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A BIKE DESIGNED FOR A CHAMPION got off to a flying start on Sunday as SR OFF-ROAD won their first race of the British Supermoto Championship season.
Sam Warren of Belper, Derbyshire won the SM2 (450cc) class race in the British Championship in Sunderland on Sunday - his first victory of the season after a string of top three finishes.
The win followed a qualifying round which put Warren and his new motorcycle in a pole position start for the first time this season.
Warren also set the fastest lap times in each of the 450cc races, proving beyond doubt that the Wirksworth-based Warren/Husaberg SR team is a match for anyone.
As well as Warren’s victory, racegoers were treated to the spectacle of a four way-battle to the wire in the final race of the day as Warren, Winstanley, Christian Iddon and Belgian Fred Fiorentino fought it out with one of the tightest finishes ever seen on a Supermoto track.
And it is races like these that will sharpen up these three Great British riders to World Championship form, according to SR Off-Road manager Mick Spencer.
“These lads are fighting tooth and nail for every win and faster lap – it is absolutely fantastic to watch,” he said. “I have no doubt that in the next five years Warren, Winstanley or Iddon will be World Champion – I just don’t know which one!”
Spencer it is proof positive that the new SR Off-Road bike – never raced in the British Championship before - is meeting expectations.
“It is as simple as this - when you qualify in pole position you know your bike is faster than anyone else’s,” he explained.
But competition is fierce. Sam Warren gained his pole position start by only a few hundredths of a second over British Champion Matt Winstanley who finished either first and second in both the S1 (650cc) and S2 (450cc) class races.
Added Spencer: “Sam’s ability as a world-class Supermoto rider was never in doubt – we just needed the get a bike that would push him up there with the likes of Matt Winstanley – we are starting to do that now which is what we’ve been aiming for.”
Such consistent performances by Warren have helped SR to move to second in the Supermoto team leader board.
Said Warren modestly: “It’s been a good day out. Picking up my first win of the season is great plus a pole position in SM1 was a real bonus. I pushed Matt as hard as I could in that race and kept him honest.”
SR Off Road’s next championship races are:
World Championship: 10 Sep 2005 Ireland Bishop's Court/Belfast
British Championship : Sunday November 6th - Rowrah, Cumbria
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