The Quattro Plant Kawasaki team were back in action at the weekend with round two of the 2013 British Superbike Championship taking place at Thruxton, Hampshire and although Chris Walker and Danny Buchan both endured an up and down weekend, they both scored points to boost their title campaign.
Weather conditions around the 2.36-mile venue were changeable all weekend and Saturday’s qualifying session had to be cancelled due to heavy rain meaning grid positions were determined by the free practice session of Friday afternoon. It placed Chris in eighth place and a superb start in Sunday’s first race saw him move up to fourth at the end of the first lap. Over the next few laps Chris alternated between third and fifth place but, just as an excellent result looked to be heading his way, a mechanical problem forced him out at three quarters race distance.
However, with a fifth place starting position for race two, he was determined not to let his excellent form go unrewarded and he was never out of the top eight during the second race later in the day. The race was interrupted on a number of occasions by the deployment of the safety car which made for a stop-start race and it was eventually ended early on the 13th lap with Chris in seventh place. The nine points moved him on to 26 in total and joint seventh overall in the Championship table.
Team-mate Danny Buchan had an equally up and down weekend but after two DNFs at the opening round at Brands, he put that behind him and was deservedly rewarded with his first points of the season. After qualifying inside the top 15, he was able to take a solid 13th place and three points in the first race only to then also suffer with a mechanical problem and retire from race two when, again, handily placed.
National Superstock 1000cc Championship contender Kyle Wilks had a superb outing and came home in an excellent 12th place whilst James Hillier and Steve Heneghan gained more valuable track time as their preparation for the forthcoming International road races continued.
Pete Extance, Team Manager: “It’s been another mixed weekend of results for the team. Chris was on the pace all weekend and was really unlucky to have a mechanical problem whist holding onto a superb fourth place with just five laps to go in race one. Race two saw him put in another great effort though to finish seventh and move to joint seventh in the Championship table.”
“Danny also showed good pace and after a torrid Brands Hatch meeting a week ago he scored good points with a solid 13th in race one. Unfortunately, he suffered from a loss of power in race two and had to pull in so hopefully his luck will change next time out at Oulton Park. In the Superstock 1000 cc race, Kyle impressed us all with a superb 12th place in only his second 1000cc outing at BSB level. It’s been a hectic start to the season and the team have now earned a few weeks off before round three at Oulton Park.”
The third round of the series heads north to Oulton Park, Cheshire with the meeting taking place on May 4-6.
Pictures by Tim Keeton – Impact Images
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