Motorsport: Honda superbike team has a race to forget at Oulton Park

May 9 2008 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

THE Honda Plant team had a bad weekend at Oulton Park when the British Superbikes returned to the Little Budworth track.

Cal Crutchlow, who shared the championship lead with Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, crashed out while leading the first race at Oldhall corner before climbing back on and finishing sixth. Team-mate Leon Haslam also crashed out of the race after high-siding his bike flying spectacularly through the air – only suffering minor bruising. He finished second but the worst was to come as Crutchlow lost it again in the second race and was forced to retire with a suspected broken ankle.

A scan revealed the joint was intact and Crutchlow hopes to resume his title challenge at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Shakey won both races last weekend but Haslam was disqualified from race two after colliding with Tom Sykes, forcing his opponent to retire. An investigation decided Haslam was guilty of careless riding in the course of a meeting.