Gearlink Kawasaki Assen Circuit - Round 11

Dickies British Supersport

 

It was another strong weekend for the Gearlink Kawasaki team at round 11 of the Dickies British Supersport Championship at Assen. Mason Law once again had another stunning win on Saturday in his debut appearance and in mixed conditions on Sunday had to settle for ninth. His team-mate Ulsterman, Andrew Irwin, had a very strong weekend with a sixth and fourth.

 

Mason Law has secured five podiums at the last three rounds and continued showing his strong form as soon as he got to the Dutch circuit. Mason was consistently fast throughout the practice sessions on Friday and was looking forward to qualifying. The track was drying at the start but he timed everything perfectly in the final few minutes to secure his first qualifying pole position of the season.

 

He got a brilliant start and soon took to the lead; he settled into a strong rhythm and totally dominated the race leading from start to finish for the 12 laps. By lap eight he had managed to pull a huge 4.3 second lead and took another fantastic victory for the Gearlink Kawasaki team.

 

For race two Mason started from fifth place. The riders were all lined up on the grid and ready to go when the heavens opened. There was a mad dash in the pit lane when the race was aborted and deemed unsafe. A quick turn around and the riders finally lined up on the grid for a shortened 12-lap race, using wet tyres on and a drying circuit which made for a difficult race.

 

Mason struggled off the start and dropped back to 12^th after the opening lap and just struggled to push forwards and find the outstanding pace he showed in race one. He worked hard and pushed as much as he could, but had to settle for ninth place at the end of the 12-lap race. He is still lying in fourth place in the Championship standings.

 

Andrew Irwin made his debut appearance at Assen this weekend and despite never riding the circuit before he settled into it extremely well. He spent the majority of Friday finding his feet and his way round the fast flowing GP track. He set some strong times which put him up near the sharp end in practice and he was able to back this up in qualifying with a fifth.

 

He got a brilliant start in the 12-lap sprint race and was lying in second place after the opening lap. Bradley Ray and David Allingham got past him on lap three, which saw him drop to fourth. He was locked in a battle with six riders fighting for a podium position. He was pushed wide by another rider and went back to sixth place where he finished when the chequered flag came out.

 

With the mixed weather conditions Andrew felt confident in conditions he enjoys. He started from seventh on the grid and was soon up at the front leading the race in the very sketchy conditions. He led the first four laps on the race until eventual race winner Luke Jones got passed him on lap five. He was soon locked in a close dice for third place and was just beaten over the line by 0.017 by Tarran Mackenzie.

 

Mason Law - "I was really pleased to get another win yesterday for the Gearlink Kawasaki team. I've never been to Assen before except a brief track day on stock bikes a few weeks ago, just to get a feeling of where the track went.

 

I love the circuit it is so nice to ride and really suits my style. I was able to just settle in really easily from Friday and I felt so comfortable on the bike. The conditions in qualifying were mixed and despite this I managed to start from fifth place. I got a good start and was soon at the front of the pack, I was settled in and I felt so comfortable and it was a pleasure to take another win for the team. I managed to make a break and knew I just had to keep my concentration for the 12-laps, I want to thank all my team again for helping me achieve that.

 

Today was a little harder, in conditions that were very difficult. I didn't push hard enough at the start of the race and lost a lot of places. I had really good pace towards the end of the race which made it even more frustrating. I will certainly learn from things today, take them on board and move on to Brands, my local and final round of the season."

 

Andrew Irwin - "I'll take the positives away from Assen this weekend. In the race yesterday I struggled when the group picked up some pace. The Gearlink Kawasaki team made some changes for warm-up which made a big difference and I was really hoping for a dry race.

 

I really thought we had what it took to at least push for a podium today. I really wanted a podium today but it just wasn't meant to be, it was good to lead the race for a bit and I did feel real comfortable despite the conditions.

 

I can't wait to get to Brands in two weeks' time. I must say a huge thank you to the Gearlink Kawasaki team for continuing to help and develop me as a rider and improving the bike for me all the time. Also I'd like to say thank you to my personal sponsors MET healthcare, John Seawright, Aquarius Couriers, James Jamieson Construction, Northern Loft Insulations and Penrose Roofing."

 

MCE British Superbike

 

In the MCE British Superbike series, the Gearlink Kawasaki rider, Italian Vittorio Iannuzzo, had a super qualifying session and made it through Q1 and for the first time this season got into the second session. He rode really well in Q2 at a circuit he is familiar with to finish in 14^th place for the opening Superbike race on Sunday.

 

Vittorio had two solid 18-lap races and the team continued to make some progress and secured two 20^th places.

 

Vittorio Iannuzzo - "I think that even though we didn't get any points in the races this weekend, it was the best weekend of the season so far and in every session we went faster.

 

I managed to get into Q2 and was 14^th on the grid with a 1.37.4 which is a huge improvement. We also made a lot of progress from race one to race two and I was locked in a battle with top riders. I couldn't have asked for more this weekend, obviously it would have been nice to be in the points but the progress we have made in the last two rounds is really encouraging and I would like to say a big thank you to the Gearlink Kawasaki team."

 

Team Manager Michael de Bidaph - "I'm really pleased with how the weekend has gone. Mason rode a fantastic race on Saturday and totally dominated the Supersport race taking another win and despite struggling at the start of the race today he was strong towards the end and is still in fourth in the Championship standings.

 

Andrew has once again shown what a talented rider he is and more than capable of running up at the front. I am really pleased with the progress he has made since he joined us and is now consistently scoring good Championship points with some really good results.

 

Vittorio was brilliant this weekend, he really enjoys being at circuits like this and we were really happy with the qualifying position he got. He made a huge amount of progress throughout the weekend in every session and it is great that even though he didn't get the results he deserved we are moving forwards."