Honda Racing UK Post Race Report - Cadwell Park Supersport
Returning to the team's home circuit just a few miles from its Louth headquarters, Honda Racing UK arrived at Cadwell Park full of confidence, and the weekend began in exactly the right fashion. When combined qualifying concluded it was Kennedy who secured a front-row start in second despite a spill, with Harrison lining up immediately behind in fourth, underlining the pace both riders carried into the weekend.
Before racing began, Harrison briefly swapped his Honda CBR600RR for something rather more nostalgic. Pulling on a special set of black and orange leathers, Dean delighted the Cadwell Park crowd by completing a series of parade laps aboard Honda Racing UK's iconic 2007 HM Plant Superbike, celebrating one of the most successful chapters in the team's British Superbike history.
Before racing began, Harrison briefly swapped his Honda CBR600RR for something rather more nostalgic. Pulling on a special set of black and orange leathers, Dean delighted the Cadwell Park crowd by completing a series of parade laps aboard Honda Racing UK's iconic 2007 HM Plant Superbike, celebrating one of the most successful chapters in the team's British Superbike history.
Once the racing started, however, attention quickly returned to championship points.
Kennedy suffered a painful setback in the Sprint race. While racing in the leading pack, the Irishman was forced into a heavy dab to avoid contact with the bike in front. With his ankle damaged, Jack raced on, crossing the line in second place.
Dean Harrison held onto fourth place and crossed the line just off the podium pack.
The feature race proved to be one of the most challenging in terms of conditions all season. Rain before the start meant a wet race was declared, but it had stopped raining by the time the grid was ready to form up. Tyre choice became one of the defining decisions of the afternoon and there were mixed decisions across the entire grid.
Kennedy suffered a painful setback in the Sprint race. While racing in the leading pack, the Irishman was forced into a heavy dab to avoid contact with the bike in front. With his ankle damaged, Jack raced on, crossing the line in second place.
Dean Harrison held onto fourth place and crossed the line just off the podium pack.
The feature race proved to be one of the most challenging in terms of conditions all season. Rain before the start meant a wet race was declared, but it had stopped raining by the time the grid was ready to form up. Tyre choice became one of the defining decisions of the afternoon and there were mixed decisions across the entire grid.
Honda Racing UK split its strategy.
Harrison committed fully to slick tyres, gambling that the circuit would dry quickly enough to reward the decision. Kennedy took a different approach, opting for a slick rear combined with an intermediate front, creating a package capable of coping with the damp early laps while accepting compromises later in the race.
Despite carrying a heavily swollen ankle and riding a machine set up for wetter conditions, Kennedy immediately hit the front and looked at ease. He controlled the race through the mixed conditions and established himself as the benchmark for pace at the front.
As the circuit dried, however, the balance inevitably shifted.
The riders who had committed to full slick tyres began to unlock their advantage and close on the race leader. Kennedy fought as long as he could before eventually relinquishing the lead, settling into second place as the conditions increasingly favoured the alternative tyre choice.
The changing track also brought Harrison back into contention. Having backed the full slick option the Honda Racing UK rider moved through the field as grip levels improved, climbing back to fourth place by the chequered flag to complete another strong points haul.
Despite riding with softer wet-condition suspension settings and an intermediate front tyre on an increasingly dry circuit, Jack continued circulating within just a couple of tenths of his outright dry race lap-record pace. Combined with an ankle that had swollen significantly following Saturday's incident, it was a performance that underlined Kennedy's determination and exceptional racecraft. Crossing the line in second place again, Jack salvaged as much as possible from a challenging day.
The changing track also brought Harrison back into contention. Having backed the full slick option the Honda Racing UK rider moved through the field as grip levels improved, climbing back to fourth place by the chequered flag to complete another strong points haul.
Despite riding with softer wet-condition suspension settings and an intermediate front tyre on an increasingly dry circuit, Jack continued circulating within just a couple of tenths of his outright dry race lap-record pace. Combined with an ankle that had swollen significantly following Saturday's incident, it was a performance that underlined Kennedy's determination and exceptional racecraft. Crossing the line in second place again, Jack salvaged as much as possible from a challenging day.
Dean Harrison
Cadwell Park always has something special up its sleeve and this weekend was no different. My pace was good and I was happy enough with qualifying but it's a challenging circuit to overtake on, especially in the supersport class. It sounds obvious but if you don't get away at the front and have clear track, you can get sucked into just following the wheel tracks of the bike in front.
It was a privilege to be asked to ride the 2007 Superbike on both race days. I was surprised at how small it felt and also by how good it was. Plenty of useful power and strong brakes made it hard to hold back, but the tyres are a different size to current stuff so I had no choice but to wave and cruise round.
I opted for a full slick setup for the feature race and ultimately called it the right way, but by the time I was able to make the most of the grip I had, the leading bikes were out of reach.
Jack Kennedy
I was lucky not to crash in the first race, my ankle paid the price for it but the second place finish was worth it. It could have been much worse for both my body and the championship.
The feature race was another well earned second place. The softer setup and intermediate front tyre made running in first place impossible once the conditions were fully dry. That second place finish was as good as it was going to get and it helps keep the championship fight alive. I enjoy racing at Cadwell and it felt like the crowd really enjoyed the weekend too. I'll rest my ankle and will be ready to go for the next one where we need to start taking some chunks out of Luke.
