KRT - Eastern Creek Final

[MadKaw]

KRT Save The Best For Grand Finale Event !

From KRT
Kawasaki Racing Team was victorious in recording its best result of the season at the Australian Superbike Championship grand finale event over the weekend, with KRT winning both the Supersport and Superbike Classes.

Finishing the 2007 season on a high, both Kawasaki pilots bravely took the treacherous weather conditions head on at Eastern Creek Raceway, to come away the round winners.

KRT pilot, Shannon Johnson, was fastest onboard the ZX-10R Superbike recording the fastest lap of the race, a 1.51:103. Johnson pushed through the horrendously wet conditions and overcame a frightening 260kmh slide along the tracks front straight to emerge victorious, for the first time this season.

“It was incredibly slippery out there and I had a few hair raising moments during the race,” said Johnson. “I got away to a great start, leading the race from start to finish, but I had to work hard to keep my bike up on two wheels as there was so much water on the track.”

“I had a make or break moment when I was heading down the front straight and my bike snapped loose due to the amount of water on the track. I wasn’t expecting it to and the only thing I could do was keep the throttle open and ride it out.”

“After a season which has been plagued with injuries, it was great for both the Team and I to come away round winners. The whole Team has been working towards this result all season and to win at the final round event in such tough conditions was a fitting finale to what has been a fiercely competitive season.”

Wayne Maxwell continued the green domination in the Supersport Class, as the Kawasaki pilot gallantly took second place in Race One and a daring pass on the closing turns of Race Two saw him secure his first race and round win of the season.

“It is an awesome feeling to win the round,” said Maxwell. “The racing conditions were really tough and I had to work hard to come away with the win.”

“We have made good, consistent progress on the ZX-6R in recent testing sessions and it was only a matter of time before we secured our first race win.”

“The Kawasaki crew have put a lot of time and effort into developing the ZX-6R’s race package and all that hard work was rewarded by the round win.”

Team Manager Dave Cullen was thrilled with the Team’s overall result.

“Both riders rode really well this weekend and to dominate both Classes in such adverse conditions is a great achievement,” said Cullen. “Our extensive testing regime last month has really paid off as both riders secured excellent qualifying positions. Maxwell secured provisional pole in Saturday mornings Qualifying Session and Johnson put the ZX-10R on the front row of the grid in Qualifying Session Two.”

“Shannon and Wayne were ready to convert our testing results into podium finishes and when the weather conditions turned sour, both riders really came to the fore and used the ZX-6R and ZX-10R’s versatility to their fullest advantage to record wins in both classes.”

“The Team has worked very hard at the track to earn these rewards and we are pleased both riders have finished their Championships on a high.”

“KRT has received terrific support from our Team Sponsors in 2007, Silkolene, NGK, Dunlop, Goodrich, AFAM, DC Chains, Kincrome, Akrapovic and Swimming with Sharks – as their contributions have made KRT a competitive package to contest both Superbike and Supersport Championships.”

“It was also great to see fellow Kawasaki rider, Jamie Aitken from Aitken’s Motorcycles, win two Superstock races over the weekend onboard his ZX-6R. Jamie dug deep to overcome the wet, soggy conditions and continued Kawasaki’s domination over the event, walking away with the round win also.”

[Gosling1]

It was great to see a Kawasaki win a round of the Supers, thats for sure.

Did they do another leg under spotlights ??

[Steph]

I'm sorry to say that I have once again missed out on paying a visit to the KSRC gang on the hill at EC. The plan was in place to go up on Sunday, but the rain came. It messed up everyones day, especially Jamie's. I'm certain that it cost him the supersport championship.
It was good that Dave and Justine came down for a visit, at least.

Anyway, I'm back home now and will try again next time. Here are a couple of photos I took on Sunday night of two former Kawasaki riders. Josh took Jamie's trophy and practiced his speech as Superbike Champion. What a great kid he is!

Shannon and Wayne were celebrating a good weekend. Congrats on some Kawasaki wins. Sorry I didn't get photos. That should keep ya going for a while!

[MadKaw]

Great to catch up again Steph... and a huge thanks for the gear..

We'll be keeping an eye on the AMA results and cheering Jamie on.

Great pics...

