MCE British Superbikes

Shane Byrne: "It is great to be back on the podium again for HM Plant Honda in both races and I have to say at one point that I thought maybe I could get passed John Hopkins in the first race for second, so I just kept pushing.

“In race two Tommy just had that bit more than me. I was pushing as I knew that otherwise he would get away at the front and then there were the safety car moments and I realised that John (Hopkins) was out. I wanted the win but the points and podium credits are so vital to the championship and you can't lose sight of that.

“As well as trying to pass Tommy, I was trying to keep Michael (Laverty) behind me and he kept me honest in that race. We now need to get to another track where we can get them back! I have to thank the HM Plant Honda team for the hard work at the weekend as the conditions were changing all the time and wet or dry we were up there with the Fireblade where we needed to be. I want to also wish Jason all the best for a speedy recovery."

Jon Kirkham: "I'm disappointed because I wanted to achieve much more this weekend. We had a brake problem in warm up this morning which meant I didn't sort a dry setting for the races. Then in race one I had rear grip issues, so finished eighth.

"In the second race I started from P13. I made a poor start and then straight after the first pace car I found John and his bike sliding on the track immediately in front of me. I went grass tracking to avoid a collision - and slid off. I was so annoyed with myself that I picked up my bike and rode on aggression through to the finish.

"So, not the weekend I was looking for. I'm looking forward to Snetterton, though; I liked this track when we tested there earlier in the year. I'll be looking to score better points and make that jump back into the top-six."

Tommy Bridewell: "We made some changes to the bike this weekend and it felt a lot better although we got very little dry time because of the weather. In the opening race, I didn't get a good start so had my work cut out to get a result and ended up in 11th place.

“Race two saw me get a better start and I was feeling good when I lost the front end and slid right across the track, somehow managing not to get hit by the pack so I'm feeling very lucky. Despite that, I felt we made some good progress and hope we can continue that at Snetterton in two weeks' time."

James Westmoreland: “I am totally grinning from ear to ear, that is just what I needed! I came from behind and put some good passes on some of the really experienced hard riders and that is what I have been looking for. The whole team needed a race like this and it is great to see them all smiling. I have shown good pace but not had everything right for race day, today the bike felt good and we raced hard just what I needed.”

Loris Baz: “I am so angry, we had a good chance of a strong result. I learned a lot in race 1 and felt I could go harder for race 2 but got caught in the middle of a riders crash with three others. I hate leaving a circuit like this and I have to wait now for the next race to make it better. Good for James he rode well so one side of the garage is happy! Snetterton will be good for us I have a feeling!”

Graeme Gowland: “I have to take away the positives and not dwell on the negatives. I got plenty of wet weather riding under my belt. I qualified well and had a good race although after all my hard work I was gutted to lose the chance of my first podium on the final corner but that’s racing. I will now focus on the next round at Snetterton in two weeks’ time”

Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport

Ben Wilson: “I am really happy with the win today. The bike ran really well and I just needed to get into a rhythm, I just made a few little mistakes and lost the time I had pulled out on Alistair but I managed to keep my head down and got the win. I want to thank my Gearlink Kawasaki team for putting me a good bike together; it ran perfectly for me all weekend. I am really happy with the lap record and also the Rider of the Day award. It’s a team effort and we all worked together to pull off the win and extend the series lead – albeit only by one point!”

Alastair Seeley: "Ben rode hard and tried to pull the pin after just a few laps, but my pace has been pretty consistent on the GSX-R600 so I was confident of pegging him back. I was catching him all the time but I could also see about five back markers in front of us.

“I knew I needed to be on his bumper and I closed right up; then when he got held up I got through to take the lead. He's so aggressive and got back in front, but when he made a mistake into the last corner on the last lap I wasn't quite close enough to capitalise. It's solid points again and it only takes a DNF over the next lot of races from him and I'm right back in it. I'll go home now and make a game-plan for the next round but I'm happy enough."

Christian Iddon: “The weekend started off with a real challenge to find a set-up and to find gearing that works. I really struggled through practice and qualifying but everyone worked so hard and pulled together. The bike was great for the first race, in fact it was incredible. It took a while to get used to it but by mid-race we were on the pace so that got me a top ten but up to fifth on the grid for race two so that was good.

Morning warm-up showed that we were way off with the gearing so we changed that and got it absolutely spot-on for the race. I was a bit wary of the conditions early on which maybe cost me the chance to get away with Wilson and Seeley but once I’d settled into a rhythm it was a case of racing my pit board and making sure I stayed on the podium. I’ve just got to thank everyone in the team – no one let their head get down when we were struggling and in the end it really paid off. I know I can run at the front now and I’m sure there’s more to come.”

