9 July 2012 Kawasaki riders make Oulton podium progress

In a weekend dominated by a “so-nearly” British win at Wimbledon, Kawasaki riders showed determination at Oulton Park racking up podiums, extending Championship leads and - for one rider – taking an emphatic stock class win.
With three Superbike races held over a weather dominated weekend, the chances were good for Kawasaki with rain specialist Michael Rutter buoyed by his TT success, Chris Walker fast recovering from an unfortunate off at Knockhill plus a different look to the PBM team with Keith Farmer riding alongside Shakey Byrne due to a late fitness call denying Stuart Easton a chance to ride after his Silverstone spill.

In the stock classes, Kawasaki riders look set to fare well too after the recent World Superbike event win for the Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R in the Superstock 1000 class thanks to Bryan Staring.

First blood went to Byrne in the opening Superbike race on Saturday with a strong third place while battling Walker shrugged off injuries to both ankles achieving points for a brave seventh place. MSS Bathams Kawasaki rider, Michael Rutter, did less well with a fourteenth place followed by recent BSB inductee Mark Aitchison of Quattro Plant Kawasaki and his team mate, Freddy Foray.

Race two on Sunday witnessed a carbon copy of Saturday’s outing for Bryne with yet another podium again in third place. Walker scored yet more vital championship points with twelfth place staking his claim to to be in the all-important final group to contend the championship title at season end.

It was a case of “one better” in the final Superbike race with Isle of Sheppey born Shane Byrne claiming runner up spot and yet more podium credits. Walker meanwhile brought his Ninja ZX-10R home in eleventh place securing by the achievement eighth overall in the championship standings.

For Ben Wilson and the Gearlink Kawasaki team, Oulton was the scene of success last May so a return to Cheshire was looked forward to with optimism. This proved well placed as Lincolnshire-based Wilson mounted two impressive podium challenges across the weekend ending in a forth in one race and a welcome return to the podium with a second place in the other. This ensured his fourth place in the overall standings remains firm with over thirty points difference between himself and the next rider, Sam Warren.

In the stock racing classes, Kawasaki riders illustrated once again how competitive the road bike based Ninja package is. Denied a win by just 0.096 of a second, ILR Kawasaki rider Victor Cox brought his Ninja ZX-10R home in a close second in the Superstock 1000 race with Paul Bird Motorsport rider, Keith Farmer, posting third place and maintaining his championship lead in the process.

The news was even better in the National Superstock 600 race as two Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R riders placed themselves in the top five at the finish. Consistently among the top runners, Tom Fisher crossed the line in fifth place continuing a fine run of form. At the head of the field, Chris Walker Race School supported Lee Jackson claimed a magnificent win over seven seconds ahead of the next placed rider making it a tremendous weekend for the Walker camp.

Summing up proceedings, Ross Burridge, Racing Coordinator for Kawasaki Motors UK, highlighted the diversity of success at Oulton Park.“It just goes to show what amazing machines the Ninja ZX-10R and Ninja ZX-6R are. With podiums in both stock classes, Supersport and Superbike – plus a stunning win in the National stock 600 race - Kawasaki riders have dramatically displayed just how strong the Ninja package is”.

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Note: Ninja ZX-10R 2011 models now on 4 year 0% Finance in UK dealers