RACE REPORTS - 2011

A front row start for Loris Baz did not pay the dividends he expected with and 8th place finish in race one, a bad start meant he missed the tow of the fast group and had to battle hard to regain places.

The Oulton Park circuit is renowned for its physical needs and Loris as well as six of the top riders were all suffering with ‘arm pump’ after the first race and needed treatment between races.

James Westmoreland managed two race finishes which he desperately needed after Brands Hatch and is now getting to understand a Superbike in the full race situation.

Loris Baz Motorpoint Yamaha 8th Race 1 9th race 2

“I made a mess of my start and struggled to get through the other riders, I really believe I can run with the front riders but have to start with them! I am not experienced enough to catch them but if I go with them I can hang on. My arm pumped up and gave me many problems, the race was much more demanding than we thought and we have definitely learned a lot for the future. Two races finishes in the top ten is not what I hoped for specially after the front row start but I will take what I learned and move onto Croft in two weeks”

James Westmoreland Motorpoint Yamaha 13th race 1 15th race 2

“At least I have two race finishes under my belt, it is the first time I have done two races in a day and around here on a Superbike it was an eye opener. I have learned so much this weekend, I have good pace and can qualify but need to learn more about the bike and how things change in the races. I feel like I am starting now and will go forward from this”

Rob Mac Team Manger

“We all got a bit excited and rightly so with the great qualifying times both guys put together, but we are here for race day and we did not deliver what we promised. What we did gain was a lot of experience for both the young guys, Loris had arm pump and I know firsthand how horrible that is to try and ride with and Westy needed to finish a race which I am sure made him a bit tight. The learning curve was never going to be easy and I think they are both more equipped for the next races after a weekend like this”

The Brands Hatch pressure pot took its toll on the Motorpoint Yamaha team this weekend. After an amazing qualifying performance race day drama’s dampened the enthusiasm of the team.

The results did not tell the full story of the weekend but what it did was give the team a vision of what lies ahead! With spectacular crashes and lap record race pace the intense pressure at Brands tested even the most experienced of rider not to mention an 18 year old and a Superbike rookie!

Loris Baz saw a podium position slip away when the pace car slowed the race pace down in the first leg, after race leader Michael Laverty crashed Loris found himself on the back wheel of Shane Byrne and in a podium position, 3 laps cruising behind the car and having time to think about the reality of his first race in BSB made him nervous and with the pack reformed and within 1 sec he came out worse of a scrap to the finish and had to settle for 7thposition.

A rear tyre problem in the second race ruined his chance of making amends, Loris left Brands frustrated with the end result but with many positives to take to Oulton Park next week.

James Westmoreland had a very tense weekend; his first race on a Superbike at the very scary Brands Hatch Indy circuit was a baptism on fire. James uncharacteristically crashed out of both races. Luckily the team only has four day days before they are back on track at Oulton Park, a track where James holds the Supersport lap record and will feel more relaxed.

Loris Baz Motorpoint Yamaha 7th race 1 13th race 2

“Aaah that was a frustrating weekend! I really froze up when the pace car came out and made a mess of the race, I am sorry to the team for this we could have had a great start, the second race the tyre moved on the wheel and was nearly impossible to ride. I am pretty angry about race day but I know we have the pace and want to get to Oulton fast to make me feel better!”

James Westmoreland Motorpoint Yamaha race 1 dnf race 2 dnf

“Shell shocked! I think I let the occasion get to me a too much, I rode the qualifying well and was ready for race day and I think wanted it too much! Making silly mistakes around here you are punished pretty hard, Brands Indy is intense thankfully we are back on track in four days at Oulton so I can get back into it”

Rob Mac team manger

“We’ve bumped back to Earth! That was a tough one on everyone, Westy’s first race in the Superbike class gave him a shock and Loris missed out on any luck. The short 45 second lap takes no prisoners and you really have to ride at 110%, I knew it would be tough and I knew it was not the best place for these two young guys to start their year. It’s over now and what we have seen is the incredible pace they both have and the level of our bike, we need to dust ourselves down get our heads up and move onto Oulton, this is a long year and we have two young guys who are going to learn a lot very fast!”