British Superbikes
Jenny Tinmouth rounded off her debut British Superbikes (BSB) season with Honda Racing a solid weekend performance at Brands Hatch.
Chester-born Tinmouth, 37, posted two top-20 finishes in the final round, coming home 20th in race one and 19th in race two on board her CBRR1000 Fireblade.
It was another solid performance for Tinmouth in her first season with a major factory team in BSB having competed as a privateer in previous years.
“I’ve had a brilliant season and just chuffed to be part of the Honda Racing team, I’ve loved every single minute of it,” said Tinmouth, who is the only female rider ever to have competed at BSB level.
“It’s nice to end on a high with two good races and with good consistent lap times – I’m over the moon.
“I’m looking forward to winter training now, although I would like to be racing throughout the winter.
Honda team manager Havier Beltran declared himself pleased with Tinmouth’s efforts during a maiden season that has seen her continually improve and smash her previous best lap times.
Beltran said: “It’s been a learning curve for Jenny and also the team having her on-board, she can ride a bike there’s no doubt about that and she is riding in the strongest domestic championship in the world. We’re pleased with everything she has done.”
British Supersport
Backford teenager Joe Francis registered his best performances to date in the British Supersport series, finishing sixth and seventh in race one and two at the final round at Brands Hatch.
Francis, who finished fourth in this year’s Pirelli National Superstock 600 series, has been filling in for an injured rider in recent weeks and has impressed following the step up in class.
Chester-born Francis, 17, has been riding this past season for the Keith Flint-owned Team Traction Control outfit.
Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship
Tarporley racer Tom Oliphant is toasting success having secured the coveted Michelin Ginetta GT4 SuperCup Championship at the weekend.
Former Tarporley High School Karting Club member Oliphant, 25, claimed title glory in race two of three at Brands Hatch, seeing off the challenge of rival Carl Breeze.
Oliphant had been the dominant force throughout much of the latter half of the season, taking eight wins and a further 13 podiums this year.
And despite being off the rostrum five times he finished fourth on four of those occasions.
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Oliphant at the Kent circuit, though, qualifying second alongside Breeze.
He didn’t get the best of getaways as the first race got under way but a start-line collision between Will Moore and Reece Somerfield forced the session to be red flagged and handed Oliphant another bite of the cherry.
Breeze once again got the better start, but before Oliphant could challenge, Osamu Kawashima ended up in the gravel at Sterlings and brought out the safety car. By the time the track was clear, there were just two racing laps up for grabs.
The two laps were enough for Colin White to tie up the inaugural AM title while Breeze did enough to hold onto a chance at the title, denying Oliphant the glory in race one.
In race two, Breeze once again got the better start, and although he was unable to shake Oliphant from his tail, the former champion managed to hang onto the lead.
But with Oliphant only needing to score just nine points over the final two races, the 30 points attributed to second place was enough to hand him the title.
Meanwhile, with Will Burns forced to miss the final due to illness, Jamie Orton managed to cement his position in third overall after arriving at the track just 12 points ahead. Burns’ absence however, allowed Michael Caine to amass a healthy points haul, and the Amigos Tequila Flavoured Beer backed driver snatched fourth in the championship in the final race.
