Following the disappointment of James Ellison’s withdrawal from today’s action, fan favourite Chris ‘Stalker’ Walker raised the Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki spirits with a stunning return to the podium. His third podium of the year also further strengthens his position in the all-important top six.
It was a strong start to the weekend for Chris, finishing the opening free practice session in sixth before improving to fourth in the second session. With the weather remaining dry and sunny for qualifying, ‘Stalker’ was able to match his free practice pace to take a well-earned fourth place and second row start for the opening MCE British Superbike Championship race.
Incredibly difficult conditions greeted the riders for the first race on Bank Holiday Monday, with intermittent and light rain causing conditions to swing from damp to dry. Following a delay to the start, the race was able to get underway in dry conditions and Chris enjoyed a traditional ‘Stalker’ start to run second into the opening corner. Pushed back to third on lap three, Chris was embroiled in a tense six-rider pack as conditions continued to worsen. With the rain arriving as the riders entered the eleventh lap, the red flag was deployed and the result declared, with Chris securing his third podium of the year and ending the GBmoto team’s six race drought.
Despite finishing on the podium in the opening race, Chris lined up in ninth on the grid for the second race, based on lap times. With heavy rain soaking the circuit ahead of the start, conditions were treacherous with a number of top riders failing to finish. Stalker rode a steady race and with his closest competitors crashing out of contention, he took a strong eight place to further strengthen his top six position with only one round remaining before the Showdown begins.
James Ellison will continue his fight back to full fitness and will re-join the team at Donington Park.
Chris Walker, “It’s been a brilliant weekend all in all for our side of the garage but it’s a massive shame for James that he wasn’t able to ride today after everything he’s done to get here. To get another podium in the first race was absolutely mega, and brilliant for the team to get back on the box where they belong. The second race was treacherous out there but to bring the bike home in eighth with Easton not finishing and Dan finishing behind it’s a good result and a much better position than when we came here!
We’ve now got one more round to go before the Showdown begins and with Donington Park being my favourite circuit and one I love riding at, I’m confident we can walk away in the top six. Hopefully we’ll see James back with us and up at the sharp end where he belongs too.”
Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki Team Principal Mark Smith-Halvorsen said, “It’s been a mixed weekend. On one hand, we are all gutted for James as he’s put in so much work to be able to get here but unfortunately the extremely physical nature of Cadwell Park took its toll. We’ll see him again at Donington and we know it won’t be long before he’s back where he belongs.
On the other hand however, Chris rode a superb couple of races to further strengthen his position in the top six and move a step closer to securing his Showdown position. It was far from easy conditions out there for the first race, but Chris showed why he’s still one of the top Superbike riders on the grid to claim another podium while in race two he did everything he needed to do in incredibly difficult weather.”
