Brands report for front
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2015 6:52 am
Round Two Brands Hatch 17/18/19 April - Peach and Stevens share the spoils
Qualifying – Another large grid turned out for a hectic qualifying session. Dry but very cold conditions prevailed as Andy Peach/Charlie Richardson (L&W Kawasaki) set a pole position time just .3 of a second shy of the Birchall Brother’s lap record. They were hotly chased by Ricky Stevens/Ryan Charlwood (Be-Wiser Kawasaki), Roger Lovelock/Aki Alto (Driverwolf BMW) and Ben Holland/Lee Watson (Finning Cat Kawasaki). Reigning Champions Sean Hegarty/James Neave struggled in 8th place, a full second off the pace.
Race One – A sensational start by Andy Peach was challenged by Lovelock on the run to Druids for the first time. Stevens/Charlwood were swallowed up in the first three bends but were fighting back with Tony Brown/Sam Christie and Lovelock when a huge oil spill by a back-marker caused Rod Robinson/Helen Deeley to capsize, and Brown to run on at Graham Hill, eventually making contact with the barrier. With four laps completed, a restart later in the day was ordered. Peach, at this time, had been clear of the chasing pack and looking good for the win. Ben Holland/Lee Watson (Finning Cat Kawasaki) were running strongly and threatening to claim third, when they had to pit with a clutch problem. As it happened, time overtook proceedings, and a result was declared with only four laps run. Half points were awarded with Andy Peach taking his first outright victory since Snetterton 2009. Tony Brown delighted his Paymundo sponsor bringing his Kawasaki home in fourth, as that is where he was on the last complete lap. Steve Kershaw/Rob Wilson (Express Tyres/|Blinkbonny Quarry Kawasaki continued their consistent form in fifth ahead of Simon Gilbert/Carl Morgan G-Force Racing Kawasaki.
Result – 1/ Peach/Richardson, 2/Lovelock/Alto, 3/ Stevens/Charlwood, 4/Brown/Christie, 5/Kershaw/Wilson, 6/Gilbert/Morgan, 7/ Ian Guy/Ken Edwards (L&W Suzuki), 8/Gary Horspole/Jimmy Connell (Horspole Suzuki), 9/Matt McLaurin/Ady Hope LCR Yamaha),10/ Ian Drowne/Jed Pilmoor-Brady (Mick Robson Racing Kawasaki).
Race Two – Late in the day, in much warmer temperatures, twenty-one litres of horsepower hurtled into Paddock Hill Bend. Andy Peach made the most of his pole to grab the lead. Roger Lovelock wound up his BMW and gathered momentum on the run towards Druids, dragging Tony Brown with him. Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood were almost caught by the flying Scot Steve Kershaw, and that battle raged for half of the twelve laps. Kershaw was promoted one place when Tony Brown retired with a mechanical fault. Meanwhile, Sean Hegarty/James Neave were making a good fist of a fight through the field, and eventually claimed fourth place ahead of Roger Lovelock, who had spun off at Druids. A four-way fight involving Ben Holland/Lee Watson, Simon Gilbert, Ben Bygrave/Justin Sharpe (Bygrave Racing Suzuki) and Ian Guy/Ken Edwards kept the crowd on its toes. Stevens stretched his lead and pulled away from Andy Peach at the flag, who was suffering with a slipping clutch. Kershaw claimed a stunning final podium place.
Result – 1/ Stevens/Charlwood, 2/ Peach/Richardson, 3/Kershaw/Wilson, 4/Hegarty/Neave, 5/Lovelock/Alto, 6/Holland/Watson,7/Guy/Edwards, 8/Gilbert/Morgan, 9/Bygrave/Sharpe, 10/Drowne/Pilmoor-Brady.
Standings – Stevens/Charlwood 65, Lovelock/Alto 54, Birchall/Birchall 50, Kershaw/Wilson 45.5, Peach/Richardson 42.5, Guy/Edwards 28.5, Brown/Christie 27.5, Drowne/Pilmoor-Brady 22, Gilbert/Morgan 21.
