News
BEN WILSON WINS ANOTHER AWARD
24th December 2011 - 0 comments
24th December 2011 - 0 comments
Following the news that Kirton motorcycle racer Ben Wilson has won the CJ Riders Fund Charity Outstanding Rider of the Year award jointly with Alastair Seeley I am delighted to announce that his riding skills have also been recognised by the Johnston Press Newspaper Group.
The Boston Standard has featured Ben throughout the racing season and held its annual sports awards on Tuesday. Ben was nominated by his press officer in the Sports Personality of the Year category and over the past few weeks readers have been voting for their favourite athlete. On Tuesday evening at a gala event it was announced that Ben had won the award for his outstanding performances throughout the 2011 season in which he was hardly ever off the podium. With nine race wins, seven seconds and two third places under his belt he was unfortunate to miss out on taking the British Supersport title by a solitary point.
Ben said: “I am delighted to have been honoured in this way. The Boston Standard has been promoting me throughout the season with some excellent coverage to keep the local fans informed as to my progress this year and for this I give my thanks. Credit is also due to my team and all the staff at Gearlink Kawasaki who have gone that extra mile to ensure I have one of the best bikes in the paddock. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my sponsors for their continued support as without their input I would not have been in a position to have raced let alone won two awards. I will be back next year as I have unfinished business in the British Supersport class!”
The Boston Standard has featured Ben throughout the racing season and held its annual sports awards on Tuesday. Ben was nominated by his press officer in the Sports Personality of the Year category and over the past few weeks readers have been voting for their favourite athlete. On Tuesday evening at a gala event it was announced that Ben had won the award for his outstanding performances throughout the 2011 season in which he was hardly ever off the podium. With nine race wins, seven seconds and two third places under his belt he was unfortunate to miss out on taking the British Supersport title by a solitary point.
Ben said: “I am delighted to have been honoured in this way. The Boston Standard has been promoting me throughout the season with some excellent coverage to keep the local fans informed as to my progress this year and for this I give my thanks. Credit is also due to my team and all the staff at Gearlink Kawasaki who have gone that extra mile to ensure I have one of the best bikes in the paddock. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my sponsors for their continued support as without their input I would not have been in a position to have raced let alone won two awards. I will be back next year as I have unfinished business in the British Supersport class!”
CJ Riders Fund Awards
05th December 2011 - 0 comments
05th December 2011 - 0 comments
Ben received the outstanding rider award at The CJ Riders Dinner on Saturday 3rd December.
Gearlink also received the Non Factory Team award.
Well Done to all.
Gearlink also received the Non Factory Team award.
Well Done to all.
GEARLINK KAWASAKI ANNOUNCE 2012 RIDER LINE UP
10th November 2011 - 1 comment
10th November 2011 - 1 comment
Gearlink Kawasaki is delighted to announce that both Ben Wilson and David Jones will once again ride for the team in the 2012 Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship.
Ben Wilson from Kirton near Boston missed winning the championship by a single point last year and is determined to go one better in 2012. With nine wins, seven seconds and 2 third places from 24 races Ben was hardly off the podium and he will be aiming his sights on further improvement this time around to win the championship that is so close to his heart.
David Jones joined the team towards the end of last season and instantly gelled with the bike and the team. He too will be looking to move further forward in 2012.
Ben Wilson – I am delighted to be riding for Gearlink Kawasaki again next year. This will be my fourth year with the team who are a pleasure to work with. We know what we have to improve on this time and why we didn’t quite manage to win the championship last season. I have unfinished business in Supersport and really want to win the title.
David Jones – It’s great to be able to run the Gearlink Kawasaki for 2012. We can carry on where we left off and secure some good results. I am going on a private test in December which will give me a head start for the new season.
Michael de Bidaph – team owner and manager – I am really happy that we have managed to re-sign Ben for 2012. We had a couple of meetings last week resulting in him remaining in the team for another year. Obviously we were disappointed that Ben missed out on the championship last season but he intends to rectify that in 2012.
We are also pleased that David has re-signed for another year. He shows promise and will no doubt come on in leaps and bounds with the guidance of the team throughout the new season.
Ben Wilson from Kirton near Boston missed winning the championship by a single point last year and is determined to go one better in 2012. With nine wins, seven seconds and 2 third places from 24 races Ben was hardly off the podium and he will be aiming his sights on further improvement this time around to win the championship that is so close to his heart.
David Jones joined the team towards the end of last season and instantly gelled with the bike and the team. He too will be looking to move further forward in 2012.
Ben Wilson – I am delighted to be riding for Gearlink Kawasaki again next year. This will be my fourth year with the team who are a pleasure to work with. We know what we have to improve on this time and why we didn’t quite manage to win the championship last season. I have unfinished business in Supersport and really want to win the title.
David Jones – It’s great to be able to run the Gearlink Kawasaki for 2012. We can carry on where we left off and secure some good results. I am going on a private test in December which will give me a head start for the new season.
Michael de Bidaph – team owner and manager – I am really happy that we have managed to re-sign Ben for 2012. We had a couple of meetings last week resulting in him remaining in the team for another year. Obviously we were disappointed that Ben missed out on the championship last season but he intends to rectify that in 2012.
We are also pleased that David has re-signed for another year. He shows promise and will no doubt come on in leaps and bounds with the guidance of the team throughout the new season.
WILSON MISSES TITLE BY ONE POINT
10th October 2011 - 4 comments
10th October 2011 - 4 comments
WILSON MISSES TITLE BY ONE POINT
Despite taking a win, second and fourth place in the final three races of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship at Brands Hatch; it was not enough to secure the title for Gearlink Kawasaki rider Ben Wilson who lost out by just one championship point to rival Alastair Seeley. But although Seeley may have won the trophy Wilson has been heralded by the fans as the people’s champion and provided them all with a fantastic display of racing throughout the season.
Going into the final round Wilson (29) from Kirton near Boston trailed Seeley by 14 points and knew he had to win all three races in order to lift the trophy and although a tough challenge Wilson was determined to give it a go and see what unveiled.
