TAG Honda wraps up the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship with points in race one and a Pathway podium.
With the Superstock 1000 class not starting their racing season until Oulton Park, all eyes were on the efforts of the Superbike class with Fraser Rogers piloting the Superbike and Jaimie van Sikkelerus on board the all-new Pathway Superbike for two races on Sunday 21st April.
The return of the popular Omologato Superpole qualifier got underway on Saturday, with the Superbike riders gunning for a top 12 finish during free practice one to guarantee their opportunity. Fraser Rogers secured his Superpole lap, finishing the 40 minute session in P9 with a 1:37.149; 0.2s off a top 5 qualifier! Jaimie van Sikkelerus secured his first Superbike grid position in 23rd with a 1:38.474. As Superpole got underway in the mid-afternoon sun, all was not well for some of the top 15. Fraser Rogers returned to the pit garages as a mechanical issue struck with the fuel pump, Leon Haslam crashed out and engine troubles struck the factory Honda machine of Tommy Bridewell. Thus resulted in Fraser buoyantly accepting his fate and taking his first Superbike grid position in 15th, alongside the current BSB Champion.
As the weekend progressed, Circuito de Navarra became quickly labelled as ‘notorious’ for very little room to pass with a hair-raising first corner, averaging speeds of 177mph!
Race one saw both the TAG Honda Superbikes get off the grid quickly and on the attack right away. Maintaining a solid consistent pace, Fraser Rogers returned in P13 with 3 points, as Jaimie van Sikkelerus finished ahead of the other Pathway Superbike contenders to take the P1 Pathway spot, and P21 overall. After a little siesta, the TAG Honda machines returned to the grid for race two, with Fraser moving up to P8 (1:37.242) and Jaimie in P22 (1:38.686). Confident from race one, Fraser knew he had the pace to compete at the front and after discussing with the team a strategy around the typically stagnant track for overtakes, compiled a plan. Unfortunately it was not meant to be, crashing out on the second lap at turn four, right on the heels of the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki of Jason ‘O Halloran. Undeterred, Jaimie continued to push for a finish of the 20 lap race, securing a P19 finish overall!
Fraser Rogers said, ‘I am genuinely gutted after the crash; after feeling really positive I had found my pace with the bike – this was the last thing I expected. When you’re pushing for a top 5 finish, it’s to be expected that it might not always go to plan! The team have worked so hard all week and I’m totally confident I am in the right place for the season. The bike feels great – I always knew it would! Obviously *things* happen from time to time, and qualifying wasn’t ideal, but achieving a top 12 finish from FP1 proves that the potential is there. Having such a supportive crew chief, team, sponsors and family around me and it gives me a lot of hope for this season, I just know we will come back bigger and stronger for Oulton Park.’
Jaimie van Sikkelerus said, ‘My first racing experience in the Superbike class has been awesome. I have spent all week working really closely with the team developing the bike to its full potential and the results are definitely coming. It was going to be a big change from Supersport and also changing to a new team, but I couldn’t feel more at home. It’s been amazing to see and hear the fans support and I am really looking forward to seeing everyone again for 3 races at Oulton Park for the Bank Holiday weekend. I’d like to give a big shout-out to my awesome sponsors and family and friends who have supported me, making this all possible!’
Gary Winfield, Team Manager said, ‘We have worked so hard all winter during the off-season to ensure that we were putting out ultra-competitive machines in both Superbike and Pathway; however our expectations for Navarra were only moderate as we knew that Fraser hadn’t raced a full season for some time and it was Jaimie’s first Superbike race experience. I am delighted to say that both riders have gelled with us as a team really quickly and they blew us away with their passion, energy and effort all week. As we enter the more familiar territory of the British circuits, both the Superbike riders will flourish. Supported by the enthusiasm Matt Truelove and Shaun Winfield have this season for the Superstock series, we feel like we have a competitive team – hungry for results.’
