McDougall on the pace for Sunday Supersport Cup race
10-05-2008
BRITISH SUPERSPORT CUP
RD 03 - BRANDS HATCH
SAT 10th MAY - FREE PRACTICE
Beowulf Racing's Pat McDougall is looking forward to tomorrow's third round race in the 2008 British Supersport Cup having completed two free practice sessions at Brands Hatch today. The Guildford-based rider lapped the 2.3-mile Kent circuit in a best time of one minute 31.761 seconds which placed him as third fastest Cup rider and 20th in terms of the overall Supersport Championship.
The race tomorrow is the rescheduled opening round from April which had to be cancelled due to snowbound conditions. In contrast to the previous Arctic weather, the Kent circuit has today been blessed with a sun-kissed day with more sunshine predicted for tomorrow.
Qualifying positions for the race will remain as previously recorded. In April, Pat qualified in 17th place with a time of one minute 30.894 seconds. Due to the injured Dennis Hobbs (Honda) not being able to take part tomorrow, McDougall will move one place up the grid onto the end of the fourth row.
In this morning's opening session Pat ran as high as tenth overall, before dropping back to 15th with a time of one minute 31.922 seconds at the end of the 35-minute period. Completing another 16 laps this afternoon, McDougall shaved a further two-tenths of a second from his earlier outing. Although, like the rest of the field, Pat is lapping almost a second slower than he managed in April, he is most certainly on the pace: less than a second separates McDougall from the 15 riders in front of him.
Having solved chatter problems that plagued the Beowulf Yamaha this morning, the team will be looking at providing McDougall with more front-end grip this evening. Despite this, Pat is looking forward to Sunday's 18-lapper with his usual levels of enthusiasm.
Pat McDougall, Beowulf Supersport Cup rider:
"I really wanted to match my earlier times and do a one minute 30 lap today, but like the rest of the field I'm a bit slower than I was in April. Ironically, the warmer weather seems to be providing less grip on the track. We had front-end chatter this morning but that's largely gone now. I am still lacking a little bit of confidence in the front-end though, the bike squirms a little in a few of the corners, particularly Westfield. Hopefully we'll get those problems ironed out tonight and in tomorrow's warm-up and in any case I'm looking forwards to tomorrow's race."
BRITISH SUPERSPORT CUP
RD 03 BRANDS HATCH
FREE PRACTICE CLASSIFICATION
1. Craig Fitzpatrick (Yamaha) - 1:30.640
2. Andy Weymouth (Yamaha) - 1:31.269
3. Pat McDougall (Yamaha) - 1:31.761
BRITISH SUPERSPORT CHAMPIONSHIP
RD 03 BRANDS HATCH
FREE PRACTICE CLASSIFICATION
1. Hudson Kennaugh (Yamaha) - 1:29.501
2. Glen Richards (Triumph) - 1:30.229
3. James Westmoreland (Honda) 1:30.553
20. Pat McDougall (Yamaha) - 1:31.761
WSBK Rd 3 Monza. Mixed outcome from Saturday qualifying.
10-05-2008
Both Dan Linfoot and Gino Rea had engine failure in qualifying this morning but not before Gino secured a 6th place on the grid for the race this afternoon. Dan's bike broke early in qualifying and with his spare bike already out of action from earlier mechanical failure at Monza, Dan will not be able to run in the race this afternoon. Gino will ride his spare bike in the race and hopes for his trademark quick start to give an opportunity to battle for a podium finish.
WSBK Rd 3 Monza. Difficult Friday qualifying.
09-05-2008
We finished today after the first qualifying session, with Dan in 17th and Gino in 25th position. Gino was involved in a high speed crash that fortunately left Gino not seriously hurt however, the bike will be out of action for the weekend and the spare bike was not in a tune to give Gino a front running position. Dan was running a different engine tune than at Assen, that has not worked today as well as hoped. However, rebuilds of both bikes this evening by the team will see them in form for second qualifying and then the race tomorrow (Saturday). Please find photos from the sessions today in the gallery including team shots.
Sponsors
Team Beowulf Racing.
The great race at the new Portimao circuit brings an end to our season in World Superbike Superstock 600, with riders Gino Rea and Dan Linfoot.
The season has been a success with Gino third and Dan fifth in the championship standings following three victories and five additional podiums in total. The results have also acted as a stepping stone to the riders for next season, with both securing high profile, career progressing rides for 2009.
Thank you for all of the emails, calls, texts and visits throughout the year. It has been much appreciated.
