JT SPROCKETS - HIFLOFILTRO RACING UPDATE 21 MAY 2017 British superbikes

Whilst Britain basked in an unprecedented heat wave, the British Superbike circus rolled into Knockhill circuit in Fife for the fourth round of the championship. The 1.3 mile Scottish track was to play host to the first major upset of the series and our congratulations go to Jake Dixon and the RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki team for their first win of the season and for “doing the double”, using JT Sprockets and Hiflofiltro filters of course!

A big practice crash damaged Jake’s bike and his technicians had to work hard to get the Kawasaki race ready, even borrowing a swing arm from the rival JG Speedfit Kawasaki team. In race one Jake made a good start from the front of the grid and held onto the lead during a race that saw 6 riders fail to finish, including the Anvil hire Yamahas of Josh Brookes and Shaun Winfield. Jake took his first win of the season, with Luke Mossey finishing in second position and Shane “Shakey” Byrne completing the podium in third.

The TAG Racing team had a better second race with Josh returning to the top 5 on the track and salvaging 6^th place in the championship. Josh’s team mate Shaun Winfield struggled with rear tyre grip but managed to bring his R1 home in 20^th. Race two saw an epic, sometimes physical, battle at the front of the pack between Jake Dixon, Shane Byrne, Luke Mossey, James Ellison and Dan Linfoot. Jake fought hard against the defending champion and, as Ellison took the lead from Mossey, Jake took third place from Shakey Byrne. The RAF Regular and Reserves rider then snatched second from the McAMS Yamaha and waited until the penultimate lap to strike for the lead. Jake took the chequered flag for the second time, catapulting himself up to 8^th in the championship.

In other classes, long time JT sponsored riders Matt and Kurt Wigley had mixed results. Kurt finished 13^th in the British Supersport 600’s on his Sorrymate.com Yamaha and scored three valuable championship points. Unfortunately Kurt’s twin brother Matt crashed his ZX10 Kawasaki in qualifying, breaking two vertebrae, and we wish Matt all the best for a speedy recovery.

The next round of the British Superbike championship comes to you from Snetterton at the end of June.