Solid start for Jason O’Halloran in BSB Round 1

The Honda Racing British Superbike team kicked off the 2018 season in fighting style today at Donington Park scoring a double points finish, with Dan Linfoot fourth and Jason O’Halloran seventh. 

With practice sessions affected by wet weather, the forecast saw dry but cold conditions at the 2.4873-mile circuit. Both Linfoot and O’Halloran started the day with positive times and wrapped up a shortened qualifying session sixth and ninth respectively, meaning a second row start for O’Halloran and a third row for Linfoot, ahead of the opening race.

Jason O’Halloran

Both Honda men charged their CBR1000RR Fireblades off the line as the lights went out and settled into good rhythms during the opening laps. Unfortunately The O’Show was run wide and lost momentum and some places, but soon got back into the leading pack catching his teammate up in the process.

With Fireblade paint being swapped during the closing stages of the 18-lap race, both Linfoot and O’Halloran wanted fourth place and went about trading places for the spot. Unfortunately for Aussie O’Halloran, a technical issue hampered his fight, as a broken gear lever in the final lap pushed him back to seventh place, while Linfoot crossed the line fourth.

Dan Linfoot

With tricky conditions across the weekend and weather having disrupted the schedule, the second race got underway with blue skies and a dry track. Honda’s duo lined up on the grid with Linfoot fifth and O’Halloran sixth, but it was Linfoot who stormed into second place during the early stages.

Over the 18-lap race Linfoot kept his CBR in podium contention and settled into a good rhythm at the Leicestershire circuit pulling away from the pack. Dropping to third mid-race, the 29-year old kept the podium clear in his sights and crossed the line 8.228 seconds ahead of fourth place.

It was a slightly frustrating Race 2 for teammate O’Halloran who struggled with feeling aboard his Fireblade. Crossing the line ninth The O’Show collected further valuable points and leaves the opening round eighth in the championship.

Jason O’Halloran at Donington

The team will now prepare the Fireblades for the second round, which takes place in ten days time at Brands Hatch (13-15 April).

Jason O’Halloran saying, “After the race I’m a little disappointed with ninth place if I’m honest. I struggled a little within the group and getting out of corners, which was frustrating but I know we can learn from it and move on. We have a bit of a way to come when we’re faced with dodgy conditions and we do have some work to do to get a better feeling with the CBR; in the dry we showed we do have good pace and hopefully the next few weeks the weather will start to dry up! The track and conditions were good in the end, I didn’t think this morning I would be saying that, but it turned out OK. There were a few wet patches around the circuit and it was hard to pass at times as it was still a single line, but towards the end it was good. Huge congratulations to Dan on his podium, it’s great for him and the team, and really kicks off the season well – I know it won’t be long until we’re challenging for podiums.”