Mainwaring takes maiden BSB win as Linfoot clinches fifth overall The Quattro Plant Kawasaki team completed their 2014 British Superbike Championship season in fine style at Brands Hatch over the weekend with Howie Mainwaring giving them their second ever BSB win and Dan Linfoot clinching fifth overall in the title table, also being the only rider to score points in every single one of the 26 races. Saturday’s opening race of the weekend gave the team one of their finest ever moments in their relatively short career as Howie took a brilliant win, the second for the team after Chris Walker’s victory at Oulton Park in 2012. With rain falling, conditions were extremely treacherous but the Aylesbury-based rider mastered them more than most and tore through the pack from his 12th place on the grid. By lap 11 he was up to second and with team-mate Linfoot leading, the team were on course for a dream 1-2. Howie took the lead a lap later, eventually holding off a hard-charging Josh Waters for the win whilst Dan suffered a couple of slides and, mindful of his Championship position, brought the bike home in fourth, crucially ahead of Yamaha rivals Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes. Sunday’s opening encounter, held in much more favourable conditions, again saw the duo run at the head of the field for a number of laps but it was again Howie who proved the stronger, eventually crossing the line in third for his second podium in as many races. Linfoot though dropped back in the second half of the race after suffering a technical problem and finished in eighth losing ground to both Brookes and Bridewell. The final race of the weekend – and of the 2014 season – again saw Mainwaring running strongly but hopes of another podium ended on the eleventh lap when he crashed out spectacularly at Paddock Hill Bend. Meanwhile, North Yorkshire’s Linfoot wrapped up his year with sixth place to secure an excellent fifth place overall and ensure he was the only rider to score points in every single race. Howie Mainwaring: “To win my first BSB race was pretty emotional and it’s certainly been a long time coming. I’ve won before in Superstock but luck’s always been against me in Superbikes and this year’s been the same with injury and then suffering a number of DNFs. The team have never stopped working though and my side of the garage did an awesome job this weekend. The bike felt like mine from the moment I stepped on it and everything fell into place during the opening race so I was able to move forward all the time. I was really strong on the back part of the circuit and to hold on for the win was fantastic.” “It’s one thing to do it in the wet but another in the dry and the third place probably meant a lot more to me. I knew I had a good chassis set-up but it wasn’t until the race was properly underway that I realised how good it was. I felt comfortable out front but when Shakey came by I couldn’t run his pace so concentrated on what I was doing and I was delighted to hang on to third place and take another podium. It’s certainly a lot better feeling riding at the front than at the other end of the results!” Dan Linfoot: “I was absolutely over the moon to see Howie win on Saturday and I’d have loved to have joined him on the podium but after suffering a couple of slides I started to think about my Championship standing. My main aim for the weekend was to beat the two Yamahas and with both Tommy and Josh behind me, I concentrated on bringing the bike home and taking some points out of them. I’d loved it to have been more but I didn’t have the side or entry grip that Howie had so couldn’t run his pace.” “Fourth was still a good result though and it put me in a good position for Sunday’s opening race but all the ground I’d made up got wiped out in Sunday’s first race when the inside of the front fork leg broke. I couldn’t do anything about and I was relieved to make it to the finish whilst I was a bit slow to get going in the final race. As it was, it was a bit of an up and down weekend but I’ve got to be pleased with how my year’s gone and to finish fifth overall and score points in every race is something I’m very pleased with so a big thank you to everyone in the team.” Pete Extance, Team Owner: Massive congratulations to Howie and his crew on a fantastic win and third place at the final BSB round of 2014, Im delighted for them. Dan has ridden well all year and to finish in fifth place overall in the Championship was simply superb. Well done to both riders and crews for a great season and a massive thank you to Quattro Plant and all of our sponsors as well as all the staff, helpers and everyone else involved with the team. Roll on 2015!
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 13:03:14 +0000
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