[MadKaw]

Shannon Johnson Rider Report:

Results and Report ASC Finale
Event: Round 8 Aust. SBK Championship
Date: 17th-19th August
Venue: Eastern Creek Raceway

Weather: Friday & Saturday Fine and Warm, Sunday Heavy rain and cold SBK: SS:
Qualification: 4th Qualification: 11th
Race One: 1st Race One:DNF (crash)
Race Two: Cancelled due to excessive rain Race Two: 9th

Overall Results - Round
1st: Shannon Johnson Kawasaki ZX10R 1st: W Maxwell Kawasaki ZX6R
2nd: D Stauffer Yamaha R1 2nd: J Crowe Yamaha R6
3rd: T Gibson Suzuki GSXR 3rd: J Waters Suzuki GSXR

Overall Results - Championship
1st: J Stauffer Yamaha R1 1st: J O Halloran Yamaha R6
2nd: C Coxhell Suzuki GSXR 2nd: J Stauffer Yamaha R6
3rd: D Stauffer Yamaha R1 3rd: J Waters Suzuki GSXR
9th: Shannon Johnson Kawasaki ZX10R 14th: Shannon Johnson Kawasaki ZX6R

Shannon Johnson Rider Report:
“Highs, lows and literally everything in between, that sums up my 2007 championship season. In a sport were numbers rule and the real story and fact is pushed to the back it would be easy to assume that our performance this season was below par. Well the professional arm chair racers (you know the ones that know everything) will try to convince themselves that this was the case. Although my team, Kawasaki, and myself know that with the overall result aside when I was not injured, and lady luck was not against us we were at the front. Wet or dry.”

“One thing I did find out this year was how important it is to have the full support from the people you work directly with, both at and away from the circuit. With the many number of uncontrollable problems that continued throughout this year added to the 15 plus hours a week training and then working a full time job I was getting run down and burnt out both physically and most notably mentally. I can't praise my team enough for never get bummed out (well if they did they hid it well from me) and always trying to find a solution to help me succeed. This team I talk of is quite large; it has the best part of 20 people in it. From the management at Kawasaki to the team staff, the sponsors of the team, my very important personal sponsors, trainers, surgeons (that I have on call), and most importantly friends and family.”

“It is easy to get hung up on the "I am", and "I can" when you a lucky enough to be a paid athlete. The truth is this, the rider/me is only a marginal part of the end results and without the above mentioned support nothing is achievable. So thank you all for doing what you do so I can do what I do.”

“The weekend itself went well, apart from 11th on the SS grid. Having said that I was less than half a second from the front row. We never concentrated on one hot lap in either SBK or SS; the race is won over 13 laps not 1. This was most notable in the SBK sessions where we worked hard for the races. Focusing on this so much we ran out of time to use a qualifying tyre, still making the front row was a good sign using only a race tyre for the time. I was ready.”

“Then Sunday morning we woke to heavy rain, and rain it did all day. Only getting one lap in SS warm up and two laps in SBK warm up in the wet, I was lucky to get an understanding of the conditions and prepare for the races.”

“The first SS race I was in a five bike battle for the lead when on lap three without warning I was flung over the highside, bounced up (yes uninjured for once) got going but the bike was too damaged and had to pull in.”

“Then the by the time the first SBK started there was puddles and rivers running across the circuit. Starting from P4 on the warm up lap my rear tyre spun on the car rubber, I was concerned and knew full concentration was needed to get a good start. A good start I got, I can nearly say one of my best ever. At the end on lap one I had two seconds over 2nd. Then I stretched it out to eight over the next few laps, I couldn't believe it. I was thinking the boys kept forgetting to put the point up, like .2 or .8 second lead not the full seconds' worth. It got the better of me and I had to take a look, nothing, I could see no riders. I was lapping over 2 seconds faster than the next fastest rider lapping up to 9th place. The last few laps felt like and eternity. We got it home and man what a relief. Lucky for me my mechanics had the right combination of suspension and fuel injection. After the race I tried to speak with the Clerk of the course to advise him the circuit was not in a safe condition for racing, some parts of the track was under water and the muddy rivers running across the circuit were getting wider. He didn't want to listen and said the event would continue. There was one race (4laps) between the SBK and next SS race, not time to change. Heading out onto to the circuit for the race the rain continued and became heavier numerous riders and I tried to protest the race continuing but it must not have looked so bad from the heated, dry, tower where the officials sat.”

“I started well moved up to third then heading down the front straight for the first time felt like I went through a freezer; I was getting cold, real cold. I starting losing strength and feeling in my hands and feet. This was getting worse as the laps went on, not knowing right from wrong I saw someone doing a burn out on the circuit I assumed the race was over because you wouldn't do that during a race. This was 8laps latter.”

“In the parc ferme I was then taken directly to the medical centre were I was treated for mild hypothermia, maybe someone turned the heater off in the control tower as the officials then called the event off. What a way to celebrate your first race win a trip to the hospital with a drip hanging out of your arm....A very big thank you to the Race Safe Medical Crew that have done so much for me this year and kept me back on track more than a few times.”

“So that's it the Championship is over, congrats to the winners and to the winners of the SBK and SS titles hold onto it really tight. I coming back next year.”

[Steph]

If I have internet connection, I'll try to post some photos while at Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

[hoffy]

Hey thanks for the Keyring Steph..choice

[robracer]

Hey thanks for the Keyring Steph..choice

"Ditto"

[ProblemChild]

go da green, good to see a coupla of wins