The first race was the postponed event from Oulton Park where Ben had qualified on pole. As they got underway on Saturday afternoon it was Wilson who got the hole shot into Paddock Hill but Seeley was in close company and took the lead at Druids on lap two.
Seeley pulled away to establish a small gap at the front but Ben was handed a lifeline when Seeley misjudge a corner and crashed on lap four of 10. That left Ben some six seconds clear in the lead and he went on to take a comfortable victory and 25 championship points.
The championship lead was back in the hands of the Lincolnshire rider who had an 11 point advantage to take into the final two races. But the track was damp on Sunday for the start of race two and Ben made a cautious start in the slippery conditions and was swallowed up in the pack as they rounded the first corner.
He soon recovered and made his way through from eighth to fourth where he stayed to the chequered flag.
Going into the final race Ben held a slender four point advantage over Seeley which meant he had to win the race to be sure of winning the championship. He set off from the head of the second row and was up to second at turn one before taking the lead at Druids a few seconds later. He held the lead until lap four of 12 when he was overtaken by Seeley who went on to take both the race win and the title with Wilson denied the title by just one championship point.
“To say I am disappointed is an understatement,” said Wilson. “I am devastated as I had my heart set on winning the title this year. I managed to get the lead in the last race but made a couple of mistakes and that allowed Seeley to get ahead. Once he got the gap on me it was all over. To be fair the gap didn’t increase but fair play to him, he rode a good race and in the end took the title from under my nose.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Gearlink Kawasaki, all my sponsors, supporters and also my family who have been behind me all season. I am just sorry we couldn’t have brought the title back for them.”
After the last race so many people came to commiserate with Wilson, team managers, riders from his own and also the British Superbike class plus Dr Jonathan Palmer of MSV who runs the series. He spoke to him at length and praised Ben for his professionalism telling him that people all over the world have been excited and impressed by his racing throughout the year. Everyone agrees that Ben is the people’s champion and whatever he decides to do next season he has amassed a huge amount of support which will continue through to the next stage of his racing career.
Despite taking a win, second and fourth place in the final three races of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship at Brands Hatch; it was not enough to secure the title for Gearlink Kawasaki rider Ben Wilson who lost out by just one championship point to rival Alastair Seeley. But although Seeley may have won the trophy Wilson has been heralded by the fans as the people’s champion and provided them all with a fantastic display of racing throughout the season.
Going into the final round Wilson (29) from Kirton near Boston trailed Seeley by 14 points and knew he had to win all three races in order to lift the trophy and although a tough challenge Wilson was determined to give it a go and see what unveiled.
The first race was the postponed event from Oulton Park where Ben had qualified on pole. As they got underway on Saturday afternoon it was Wilson who got the hole shot into Paddock Hill but Seeley was in close company and took the lead at Druids on lap two.
Seeley pulled away to establish a small gap at the front but Ben was handed a lifeline when Seeley misjudge a corner and crashed on lap four of 10. That left Ben some six seconds clear in the lead and he went on to take a comfortable victory and 25 championship points.
The championship lead was back in the hands of the Lincolnshire rider who had an 11 point advantage to take into the final two races. But the track was damp on Sunday for the start of race two and Ben made a cautious start in the slippery conditions and was swallowed up in the pack as they rounded the first corner.
He soon recovered and made his way through from eighth to fourth where he stayed to the chequered flag.
Going into the final race Ben held a slender four point advantage over Seeley which meant he had to win the race to be sure of winning the championship. He set off from the head of the second row and was up to second at turn one before taking the lead at Druids a few seconds later. He held the lead until lap four of 12 when he was overtaken by Seeley who went on to take both the race win and the title with Wilson denied the title by just one championship point.
“To say I am disappointed is an understatement,” said Wilson. “I am devastated as I had my heart set on winning the title this year. I managed to get the lead in the last race but made a couple of mistakes and that allowed Seeley to get ahead. Once he got the gap on me it was all over. To be fair the gap didn’t increase but fair play to him, he rode a good race and in the end took the title from under my nose.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Gearlink Kawasaki, all my sponsors, supporters and also my family who have been behind me all season. I am just sorry we couldn’t have brought the title back for them.”
After the last race so many people came to commiserate with Wilson, team managers, riders from his own and also the British Superbike class plus Dr Jonathan Palmer of MSV who runs the series. He spoke to him at length and praised Ben for his professionalism telling him that people all over the world have been excited and impressed by his racing throughout the year. Everyone agrees that Ben is the people’s champion and whatever he decides to do next season he has amassed a huge amount of support which will continue through to the next stage of his racing career.
Timetable for Brands Hatch Round 12
03rd October 2011 - 0 comments
03rd October 2011 - 0 comments
Friday 7th October.
13.50 - 14.35 - Official Test Brands Indy Circuit.
Saturday 8th October.
09.00 - 09.30 Free Practice
12.25 - 12.55 Qualifying
15.40 Race of Oulton Park - 10 Laps
Sunday 9th October
10.15 - 10.23 Warm Up
11.50 RACE 1 - 12 Laps
15.35 RACE 2 - 16 Laps
TV Listing
LIVE ON BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Sunday 09 Oct
11:30-17:30 - Live Raceday
Live timing :
http://www.tsl-timing.com/?loc=major&season=2011&series=BSB&event=races
www.britishsuperbikes.com
BSB Radio Saturday and Sunday.
13.50 - 14.35 - Official Test Brands Indy Circuit.
Saturday 8th October.
09.00 - 09.30 Free Practice
12.25 - 12.55 Qualifying
15.40 Race of Oulton Park - 10 Laps
Sunday 9th October
10.15 - 10.23 Warm Up
11.50 RACE 1 - 12 Laps
15.35 RACE 2 - 16 Laps
TV Listing
LIVE ON BRITISH EUROSPORT 2
Sunday 09 Oct
11:30-17:30 - Live Raceday
Live timing :
http://www.tsl-timing.com/?loc=major&season=2011&series=BSB&event=races
www.britishsuperbikes.com
BSB Radio Saturday and Sunday.
