Ellison is frustrated but Winfield has best total
IT WAS a tough end to the season for Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s James Ellison.
He crashed out of both the final two races at Brands Hatch in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship after finishing eighth in the first.
But there was better news for the Swadlincote-based outfit as Ellison’s team-mate Shaun Winfield picked up five points over the weekend to finish with a season-best tally of eight.
Ellison finished the season on 110 in 14th place. Leon Haslam of JG Speedfit Kawasaki was crowned champion for the first time.
“It’s been a tough end to the weekend,” said Ellison.
“I had great pace in the first race on Sunday, I caught the leading group and I was having to override the bike in places, which just caught me out and I crashed.
“The lads worked around the clock to get the bike repaired but when I started the race something just didn’t feel right and I didn’t want to risk anything for myself and the team.
It has been such a frustrating year for me and the team but we didn’t stop working hard to fix the issues.
“I wanted to round out the year with a podium but it just wasn’t meant to be. I want to thank everyone at Anvil Hire TAG Racing, they’ve worked so hard and I can’t thank them enough.”
Winfield added: “It has been a good weekend for me, I’ve posted a new personal best lap time and come away with a handful of points, which was my plan before I came here.
“This year I feel I have grown as a Superbike rider and that is down to the work that the team have put in to help me to build my confidence. This has shown in results, with my best year, a career best finish and my highest points total.
“We’ve evolved the bike this year and this weekend it was much easier and a joy to ride. I’m already planning for 2019, building on what I have learnt this year, where I believe I can be consistently in the top 15.”