Airwaves Ducati head to Oulton Park this weekend for
the fourth round of the British Superbike Championship with their main goal
being to register their first race victory of the season at the Cheshire
circuit. With the Bank Holiday meeting being the second of back-to-back
races, the team are hoping to build on their impressive display at Mallory
Park, where both riders secured podiums on a circuit entirely unsuited to
the Airwaves-Ducati 999F04 machinery. The duo were made to work extremely
hard in difficult circumstances for their rewards but are hopeful for even
better results at Oulton Park.
With no time to rest on their laurels, the team will be taking many
positives from their efforts last weekend in to this round. Furthermore, the
2.692-mile picturesque Cheshire circuit has been earmarked by many as a
track that will favour the Airwaves-Ducatis, leaving riders Gregorio Lavilla
and Leon Haslam hopeful for their opening race victories of the season.
Haslam has useful experience of Oulton from last year's BSB round. Lavilla,
meanwhile, has already proved this season that despite no first hand
knowledge of tracks, it does not hold him back when it comes to achieving
results. Furthermore, the Spaniard has shown himself to be technically
gifted, which will serve him well round the tight, technical corners of
Oulton Park.
The circuit is well known for the physical challenge it provides with bends
such as Lodge, Druids and Cascades. It offers numerous opportunities for
riders to pass and promises to provide more competitive racing, with the
Airwaves Ducati pair keen to capitalize fully and continue their burgeoning
title bid.
During a busy pre race build up, Team Manager, Colin Wright expressed his
hopes for the coming weekend: "Oulton Park is arguably one of the most
'Ducati friendly' circuits of the season - the current lap record was
achieved on a Ducati and we are confident for the race. We're well aware
that we won't have things all our own way but following our impressive
performance last week at a track that didn't suit us, we're ready to push on
for our first race victory of the season. Our boys are fit and raring to
go."
Leon was particularly upbeat: "I was really pleased with the way things went
at Mallory- the team worked hard all weekend, so I was delighted to gain two
excellent results and my first podium of the season. That result has meant I
'm raring to go at Oulton and want to be challenging for more podiums and
hopefully my first victory of the season. I've always liked Oulton Park and
I'm confident that we can do well there."
Gregorio was also looking forward to racing again so soon after his Mallory
Park exploits: "Mallory Park was a completely different type of track to the
ones I'm used to. I'm told that Oulton Park has a much more international
feel to it and is more in line with circuits that I have raced in the past-
the lap length is much longer and the corners are more suited to my natural
riding style. I've completely recovered from my accident last week and
despite never having ridden at Oulton, I'm excited by the prospect and eager to get racing again".
Free Practice for the fourth round of the BSB series begins at Oulton Park
on Saturday 30th April, with the two Superbike races taking place on Bank
holiday Monday, 2nd May.
