Thruxton British superbikes: Cal Crutchlow records maiden victory in race two

HM Plant Honda new boy Cal Crutchlow continued an amazing start to his second season in British Superbikes by recording his first ever victory at Thruxton.

The Coventry rider, who joined the team with Leon Haslam this season, now sits in joint top spot in the championship stadings with Airwaves Ducati’s Shane Byrne after the pair both recorded a win and a secon place apiece.

Byrne took the lead on lap four while Crutchlow moved in to second spot.

Lap seven saw Tom Sykes and Leon Haslam coming together resulting in Sykes high-siding his Rizla Suzuki. The GSXR-1000 then bounced across the track and took out Karl Harris in the process.

The crash saw the race red flagged while Harris received medical treatment on the track, although he escaped serious injury and was lucky to get away with cuts and bruises and sore knees and ankles.

The restart saw Sykes was able to use the spare motorcycle and led the opening lap.

But Crutchlow was quick to get him in his sightsand soon took the lead.

And keeping things even, Airwaves Ducati’s Shane Byrne was second to level on 45 points in the championship while Buildbase North West 200 Ducati’s Michael Rutter completed his first double podium finish since Knockhill in 2005.

After the race, Cal Cructhlow said: “When I led in the first race, it was the first time that I had led a Superbike race so to win next time was unexpected, though it is something that I have worked hard for through the close season. 

“The team have done a fantastic job for me and I was able to control the second race from the front – winning is great, fantastic, but when I signed for HM Plant Honda, I knew that I was joining a championship winning team, and there is no reason why we cannot push for that.”

Thruxton British Superbike race two results: 

1. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda
2. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati
3. Michael Rutter NW 200 Ducati
4. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati
5. Michael Laverty Relentless Suzuki by TAS
6. Stuart Easton MSS Discovery Kawasaki
7. James Ellison Hydrex Bike Animal Honda
8. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki
9. Guy Martin Hydrex Bike Animal Honda
10. Billy McConnell MSS Discovery Kawasaki