The bikes line up for race one - Photo Credit: Pirelli
The second British Superbike race of the day was cancelled after a series of incidents in the support races rendered the Brands Hatch Indy circuit impossible to ride on. Conditions were already horrendous due to constant rainfall but oil and fuel spillages between the two BSB races reduced the already low grip levels to zero.
The main trouble came in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship race as Pauli Pekkanen crashed his Triumph at Clearways. The Finn picked up his bike and rejoined the race but his bike was leaking fuel over the soaking race track.
Race leader Ben Wilson was among those to fall and the race was red flagged while marshalls tried to wash the circuit. After a long delay, the race was restarted but it became clear straight away that those attempts had been unsuccessful.
Wilson lost his bike again on the run down to Graham Hill bend and wiped out Billy McConnell. Four other riders followed them in the barriers in a worrying chain of events but thankfully all appeared to escape injury. The race was stopped again and a result declared and the British Superbike riders were given an eight minute practice session before any decision on their second race would be made.
Once they returned the pits, the riders were unanimous in their view that grip levels were unacceptable for racing and that the second race shouldn't go ahead. Their voices were heard and it, along with the second British Motostar race, was cancelled.
BSB series director Stuart Higgs regretted having to deprive the spectators of a race but accepted that it was the only sensible decision.
“We have worked very hard to clean the track after the contamination, the second such situation over the weekend, but it has been a unanimous decision by the riders, teams and officials to reschedule this race to another event. It is a terribly frustrating situation but safety remains paramount.”
The cancelled race will now be slotted into another weekend later in the season, although the location and date have yet to be confirmed.