A Message From Ben Wilson #15
02nd October 2011 - 0 comments
02nd October 2011 - 0 comments
Ben Wilson
I would like to thank you all for your support this season, but it’s not over yet....I’ll be going for it, finishing the job I started!
I would like to thank you all for your support this season, but it’s not over yet....I’ll be going for it, finishing the job I started!
BEN WILSON – THE FINAL SHOWDOWN
01st October 2011 - 0 comments
01st October 2011 - 0 comments
Brands Hatch is the venue for the final round of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship over the weekend of October 7-9 and Ben Wilson takes on his toughest challenge to date as he has to win all three races in order to lift the championship trophy on Sunday.
Silverstone was a disaster for the 29-year-old rider from Kirton near Boston who failed to complete the two races and was therefore unable to add to his points tally. Rival Alastair Seeley won both races and now leads the championship by 14 points.
But its not all over just yet as if Wilson can win all three races he will win the championship by just one point – that is if Seeley finishes in second place each time.
“I was really down after Silverstone,” said Wilson. “But I have had time to mull things over and realise it is still possible for me to regain my position at the top of the standings. It will be a difficult job but I am always up for a challenge and will give it my all in each race. Seeley may have the advantage of a 14 point lead but the pressure is all on him now. The championship is his to lose and mine to win.”
Seeley won both races at Brands in August but only by the smallest of margins. Wilson has a top bike under him with the Gearlink Kawasaki and all but matched Seeley’s pace on their last visit to the Kent circuit. In both races the action was close and provided the crowd with the most exciting racing ever seen in the Supersport class.
The scene is set for a repetition of this and the crowd will be relishing the thought of three more exciting and close races as the two go head to head for the Supersport crown.
There is to be an official test on Friday afternoon on the short Indy circuit before the riders take to the full GP circuit for the rest of the weekend’s racing.
Free practice is at 9am on Saturday followed by qualifying at 12.25pm. The first race will be run on Saturday over 20 laps of the course starting at 3.40pm. Race two over 12 laps is at 11.50am on Sunday with the final race of the season on track scheduled to run over 16 laps with a start time of 3.35pm
Silverstone was a disaster for the 29-year-old rider from Kirton near Boston who failed to complete the two races and was therefore unable to add to his points tally. Rival Alastair Seeley won both races and now leads the championship by 14 points.
But its not all over just yet as if Wilson can win all three races he will win the championship by just one point – that is if Seeley finishes in second place each time.
“I was really down after Silverstone,” said Wilson. “But I have had time to mull things over and realise it is still possible for me to regain my position at the top of the standings. It will be a difficult job but I am always up for a challenge and will give it my all in each race. Seeley may have the advantage of a 14 point lead but the pressure is all on him now. The championship is his to lose and mine to win.”
Seeley won both races at Brands in August but only by the smallest of margins. Wilson has a top bike under him with the Gearlink Kawasaki and all but matched Seeley’s pace on their last visit to the Kent circuit. In both races the action was close and provided the crowd with the most exciting racing ever seen in the Supersport class.
The scene is set for a repetition of this and the crowd will be relishing the thought of three more exciting and close races as the two go head to head for the Supersport crown.
There is to be an official test on Friday afternoon on the short Indy circuit before the riders take to the full GP circuit for the rest of the weekend’s racing.
Free practice is at 9am on Saturday followed by qualifying at 12.25pm. The first race will be run on Saturday over 20 laps of the course starting at 3.40pm. Race two over 12 laps is at 11.50am on Sunday with the final race of the season on track scheduled to run over 16 laps with a start time of 3.35pm
HIGH DRAMA FOR BEN WILSON AT SILVERSTONE
26th September 2011 - 0 comments
26th September 2011 - 0 comments
HIGH DRAMA FOR BEN WILSON AT SILVERSTONE
Going into the penultimate round of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship at Silverstone, Gearlink Kawasaki rider Ben Wilson had a healthy lead of 36 points over Alastair Seeley but a crash in race one and a technical issue in the second encounter saw his lead disappear and be replaced by a deficit of 14 points.
The weekend had been going well for the 29-year-old rider from Kirton near Boston and he lined up on the front row of the grid alongside Seeley for the start of Saturday’s sprint race. As the lights went out Wilson got the hole shot into turn one with Seeley hot on his heels and the pair entered into yet another monumental battle for the lead. First Wilson held it then Seeley and they exchanged places on nearly every corner but as Wilson went to overtake Seeley a dubious move by the Relentless Suzuki rider on the penultimate lap caused the pair to touch resulting in Wilson going down at Stowe, his race over.
Luckily Wilson was uninjured and the bike relatively unscathed and he lined up on row two for Sunday’s feature race. He got away to a fantastic start passing pole setter Paul Young on the opening lap. He held his position for the first two laps before being passed by Seeley who was intent on taking another win. This time Wilson was involved in a battle with Sam Warren which held him up and allowed Seeley to get away at the front. Eventually Warren pulled out leaving Wilson to chase after the leader but just as he was making inroads towards his target he encountered a problem with the Gearlink Kawasaki and was forced to retire on lap 10 of 12.
“To say I am gutted would be an understatement,” said Wilson. “I was on course for the win in the first race and thought I had the line through Stowe. Seeley thought otherwise and moved back on me and we clashed. There was an enquiry after the race but it was deemed to be a racing incident and the result was to stand.
“Going into the second race I was determined to claw back some of the 25 points lost and after Warren pulled out I was free to chase Seeley who had got a bit of a lead on me. I was beginning to reel him in and perhaps could have caught him in the last few laps but lady luck wasn’t on my side and I had to pull out with a technical issue.
“We have to put this weekend behind us and concentrate on the final round where we have three races to contest. The championship is far from over and it is still mathematically possible for me to regain my position. I will keep on fighting right to the end and see what unfolds.”
Brands Hatch was the scene of the race of the season for Ben when he and Seeley fought tooth and nail throughout the two races. Seeley won both but only by a tyre tread, the pair were virtually inseparable at the finish with Seeley getting the win each time by less than one hundredth of a second. To win the championship Ben realises he needs to win all three races in the final round to be sure of lifting the trophy. A difficult task – but as he says, not impossible.
