They've had a hard time keeping the excitement levels up this season, but Eurosport really pushed the boat out this weekend, with very little reward. Seeing as it was the last meeting of the year and we were being treated to an extra Sbk race on Saturday, the French broadcaster devoted a few hours on Saturday, and then 5 hours uninterrupted coverage on Sunday to live BSB. Which is always a perilous gamble. Having given us the extra treat of qualifying on Saturday, we were well installed come 3.15 when the first Sbk race proper was due to begin. Off they went with Tommy Hill and Stuart Easton taking the battle to the Airwaves Yamahas, with feeling. Tommy looked really quick and hungry, and the top five broke away in no time. Gowland went down and his bike went hurtling over the barriers, inches from an unflappable photographers head. Just as we were settling in for a barnstormer, Hill took the lead and ran wide at Shell Oils, and in so doing clipped Karl Harris, who was having his best race of the year. He crashed into the tyre wall hard, out came the red flag and the excitement balloon went flat with a horrible raspberry noise.

The inevitable chat and interviews followed, and just as they were forming up on the grid to restart, Tony Carter tells us"that's it for today, see you tomorrow , goodbye!" And wouldn't you just know it, what followed was the race of the year. The four protagonists went at it like something depended on it, with a frantic last few laps all coming down to a tremendous outbraking maneuver by Stuart Easton to grab the win,with Camier throwing everything he had at the little Scot but unable to get past, and Hill hanging on to take 3rd from a dejected Ellison. If only it was always like this. Could they repeat it on Sunday? Err. afraid not - Camier went on to take two more dominant wins. If you hadn't been there, or watching from very early on Sunday, you'd have never known anything was different to the rest of this most dominated of seasons by one man.

Heres how GSE RAcing covered Sundays events
GSE RACING CLINCH CHAMPIONSHIP ONE-TWO at Oulton Park


2009 title holder Leon Camier claimed his fifth double win of the 2009 British Superbike season at Oulton Park today. James Ellison secured 2nd place in the Championship standings with a 3rd and a 12th.

Both Airwaves Yamaha riders got away well at the start of Race Two. James took the lead on the first lap as Leon became involved in a three-way battle for 3rd. After making a couple of successful passes at Lodge, Leon chased his teammate and took the lead on lap 10. James was pushed down to 3rd four laps from the end.

In a re-started Race Three, Leon took the lead on the opening lap and James slotted in to 3rd. Leon remained unchallenged and pushed out at front, crossing the line for an eventual 19th win by over 3.7 seconds. James experienced a technical issue on lap 8 and dropped down 13th but fought back and made up a place before the end of the race.

After the final race of the season Leon said, "It's been an absolutely awesome year. To end with a double-win is perfect. The GSE Racing team have done an incredible job all season. I'd like to say a special thanks to my Chief Engineer Frankie. He gave me such a great bike for the last race. I wasn't sure if it was the right way to go, but he was so confident I couldn't say no - it's a good job I didn't!"

Pleased with claiming 2nd in the Championship, James said, "We've had a tough few races this weekend. I really wanted to come away with another couple of wins but it wasn't to be. This has been my most successful season ever; finishing 2nd feels good, but of course I'll be aiming for more next year. A massive thanks to the whole GSE Racing team, my wife Sarah for putting up with me, and the Kendal Massive for their support."

Colin Wright added the final words for 2009 "This season we have not only exceeded everyone's expectations, we have yet again broken records! Leon and James are the only two riders to have finished every race in the points (barring Leon's exclusion at Cadwell). We have enjoyed numerous double race wins and double one two's and I believe Leon's points tally (549.5) is the most any rider has gained in a race season. We have also, with the help of Pirelli, come close to breaking lap records. The Airwaves Yamaha YZF-R1 and the team have performed outstandingly and I'm so grateful to all those who have made this season one of our best ever. I said it would be!"


Race Two Results:

1. Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha

2. Stuart Easton - Hydrex Honda

3. James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha


Race Three Results:

1. Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha

2. Tommy Hill - Hydrex Honda

3. Josh Brookes - HM Plant Honda

12. James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha


Championship Standings:

1. Leon Camier - Airwaves Yamaha 549.5 points

2. James Ellison - Airwaves Yamaha 413 points



Report by Shelley McGrath Press Officer GSE Racing

Pix by Eric O'Brien Photographer 2onTrack