GBmoto Racing

GBmoto Racing Stuns Superstock 1000 Paddock at Oulton Park

Tristan Palmer stunned the Superstock 1000 paddock at Oulton Park with a win for the GBmoto Racing team. Palmer, who held pole position throughout the weekend's qualifying sessions, rode a brilliant race to beat MSS Kawasaki's Danny Buchan in a close finish. Team mate, David Johnson, finished a strong eleventh to secure his first points of the 2011 season.

Arriving at Oulton Park after a strong showing at Brands Hatch just one week previously, Tristan Palmer was in the mood to dominate at his local circuit. The Global Reach Partners and May & Newman sponsored purple Honda CBR1000RR had spent some time on the dyno during the last seven days to ensure earlier fueling problems were rectified once and for all. Having spent three sessions in a hyperbaric chamber during the last week, Johnson's fractured elbow was much improved.

Unluckily, a faulty water hose clip prevented Johnson from posting more than two laps in Friday's free practice sessions. However, Palmer was immediately on a strong race pace in a twice red flagged session. Saturday's first qualifying session saw Palmer with provisional pole, and the only rider to dip into the 1:39 lap times. Johnson, lacking track time for bike set-up was left further down the field in twenty-second place.

Sunday in Cheshire was sunny but also very windy, providing tricky conditions at the Oulton Park circuit. Tristan Palmer continued to hold onto pole position for much of the 30 minute second qualifying session, losing it only briefly to Danny Buchan. In the dieing minutes of the session, Palmer snatched pole back with an unbeaten 1:39.093 lap, almost half a second clear of his nearest rival. David Johnson improved his lap time by almost a full second, moving up the grid to seventeenth overall. Both GBmoto Racing riders easily avoided the shoot-out race to determine the final 10 positions for the 40 rider race.

Morning warm-up on race day provided an opportunity for Tristan and David to work together, and put final bike set-up changes to the test. This short 15 minutes session was extremely busy on track with no leading riders posting times anywhere near their qualifying times.

The Superstock 1000 race at Oulton Park was scheduled late in the day, but the long wait didn't appear effect Palmer. Second on the first lap, he was shuffled back down as low as fifth at one point, with Kawasaki teammates Howie Mainwaring and Danny Buchan fighting it out up front. Palmer wasn't about to give up though, steadily closing the gap until he was within striking distance. Mainwaring crashed out on the second last lap, and Tristan stunned Buchan with an overtaking maneuver into Cascades corner on the final lap. For the remaining few corners, Buchan was unable to regain the lead.

David Johnson once again made a fantastic start and this time avoided any carnage in the opening corners. He quickly continued his move through the field, proving his quality by winning a number of close struggles with other riders. Eleventh place is a strong finish for the Australian rider, after missing track time early in the weekend and still not being 100% fit.

GBmoto racing, a new team in the British Superbike paddock for 2011, now have their first race win after only two rounds and aim to continue their strong form at the Croft circuit in two weeks time.

Tristan Palmer, Rider: "It was one of those perfect weekends. We started off well in the first free practice and we've only made tiny changes to the bike since then. We went quickest in both qualifying sessions even though it was a bit windy and we were unsure of what was going to happen. After starting on an old tyre, I was waiting for someone to go quicker. When they did, I went another half a second quicker with a new rear tyre in. I couldn't ask for more.

In the race I had a decent start and I wanted to try to gap everyone at the beginning, but immediately I knew that wasn't going to work as everyone was running a good pace. I kept getting passed and it was upsetting me a little bit. I sorted myself out, got my head down and made a big push allowing me to catch the leaders. When Mainwaring crashed I thought he was going to take me out too. From then on it was a two horse race between Danny Buchan and myself. I knew I was quicker into Cascades, so I made the move early in the lap and then held my position. It worked, just.

I'm really pleased for the team and everyone that's been helping us all weekend. It's a great result not just for me, but everyone in the team as well."

David Johnson, Rider: "The weekend started off dramatically with the broken water hose clip and missing the first practice session. At that point I thought my luck was gone forever, but I know Oulton Park quite well so I put that behind me and got my head down. I went reasonably well in first qualifying, but losing practice time really put me behind. Superstock 1000 is so competitive you just can't afford to miss a session. All things considered I did quite well, 17th on the gird but not where I should have been.

I got away to a decent start in the race and kept out of trouble. Towards the end of the race I was in 11th and catching the group in front who were battling for 6th. Once I got there though, my whole arm went dead, due to fatigue from me cradling it and the fracture for two months. Oulton Park is very demanding on the body, and I started running wide, losing feeling on the brakes. I dropped back from that group, and tried to keep position. I was challenged on the last lap. but I won that battle.

Well done Tristan!"

Mark Smith-Halvorsen, Team Principal: "This is a great result. We've worked hard and maybe we're seeing the seven weeks of testing paying off now. The bikes were always in the ballpark. We had a slight setback with some equipment at Brands Hatch last week, still we got ourselves on the podium. Today is just a tribute not only to Tristan Palmer, but also Dave Johnson who rode brilliantly and the whole team. They put together a fantastic motorcycle this weekend and it's one we look likely to be able to use to good effect from here on in. To score our first win so early on, against some really seasoned competitors is just fantastic. Lastly a really big thanks to all our sponsors and supporters; Global Reach Partners, May & Newman Ltd, Silkolene, SMR, Hel brakes, HiFibre bodywork, B&C Express, Ohlins and Pro-Bolt and Bazzaz. Thanks for all your help and support.

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