Brendan Roberts

 

Brands Hatch Circuit (UK), Sunday 3rd August 2008 – in the seventh round of the Superstock 1000 World Cup, Brendan Roberts today took a fourth place finish. Domenico Colucci, having taken part in the morning’s warm-up, decided to sit the race out, still suffering from the bad fall that he took yesterday.

The unstable weather conditions characterised this, the first of the two UK rounds of the 2008 season. Rain stopped just minutes before the start, leaving the track damp in some places and very wet in others. Roberts made a conservative choice of tyre, opting for an intermediate at the front and a slick rear.

After maing a great start, the Australian couldn’t keep up with the pace of the frontrunners Berger, Baiocco and Smrz but he was a protagonist of the chasing group. After various changes of position between those in the leading pack, Brendan coped well with the tyre-wear and wining the battle for fourth place. With this result, Roberts maintains the lead in the championship, albeit a shared lead with Berger.
BRENDAN ROBERTS – “It was a very challenging race because the weather conditions were totally unpredictable just minutes before the start and so choosing tyres, knowing that we were starting on a damp track but could be finishing in the dry, was risky. We chose an intermediate front and a slick rear, in the hope that the weather would hold. Baiocco, Berger and Smrz got away from me and I realised I had to stay calm and hold my position in the chasing group. The track dried out completely but any slight error would have been enough to cause a fall, as happened to some of the guys. I got ready for a final push, aware that my front tyre was suffering, and was able to get ahead of Polita, Pirro and Burrell. I hoped to do better today but this result is important for the championship as with it I hold my championship lead.”

The physical condition of Domenico Colucci, after his fall yesterday, had improved after a night’s rest but after serious consideration, the Italian rider decided not to take part in today’s race.

DOMENICO COLUCCI – “I had the ok from the doctors and so I went out in this morning’s warm-up. I soon realised however that I wasn’t 100% and, considering my grid position for the race, I reluctantly decided to sit it out today. It is a very unfortunate season for me, I hope things go better at Donington.”
Race result
1.M.Berger (Honda) in 21’56’’050 in an average of 141,773 km/h; 2.S.Morais (Kawasaki) 4’’172; 3.A.Antonelli (Honda) 5’’808; 4.Brendan Roberts (Ducati 1098R Xerox Junior Team) 18’’391; 5.A.Polita (Ducati) 18’’629….

Championship classification
1.M.Berger 109 points; 2.Brendan Roberts 109; 3.X.Simeon 95; 4.A.Polita 94; 5.M.Pirro 83….17.Domenico Colucci 18….

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