Superbikes - Ellison third in Superbikes qualifying (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Superbikes - Ellison third in Superbikes qualifying

10:40am Monday 25th May 2009 in

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KENDAL'S James Ellison ran third best for the Airwaves Yamaha team in qualifying ahead of Bank Holiday Monday's ViSK British Superbike Championship meeting at Donington.

Leon Camier, the championship leader, rewarded the hard work of Airwaves Yamaha to change the settings of his bike by claiming his second pole start.

It was, however, a close-run thing with Sylvain Guintoli moving within 0.064secs in a dramatic ending to the final phase of the Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole, having opted to pit and fit a new rear tyre to his Worx Crescent Suzuki in what proved a vain attempt to snatch top spot on the leaderboard.

Camier had been well on the pace across the weekend but he saved the best for when it mattered most, putting in a lap of 1m 31.047secs, which underlined both the added power of his new, uprated engine, and also the changes to the set-up of his bike.

“Now everything is working so well, and we’ve change things on the bike to get the speed on the corners, it is feeling good,” said Camier. “I’m well pleased because I’ve been able to put in consistent laps, and in each session the bike has been getting better and better.

“We’ve got a pretty good set-up as well for the race, so now it is up to me to keep it going across the races. The new engine has made a difference, more power, more speed.

“I am feeling confident for the races, though for sure Sylvain is again going to be a real threat,” reflected Camier, who with wins in the previous three races has an 11 points lead over his rival who starts alongside him at the front of the grid.

Ellison, riding the second Airwaves bike, ran third best, 1m 31.442secs, despite a tumble to be ahead of Simon Andrews, who was claiming his first front-row start in the series, aboard the MSS Colchester Kawasaki.

Superbikes on television British Eurosport 2 Monday 25 May 12.45-17.30 Live raceday 19.00-20.30 Highlights Full television listings on www.britishsuperbike.com