Team HANNspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda news
2008 Supersport World Championship
Round 12, Magny-Cours, France
Race, Sunday 5th October
Track length: 4.411 kms. Crowd: (3-day) 78,000
SUPERB PODIUM FOR JOSHUA!
The penultimate round of the Supersport World Championship at Magny-Cours today, was a tough battle for both HANNspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda riders as they were in the lead group of seven riders for the majority of the twenty-two lap race.
Joshua managed to score another superb podium finish, taking third place after a terrific fight with Andrew Pitt and Barry Veneman.
His team-mate Robbin was in sixth place on lap nine, but missed his braking point going into Adelaide and was unable to avoid hitting the rear tyre of the rider just ahead, Jonathan Rea. Both crashed and also took out the rider behind, Broc Parkes, in the process. Robbin picked up his bike, rejoined the race and managed to finish in 15th place.
Joshua - 3rd
I'm so happy to finish in third place! It has been a difficult weekend for me and not finding the right settings on my bike in qualifying left me starting from eighth place on the grid. Also, this morning, I had a crash, which meant I had to use my second bike in the race. I didn't get a good start and the first lap was pretty crazy with all the riders in a big fight. Once things settled down, I felt good on the bike and everything was working really well. I was able to push harder and harder every lap and gradually worked my way up. After Robbin and the others crashed out, I was in third place, before going into second when Pitt made a mistake. Pitt, Veneman and I then fought for the lead, but I got stuck behind Veneman in third place and couldn't get past him again. A win would've been great, but I'm really happy with my podium today!
Robbin -15th
The bike was feeling OK and I got a good start from my seventh place on the grid. But after a couple of laps I started having grip problems. The bike was sliding pretty badly here and there, but I wanted to stay in the front group, so I pushed hard to keep up the pace. But on lap 9 I missed my braking point. I thought I could save it, but instead I ran into Rea in front of me. I'm really sorry that it happened. It was not my intention at all, it was just an honest mistake. I got back in the race and managed to finish in 15th place, but I don't feel it was a good weekend for us.
By winning today's race Andrew Pitt (Honda) took the Supersport World Championship title.
Championship standings (with 1 round remaining)
1. A. Pitt 194 p, Supersport World Champion
2. J. Rea 164 p
3. Joshua Brookes (HANNspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda) 157 p
4. B. Parkes 139 p
5. J. Larscorz 105 p
9. Robbin Harms (HANNspree Stiggy Motorsport Honda) 71 p
