 2nd place celebrations after the race as he required medical attention on the podium after feeling faint when getting off the bike. Speaking later in the day he said; "Ben has been in outstanding form this weekend, the team have given us a bike that's felt awesome all weekend. A huge thankyou to Ryan at www.holidayextras.co.uk, Roger of Wallace Interior Solutions and Rimor Engineering for helping us out with Tyres for this weekend. To finally get on the podium and to do it twice in one weekend, at a BSB round, its incredible. We just need to make sure that we carry this form into next weekend for the three Irish races with double points to see if we can get ourselves a good final championship position".
The team now lie seventh in the RKB-F1 Eastern Airways British Formula One Sidecar Championship with the final round running this weekend at Mondello Park, Ireland.
1 COMMENTS
Rob Cameron
Wednesday 19th June, 2013 @ 4:51 pm
About time too! It's been coming all season lads. Keep up the good work. Well chuffed for you and all your team.