Stuart Easton of Hydrex Honda has been proving over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend that team manager Shaun Muir chose the right man for the job in this year's British Superbike Championship.
After hearing that Shaun Muir was looking for a second rider for his team, the 28-year-old showed an interest and was given a chance to prove himself at the Macau GP last November, in which he won.
From the first time he ventured out on track over this weekend, Easton has been at the top of the timing sheets battling with the likes of Leon Camier, newcomer Sylvain Guintoli and his team mate Karl Harris.
Easton said: “All weekend we have been at the sharp end as a team, Karl was fastest, but I’ve closed up time wise. Qualifying was hard, I did my fastest time in the second session not in the last part of the shootout, but my times are consistent. I did four laps one after the other in the 46.1s”
“For the last three years overall I have been on a package that has been holding me back, people seem surprised at this weekend but I am not. Shaun [Muir] he knew, he took into account the time I was doing with regards to the package I was then on. This is the first time in a long time that I’ve had a real competitive package.”
At the end of the qualifying session Easton had grabbed third place ahead of his team mate Harris putting both the Hydrex Honda team mates on the front row. Talking about his team and this opportunity Easton said: “My crew chief Pete Jennings has a style of working that suits me. He tells me what I need to do and I go and do it, that’s want I want.”
“Having Karl [Harris] as my team mate is great, we can’t really compare data or setup because he’s much bigger than I am and also we have different styles, he more aggressive. However he’s always fast, it makes me dig deep and we push each other, which is good.”
Easton is looking forward to the race and gaining vital points towards the long championship battle that lies ahead. However he looks to be set to have a dazzling 2009 and certainly will be one to watch.