By Helen Pask
Going into the penultimate round of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship at Silverstone, Gearlink Kawasaki rider Ben Wilson had a healthy lead of 36 points over Alastair Seeley but a crash in race one and a technical issue in the second encounter saw his lead disappear and be replaced by a deficit of 14 points.
The weekend had been going well for the 29-year-old rider from Kirton near Boston and he lined up on the front row of the grid alongside Seeley for the start of Saturday’s sprint race. As the lights went out Wilson got the hole shot into turn one with Seeley hot on his heels and the pair entered into yet another monumental battle for the lead. First Wilson held it then Seeley and they exchanged places on nearly every corner but as Wilson went to overtake Seeley a dubious move by the Relentless Suzuki rider on the penultimate lap caused the pair to touch resulting in Wilson going down at Stowe, his race over.
Luckily Wilson was uninjured and the bike relatively unscathed and he lined up on row two for Sunday’s feature race. He got away to a fantastic start passing pole setter Paul Young on the opening lap. He held his position for the first two laps before being passed by Seeley who was intent on taking another win. This time Wilson was involved in a battle with Sam Warren which held him up and allowed Seeley to get away at the front. Eventually Warren pulled out leaving Wilson to chase after the leader but just as he was making inroads towards his target he encountered a problem with the Gearlink Kawasaki and was forced to retire on lap 10 of 12.
“To say I am gutted would be an understatement,” said Wilson. “I was on course for the win in the first race and thought I had the line through Stowe. Seeley thought otherwise and moved back on me and we clashed. There was an enquiry after the race but it was deemed to be a racing incident and the result was to stand.
“Going into the second race I was determined to claw back some of the 25 points lost and after Warren pulled out I was free to chase Seeley who had got a bit of a lead on me. I was beginning to reel him in and perhaps could have caught him in the last few laps but lady luck wasn’t on my side and I had to pull out with a technical issue.
“We have to put this weekend behind us and concentrate on the final round where we have three races to contest. The championship is far from over and it is still mathematically possible for me to regain my position. I will keep on fighting right to the end and see what unfolds.”
Brands Hatch was the scene of the race of the season for Ben when he and Seeley fought tooth and nail throughout the two races. Seeley won both but only by a tyre tread, the pair were virtually inseparable at the finish with Seeley getting the win each time by less than one hundredth of a second. To win the championship Ben realises he needs to win all three races in the final round to be sure of lifting the trophy. A difficult task – but as he says, not impossible.
By Helen Pask
BEN WILSON – SILVERSTONE PREVIEW
19th September 2011 - 0 comments
19th September 2011 - 0 comments
Silverstone hosts the penultimate round of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship at the weekend and Gearlink Kawasaki ace Ben Wilson heads to the Northamptonshire circuit with a 36 point advantage over Alastair Seeley at the top of the rider standings.
Wilson saw his series lead reduced from 53 to 34 points after completing his two races at Donington Park in second and fourth places while Seeley took maximum points with two wins. With just five races remaining in the 2011 championship Wilson knows he has to try and maintain his winning formula and will be hunting down two top results at the Silverstone round which will preserve his lead going into the final three races at Brands Hatch in October.
“We had a bit of a glitch at Donington” said Wilson. “We struggled with set up issues all weekend and in the end just couldn’t match Alastair’s pace. Once he got away from me I decided it was better to go for a strong finish sooner than chase too hard and not score points at all. The guys at Gearlink Kawasaki have been working hard to rectify the problem and we will be back on the case this weekend. We have a healthy lead in the championship and need to maintain that ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch. Gearlink Kawasaki has done a magnificent job for me all season and it is now down to me to bring home the points at Silverstone.”
Free practice takes place on Friday ahead of the 35 minute qualifying session on Saturday at 11am. The shorter nine-lap sprint race is on Saturday at 4.15pm followed by the feature race to be run over 12 laps at 3.45pm on Sunday.
By Helen Pask
Wilson saw his series lead reduced from 53 to 34 points after completing his two races at Donington Park in second and fourth places while Seeley took maximum points with two wins. With just five races remaining in the 2011 championship Wilson knows he has to try and maintain his winning formula and will be hunting down two top results at the Silverstone round which will preserve his lead going into the final three races at Brands Hatch in October.
“We had a bit of a glitch at Donington” said Wilson. “We struggled with set up issues all weekend and in the end just couldn’t match Alastair’s pace. Once he got away from me I decided it was better to go for a strong finish sooner than chase too hard and not score points at all. The guys at Gearlink Kawasaki have been working hard to rectify the problem and we will be back on the case this weekend. We have a healthy lead in the championship and need to maintain that ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch. Gearlink Kawasaki has done a magnificent job for me all season and it is now down to me to bring home the points at Silverstone.”
Free practice takes place on Friday ahead of the 35 minute qualifying session on Saturday at 11am. The shorter nine-lap sprint race is on Saturday at 4.15pm followed by the feature race to be run over 12 laps at 3.45pm on Sunday.
By Helen Pask
Timetable for Silverstone Round 11 for British Supersport
19th September 2011 - 0 comments
19th September 2011 - 0 comments
Friday 23rd September
09.30 - 10.00 - Free Practice 1
14.00 - 14.30 - Free Practice 2
Saturday 24th September
11.00 - 11.35 - Qualifying
16.15 - RACE 1 - 9 Laps
Sunday 25th September
09.54 - 10.02 - Warm Up
15.45 - RACE 2 - 12 Laps
TV Listings
Sunday 25 Sep
13:30-14:30 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 25 Sep
15:30-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
BSB Radio available Saturday and Sunday at www.britishsuperbikes.com
Live Timing
http://www.tsl-timing.com/?loc=major&season=2011&series=BSB&event=races
09.30 - 10.00 - Free Practice 1
14.00 - 14.30 - Free Practice 2
Saturday 24th September
11.00 - 11.35 - Qualifying
16.15 - RACE 1 - 9 Laps
Sunday 25th September
09.54 - 10.02 - Warm Up
15.45 - RACE 2 - 12 Laps
TV Listings
Sunday 25 Sep
13:30-14:30 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 25 Sep
15:30-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
BSB Radio available Saturday and Sunday at www.britishsuperbikes.com
Live Timing
http://www.tsl-timing.com/?loc=major&season=2011&series=BSB&event=races
Donington Park Round 10
12th September 2011 - 0 comments
12th September 2011 - 0 comments
WILSON FIGHTS FOR POINTS AT DONINGTON
Ben Wilson endured a tough weekend at Donington Park when he saw his championship lead reduced to 36 points after being unable to match the speed of rival Alastair Seeley who took the double win at the Leicestershire circuit. Wilson was a fighting second in the first race but struggled to make his Gearlink Kawasaki work to his advantage on Sunday and brought it home in fourth place.
