Rea set for Silverstone challenge

With seven British riders Jonathan Rea, Leon Haslam, Shane Byrne, Leon Camier, Cal Crutchlow,Tom Sykes and James Toseland regularly contesting the top spots in the world superbike series, the expected 100,000 race fans will have plenty to cheer about and our local hero Jonathan will be hoping that he receives the biggest cheer of all with two wins if possible.

The 23-year-old East Antrim rider has had a few problems with his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda this season but at Bruno the team pulled one out of the bag and the chatter problem which has dogged the season was sorted. If the problem is truly sorted he will be hard to beat. His main rival will be four times 250 world champion, Italian Max Biaggi who leads the championship by 68 points from Haslam and who also won race two at Bruno. It will be an intriguing battle.

After setting pole for last weekend's Suzuka 8 hours race, Rea was dissappointed with his third place.

A gruelling race in front of 65,000 race fans saw the F.C.C TSR stars go into the race as one of the favourites for victory after Rea had been fastest in Friday qualifying. But the team suffered a number of problems in the early part of the race with the engine not starting and Akiyoshi being handed two stop-go penalties for overtaking under a yellow flag.

Rea tangled with a backmarker at Spoon Corner but was able to return to the pits for some quick repairs. Those incidents dropped the pair back to 42nd position but there was no denying their fighting spirit as they fought back to the podium, setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.

Jonathan said after the race: "Today was a tough day. We had some unexpected troubles and mistakes, so to be honest I am not so happy. Yet working well together with Akiyoshi and repeatedly telling myself 'never give up, keep going', we were able to get into third place. If I have a chance, I want to participate in the Suzuka 8 Hours again."

Run in typical hot and steaming conditions saw the pairing of Ryuichi Kiyonari and Takumi Takahashi dominate the race and they were joined on the podium by runners-up Shinichi Ito and Makoto Tamada with Rea and Akiyoshi third. It’s a long lap but we have managed to find a gearing that will be close and I know my way around now, it was a good day.”

Eugene is 22 points behind series leader Kenan Sofuoglu but who knows what the difference might be at the end of this Sunday.

He added: “All is not lost however, I was in a similar position in the title race after Valencia earlier in the year and I bounced back with three wins in a row. I intend to do the same again.”

Neill wins at Bishopscourt, Rea takes two thirds

Marshall Neill took two wins in the National Open races at Saturday’s Irish Clubmans meeting at Bishopscourt. The Portadown man beat Davy Haire in both races with Ballyclare’s Richard Rea taking third on both occasions. Rea has been having a disappointing season by his standards and has decided to make a few changes for the remainder of the season.

“I have struggled this year in the British superstock series and by mutual agreement between myself and my Scottish MB Motorsport team it has been decided to concentrate on the Irish superbike championship, said Richard. “I need to regain my confidence again and then hopefully I will maybe do a couple of British rounds later in the year. I wasn’t enjoying my racing and it showed. Now it’s back home to try and get things back on track riding the Rea Distribution Honda.”

Mid-Antrim 150 road races rev up on Saturday

The 2010 Mid Antrim '150' Road Race, takes place this Saturday (July 31) with practice on Friday night. A 9,000 prize fund is up for grabs and a first class entry headed by the most sucessful rider at the Mid Antrim, Ryan Farquhar.

The Dunganon rider will have a quality field to deal with which includes the Dunlop brothers Michael and William along with Adrian Archibald, Davy Morgan and Czech new boy Michal Dokoupil Once again the event is held over the 3.6 mile Clough course close to the town of Ballymena, which has been used since 1989.

As in 2009 the start / finish / paddock area returns to Clough Village. The format for racing is similar to previous years with a nine race programme being run. There will also be the annual Parade Lap for riders and machines past and present. The roads will close at 4pm on Friday night to allow for the nine practice sessions required.

The club expressed a great thanks to their sponsors and all those who helped with this years event.

Timetable: Friday 30 July, Roads Close 4.00pm, First Practice 4.30pm, Roads Open 9.30pm.

Saturday 31st July: Roads Close 10.00am, Race Starts 10.45am, Roads Open 6.30pm.

Race Order: Parade Laps (3) - Sponsored by Maine Driving School

RACE 1: Loanends MRRC Junior Support Race; RACE 2: Hugh Fitzsimons & Son Electrical CNTR DBD Photography, Senior Support Race; RACE 3: The Peoples Superbike Race; RACE 4: Robert Logan Hardware Junior Race; RACE 5: Supertwins Race; RACE 6: Patton Homes Supersport Race; RACE 7: Walter Young Mazda.com Lightweight 125cc/MOTO 450cc RACE; RACE 8: Clough Glasgow Rangers SC (G/F) Superbike Race; RACE 9: Ballymena Borough Council Classic Race

All races except race 8 count for Irish / Ulster Championship and all races will be over 7 Laps

Barr has an up and down day at Foxhill

MARTIN Barr, who leads the Red Bull Pro National championship after his recent double win at Pontrilas, was in Maxxis British Championship action last weekend at Foxhill.

The East Antrim PAR Honda rider was fastest in superpole and looking forward to three good races. Two crashes in race one meant he had to fight hard to eventually finish sixth.

Race two saw Martin and KTM rider Jake Nicholls battle all the way to the flag with the local man having to settle for a close second.

In his final outing he was sidelined with a flat tyre while holding fourth place. Howeverm, he was not too disappointed. “I know I have the pace to win now and that’s what I’m aiming for in the remaining races of the season. I cashed at the first corner in race one and someone ran into my back, which is pretty sore at the moment. I was dead last and coming through the pack when I made a silly mistake and went down again.

“I kept fighting and in the end was fairly happy with sixth. Race two was good having that battle with Nicholls but race three sort of ruined the day a bit. I am still third in the series so I suppose all is not lost”.

The Doagh man’s next race is at the British Masters at Hawkstone Park.

Lorenzo wins

at Laguna Seca

Fiat Yamaha’s Jorge Lorenzo took a brilliant sixth victory of the season at Red Bull American Grand Prix at Laguna Seca on Sunday, romping home to win by over three seconds from Casey Stone after early leader Dani Pedrosa crashed his Repsol Honda on lap twelve. His team-mate Valentino Rossi made a triumphant return to the podium just seven weeks after breaking his right leg, overhauling Andrea Dovizioso during a thrilling last ten laps to finish third.

With exactly half of the season gone Lorenzo heads the championship with an impressive 72-point lead over Pedrosa, whilst Rossi is 120 points adrift of his team-mate in fifth position. Both riders will enjoy a two and a half week holiday now and Rossi will be happier than anyone for the time off, during which he will be working on his fitness in an effort to be back to his best next time out in Brno