Team positions looking healthy in BSB championship standings

Cannock-based Rich Energy OMG Racing were again celebrating as Aussie Billy McConnell made it back-to-back podiums, which promoted him to fourth in the National Superstock 1000 Championship.

And it was much the same for Brownhills-based Astro JJR as their New Zealand star, Damon Rees, secured a top 10 finish, which placed him third in the same championship.

With the rounds condensed due to coronavirus, the riders headed to Norfolk for rounds four, five and six of the main BSB series, which saw OMG Racing's Hector Barbera and Luke Mossey battling alongside the likes of rising 17-year-old Staffordshire superstar Storm Stacey.

After qualifying 15th, with Spaniard Barbera two spots behind, Mossey made an aggressive start, forcing his way up into 12th before the safety car was brought out.

Battling throughout the race with Gino Rea’s Suzuki, Mossey eventually lost out as a recovering Kyle Ryde also found his way past, forcing the OMG rider to settle for 12th.

Barbera, meanwhile, suffered a poor start and faced a monumental task, eventually climbing his way from 18th to finish four places higher at the flag.

Race two saw another slow start for Barbera, compounded with an off at Murrays on lap seven as he attempted to pass fellow BMW rider Peter Hickman.

Mossey had settled into a steady pace and thought he had taken 11th place but an incident ahead, between Ryan Vickers and Andrew Irwin, saw him him climb two places to finish in ninth.

More frustration followed for both riders in race three, as they dropped back into the clutches of the pack.

Mossey reignited his rivalry with Rea and this time came out on top, snatching 12th with two laps to spare, whilst Barbera fought hard to take the final BSB point, finishing in 15th.

Following behind them was GR Motosport teenage star Stacey, from Eccleshall, who again came tantalisingly close to securing his own first BSB points, ending the three races in 19th, 17th and 17th respectively,

McConnell once again produced a little magic as he returned to the rostrum for back-to-back races with an excellent third-placed finish during the only National Superstock 1000 race to take place at Snetterton.

Qualifying in third behind pole-sitter Matt Truelove and Donington race two rival, Chrissy Rouse, ‘Skippy’ made an excellent start from the inside line to exit Riches in first position.

However, after initially building a half a second gap, Rouse reeled the Aussie back in and as the leaders contested for top spot, Tom Neave took full advantage and powered to the front with only a few laps remaining.

McConnell stayed tight on the coattails of the front two but was not able to find a way further forward and had to settle for third.

Paul Curran, team principal of Rich Energy OMG Racing, said: “A bit of a challenging weekend for us this weekend in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.

"We’re still learning how to extract the most pace from a new bike and today has highlighted some additional information and insights to review back at HQ.

"Obviously, it’s not where we hoped to be but as we showed at Donington the bike has real potential to challenge at the front.

"Again, another excellent ride from Billy putting it on the podium in the Stock 1000 class.

"With such a short season it’s all about consistency and with back-to-back podiums you can’t ask for much more, he’s close to that first win this season.

"The team are working hard behind the scenes and Silverstone produced a memorable result last season, so we’re putting this one behind us and looking forward to the next round.”

Damon Rees was also again in good form for the Astro JJR team, finishing in 10th place, which left in third in superstock 1000 championship, one place ahead of McConnell.

But the weekend did not pan out as well for his two two team-mates as fellow New Zealander, Shane Richardson, ended the weekend with DNF in the same race whilst Caolan Irwin, who had secured a second-placed finished in the opening National Superstock 600 race, also recorded a DNF, slipping to sixth in championship.

Hednesford's Kurt Wigley claimed a 13th and 10th-placed finish in the two British Supersport races, to sit 12th in championship, while his twin brother, Matt, took two 10ths, leaving him 11th in GP2 standings.

Josh Hiatt, from Heath Hayes, came 14th and 17th, leaving him 22nd in British Talent Cup championship.

Teenagers Mcauley Longmore, from Willenhall, and Kidderminster's Ben Taylor were also battling in the British Junior Supersport series.

Longmore took 23rd and 12th, to sit 21st in championship, with whilst Taylor ended with a 28th-placed finish and a DNF.

Meanwhile, Stourbridge driver Martin Kirk was back in sidecar action, with passenger Shelley Smithies. He ended in the weekend with a DNF and 10th-placed finish, which left him 14th in the British F1 Sidecar title standings.