Brit Graeme Gowland proved his talent in the World Supersport race today at the Valencia circuit after running in the top six before a mechanical brought an end to his day whilst his Benjan Racing team mate Vesa Kallio once again scored valuable points.

Gowland produced a good start on his Honda CBR600RR when the lights went out and moved into 10th position. Gowland stayed in the top 10 in the early laps before moving up to 6th after overhauling Katsuaki Fujiwara and then fellow Brit Jonathan Rea. Gowland was on the pace and began to gap Rea and close in on 5th place man Gianluca Nannelli. However as Gowland braked for the final corner on the 9th lap he realised there was fluid on his rear tyre and he headed for the gravel and out of the race.

Kallio did not make as good a start and was in 25th place at the end of lap one but he pushed hard and was up to 21st by lap 4. Kallio relegated Miguel Praia on lap 11 to move into the points and when the chequered flag was waved Kallio was up to 14th and grabbing 2 more world points. 

Gowland: “I felt really comfortable and was really beginning to reel in the guy in 5th but then as I braked into the last turn the rear end came round on me and I knew I definitely had some fluid on the tyre as I had had a few other moments so I had to go into the gravel and put it on its side. I am gutted that I had to retire but it was just one of those things which was nobody’s fault as it was a clip which had broken.”

Kallio: “I am happy to get more points on the board and I feel it was a good result considering I was down in 25th on lap one.”
HONORARY BRIT TAKES VICTORY 
Australian and honorary Brit Brendan Roberts got his season off to a fantastic start this weekend in Valencia securing the first win of the season. Riding once again for the Ducati Xerox Junior Team in the Superstock 1000 FIM Cup on the Ducati 1098R the youngster dominated the weekend’s proceedings. Setting the fastest time in all but one session, he qualified in pole position, his first since 2006, setting the fastest lap during the race and confidently taking the race win.
 
Roberts who was fighting a serious wrist injury throughout 2007 showed his true form today and demonstrated why he was British Superstock Champion in 2006. He was unable to show his true colours last season but after training hard through the winter and also allowing more time for his wrist to heal he was eager to get back out racing again.
 
Having tested the Ducati 1098R only a few times prior to the first race it was the ideal start for Roberts and one he hopes to carry through the remainder of the season. In glorious sunshine at Valencia, Spain he gained a fantastic start and lead the race for the entire 13-laps. He was being put under pressure by Italian Davide Giugliano on the Suzuki who was keen to try and make a move on the Australian and go for the lead early in the race. Roberts, however, had other ideas and rode a smooth and very confident race bridging a gap of nearly four seconds by the time the chequered flag came out.
 
Commenting a delighted Roberts said: “It’s such a nice feeling to be back on the top step of the podium again. This is my first win in the dry in the European Superstocks since 2006, after my injury last year I found it difficult at the majority of the races to fully push to my limits as I was still in a lot of pain. I’m so pleased for the team that I have been able to do this and that they had the faith in me to keep me on the Ducati again this season.
"They have all worked incredibly hard, all last year and this weekend and this is my thanks to them and I hope that it will continue through the season. I’m on such a high and really pleased that it’s started this way, I hope that I’ll be able to do the same again at the other races but I’m just taking one step at a time. My wrist is still sore and I’ve been told I’ll never get full movement back but now its feeling better so fingers crossed!”
BRIDEWELL HEADS THE BRITS IN GSX-R TROPHY
Wiltshire rider Tommy Bridewell celebrated a day of success in the Suzuki GSX-R European Cup when he finished in seventh place in today's race which supported the World Superbike Championship meeting at Valencia.
 
The 18 year old from Etchilhampton qualified on the second row but his hopes were immediately dashed as he got a bad start aboard the Team GB machine and he ended the opening lap down in 13th place.
 
But the former British Superbike Championship rider set about climbing the leaderboard and within a few laps, he had moved inside the top ten and as the race progressed, he caught the leading bunch who were chasing eventual race winner Kenny Noyes.
 
Try as he may, Tommy couldn't get the better of the few riders in front as he'd used up his tyre and at the end of the race, he had to settle for seventh place in the opening round of the series.
 
"I'm a little disappointed as I knew a podium was within my capabilities but we had a few issues with suspension during practice and there wasn't a lot we could do to rectify it. I asked Chris Walker and he suggested a solution which we'll try next time out and hopefully that will cure the problems. I fluffed the start but that's what happens after a year of riding superbikes with launch control and by the time I'd caught the pack up, my tyre was about shot. But I'm glad I've got my first race of the year under my belt and I now know what I have to do in this class" said Tommy.
 
Bridewell flies directly from Spain to Monza where later this week, he'll be testing his Team Naturally Best Suzuki in readiness for the Italian Superbike Championship. At the same time, the team will be officially launched whereby the opening round takes place at Mugello on April 20th.
 
"The next round of the Suzuki GSX-R European Cup is at Monza so I'll have learned the track by then and hopefully we can concentrate entirely on setting up the bike as I need to shoot for a podium there to keep my championship chances alive" concluded Bridewell.