Richards Reduces Gap At Assen

Smiths Racing Team's Glen Richards moved to within 4.5 points of the championship lead following a dramatic weekend of action in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship at the Dutch circuit of Assen. The Australian could only manage sixth position in Saturday's Sprint race and in doing so conceded more points to rival Jack Kennedy but it was in Sunday's feature race at the historic circuit that Richards bounced back.

Richards- only 4.5 points behind championship lead

 Knowing he had to beat Kennedy to maintain his championship challenge, Richards was lying in second place behind the Irishman when Kennedy crashed out meaning he didn't add to his points tally. The resulting battle saw Richards challenging for the victory but eventually had to settle for a safe third position behind American PJ Jacobsen and fellow Triumph rider Christian Iddon.

For team mate Luke Mossey the weekend started well when he qualified on pole position and in the early stages of Saturday's Sprint race led for the early laps but in the end had to settle for fourth position which he followed up with ninth place in Sunday's feature race for the Gloucester-based team.

However Billy McConnell had a weekend to forget when he could only muster ten points in total from the two races. A 12th position in the opening race was marginally bettered with a tenth in race two and with rival Christian Iddon scoring well McConnell now faces a battle if he is to finish third in the title race.

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager:  "It was a really mixed weekend for the team. We had the pace but we were really struggling with preserving the tyres for the duration of the races. We are obviously thrilled that Glen has reduced Jack's lead but as a team we didn't get quite the results we wanted so are really looking forward to moving on to Silverstone."

For more information on Smiths Triumph please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Smiths of Gloucester racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd- 

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Double Win And Series Lead At Cadwell For Smiths Racing Team

The Performance Parts Ltd supplied Smiths Racing Team were back in action at round eight of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship over the Bank Holiday weekend and the Cadwell Park circuit in Lincolnshire proved to be a very successful venue for the Gloucester-based squad.

Wizard of OZ- great weekend for Glen Richards

On the same weekend they unveiled a new partnership with Finning UK and CAT, Aussies Glen Richards and Billy McConnell shared the two race wins as McConnell kept his outside hopes of the title alive with a superb victory in Sunday's sprint race but the win for Richards in Monday's feature race was particularly sweet as it saw him lead the series for the first time this season.

With Richards, Luke Mossey and McConnell securing a first ever 1-2-3 to box out the front row for the team in qualifying aboard their 675cc Triumphs, Sunday's 10-lap race saw Richards grab the lead before McConnell hit the front on lap four. Richards broke the lap record but slipped back due to a radiator problem and had to settle for a third place finish behind McConnell and rival Christian Iddon as Mossey ended up in fifth.

Monday's 15-lap race started in damp conditions but with a rapidly drying track Richards moved to the front on the second lap and despite coming under extreme pressure throughout the race from both Iddon and Richard Cooper, he held on masterfully for his sixth win of the season. McConnell and Mossey took fourth and fifth to complete an excellent weekend for the team and with main title rival Jack Kennedy only finishing seventh, it also meant Richards took over at the top of the table with four rounds remaining. 

Despite suffering a heavy crash in Saturday's free practice session, Johnny Blackshaw qualified in sixth place for the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship race and a great start saw him running in third place for the first half of the race only to retire with a steering problem.

Glen Richards: "To come away with a first and third place, as well as the championship lead is brilliant and I'm over the moon with how the weekend's gone. I had a small problem in the first race with the bike running a bit hot, which turned out to be a holed radiator, but I was able to hold onto the final podium spot and claw a few points back on Jack. Then when I saw he was running an intermediate tyre on Monday, I knew it was vital I finished ahead of him and finished well. It was greasy off line so I concentrated really hard and tried to ride as controlled a race as possible and it all worked out perfectly. It's only a slight lead but it's the first time I've been there all season so long may it continue."

Billy McConnell

 Billy McConnell: "It was fantastic to get back to winning ways on Sunday and claim a few points back and although I couldn't repeat it on Monday, I'm still in there fighting. The fourth place finish was my fault as I made a few mistakes and ran off line a couple of times where it was still damp so I lost a bit of ground and any chance I had of getting on the podium once more. The bike's working well and there's still plenty of races left so we can go to Donington, where we had a good ride in the World Supersport Championship earlier in the year, in a good frame of mind. I'll keep chipping away and, hopefully, more wins will come my way."

Luke Mossey: "Cadwell's not really my type of circuit as it's tight and twisty and I prefer faster, more flowing circuits so to come away with a brace of fifths is very pleasing. I was happy with how qualifying went and although I couldn't get onto the podium this weekend, I'm pleased with how I rode and with the haul of points whilst the fastest lap of the race in Monday's race was an added bonus. The next few circuits suit my style a lot more so I'm very hopeful of continuing the form there and getting back onto the podium."

Johnny Blackshaw: "The race couldn't have been going any better for me but on lap nine, the handlebars locked on me on two occasions and I had no option other than to retire. The big crash on Saturday set me back a bit so the steering issue could have been a result of that and it's a great shame as our pace was really strong. It's disappointing but I was pleased with how I was riding, putting in some consistent lap times and a definite podium position was on the cards so we'll take the positives from the weekend and look forward to the next round at Donington."

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: "It's pretty much been a faultless weekend and we've had no major issues at all. All the little problems were ironed out during practice and from that moment on, the boys were able to concentrate on racing and that was borne out in both the results and in the championship positions. To take both the Supersport race wins and come away with the championship lead is just reward for the hard work of all the team and it's been a brilliant effort by everyone concerned. The only disappointment of the weekend was Johnny being forced to retire and it was a really cruel end to his race as he was riding really well."