Starting from a front row grid position in Saturday’s 12-lap sprint race Wilson (29) from Kirton near Boston got the hole shot into Redgate just ahead of Seeley but was unable to shake off his opponent and he was overhauled as they negotiated the Esses on lap three.. The pair soon pulled clear of the following riders but despite his best efforts the Lincolnshire ace was unable to regain his lead and had to settle for second place at the chequered flag.
“I am happy enough with second today, I lost the front as I went through Craner Curves on lap three and decided to watch the gap and just control it. It was damage limitation as I needed to think of the championship and pick up points sooner than push too hard and maybe not score any points at all. Tomorrow is another day and we know what pace we have. Hopefully we can work on the bike tonight, make it a little bit better and go from there.”
But things didn’t go to plan for Sunday’s feature race as Seeley beat him on the run to Redgate on the first lap. Wilson managed to overhaul him but failed to maintain the lead and Seeley regained control at the front leaving Wilson to fall into the clutches of Christian Iddon who relegated the championship leader down to third on lap three.
Although the action was very close Wilson was unable to overtake Iddon and the three were joined by Paul Young. The battle continued between the four riders with Young passing both Wilson and Iddon on lap nine; but just as Wilson moved ahead of Iddon to regain third place the race was stopped because of rain.
The restart was scheduled to run over seven laps, but this time Wilson was unable to make any headway and was pushed down to fourth place. The race was again red flagged on lap four when David Paton’s engine blew. A result was declared with Wilson being awarded fourth place and 13 championship points taking his total to 391. Seeley picked up the maximum 50 points reducing the gap to 36 points with five races remaining.
“We just couldn’t get the bike to do what we wanted this weekend, “said Wilson. “It’s not an ideal result for us but at least we didn’t crash and we picked up another 33 points. We have to put this behind us and move on to Silverstone where we will try to set the record straight and get back to winning races.”
The next round is at Silverstone over the weekend of September 23-25.
By Helen Pask
Ben Wilson endured a tough weekend at Donington Park when he saw his championship lead reduced to 36 points after being unable to match the speed of rival Alastair Seeley who took the double win at the Leicestershire circuit. Wilson was a fighting second in the first race but struggled to make his Gearlink Kawasaki work to his advantage on Sunday and brought it home in fourth place.
Starting from a front row grid position in Saturday’s 12-lap sprint race Wilson (29) from Kirton near Boston got the hole shot into Redgate just ahead of Seeley but was unable to shake off his opponent and he was overhauled as they negotiated the Esses on lap three.. The pair soon pulled clear of the following riders but despite his best efforts the Lincolnshire ace was unable to regain his lead and had to settle for second place at the chequered flag.
“I am happy enough with second today, I lost the front as I went through Craner Curves on lap three and decided to watch the gap and just control it. It was damage limitation as I needed to think of the championship and pick up points sooner than push too hard and maybe not score any points at all. Tomorrow is another day and we know what pace we have. Hopefully we can work on the bike tonight, make it a little bit better and go from there.”
But things didn’t go to plan for Sunday’s feature race as Seeley beat him on the run to Redgate on the first lap. Wilson managed to overhaul him but failed to maintain the lead and Seeley regained control at the front leaving Wilson to fall into the clutches of Christian Iddon who relegated the championship leader down to third on lap three.
Although the action was very close Wilson was unable to overtake Iddon and the three were joined by Paul Young. The battle continued between the four riders with Young passing both Wilson and Iddon on lap nine; but just as Wilson moved ahead of Iddon to regain third place the race was stopped because of rain.
The restart was scheduled to run over seven laps, but this time Wilson was unable to make any headway and was pushed down to fourth place. The race was again red flagged on lap four when David Paton’s engine blew. A result was declared with Wilson being awarded fourth place and 13 championship points taking his total to 391. Seeley picked up the maximum 50 points reducing the gap to 36 points with five races remaining.
“We just couldn’t get the bike to do what we wanted this weekend, “said Wilson. “It’s not an ideal result for us but at least we didn’t crash and we picked up another 33 points. We have to put this behind us and move on to Silverstone where we will try to set the record straight and get back to winning races.”
The next round is at Silverstone over the weekend of September 23-25.
By Helen Pask
Timetable for Donington Round 10
05th September 2011 - 0 comments
05th September 2011 - 0 comments
FUCHS Silkolene British Supersport.
Friday 9th September 2011
09.30 - 10.00 - Free Practice 1
13.55 - 14.25 - Free Practice 2
Saturday 10th September
11.00 - 11.35 - Qualifying
16.15 - RACE 1 - 12 Laps
Sunday 11th September
09.52 - 10.00 - Warm Up
15.45 - RACE 2 - 18 Laps
TV Listings
Sunday 11 Sep
12:30-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 11 Sep
21:00-21:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Friday 9th September 2011
09.30 - 10.00 - Free Practice 1
13.55 - 14.25 - Free Practice 2
Saturday 10th September
11.00 - 11.35 - Qualifying
16.15 - RACE 1 - 12 Laps
Sunday 11th September
09.52 - 10.00 - Warm Up
15.45 - RACE 2 - 18 Laps
TV Listings
Sunday 11 Sep
12:30-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 11 Sep
21:00-21:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Cadwell Park Round 9
30th August 2011 - 3 comments
30th August 2011 - 3 comments
DOUBLE DELIGHT FOR WILSON AT PARTY IN THE PARK
Ben Wilson enjoyed a double victory at his home track of Cadwell Park to extend his series lead over nearest rival Alistair Seeley back to 53 points with three rounds - seven races – remaining. However the weekend’s celebrations were marred by the tragic death of 18-year-old Ben Gautrey who lost his life in the Superstock 600 race on Monday. Ben was a member of the MWR/Gearlink Kawasaki Superstock 600 team and a close friend of Ben Wilson who dedicated his win on Monday to him.
