BSB: Sylvain Guintoli wins Debut Race at Brands Hatch

By
Brian Christner
Published: April 13, 2009Posted in: British SuperbikeTags: , , ,
Sylvain Guintoli win Debut Race at Brands Hatch

Sylvain Guintoli win Debut Race at Brands Hatch

Worx Crescent Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli took a stunning victory in the opening race of the ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli at Brands Hatch this afternoon, taking his debut win in his first ever race.

Guintoli said: “This is great; I just need to sort my starts out now as that was not so good! It is great to be in a race again where I can fight and overtake and challenge at the front. I couldn’t remember yesterday the last time I was on pole and I can’t remember the last time I won a race either! The Worx Crescent Suzuki team have worked so hard to get to this stage and it is important to repay them with this win. We keep improving the new Suzuki and I am still learning but for sure there is more to come from me and the team.”

It was Stuart Easton that took the lead into Paddock Hill Bend on the Hydrex Honda on the opening lap, forcing his way to the front with Steve Plater and team-mate Karl Harris tucked in behind. Easton was forced to start the race on his number two bike after a problem on the grid, but this was not going to deter him and he led the opening laps of the race.

On lap three the Audi R8 safety car was deployed after MIST Suzuki’s Matt Bond suffered a heavy crash at Clearways along with Tom Tunstall on the Hardinge Doodson Motorsport Honda. Bond suffered a suspected fractured foot in the crash, whilst Tunstall was unhurt.

When the race was restarted on the seventh lap the pack had all bunched up and the run down to Paddock Hill Bend gave Glen Richards the opportunity to pass team-mate Plater on the brakes, but one lap later Plater got his revenge by moving back ahead at the same spot.

Karl Harris crashed his Hydrex Honda at Druids; ‘Bomber’ had been third on the opening lap, but was passed by Plater and Leon Camier who was making progress on the Airwaves Yamaha. Harris was determined to make a pass back though and on lap ten he crashed out at Druids in a bid to get ahead of the Airwaves Yamaha.

Super-sub Plater was a man on a mission; on lap eight he barged his way past Easton at Paddock Hill Bend to take the lead. The HM Plant Honda rider was soon under pressure from a flying Guintoli and as he turned in for Druids he slid off to put him out of the race. Plater’s crash forced Camier wide and almost of the track, dropping him back to tenth.

Guintoli then controlled the race from the front, edging ahead of Richards and Easton. Meanwhile Camier was working his way back through the chasing pack, able to secure fourth for the Airwaves Yamaha team, despite this the first race for the new YZF-R1. James Ellison was able to also secure a top five, finishing just behind his team-mate.

Gary Mason put in another encouraging performance on the Quay Garage Honda; the top mirror.co.uk Cup runner was able to stay ahead of MSS Colchester Kawasaki’s Simon Andrews to take sixth. Jason O’Halloran on the SMT Honda gave the team another top ten finish in eighth after a race-long battle with Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha’s Graeme Gowland.

Julian Da Costa was forced to start from pitlane on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki, but managed to work his way through the field during the 30 lap race to finish just outside the top ten.

ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli, Brands Hatch, race one result:
1. Sylvain Guintoli (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 
2. Glen Richards (HM Plant Honda) +0.952s
3. Stuart Easton (Hydrex Honda) +3.086s
4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Yamaha) +7.007s
5. James Ellison (Airwaves Yamaha) +7.814s
6. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +8.505s
7. Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +9.359s
8. Jason O’Halloran (SMT Honda) +9.639s
9. Graeme Gowland (Motorpoint/Henderson Yamaha) +10.549s
10. Tristan Palmer (Buildbase Kawasaki) +16.181s