Honda Racing’s team manager Havier Beltran has two riders in the MCE British Superbike Showdown after Dan Linfoot confirmed his position as a title fighter at Oulton Park this afternoon despite crashing out of the weekend’s final race.
The Yorkshireman joins team-mate Jason O’Halloran in the top six with the Australian already confirming his spot at the last round at Cadwell Park. But it was an agonizing and nail-biting wait for the Honda team manager as Linfoot crashed unhurt at Hizzy’s in the final race and had to wait and see who finished where. Fortunately results went his way and he is now fifth in the overall standings on 511 points.
“Dan made it nail biting all the way through and to have two riders in the Showdown is all credit to the team and all their hard work they have done. Dan and Jason have been on it from round one with everything that we have had to do - with the bikes and the transformation and development of certain things and I am happy for them,” said Honda manager Havier Beltran, speaking to bikesportnews.com from the track.
Linfoot was not the only rider to experience a DNF in race three, as O’Halloran had a technical issue while he was in the lead, coming to a stop at Old Hall, and was unfortunate enough not to come away with any additional podium credits.
“We don’t know what happened with Jason and he came in and said it jumped out of gear and he couldn’t select a gear and pulled over. Disappointing for us for that to happen but rather it happen now, rather than at Donington or Assen,” Beltran explained.
“Dan is OK he is a bit subdued obviously after crashing and catching the curb and losing the front. He felt he was in a strong position there and third place was right in front of him. He felt that he could have pushed and get some podium credits to help towards the Showdown.
“Things happened, but Dan is fifth and Jason is third, there is a lot of points up for grabs. It has been a real shakearound this weekend at Oulton Park and let’s see what we can do and put together.”
Linfoot did make it on to the podium in the second race with a third place finish and added: “It is good to deliver a performance like that when the pressure is really on and when you have to dig deep and try to make it happen.
“After the races yesterday I thought I had a better pace than what I actually shown, as I started quite lowly so I was determined to make a strong start and it set the race up well. We had a little issue from lap twelve onwards and hopefully we can resolve that.”