James East / Mackrory Racing
Knockhill Round 5 British Supersport 22-24th June 2012
Round 5 see’s the British Superbike convoy pull up at the Knockhill Circuit just north of Edinburgh in the county of Fife.
Knockhill is known for its changeable weather conditions, often described as having its own climate.
British Supersport
Free Practice 1
A wet track with a drying line and the field are on wet tyres to start with. James runs 8th throughout the session but doesn’t put in the dry tyres at the end of the session.
He ends the session in 16th position P3 in Cup with a good wet setting confirmed.
Free Practice 2
Dry session, but James has issues with the stability of the bike on the brakes. The bike bounced from side to side going in to the hairpin on James’s 16th lap and come round on him in to a small highside.
James finishes the session in 20th on a time of 52:606. Suspension adjustments are made for Qualifying to prevent this issue.
Qualifying
Easty is very happy with his wet set up, the bike is poised and smooth and he puts the Kawasaki to 11th place and 3rd in cup.
Easty – “ I am very happy with the wet set up, we are struggling to find a consistent dry setting but getting closer, so unusually I’m hoping for a wet race for this round. “
Race 1
A good start see’s number 56 right in the mix. James overtakes Irwin early in the lap to be 2nd in the cup but a mistake from Brown means James has to hesitate to miss him and loses some places.
James has a good battle with 3 Yamaha’s around him to finally finish 15th and 3rd in the cup, also gaining a 14th place starting place for race 2 on a much faster time of 51.207.
Race 2
James gets blocked at the start and is deep in the pack. A few laps under the safety car brings the pack back together but James is struggling, a setting he had asked for to make the bike more stable in the hairpin was hindering him elsewhere on circuit but he struggles through in a high pace hard race to finish 13th and 2nd in the cup on a time of 51:314.
James “I’m very pleased with this result and the weekend as a whole. Knockhill has never been a favourite circuit of mine, I’ve collected injuries in the past, but to achieve two podiums and our best dry finishes so far feels great.
I’m excited for the next race. We figured out something in race 2 with the bikes front end set up which is going to help us everywhere from now on. Thank you to everyone involved it was a great job “.
James would like to thank his personal sponsors:
Homechoice Carpets Leeds
Idaq.com
GHM Services
ToiletSpares.co.uk
R&G Racing
Cougar Leathers
Moto-Master Braking Systems
Racebikebitz By Samco Sport
Walters & Walters Ltd
Paul ‘Noddy’ Brown
Royston Fencing