Paul Young: “We struggled through practice and qualifying mostly because I haven’t been here for three years but partly because of the weather. We ran a setting close to what we used to win in the wet at Thruxton and it didn’t work – with hindsight I should have perhaps known better. We quickly realised we’d gone the wrong way and were hoping to make an impact in the first race but visor issues put paid to that. It’s the first time in twenty years of racing I’ve had to pull in for a visor steaming up, but it was so bad I really couldn’t see a thing.

The second race went to plan though, and I’m really pleased that we managed to turn what could have been a lousy weekend into something worthwhile. I’m now level with Billy on points again and we’re only two points away from third in the championship. I’m looking forward to Snetterton now and I think we can go well there. All that matters to me now is getting top three in the championship – that’s my goal.”

John Simpson: “The weather in qualifying was terrible and I was having suspension issues. I didn't know what to expect on track and I must admit they aren’t my favourite conditions. Sunday was dry and I went out in warm-up and I felt good as I was ninth fastest and I felt confident. I went from 24th to 15th and my lap time was as fast as the rider in sixth place so I know there is potential there. We’ve got a good package for Snetterton and we will be going well. I’m really looking forward to it now.”

Marty Nutt: "I'm very happy with how the weekend's gone and we've been on the pace throughout. Since Thruxton, we've made a few changes to the bike, developing the engine some more and using some different electronics and it's definitely been a step forward.

“Andy, my mechanic, made a good call on the chassis set-up this weekend too and the combination of it all allowed us make a significant step in the right direction. Obviously, conditions were pretty terrible for the first two days but we had a good pace and, more importantly, stayed upright so we were in a good frame of mind going into the two races.

“The bike was a match for anything else out there in both the wet and dry and the only issue I had was in the second half of the second race when I started to get really bad arm pump. My arms were solid and I was having to take it really steady in the first and last corners so I couldn't do much when Mossey came by, I just had to let him go. I've picked up a good haul of points from the two races and the aim at the beginning of the season was to finish consistently inside the top ten so we're a lot closer to achieveing that now and can go to the next round feeling confident for more of the same."

Metzeler National Superstock 1000

David Johnson: "Even though all practice and qualifying sessions were wet, I managed a decent grid position. However, I had a problem with the bike in the last minutes of Qualifying Session 2, so I was probably lucky to hold onto eighth.

"Due to lack of dry track time, we didn't have the perfect setup for me in the race. The bike wasn't pulling well out of the last corner, which really diminished my drive onto the straight. When I tried to go harder, I nearly launched myself off the bike. Overall though I'm happy with things, but I really wanted top five finish. I'm now equal tenth in the championship now, which is what the boss wanted, so our plans are starting to come together.

"I'm really happy with the boys on my side of the garage. We really work together well and they do a great job. Well done to Tris on another win.

Conor Cummins: "All the mileage at the TT really helped me so when I got to Knockhill, everything clicked straightaway. Obviously the conditions made it more of a level playing field as I'm still nowhere near fully fit but it was without doubt my best weekend on the short circuits so far.

“I felt really good on the bike and it was nice to be running inside the top 12 with the riders I'm usually running with. My luck ran out in the race though when Jason O'Halloran crashed and his bike collected me and about 5 other riders and it's fair to say I'm a bit sore from the crash as I got caught up with the bike and hit the deck fairly hard.

“The medics at the circuit looked after me really well and nothing's broken so I'll just rest up now before the next round. It was a very positive weekend though in terms of how I was performing so there's a lot to be encouraged by and I can now just press on at the next round and look to get the result I feel I'm now capable of."]

Metzeler National Superstock 600

Ben Gautrey: After finding confidence in myself and the bike, I ignored the fact I'd never raced the circuit before. When I  started racing somebody said you're only as good as your last race, and so I was eager to improve on finishing 22nd  at Thruxton. Qualifying went very well, but the race was the first dry time I'd had out on the circuit!

"My confidence was high, but I was clipped in the first corner and could do nothing to save my bike from crashing - such a gutting feeling thinking what could of been. I made massive steps this weekend, my previous best qualifying was  28th so 13th was superb."

Glen Irwin: It's a great feeling to leave Knockhill having given MWR Kawasaki their first pole position and podium in the Superstock 600 series. I had quite a fast crash in the first qualifying session, which made bouncing back to take pole all the more  special.

"The race was dry. I hadn't raced at Knockhill before so set up was a gamble but the support from Gearlink on

suspension settings paid off and our team sent out a great bike enabling me to take a second place. The ball is now  rolling and I look forward to Snetterton."

Sunoco British 125GP

Luke Hedger: “I was really happy to get back on to the podium this weekend, even more so as this is another new circuit to me. Hoping for the same or better results for the next round in two weeks time at Snetterton 300. I'm a little apprehensive as they have recently changed the track and I was used to the old circuit. Cant wait to get back on the bike. I would like to thank all my local sponsors, 1st Choice Flooring, Ross Co. Plumbing, D20 and Active Fitness for all their support."