Qualifying – Another large grid turned out for a hectic qualifying session. Dry but very cold conditions prevailed as Andy Peach/Charlie Richardson (L&W Kawasaki) set a pole position time just .3 of a second shy of the Birchall Brother’s lap record. They were hotly chased by Ricky Stevens/Ryan Charlwood (Be-Wiser Kawasaki), Roger Lovelock/Aki Alto (Driverwolf BMW) and Ben Holland/Lee Watson (Finning Cat Kawasaki). Reigning Champions Sean Hegarty/James Neave struggled in 8th place, a full second off the pace.
Race One – A sensational start by Andy Peach was challenged by Lovelock on the run to Druids for the first time. Stevens/Charlwood were swallowed up in the first three bends but were fighting back with Tony Brown/Sam Christie and Lovelock when a huge oil spill by a back-marker caused Rod Robinson/Helen Deeley to capsize, and Brown to run on at Graham Hill, eventually making contact with the barrier. With four laps completed, a restart later in the day was ordered. Peach, at this time, had been clear of the chasing pack and looking good for the win. Ben Holland/Lee Watson (Finning Cat Kawasaki) were running strongly and threatening to claim third, when they had to pit with a clutch problem. As it happened, time overtook proceedings, and a result was declared with only four laps run. Half points were awarded with Andy Peach taking his first outright victory since Snetterton 2009. Tony Brown delighted his Paymundo sponsor bringing his Kawasaki home in fourth, as that is where he was on the last complete lap. Steve Kershaw/Rob Wilson (Express Tyres/|Blinkbonny Quarry Kawasaki continued their consistent form in fifth ahead of Simon Gilbert/Carl Morgan G-Force Racing Kawasaki.
Result – 1/ Peach/Richardson, 2/Lovelock/Alto, 3/ Stevens/Charlwood, 4/Brown/Christie, 5/Kershaw/Wilson, 6/Gilbert/Morgan, 7/ Ian Guy/Ken Edwards (L&W Suzuki), 8/Gary Horspole/Jimmy Connell (Horspole Suzuki), 9/Matt McLaurin/Ady Hope LCR Yamaha),10/ Ian Drowne/Jed Pilmoor-Brady (Mick Robson Racing Kawasaki).
Race Two – Late in the day, in much warmer temperatures, twenty-one litres of horsepower hurtled into Paddock Hill Bend. Andy Peach made the most of his pole to grab the lead. Roger Lovelock wound up his BMW and gathered momentum on the run towards Druids, dragging Tony Brown with him. Ricky Stevens and Ryan Charlwood were almost caught by the flying Scot Steve Kershaw, and that battle raged for half of the twelve laps. Kershaw was promoted one place when Tony Brown retired with a mechanical fault. Meanwhile, Sean Hegarty/James Neave were making a good fist of a fight through the field, and eventually claimed fourth place ahead of Roger Lovelock, who had spun off at Druids. A four-way fight involving Ben Holland/Lee Watson, Simon Gilbert, Ben Bygrave/Justin Sharpe (Bygrave Racing Suzuki) and Ian Guy/Ken Edwards kept the crowd on its toes. Stevens stretched his lead and pulled away from Andy Peach at the flag, who was suffering with a slipping clutch. Kershaw claimed a stunning final podium place.
Result – 1/ Stevens/Charlwood, 2/ Peach/Richardson, 3/Kershaw/Wilson, 4/Hegarty/Neave, 5/Lovelock/Alto, 6/Holland/Watson,7/Guy/Edwards, 8/Gilbert/Morgan, 9/Bygrave/Sharpe, 10/Drowne/Pilmoor-Brady.
Standings – Stevens/Charlwood 65, Lovelock/Alto 54, Birchall/Birchall 50, Kershaw/Wilson 45.5, Peach/Richardson 42.5, Guy/Edwards 28.5, Brown/Christie 27.5, Drowne/Pilmoor-Brady 22, Gilbert/Morgan 21.