Wilson, from Kirton near Boston, was in fine form throughout the weekend and fastest in free practice and qualifying. He began Sunday’s 12-lap sprint race from pole position but did not get away to his usual fast start. He moved up into second place behind Seeley as they headed towards Turn One and as they crossed the start line for lap two was right on his tail. Wilson was not to be denied the lead and scorched past his rival on the straight and immediately began to pull away.
Wilson was never troubled again and went on to cross the finish line for his seventh win of the current campaign well ahead of Seeley who finished some 3.4 seconds behind him.
“I didn’t get the best of starts and Alistair got a bit of a break on me on the first lap. I soon got past McConnell and chased after Seeley passing him on the second lap. Then it was just a case of getting my head down, get into a rhythm and pull away from him. I didn’t really want to get into a situation where he was right up with me and trying to dive past at every corner. It was a long race and I just wanted the laps to finish, but it was alright and I did the job and now have to try and do the same tomorrow. On the last lap I had a look behind me as I didn’t realise how much of a lead I had. It is a good feeling to get the win here at Cadwell and hope I can do the same again tomorrow.”
Starting the feature race on Monday from pole position Wilson once again got a sluggish start and was fourth away. But as they went through Charlie’s he was up to second and although Seeley tried to defend his line Wilson passed him on the straight at the start of lap two. This time he was unable to shake off his opponent and the pair circulated less than a second apart for the majority of the 16 laps. Seeley came within 0.3s of Wilson on lap nine and as they rounded Barn Corner was looking for a way past. But Wilson wasn’t having it and accelerated away. Seeley made a mistake and missed a gear which caused him to lose ground and Wilson pressed on to take the win with an advantage of 3.3s at the chequered flag.
The podium celebrations were somewhat muted as the riders were told of the tragedy that had occurred earlier in the day. A very emotional Ben Wilson said: “Obviously I am very pleased with the result today, it is really special to get a double win in front of the home crowd and it’s a fantastic feeling but all this fades into insignificance after the accident involving my teammate Ben Gautrey. I want to dedicate this win to him and God bless him.”
This double victory gives Wilson a further 50 championship points and he now has an advantage of 53 points over Seeley. But with seven races and a further 175 points on offer at the final three rounds the championship is by no means over and Wilson cannot afford to sit on his laurels. The next round is at Donington Park on September 11 and the Lincolnshire rider will be aiming to secure two more top results to maintain his advantage over Seeley
Helen Pask
Ben Wilson enjoyed a double victory at his home track of Cadwell Park to extend his series lead over nearest rival Alistair Seeley back to 53 points with three rounds - seven races – remaining. However the weekend’s celebrations were marred by the tragic death of 18-year-old Ben Gautrey who lost his life in the Superstock 600 race on Monday. Ben was a member of the MWR/Gearlink Kawasaki Superstock 600 team and a close friend of Ben Wilson who dedicated his win on Monday to him.
Wilson, from Kirton near Boston, was in fine form throughout the weekend and fastest in free practice and qualifying. He began Sunday’s 12-lap sprint race from pole position but did not get away to his usual fast start. He moved up into second place behind Seeley as they headed towards Turn One and as they crossed the start line for lap two was right on his tail. Wilson was not to be denied the lead and scorched past his rival on the straight and immediately began to pull away.
Wilson was never troubled again and went on to cross the finish line for his seventh win of the current campaign well ahead of Seeley who finished some 3.4 seconds behind him.
“I didn’t get the best of starts and Alistair got a bit of a break on me on the first lap. I soon got past McConnell and chased after Seeley passing him on the second lap. Then it was just a case of getting my head down, get into a rhythm and pull away from him. I didn’t really want to get into a situation where he was right up with me and trying to dive past at every corner. It was a long race and I just wanted the laps to finish, but it was alright and I did the job and now have to try and do the same tomorrow. On the last lap I had a look behind me as I didn’t realise how much of a lead I had. It is a good feeling to get the win here at Cadwell and hope I can do the same again tomorrow.”
Starting the feature race on Monday from pole position Wilson once again got a sluggish start and was fourth away. But as they went through Charlie’s he was up to second and although Seeley tried to defend his line Wilson passed him on the straight at the start of lap two. This time he was unable to shake off his opponent and the pair circulated less than a second apart for the majority of the 16 laps. Seeley came within 0.3s of Wilson on lap nine and as they rounded Barn Corner was looking for a way past. But Wilson wasn’t having it and accelerated away. Seeley made a mistake and missed a gear which caused him to lose ground and Wilson pressed on to take the win with an advantage of 3.3s at the chequered flag.
The podium celebrations were somewhat muted as the riders were told of the tragedy that had occurred earlier in the day. A very emotional Ben Wilson said: “Obviously I am very pleased with the result today, it is really special to get a double win in front of the home crowd and it’s a fantastic feeling but all this fades into insignificance after the accident involving my teammate Ben Gautrey. I want to dedicate this win to him and God bless him.”
