Ian Lowry Gets Season’s First Supersport Podium At Oulton

Suzuki Racing

May 06, 2008

Ian Lowry jumped onto his first Supersport podium of the season at the Oulton Park British Superbike round with third place while team-mate Michael Laverty continued to score solidly in the Superbike class with seventh and fourth places.

Laverty now sits sixth in the British Superbike championship table, also holding the position of leading Suzuki, while Lowry is fifth place in the Supersport class after his opening podium of 2008.

Michael Laverty:

“It was frustrating to be so close this weekend and I know if we can sort the small issue we have been having with tyres, then I’ll be right there with them. The Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 is as good as any bike out there, and with the updates we’ve made to the chassis and the electronics in the past couple of weeks, I’m confident that podiums will come.

“Oulton is not one of my favourite circuits but in the first race the mistake was all mine. I just ran onto the grass, over the gravel, then bounced my wheels off the barriers the same way Plater does at Macau! Seriously though, it was more luck that judgement but I fought my way back from 26th to seventh place and I was doing the same lap times as Haslam in second place. In the second race we had that small tyre problem, but our time will come, sooner or later.”

Ian Lowry:

“I’m happy to be back on the podium and I can take positives from that. I got caught up a little behind Chris Martin, which let Kennaugh and Richards away at the front. I pushed hard for a few laps and gapped Martin but it was too late to close in on the boys at the front. I just settled for a no heroics finish and took my podium. It’s points in the bag and I’m now looking forward to Brands Hatch next weekend.”

Philip Neill - Team Principal:

“That was a very tough weekend with the up and down conditions, but to bring both riders home with not a scratch on the bikes is just what we needed. Michael has continued to meet all our expectations and could easily have scored his first podium this weekend. He is gearing up for a solid championship position and his podium will come. He has been consistent in all conditions and is ticking all the boxes for us at Relentless Suzuki.

“The Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 Superbike is running almost perfectly thanks to our team. Big thanks must also go to the outside assistance we receive from K-Tech and Motec Europe who have improved the suspension and electronics on our bike. We are now the top Suzuki in the championship and that is very satisfying.

“Ian will possibly be a little disappointed with his performance after such a dominant qualifying on the K8 GSX-R600 Suzuki, but it was a solid result. He possibly showed too much respect for the conditions getting caught behind Chris Martin. What he did show at the end of the race was maturity, settling for a safe third when he knew that Richards and Kennaugh were gone at the front. Its points on the board and that’s vital.

“In closing, and on behalf of everyone at Relentless Suzuki, I’d like to pass on my heartfelt sympathy to Martin Finnegan’s family circle and friends. Martin will be a big loss to international road racing, both in the paddock and on the track.”