It has been a weekend to celebrate for Honda and the all-new 2017 Fireblade at the ninth round of the MCE British Superbike Championship, where Honda Racing and its riders Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran recorded a host of firsts for the new-Fireblade in its 25th anniversary year.
Jason O’Halloran secured his place in the all-important Showdown during the final race of the day, but it wasn’t without drama. Disaster struck on the opening lap when the Aussie crashed out, and unhurt from the fall was forced to watch on to see how his Showdown rivals faired in the falling rain. With two of his closest rivals also crashing out in the tricky conditions, O’Halloran and the new Fireblade had done enough to secure the final spot in the Showdown.
Meanwhile team-mate Linfoot went from zero to hero in race three, after what started out as a difficult weekend for the Yorkshireman suffering three crashes in practice and today’s opening race. With rain falling at the 3.67-mile circuit as the final race got underway, Linfoot glided through the pack on the opening lap jumping to sixth place, after starting from 21st.
Mastering the conditions aboard the Fireblade as the rain got steadily worse and having made his way into second place, he set his sights on the lead. Not deterred by the conditions Linfoot made his move on reigning BSB Champion Shane Byrne and took the lead. Holding the lead and with most of the field crashing out in the conditions, including Byrne, the race was red flagged at over two thirds race distance and Linfoot claimed his maiden British Superbike Championship win.
The results from the weekend give the all-new 2017 Fireblade its first race win, along with its first ever qualifying pole position and its first appearance in the MCE British Superbike Championship Showdown, as Honda celebrates this iconic machines 25th anniversary year.
The Honda Racing team will now head back to its Louth-based workshop and prepare the Fireblades for the next round of the championship, which takes place next weekend (15-17 September) as the Showdown gets underway at Oulton Park.
I am so happy to finally take my first BSB race win, I was starting to think it was never going to happen with all the times I have been trying and either crashed out of the lead, or gave it to Jason on the last corner at Snetterton last year! But today it was meant to be I guess, I haven’t had the easiest of weekends with three crashes and have made some work for the team, but to be rewarded with my first win and the new Fireblades first win feels good. It’s a funny one, the race where everyone else crashes out I stay on, I think there was only about seven finishers! We have a good wet setting with the Fireblade and had a test a few months ago at Knockhill, where we managed to find something good there, so going into the race I knew we could be strong. I started 21st, which wasn’t easy and with the riders crashing in front of me I had to be careful, but once I was settled I was able to push and made it to the front. Just a massive thanks to the team really, three years of trying and we get that first win today! I am not in the Showdown, but I am happy for Jason as he’s in there, so at least we have a Honda there fighting in the Showdown. But I can still play a part and maybe be a Showdown spoiler over the next few rounds; I want to stand on that podium a few times more this season that’s for sure.
Dan Linfoot / #4
Well we have made the Showdown for the second consecutive year and I am so pleased to be there, not just for me but also for my team, Honda Racing and all the sponsors. It has been a bit of a mixed weekend for us, I felt it was probably our strongest weekend so far pace-wise, I had my first qualifying pole in the dry and was hoping for dry races as felt we could have pushed for the win, or further podiums. But the first race we were unlucky with tyre choice and the opening race today we were unlucky with the safety car and the race being stopped early where I finished fifth. But I am just glad after the crash in the final race that we had done enough and with the crashes throughout the race we could continue into the top-six. The championship almost starts again now with the Showdown and we have seven races over four rounds, and it’s all to play for really! I’m looking forward to Oulton Park this weekend and to see if we can challenge these boys for podiums and a race win would be nice! Huge well done to Dan on his win too, it has been a long time coming and I’m pleased for him today.
Jason O'Halloran / #22
Well we have Jason confirmed in the Showdown and what a dramatic end to the final round going into the Showdown that was! I don’t think anyone could have forecast what has happened this weekend, with the weather and the results, and not just for us but also the other riders throughout. My heart was in my mouth when he crashed and I just thought he was going to drop out with his rivals looking strong, but I am so pleased he made it, and also for his crew. They have all worked so hard and it’s great to sit back and see it all come together and celebrate all that hard work! Dan, well what a weekend he’s had. Starting off with the three crashes, I said to him going into the final race just it bring home and finish and I never would have thought that starting at the back in those conditions he’d win, so hats off to him for an incredible maiden race win! I am so pleased for him, it has been a long time coming and the potential’s always been there, but it hasn’t happened for one reason or another, but today it all came together. I’m just over the moon for the boys and also that we’re celebrating the first win for the all-new 2017 Fireblade, what we have achieved this year in the championship I am over the moon for the team and very, very happy!
Havier Beltran - Honda Racing team manager
