Honda Racing UK in action at Oulton Park for BSB season opener

Race Report
Racing action got underway today as Oulton Park hosted the opening race of the 2021 Bennetts British Superbike Championship, where Honda Racing UK are ending the day on a positive note with the CBR1000RR-R Fireblade SP at the 2.692-mile Cheshire circuit.
 
Glenn Irwin has been working through the various unique challenges that Oulton Park throws at riders and teams. Qualifying for today’s race in eighth place, Glenn enjoyed a battle on track with Kyle Ryde and after passing his rival on the eighth lap, he managed to keep him at bay to come home sixth.
 
BSB rookies Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi got their first taste of a Saturday in the British series with qualifying and Race 1 taking place. Throughout the weekend Ryo’s times have improved as he continues to learn the layout, as well as getting up to speed riding with Pirelli tyres. Making up places from his 25th position on the grid, Ryo crossed the line 19th.  
 
Teammate Takumi also worked to improve his lap times from Friday’s practice sessions. Having not long recovered from a dislocated shoulder, Takumi was keen to start the race and experience a BSB start procedure, but despite a valiant effort, he pulled in on the eighth lap. 
 
In the Pirelli National Superstock class, Tom Neave enjoyed a positive qualifying session finishing sixth overall in the combined times and will start tomorrow’s 14-lap race from the second row of the grid. Making strides all weekend, Tom’s quickest lap today was 1.616 seconds faster than his qualifying time last year, where he started the race from 16th place. The Superstock race gets underway at 14.30 on Sunday (27th June). 
 
The team will now debrief and prepare for another race day tomorrow with two 18-lap Superbike races at 13.15 and 16.45. 

Glenn Irwin

I’m happy with today’s results, coming into this weekend I set a target of being in the top-six, being realistic and looking at last year’s results, so that’s one objective ticked off. Saying that we have to improve for tomorrow, not just to look further ahead but to maintain the result we got today, we have to make progress tomorrow. We decided to race and qualify with the hard option tyre, which I feel was a good call and helped us get the top-six, but myself and the team are aware we have work to do ahead of tomorrow. It might not be a podium finish, but this result at one of our trickier circuits I’m happy with, and this weekend is about gathering points. 

Ryo Mizuno

I was able to finish FP3 in good shape today and by following riders I was able to improve my best time by a second, I am exploring and learning every time, so I'd like to keep learning every session. I couldn't get a good flow from qualifying and I had a little trouble in the race as I find the circuit very physical, this is something we need to improve tomorrow. During the race I couldn't set a good pace and it was tough, but I was relieved to finish after the chequered flag. I'm positive that I was able to finish my first BSB race and I will try to finish higher in the two races tomorrow. 

Takumi Takahashi

My first race experience was OK, but the result was disappointing having to retire early, however I did learn a lot on track. My shoulder now isn’t too painful, my main problem is muscle weakness, so after this weekend I have a lot to work on to get stronger for the next round. Tomorrow I am aiming to take part in both races, but I have to take each session as it comes starting with the morning warm-up and go from there. 

Tom Neave

Today has been quite a positive day for me we’re starting sixth, whereas last year we qualified 16th, so we’ve definitely made improvements and I am happy to be nearer the front tomorrow. After having a bit of a difficult off-season my main aim for this weekend is to start the championship cleanly and get as many points on the table as possible, and I think starting from the second row I’ve given myself the best chance of that. I had a little slip off on my last lap in qualifying but luckily both me and the Fireblade are ok so we are ready to fight tomorrow, and I can’t wait! 


British Superbike 2021

Oulton Park, Race 1

Pos. Name No. Team Constructor Time/Gap Pts.
1 Jason O'Halloran 22 McAMS Yamaha Yamaha 22:15.857 25
2 Christian Iddon 21 Visiontrack Ducati Ducati +0.630 20
3 Tommy Bridewell Oxford Products Racing Ducati Ducati +1.408 16
4 Peter Hickman 60 FHO Racing BMW Motorrad BMW +5.913 13
5 Tarran Mackenzie McAMS Yamaha Yamaha +12.954 11
6 Glenn Irwin Honda Racing UK Honda +15.889 10
7 Kyle Ryde 77 Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW +16.155 9
8 Lee Jackson 14 Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki Kawasaki +16.578 8
9 Ryan Vickers 7 RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki +17.074 7
10 Josh Brookes 25 Visiontrack Ducati Ducati +17.918 6
11 Gino Rea 44 Buildbase Suzuki Suzuki +19.647 5
12 Danny Buchan 83 SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad BMW +23.817 4
13 Rory Skinner Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki Kawasaki +26.813 3
14 Dean Harrison 5 Silicone Engineering Racing Kawasaki +36.600 2
15 Bjorn Estment 27 Powerslide Racing Suzuki Suzuki +39.899 1
16 Storm Stacey 79 Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki Kawasaki +44.140 0
17 Luke Hopkins 16 Black Onyx Security Honda Honda +52.119 0
18 Dan Linfoot 4 TAG Racing Honda Honda +1:00.138 0
19 Ryo Mizuno Honda Racing UK Honda +1:12.823 0

British Superbike 2021

Oulton Park, Qualifying

Pos. Name No. Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Tommy Bridewell Oxford Products Racing Ducati Ducati 1:34.494
2 Christian Iddon 21 Visiontrack Ducati Ducati 1:34.667
3 Tarran Mackenzie McAMS Yamaha Yamaha 1:34.691
4 Jason O'Halloran 22 McAMS Yamaha Yamaha 1:34.703
5 Peter Hickman 60 FHO Racing BMW Motorrad BMW 1:34.757
6 Kyle Ryde 77 Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW 1:34.773
7 Bradley Ray 28 Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW 1:34.817
8 Glenn Irwin Honda Racing UK Honda 1:34.885
9 Josh Brookes 25 Visiontrack Ducati Ducati 1:34.885
10 Gino Rea 44 Buildbase Suzuki Suzuki 1:34.951
23 Ryo Mizuno Honda Racing UK Honda 1:37.981 (Q1)
25 Takumi Takahashi Honda Racing UK Honda 1:38.810 (Q1)

National Superstock 2021

Oulton Park, Qualifying

Pos. Name No. Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 David Allingham 11 Astro-JJR BMW BMW 1:36.217
2 Taylor Mackenzie 77 Bathams BMW Motorrad BMW +0.144
3 Billy McConnell 3 OMG Racing Yamaha +0.594
4 Luke Mossey 32 Bournemouth Kawasaki/HEL Performance Kawasaki +0.677
5 Luke Hedger 12 Jones Dorling Racing Honda +0.721
6 Tom Neave 68 Honda Racing UK Honda +0.799
7 Tim Neave 14 Buildbase Suzuki Suzuki +0.868
8 Levi Day 17 Powerslide AJN Steelstock Suzuki +0.943
9 Shane Richardson 28 Astro-JJR BMW BMW +0.968
10 Chrissy Rouse 1 GR Motorsport Kawasaki +1.015