Beowulf Racing team had a weekend to remember in the second round of the European Superstock 600 championship at Assen with new signing Dan Linfoot securing the team’s first victory of the season in front of a weekend crowd of 75,000 spectators. Riding the Beowulf Racing Yamaha, 19 year old Linfoot set a new lap record and now leads the championship standings by five points following his impressive debut podium at Valencia.
Having tested at the Assen 4.555KM Dutch circuit prior to the event, the Beowulf Racing team arrived in confident mood and in the opening qualifying session Linfoot secured provisional pole with team-mate Gino Rea backing him up on the front row in fourth place. Due to the unpredictable Dutch weather the team elected to use two new rear tyres in the opening sessions leaving them without a brand new tyre for second qualifying. In the final 30 minute session Linfoot was unable to improve his time and dropped to fifth, whilst Rea took 0.2 seconds off his lap time, but due to the pace of his rivals was relegated to eighth.
The 10 lap race got under way in bright sunny conditions with Linfoot challenging at the front before some seriously quick laps saw him close down on the rear wheel of Honda rider Patrick Vostarek. On lap three, Linfoot made a clean and committed pass to take the lead at the end of the back straight and immediately began to pull away through consistent laps before setting a new lap record of 1m 44.984 on lap six of the race. From then on in the Beowulf man was in total control and went on to take a convincing win by 3.188 seconds.
Team-mate Gino Rea had a tough race after impressing during qualifying and ended up finishing in ninth place. Starting from eighth on the grid Rea was unable to make his trademark fast getaway and as a result nearly got caught up in a first corner crash, which caused him to drop a position and lose touch with the lead group. The gutsy 18 year old continued to push hard setting his fastest lap of the race on lap seven, but ended up finishing ninth to score seven valuable championship points.
Dan Linfoot - Race 1st, Championship position 1st "I knew I had the pace to run at the front today because we’d already put in a lot of laps on old tyres and I could still do the times. I knew I’d go even quicker in the race but to get into the 1m 44’s and set a new lap record is pretty special. The team have put a great bike underneath me and I’m just very happy to be full of confidence after what was a tough year in 2007. My last win was nearly two years ago in the European 250 Championship so it feels pretty good to stand on the top step of the box again. "
Gino Rea - Race 9th, Championship position 9th "That wasn’t what I wanted and I’m disappointed because I feel that I could have been on the podium alongside Dan today. I nearly got caught up in the crash on the first lap and as a result got boxed in. I ended up losing my rhythm and I had trouble passing people I knew I was quicker than. I managed to make some passes and get clear track but I found myself rushing into corners trying to make up time and that led to me making a few mistakes. It all comes down to not getting the start I wanted but I’m already looking forward to Monza in a couple of weeks time."