For more information on Smiths Triumph please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Smiths of Gloucester racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd- 

Bionics for your Bike- 
Better, Stronger, Faster..

Double Victory For Smiths Triumph Racing Team

The Performance Parts equipped Gloucester-based Smiths Triumph Racing Team were back in action this weekend contesting the latest rounds of the Motorpoint British Supersport and Metzeler National Superstock Championships and success again came their way as the Australian duo of Billy McConnell and Glen Richards once again shared the race wins in the Supersport category whilst Luke Mossey also scored his first podium of the season.

With all three riders qualifying inside the top six for Saturday's ten-lap race, Glen started on pole once again and hopes were high of some great results as Richards immediately went into the lead. Battling with championship rivals Jack Kennedy and Christian Iddon, there was little to choose between the three riders but when Iddon crashed, it was a straight battle to the end between Glen and Kennedy. However, it all ended in disaster when the two tangled at the last corner of the last lap and the pair ended in the gravel trap.

Their misfortune was Billy and Luke's good fortune though and as Glen and Kennedy picked themselves up, McConnell swept by to take his third win of the season with Mossey just three seconds further back in third for his first podium of 2012.
Sunday went even better for the team with Richards and McConnell taking first and second for the second time this season. It was another tough race though with Kennedy involved once more and there was again little to choose between the trio. However, as the race entered its crucial final third, the two Smiths Triumph riders upped the ante and with Glen setting a new lap record two laps from the end, he was able to take his fourth win of the year.

McConnell was less than half a second adrift in second place and the 1-2 result has brought him right back into the title hunt as well as Richards closing in considerably on Kennedy meaning he is just 9.5 points adrift of the Irishman going into the next round at Brands Hatch in two weeks time. Cambridge rider Mossey, meanwhile, was running just off the back when a slight highside saw him drop back a couple of places. However, he regrouped well and battled back for a good fifth place and his most successful weekend of the year so far.

Fourth team member Johnny Blackshaw also had an excellent ride in the Metzeler National Superstock 600cc Championship, with the Stretton rider coming through the field strongly at his local track for seventh place. Back in 13th in qualifying, a change in clutch springs for the race paid dividends with the nine points moving him up to seventh overall in the championship table.

Glen Richards

Glen Richards: "I've really enjoyed myself this weekend and whilst Saturday obviously ended in a disappointing fashion, it was just a racing incident where neither of us wanted to give in to the other. It was important to bounce back strongly on Sunday and that's exactly what I did, showing I could win. I tried to ride as smoothly and as conservatively as possible to save the tyres for the last third and that's when I upped the pace, setting the lap record in the process. I didn't leave any doors open and rode cleanly for another win and things are getting interesting now as the gap between myself, Billy and Jack closes up."

Billy McConnell

 Billy McConnell: "First of all, I'm glad Glen wasn't injured in Saturday's spill but, from my own point of view, the first and second placed riders of the championship going out was just what I needed! I was a bit annoyed with myself to be a couple of seconds adrift as I had the same pace as them and I just need to be that bit more aggressive in the first few laps. I was gifted the win but you need a bit of luck on your side and this weekend it was my turn to get it. Sunday was another great race to be involved in and the bike's working so well at the moment, it's making my life so much easier. Getting a 1-2 has allowed me to claw back some major points on Glen and Jack so I'm right back in the title hunt now."

Luke Mossey: "Saturday's result was certainly a gift but I'll take it! I didn't get the best of starts and the left grip came loose before coming off completely so I had to do a few running repairs, which created a bit of concern but I didn't lose any time or places, which kept me in the hunt. It would have been nice to have taken a 'proper' third but I'm happy and after struggling a bit in Friday's wet sessions, it all came good in the dry. If it wasn't for a small bobble in Sunday's race, I'm sure I would have been closer to the front but fifth was still good and it's been a good weekend all round."

Johnny Blackshaw: "Qualifying couldn't have been much worse for me and it made it hard in the race for me but the changes we made to the bike helped no end. I got a good start and battled my way through and felt I had the pace to run with the front pack but I got held up slightly and I just couldn't quite close them down after that. It's a solid finish for me though and, after the disappointment of crashing here in May, it's nice to get a good result at my home circuit so a big thanks to the team, especially Pete and Tom, for doing a great job."

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: "It's been another great weekend for us and although Saturday's race was a bit of a bitter-sweet affair, what happened between Glen and Jack was purely a racing incident and just one of those things. One of the advantages of having more than one rider in a team is that it gives you more opportunities and Billy was able to pick up the pieces, which from his own championship perspective, was brilliant. It also allowed Luke to get his first podium and it was just reward for his riding this weekend.
"Sunday's race saw Glen put in a flawless performance and with Billy right behind him, it's closed the title race up and it's really exciting going into the second half of the season. Luke had another strong ride and the weekend ended well for us with Johnny getting a solid result at his home circuit. Qualifying was tough for him but the changes to the bike worked and he set his fastest lap of the weekend in the race, which shows how well he was riding. We've had a great time again so hope for more of the same at Brands Hatch."

For more information on Smiths Triumph please visit www.smithsracing.co.uk

We're pleased to support, sponsor and supply performance parts to Smiths of Gloucester racing. for more information on the parts we have to add some 'bionics to your bike' please visit www.performanceparts-ltd.com

Performance Parts Ltd- 

Bionics for your Bike- 
Better, Stronger, Faster..