This double victory gives Wilson a further 50 championship points and he now has an advantage of 53 points over Seeley. But with seven races and a further 175 points on offer at the final three rounds the championship is by no means over and Wilson cannot afford to sit on his laurels. The next round is at Donington Park on September 11 and the Lincolnshire rider will be aiming to secure two more top results to maintain his advantage over Seeley
Helen Pask
Timetable for Cadwell Park 27/28/29 August
20th August 2011 - 0 comments
20th August 2011 - 0 comments
FUCHS Silkolene British Supersport Timetable
Saturday 27th August 2011
09.30 - 10.00 - Free Practice 1
14.25 - 14.55 - Free Practice 2
Sunday 28th August
10.25 - 10.55 - Qualifying
15.30 - RACE 1 - 12 Laps
Monday 29th August
10.10 - 10.18 - Warm Up
15.45 - RACE 2 - 16 Laps
TV Listings:
Sunday 28 Aug
11:30-13:00 - Live Qualifying
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 28 Aug
14:30-15:45 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 28 Aug
18:25-19:10 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Monday 29 Aug
11:45-12:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Monday 29 Aug
12:30-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Monday 29 Aug
22:45-0:15 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Saturday 27th August 2011
09.30 - 10.00 - Free Practice 1
14.25 - 14.55 - Free Practice 2
Sunday 28th August
10.25 - 10.55 - Qualifying
15.30 - RACE 1 - 12 Laps
Monday 29th August
10.10 - 10.18 - Warm Up
15.45 - RACE 2 - 16 Laps
TV Listings:
Sunday 28 Aug
11:30-13:00 - Live Qualifying
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 28 Aug
14:30-15:45 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 28 Aug
18:25-19:10 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Monday 29 Aug
11:45-12:30 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
Monday 29 Aug
12:30-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport 2
Monday 29 Aug
22:45-0:15 - Highlights
British Eurosport 2
EPIC BATTLE FOR BEN AT BRANDS HATCH
08th August 2011 - 1 comment
08th August 2011 - 1 comment
Kirton racer Ben Wilson (29) was involved in two epic battles with Alistair Seeley at Brands Hatch at the weekend resulting in two very close second places for the Lincolnshire rider who sees his series lead in the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport championship reduced to 43 points.
Wilson dominated the test session on the short Indy circuit and was just beaten to pole position by Seeley when they switched to the full GP circuit on Saturday for qualifying.
As the short 10-lap sprint race got underway it was Seeley who rounded Paddock Hill Bend in the lead with Wilson on the Gearlink Kawasaki hot on his heels. The pace slowed in the opening laps with the safety car on the track to deal with a crash involving Wilson’s team mate Jesse Trayler but once the car left the track the race was on and another epic battle between Seeley and Wilson took place with Wilson recording the fastest lap of the race on lap seven – less than a tenth of a second away from the existing lap record.
Ben was desperate for the win and wasn’t going to settle for second place without a fight and hit the front at Paddock Hill. But he ran a little too wide at Graham Hill bend and Seeley nipped through once again. The pair pulled well clear of the field and the battle raged all the way to the chequered flag with Seeley taking the win by a tyre tread from Wilson, the deficit just one hundredth of a second.
“I am disappointed with that result,” said Wilson. “But that’s the way it is. I made a mistake and that’s when Alistair got back in front. I will have to try and put it right tomorrow.”
After two restarts the feature race finally went ahead, this time it was Wilson who was quick off the start line and he got the hole shot through Paddock Hill. But Seeley was pushing hard and took the lead on the second lap with Wilson again hanging on to his shirt tails. Jimmy Hill joined the party for a few laps but fell back as the pace quickened leaving the two rivals to continue in another epic battle for supremacy.
With two laps remaining, Wilson took the lead but Seeley regained the position at Westfield. The battle continued and Wilson once again forged ahead at Paddock only for Seeley to force his way back at the next bend. Again the result was determined on the dash to the chequered flag with Seeley crossing the finish line three hundredths of a second ahead.
“Again I am a little disappointed,” said Wilson. “When I took the lead I just couldn’t seem to shake him off. But on the positive side we picked up 40 championship points and we will move on to Cadwell where I need to get two wins to maintain my series lead.”
The usual “Rider of the Day” award took a new twist with Jamie Whitham unable to separate the two top Supersport riders and he awarded the champagne jointly to Ben Wilson and Alistair Seeley for their outstanding performance in the two races. Michael Rutter also won the award in the Superbike class.
The next round is on home tarmac at Cadwell Park when the Bank Holiday crowd will be eagerly anticipating another epic battle between Wilson and Seeley
By Helen Pask
Wilson dominated the test session on the short Indy circuit and was just beaten to pole position by Seeley when they switched to the full GP circuit on Saturday for qualifying.
As the short 10-lap sprint race got underway it was Seeley who rounded Paddock Hill Bend in the lead with Wilson on the Gearlink Kawasaki hot on his heels. The pace slowed in the opening laps with the safety car on the track to deal with a crash involving Wilson’s team mate Jesse Trayler but once the car left the track the race was on and another epic battle between Seeley and Wilson took place with Wilson recording the fastest lap of the race on lap seven – less than a tenth of a second away from the existing lap record.
Ben was desperate for the win and wasn’t going to settle for second place without a fight and hit the front at Paddock Hill. But he ran a little too wide at Graham Hill bend and Seeley nipped through once again. The pair pulled well clear of the field and the battle raged all the way to the chequered flag with Seeley taking the win by a tyre tread from Wilson, the deficit just one hundredth of a second.
“I am disappointed with that result,” said Wilson. “But that’s the way it is. I made a mistake and that’s when Alistair got back in front. I will have to try and put it right tomorrow.”
After two restarts the feature race finally went ahead, this time it was Wilson who was quick off the start line and he got the hole shot through Paddock Hill. But Seeley was pushing hard and took the lead on the second lap with Wilson again hanging on to his shirt tails. Jimmy Hill joined the party for a few laps but fell back as the pace quickened leaving the two rivals to continue in another epic battle for supremacy.
With two laps remaining, Wilson took the lead but Seeley regained the position at Westfield. The battle continued and Wilson once again forged ahead at Paddock only for Seeley to force his way back at the next bend. Again the result was determined on the dash to the chequered flag with Seeley crossing the finish line three hundredths of a second ahead.
“Again I am a little disappointed,” said Wilson. “When I took the lead I just couldn’t seem to shake him off. But on the positive side we picked up 40 championship points and we will move on to Cadwell where I need to get two wins to maintain my series lead.”
