Lauder’s Team Kershaw makes calculated effort to win title

Admittedly, there were only three teams in the running – Lauder’s Steve Kershaw/Ryan Charlwood, teammates and reigning champions Todd Ellis/Chas Richardson, and outside bet Sam and Adam Christie.

Sitting 56 points ahead of Christie, Kershaw was hot favourite but Ellis in third, 61 back, is always fast at Brands and took the series in style there last season.

Complicating the simple maths was everything else!

The second race of the two was double points, as well as top 10 reverse grid, and both races formed part two of the Bonovo

International Superprix.

With separate international teams Streuer/DeHaas from Holland and Paivarinta/Clement from Finland not scoring British points, but British teams Ellis/Richardson and Reeves/Rousseau, among others, scoring in both, it suddenly became a cauldron of confusion.

For Steve and Ryan, the goal was to get at least third in the 12-lap race, one which would put the title in their hands.

The troubles started early as a suspected head gasket failure in free practice led to frantic engine swap before qualifying. But, with the adrenalin pumping, they hit back on track, taking pole position from Ellis/Richardson and Reeves/Rousseau.

Looking calm and relaxed for Saturday’s race one, they made a clean start and led until halfway round lap one, when Ellis swept through at the ultra-fast Hawthorn corner.

Pushed off line on to the damp, the Borderers then fell prey to Reeves/Rousseau in the next corner, who set off in pursuit of the leaders.

On lap two, 2015 world champion Streuer put in a sweet lap to nip past Kershaw to take third on the road, but left Steve and Ryan third in the British points and good enough to win the title.

The front four crews began to gap the field and, when Reeves pulled the same move on Ellis at Hawthorn on lap five to lead, it bunched them together less than a second apart. On lap seven, Streuer ran wide into Surtees, letting the champions elect back into third on the road and, with the fastest lap of the race, they were taking the fight to the two leaders.

But, on lap eight, Ryan’s arm shot in the air through Dingle Dell and all was not well. Touring back into the pits, Kershaw was thumping his fist in fury as steam drifted out the back of the outfit, as the overheating problems resurfaced.

Back on track, Ellis/Richardson tried everything to get round the wily Reeves/Rousseau duo but, in the end, had to settle for second ahead of Streuer/DeHaas, who ended a safe third.

The Christie brothers took points for fifth place which just kept them in the hunt for the overall.

A late-night session of checks and repairs for the Lauder crew saw a new radiator and water pump fitted, in the hope of curing the issues and, for Sunday’s race two, they took their place on the grid with fingers crossed.

Starting from a lowly 21st, they had to finish 10th or better to guarantee the title, irrespective of other results.

As the flag dropped on the 14-lapper, Bell/Connell, from pole, held the lead for a lap and a half as Ellis/Richardson scythed through the pack from ninth and took over at the helm on lap two.

Reeves/Rousseau, who had to beat Ellis to take the Superprix overall, struggled with the traffic and, when they made it to second on lap four, Ellis/Richardson were four seconds up the road and looking uncatchable.

All eyes were now on Kershaw/Charlwood and they chipped away, by lap six up to sixth place and instantly gaining two more on lap seven, when Stevens/Allum flipped upside down at Graham Hill bend, pushing Blackstock/Rosney off circuit to miss the carnage.

They then had clear track ahead of Holland/Christie behind in fifth and behind Streuer/DeHaas in third, so settled into a steady pace to conserve the bike.

With the front crews all strung out, it was a final drama of a red flag on lap 13 when Peach/Edwards spun on Paddock Hill bend leaving the veteran Ken Edwards injured on track and needing attention.

Back in pit lane, the relief was obvious on the faces of all the Team Kershaw racing crew as the new champions donned their number one tee shirts in celebration of a second British title.

And it was a double celebration for the Molson/Santander Salt team, as the Ellis/Richardson victory gave them the Superprix crown by one point from Reeves/Rousseau.

A smiling Steve said: “We thought we had it done on Saturday but had a bit of bad luck with

the bike and we weren’t sure if we’d fixed it.

“We got into a comfortable place on Sunday and just listened to the bike. It’s been a short season but we’re just so pleased for ourselves and all

our sponsors.”

An equally happy Ryan concluded: “It was a nightmare on Saturday but, in the end, Sunday was a bit of a boring race. Just so relieved to finally get it done!”

The team thanked everyone who hadhelped all year –Quattro Plant, Molson, Santander Salt, KCP Environmental, Blinkbonny Quarry, Car Parts 4U and all the others who make it possible.

Next year should hopefully see Team Kershaw them take a crack at the World Championships for the first time and, on current form, the future looks bright.