Team Press Releases
FOURTH FOR LAVILLA AT DONINGTON PARK
Vent Axia VK Honda rider Gregorio Lavilla defied the wet conditions to score his best result of the season when he posted a fourth place finish in the opening race at Donington Park for round eleven of the Hannspree World Superbike Championship today.
Riding the Paul Bird Motorsport Honda CBR 1000cc Fireblade, the Spanish rider made up for a disappointing qualifying position to run in the leading pack in the opening part of race one before the red flags came out which necessitated a restart.
In that 14-lap restart Lavilla battled his way to an aggregate position of fourth overall, just missing out on what would have been a deserved podium for the team.
Greg couldn't quite repeat the heroics of the first race when he ended up in seventh place in race two but after a superb weekend's work he moved up two places in the Championship and continued his good run of points scoring finishes.
It wasn't such a good day for team-mate Chris Walker who ended up retiring from both races. The Nottinghamshire rider had qualified in thirteenth position and was in the leading pack in both races when problems forced him out at mid race distance meaning he didn't add to the points he scored at the previous round at Brands Hatch.
Gregorio Lavilla:-
"So far this has been the best weekend for the team and for myself but ironically it's also been the hardest as the whole weekend has been in the wet. The first race was a gamble for tyre choice as the weather was really unpredictable with spots of rain and dry periods but we managed to finish in the aggregate position of fourth which was the best result of the season. Race two was once again a difficult race as we had a really heavy downfall on the starting grid and on the first lap so I did my best to take it easy and just try and bring the bike home. It wasn't a perfect race as my visibility was really bad but I think we did a good job to stay on the track and come home in seventh place."
Chris Walker:-
"I was desperate to make it into Superpole coming into this weekend and I ended up qualifying around about where I wanted to be and in front of Greg which was a bonus. I had two strong race starts and was moving along well but in the first race we had a technical problem and in the second race the clutch went. To make matters worse my mechanic also lost the top of his finger warming up for race one so I was one man down for race two. What can I say, it just wasn't meant to be on Stalker's side of the garage this weekend. However I'm still chuffed be part of this team and riding a Superbike and can only look forward to the next race."
Paul Bird:-
"First up I'd like to congratulate Greg for his results this weekend. It was great to see him come into his own and see him achieve the results I know he is capable of. It was really tough conditions out there and for Greg to bring the bike home in a fourth and seventh position, the best for the team all year, was a job well done. On the other side of the garage I'm obviously really disappointed for Chris to have not been able to complete a race. This is the first mechanical breakdown the team has had since 2005. All year we have proved that we have reliable bikes finishing in the points in all races but one, but this weekend was not meant to be for Chris so we know that his luck can only get better for the next race."
The team is next in action at Vallelunga in Italy in two weeks time.
WALKER AND LAVILLA IN THE POINTS AT BRANDS
Vent Axia VK Honda riders Greg Lavilla and Chris Walker were in points scoring form when round ten of the HANNspree World Superbike Championship took place at Brands Hatch this weekend.
Spaniard Lavilla recorded thirteenth and fourteenth positions in the two races with new signing Chris Walker claiming fifteenth place in both 25-lap races on his return to World Superbike action.
In a weekend blighted by rain showers, Lavilla very nearly upset the form book when he set fastest time in the early stages of Saturday's Superpole which he held for most of the session but as the track dried a number of riders ended up going faster and he ended up in thirteenth.
Sadly Walker missed the Superpole session after only managing 23rd place as he fought to get to terms with the 1000cc Honda Fireblade after spending most of the year racing in World Supersport.
In the two races both riders battled hard in the lower leaderboard positions to eventually score points which Lavilla added to his tally to end up in fourteenth in the Championship with Walker glad to open his account after a tough weekend.
Gregorio Lavilla:-
"We made some good improvements to the bike in the second race and we put in some good lap times. We were consistent once again and within the points but I wasn't able to improve much on my qualifying position during the race so we have to keep working hard on set-up and move up to the next level which I hope we can achieve at Donington. Brands is a track which I have beaten Kiyo on before in the BSB so I it was really great to see him win the double here and I want to congratulate him."
Chris Walker:-
"Every time I went out on the bike I learnt more and more and it's great to be back on a Superbike. The bike felt brilliant and I was happy with the race set-up in the end. My fitness level is good but I need to get into the gym to work on my arm strength as I had to lose weight to ride the Supersport. I was desperate to get into the points this weekend so overall I'm pretty happy with my performance. The boys have done me proud and I'm chuffed to be part of the team. They've all made me feel really welcome and I can't wait to get to Donington."
Paul Bird:-
"Overall the team and I were expecting better results at our home round and I'm feeling disappointed. However it was good to see Greg doing better in qualifying and it was unfortunate for us that we didn't get a better grid position after putting in some good laps during the wet practice and also during the Superpole wet session. Chris had a good weekend and did what we expected him to do. We threw him in the deep end and he did a professional job. I'm pleased with his performance and we're really happy to have him in the team. All we can do now is look forward to Donington, another strong track for us, and hope that we get some better results which I know we are capable of."
The next round of the Championship takes place on 5th/6th/7th September at Donington Park in Derbyshire.
WALKER TO RACE IN WORLD SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR PAUL BIRD
Paul Bird Motorsport wishes to announce the signing of British rider Chris Walker to race for the Vent Axia VK team for the rest of the 2008 Hannspree World Superbike Championship.
The 36 year old from Nottinghamshire will join existing rider Gregorio Lavilla in the team for the remaining five rounds commencing at Brands Hatch over the weekend of August 1/2/3rd.
Walker, four times a runner-up in the British Superbike Championship, has been racing in the World Supersport Championship this season but hasn't enjoyed the best of luck on his Kawasaki so the rider who has 138 WSB races and twelve podiums under his belt is relishing the opportunity of racing a superbike again.
After a successful test at Oulton Park yesterday aboard the team's recently built 1000cc Honda Fireblade, both Walker and team owner Paul Bird were delighted to shake on the deal which will see 'The Stalker' as the only permanent British rider in the series.
"When I set off on the bike, it very nearly pulled my wig off and it reminded me of just what I've been missing in Superbikes!" said Walker. "It's a massive opportunity for me and one which I don't intend to waste. Everyone knows this team has pedigree and they build awesome bikes so I know it will be competitive. I nearly signed for Birdy a few years ago and didn't so now I'm really looking forward to working with the team and also Greg whom I have a lot of respect for. I love Brands and Donington and my aim is to give the crowds something to cheer about so make sure you come along and support me!"
Team owner Paul Bird commented: "Running a second bike was always in the plan but we felt it best to help concentrate on giving Greg the best package possible. But now we have a couple of races at tracks both he and the team know, the time is right to introduce Chris who like Greg, knows his way round Brands and Donington. The plan thereafter is to go to the final three rounds brim full of confidence and get some results abroad that we know the bike and riders are capable of. It's important for the organisers that we bring a British rider to the series and I'm delighted to have Chris on board."
