Rouse fightback is too late for podium
CHRISSY Rouse narrowly missed out on a podium finish yesterday as he crossed the line fourth in the weekend’s opening Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship race at Brands Hatch.
The Burnopfield rider had qualified sixth for the 24-lap scrap aboard his Quinnstheprinters.com by IMR BMW, as the series made its first visit of the year to the Kent track.
Despite dropping a place to veteran Michael Rutter after a sluggish start, Rouse picked up the pace and stole the spot back on the second lap, slotting back into sixth position.
But he gained a spot when fifth-placed Jordan Weaving made a mistake on the seventh lap, before making a move past Josh Elliott on lap 11 to move up to fourth.
By now the top three had cleared off into the distance, and despite making a hardfought effort to catch up, he wasn’t able to get close enough to make up any further ground.
Settling for fourth, the 22-year-old Newcastle University student is now concentrating on today’s race.
Meanwhile, making his debut in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship this weekend is County Durham teenager Charlie Farrer.
The youngster is entering selected rounds of the fierce 600 series alongside his British Talent Cup commitments, after just two months of experience on the bigger bike.
Despite missing all of Friday’s second qualifying, the 16-year-old from Easington managed to qualify 26th for today’s race.
In the main Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cumbria’s James Ellison is set for a front row start in today’s first race after a strong qualifying yesterday.
He will line up third on the grid behind Shane Byrne on the Be Wiser Ducati, ran by the Penrith based PBM squad.
Ellison, who has been looking strong since the season started at Donington Park last month, is embarking on his final season in Britain before emigrating to America to be with wife Sarah and the kids.
But he has already emerged one of the favourites for the title this year, and once again it was his Anvil Hire TAG bike which was the fastest Yamaha on track.
“I almost backed out of that lap because I nearly lost it, but I decided to keep it going and I’m pleased I did as if I hadn’t, I may have ended up further back,” he said last night.
“The bike is brilliant, it’s working really well around here and hopefully we can have two good races and see where we end up.”
Byrne, meanwhile, is looking for a home win at his local track, but they both have to first topple wonder kid Bradley Ray.
The Buildbase Suzuki rider, who won both races at the first round, shocked everyone yesterday afternoon as he shot to pole, becoming the only rider on the grid who was able to set a sub-45-second lap as he clocked a best time of 44.997secs.