barrygrussell
Senior Member
First published on FMSCT-Live Blog and reproduced here by kind permission
Colin Butler leads Luke Stokes in flight during round three of the R2M SuperNaked Series
The sensations of the R2M SuperNaked series, Luke Stokes and Colin Butler, put on a spectacular show in the sunshine at Thailand Circuit yesterday in the third round of the championship.
It was Stokes who eventually triumphed and took his third successive win as the two pushed the limits of their Kawasaki ER6Ns right to the edge, lapping in the 1:29s.
It was race school instructor Graham Knight, starting from third place on the grid, who got the best start as Stokes had trouble keeping his front wheel down. As the first three Kawasaki ER6Ns went into turn one together, it was Butler who came out first, ahead of Knight, with Stokes looking for a way past his fellow Englishman as Butler began to make an escape at the front.
By the end of lap one Stokes had found his way through to second place and set off after the flying Canadian. With the two ‘Aliens’ racing on the limit and running almost identical lap times, it seemed as though Butler was heading for the win until the two came up to lap two of the Naked 500 class bikes as they entered the long, tricky turn 6 with two laps to go. Butler was held up as the slower bikes moved onto his line and Stokes took advantage and slipped through into the lead. With a clear track ahead and neither rider putting a foot wrong, there was no way past for Butler and Stokes took the chequered flag by 0.4 seconds from his rival.
Reflecting his effort, Butler created a new lap record on the last lap with a time of 1:29.489, which has left the whole paddock, with the exception of Luke Stokes, shaking their heads in disbelief.
Behind them there were two more ER6Ns battling for third place until, at mid-distance, Weerayut Sawan began to pull away from Graham Knight to claim his second podium in the class and bringing his lap times down to the mid-1:33s.
Third on the road and winner of the Naked 1300cc class was the Suzuki of PK Racing’s Niwat Kaewpradab, who finished in front of teammate Santi Areehusen. In fact Suzuki specialists PK were denied another trophy in the the Naked 500 class, when ‘June’ Pattama Lamoimanda’s Bandit 400 lost its chain on the final lap while the promising 17 year-old was looking good in second place. In the event, Panpund Team’s Manat Chitringham took his second victory from the Bandit 400 of ‘Boy’ Chertchai Wongleang.
Commenting on his win, Luke Stokes said, “That was a fantastic race. I thought Colin had it this time until I saw him get caught in traffic and took my chance. My bike is turning much better now, thanks to a new rear shock and linkage fitted by YSS. It’s literally given me another two seconds a lap and I can’t thank them enough!”
Fellow SuperNaked Alien, Colin Butler added, “With Luke and I running so close on pace, getting a good start was crucial and I thought I could get the win today until we came up to lap the slower bikes. Luke took his opportunity and that’s racing. I kept the pressure on, but he didn’t make any mistakes, so I’m happy with another second place and a new lap record.”
Third-placed Weerayut added, “I haven't worked out how to respond to the pace of Luke and Colin as yet, but third place is a good result and I’m happy to have brought my lap times down by a second from the last race.”
The fourth and final round of the SuperNaked series, which was launched in May, will be on 15-16 October at Thailand Circuit.
Colin Butler leads Luke Stokes in flight during round three of the R2M SuperNaked Series
The sensations of the R2M SuperNaked series, Luke Stokes and Colin Butler, put on a spectacular show in the sunshine at Thailand Circuit yesterday in the third round of the championship.
It was Stokes who eventually triumphed and took his third successive win as the two pushed the limits of their Kawasaki ER6Ns right to the edge, lapping in the 1:29s.
It was race school instructor Graham Knight, starting from third place on the grid, who got the best start as Stokes had trouble keeping his front wheel down. As the first three Kawasaki ER6Ns went into turn one together, it was Butler who came out first, ahead of Knight, with Stokes looking for a way past his fellow Englishman as Butler began to make an escape at the front.
By the end of lap one Stokes had found his way through to second place and set off after the flying Canadian. With the two ‘Aliens’ racing on the limit and running almost identical lap times, it seemed as though Butler was heading for the win until the two came up to lap two of the Naked 500 class bikes as they entered the long, tricky turn 6 with two laps to go. Butler was held up as the slower bikes moved onto his line and Stokes took advantage and slipped through into the lead. With a clear track ahead and neither rider putting a foot wrong, there was no way past for Butler and Stokes took the chequered flag by 0.4 seconds from his rival.
Reflecting his effort, Butler created a new lap record on the last lap with a time of 1:29.489, which has left the whole paddock, with the exception of Luke Stokes, shaking their heads in disbelief.
Behind them there were two more ER6Ns battling for third place until, at mid-distance, Weerayut Sawan began to pull away from Graham Knight to claim his second podium in the class and bringing his lap times down to the mid-1:33s.
Third on the road and winner of the Naked 1300cc class was the Suzuki of PK Racing’s Niwat Kaewpradab, who finished in front of teammate Santi Areehusen. In fact Suzuki specialists PK were denied another trophy in the the Naked 500 class, when ‘June’ Pattama Lamoimanda’s Bandit 400 lost its chain on the final lap while the promising 17 year-old was looking good in second place. In the event, Panpund Team’s Manat Chitringham took his second victory from the Bandit 400 of ‘Boy’ Chertchai Wongleang.
Commenting on his win, Luke Stokes said, “That was a fantastic race. I thought Colin had it this time until I saw him get caught in traffic and took my chance. My bike is turning much better now, thanks to a new rear shock and linkage fitted by YSS. It’s literally given me another two seconds a lap and I can’t thank them enough!”
Fellow SuperNaked Alien, Colin Butler added, “With Luke and I running so close on pace, getting a good start was crucial and I thought I could get the win today until we came up to lap the slower bikes. Luke took his opportunity and that’s racing. I kept the pressure on, but he didn’t make any mistakes, so I’m happy with another second place and a new lap record.”
Third-placed Weerayut added, “I haven't worked out how to respond to the pace of Luke and Colin as yet, but third place is a good result and I’m happy to have brought my lap times down by a second from the last race.”
The fourth and final round of the SuperNaked series, which was launched in May, will be on 15-16 October at Thailand Circuit.