The usual “Rider of the Day” award took a new twist with Jamie Whitham unable to separate the two top Supersport riders and he awarded the champagne jointly to Ben Wilson and Alistair Seeley for their outstanding performance in the two races. Michael Rutter also won the award in the Superbike class.
The next round is on home tarmac at Cadwell Park when the Bank Holiday crowd will be eagerly anticipating another epic battle between Wilson and Seeley
By Helen Pask
Brands Hatch Round 8 Timetable
01st August 2011 - 0 comments
01st August 2011 - 0 comments
Friday 5th August
INDY CIRCUIT
14.35 - 15.05 Official Test
Saturday 6th August
GP CIRCUIT
09.00 - 09.30 - Free Practice
12.25 - 12.55 - Qualifying
16.55 - RACE 1 - 10 Laps
Sunday 7th August
GP CIRCUIT
09.59 - 10.07 - Warm Up
15.35 - RACE 2 - 18 Laps
TV LISTINGS
Saturday 06 Aug
13:00-14:30 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport
Saturday 06 Aug
16:00-17:30 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport
Saturday 06 Aug
19:00-20:15 - Highlights
British Eurosport
Sunday 07 Aug
11:00-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport
INDY CIRCUIT
14.35 - 15.05 Official Test
Saturday 6th August
GP CIRCUIT
09.00 - 09.30 - Free Practice
12.25 - 12.55 - Qualifying
16.55 - RACE 1 - 10 Laps
Sunday 7th August
GP CIRCUIT
09.59 - 10.07 - Warm Up
15.35 - RACE 2 - 18 Laps
TV LISTINGS
Saturday 06 Aug
13:00-14:30 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport
Saturday 06 Aug
16:00-17:30 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport
Saturday 06 Aug
19:00-20:15 - Highlights
British Eurosport
Sunday 07 Aug
11:00-18:00 - Live Raceday
British Eurosport
BEN WILSON SHINES AT A SOGGY OULTON PARK
18th July 2011 - 0 comments
18th July 2011 - 0 comments
The predicted heavy and continuous rain that was forecast for Sunday played havoc with the race programme resulting in the British Supersport feature race being postponed and the meeting abandoned. But Saturday’s sprint race did take place and what a race it was. Ben Wilson suffered a technical problem with his Gearlink Kawasaki in the early stages of qualifying and was forced to start from 26th place on the grid. But he rose to the challenge and powered through the field to take an amazing second place at the chequered flag.
Wilson (29) from Kirton near Boston was there or thereabouts in the free practice sessions and was the fastest rider on track in the early stages of qualifying in the wet on Saturday. But his Gearlink Kawasaki developed a technical problem and he was forced to sit out the rest of the session watching in dismay as the track dried and the lap times fell. At the end of the session he had been demoted to 26th and faced an uphill battle to salvage anything from the short 10-lap race.
The rain clouds cleared and the track was dry for the start of the race and Wilson began his campaign from a lowly seventh row grid position. As the lights went out he got away to his usual fast start moving from 26th to 14th on the first lap. He set about reeling in the riders ahead and elevating himself up into seventh position mid-race, one lap later sweeping past three more riders to move into fourth place setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.
The final three laps saw some frantic action and as they rounded Lodge for the final time Wilson was in third place. But he was not satisfied with that and stepped on the gas to cross the finish line in second place just three hundredths of a second behind race winner Billy McConnell with Alistair Seeley hanging onto his shirt tails in third place.
This amazing result means that Wilson extends his series lead to 53 points over Seeley with McConnell moving up into third some 78 points further down the order.
Ben Wilson– I gave it my best shot in the sprint race and managed to get on terms with the leading three riders. Another lap and I think I could have won but I will take second today and the 20 points and move on to Brands Hatch for the next round. The boys worked hard this weekend to get my Gearlink Kawasaki up and running in time for the first race and it’s thanks to all their efforts that I was able to bring home the points. Its disappointing the second race was postponed but the track conditions were far from ideal and the rain seemed to get even heavier as the day wore on.
The postponed feature race will be rearranged shortly to take place at one of the five remaining venues on the season calendar. Because Wilson set the fastest lap in the sprint race he will start from pole position.
Helen Pask
Wilson (29) from Kirton near Boston was there or thereabouts in the free practice sessions and was the fastest rider on track in the early stages of qualifying in the wet on Saturday. But his Gearlink Kawasaki developed a technical problem and he was forced to sit out the rest of the session watching in dismay as the track dried and the lap times fell. At the end of the session he had been demoted to 26th and faced an uphill battle to salvage anything from the short 10-lap race.
The rain clouds cleared and the track was dry for the start of the race and Wilson began his campaign from a lowly seventh row grid position. As the lights went out he got away to his usual fast start moving from 26th to 14th on the first lap. He set about reeling in the riders ahead and elevating himself up into seventh position mid-race, one lap later sweeping past three more riders to move into fourth place setting the fastest lap of the race in the process.
The final three laps saw some frantic action and as they rounded Lodge for the final time Wilson was in third place. But he was not satisfied with that and stepped on the gas to cross the finish line in second place just three hundredths of a second behind race winner Billy McConnell with Alistair Seeley hanging onto his shirt tails in third place.
This amazing result means that Wilson extends his series lead to 53 points over Seeley with McConnell moving up into third some 78 points further down the order.
Ben Wilson– I gave it my best shot in the sprint race and managed to get on terms with the leading three riders. Another lap and I think I could have won but I will take second today and the 20 points and move on to Brands Hatch for the next round. The boys worked hard this weekend to get my Gearlink Kawasaki up and running in time for the first race and it’s thanks to all their efforts that I was able to bring home the points. Its disappointing the second race was postponed but the track conditions were far from ideal and the rain seemed to get even heavier as the day wore on.
The postponed feature race will be rearranged shortly to take place at one of the five remaining venues on the season calendar. Because Wilson set the fastest lap in the sprint race he will start from pole position.
Helen Pask
Oulton Park Round 7 Race 2 Cancelled
17th July 2011 - 0 comments
17th July 2011 - 0 comments
Oulton Park all racing Cancelled - Race to be rescheduled –Stuart Higgs and his team have made a good decision - it would have been too dangerous to race
