Glen Richards

From Dumferline Hospital, Glen Richards is recovering well after his crash at Knockhill.  He will undergo a MRI scan and then hopes to return home for the weekend.

Glen commented, “I’m feeling much brighter and really looking forward to getting home.  I must thank all the well wishes received as well as Jim Moody and Dennis Hobbs for dropping in to keep me company - thanks guys.  Brogie will also be stopping by and I’m delighted he’ll be racing my bike at Mallory.”

HM Plant Honda’s Glen Richards had to settle for second in the opening race of the ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli, but is now fired up to one better in the second race this afternoon at Brands Hatch.

Richards had led the first race, but was passed in the latter part of the race by Sylvain Guintoli on the Worx Crescent Suzuki. Richards now wants to get back out on track for race two, hoping for a completely dry track in a bid to go one better in the final race of the day.

Richards said: “That was a tough one! I was so nervous before that race and that is so unusual for me. I was trying so hard towards the end of that one to close Sylvain Guintoli down at the front.  I had a couple of moments though and I didn’t want to crash and score no points at all so settled for second in this one. It wasn’t just me; you could see other riders sliding around so it was the same for most of us as there as there are still some damp patches on the circuit.”

Glen finished fourth in the second race of the day. Leaving him in third position in the championship table.

Richards is stepping up from the Supersport championship which he won with Embassy Triumph this season, whilst Glen’s new team mate Josh Brookes, comes in from the Stiggy Honda World Supersport outfit.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity and want to give it 110%. I’m well up for this challenge and I intend to give it my all! I’ve won two championships in a row with Superstock and now Supersport, so to make it three-in-a-row is the aim and to add a Superbike title would be awesome,” said Richards

“I’ve never had a ‘factory’ ride as such in the BSB series, so I do feel I have unfinished business in the championship and something to prove. Modern Superbikes are smaller now, much like the 600-class machines I’ve been riding. I’ve also been used to big power before, I know the tracks and I’m used to the control tyre, so I’m looking forward to 2009!”

The 2008 British Supersport Champion did not rest on his laurels.  He went all out to win the final round of the British Superbike season, in what was a thrilling race between Glen and Steve Plater.

The battle for first was fierce between Steve and Glen, with Josh Brookes in the first part of the race closely on their tales.  The lead swapped about in this exciting race, each time Glen regained his lead and ultimately bringing it home for the final time aboard Map Embassy Triumph.

When asked “Any news on 2009″ Glen responded saying, “All would be revealed in the next day or so.  I’m really pleased with what has been achieved this year.  The team have been brilliant.  The boys, this weekend came along and worked for free - big thanks must go to them for their massive support.”  He also wished his team mate Youngy a speedy recovery after crashing out and breaking his arm near the end of Sunday’s warm-up.  

Glen finished by saying “I’m very excited about 2009, so watch this space.”

To cap off a great day Youngy claimed with his first podium of the season with a hard fought 2nd place. It was Paul who had the best start, from 3rd on the grid his Triumph rocketed into the lead and Glen found 3rd, with ‘Hurricane’ Hudson Kennaugh separating the pair.

A great race ensued as Glen rounded Kennaugh to give the team a Map Embassy 1, 2. As the race unfolded Kennaugh regained 2nd before slipping past Youngy to take the lead, once he did he put some real distance between himself and the pack. The race for the last two podium places was far more interesting however.

Glen let Plater past to take 3rd but wasn’t too concerned, happy to consolidate a championship with 4th.

Glen spoke of the feat immediately after the race

“You’d think I would be ecstatic, but at the moment I am just relieved. It has been a long old season and I am so glad I could put it to bed here and not have it go to the wire. Of course, I’m thrilled to have won the championship and to do it on a British built bike is fantastic! We have made history today.

During the race I thought once or twice about trying to pass Steve (Plater) but couldn’t risk it for the sake of a podium. I can’t thank the team enough for what they have done this year and I’m so glad to reward them with a championship win.”

Races come thick and fast now as we approach the penultimate round of the British Supersport Series at Silverstone this weekend.Glen Richards currently sits at the top of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship with a 46 point lead over second placed Hudson Kennaugh.

Although it is mathematically possible for Glen to win the Championship this weekend with a race to spare, the entire team has refused to talk to about the prospect of winning it a Silverstone - until it is won.

Glen said; “I am treating this as just another race. Of course I know in the back of my mind that it is possible to tie it up this weekend and I will be keeping a close eye on Kennaugh but all I have to do is make sure I finish in a strong position, hopefully with a podium and if other results or events mean that we take it at Silverstone then so be it. My preparation doesn’t change.”

Meanwhile Team manger Myles Schofield politley refused to be drawn on the subject “We have a race at Silverstone this weekend which, as like every other round this year, we will be trying to finish as high as possible in. It’s that simple.”

Glen Richards edged closer to the British Supersport Championship at Croft today (Sunday 14th September) in a difficult race. Glen had a great start off the line from third, going straight into the lead with Ian Lowry and Hudson Kennaugh finding second and third respectively. Kennaugh soon slid past the Relentless Suzuki in hot pursuit of Glen.The race was stopped when Ashley Beech crashed at Clerveux on Lap six. At the restart it was the Relentless Suzuki that took the lead, with Glen slotting into
second. Glen seemed to cut the gap on Lowry every lap and by lap six the Australian rider had eased into first. The 45 Triumph took the win, giving Glen a 46 point point advantage over Kennaugh with only two rounds left.

Following a comment about the high performance of Glen’s bike (rather than the rider) from Hudson Kennaugh on Eurosport 2 Glen had this to say

“Hudson is definitely the best rider on a slow bike. I’m thrilled with the win”.

In a race that was delayed for over an hour due to a big crash on the first lap, Glen Richards finished 2^nd after losing the top spot to Steve Plater on the last lap. The second place podium finish means Glen further extends his lead at the top of the British Supersport Championship.

At the start of the first race both Glen and Paul Young had a great start with Glen flying into the lead from is pole position and Paul sneaking into 3^rd from his 6^th placed grid position. The perfect start for Map Embassy was soon spoiled when it emerged that three riders had clashed at the first turn with one of them coming down nastily. The race was immediately stopped and would have to re-start over an hour later as the fallen rider waited to be airlifted to hospital.

When the race eventually did restart it was Hudson Kennaugh of Raceways Yamaha who went into the lead, closely followed by Steve Plater on the AIM Yamaha with Glen having to settle for third - for the time being. Over the next 14 laps the race had three race leaders.

Kennaugh lost his lead to Plater on lap 5 and Glen then passed the South African three laps later to move into 2^nd. With 9 laps left to go a great battle commenced between Glen and Plater as Hudson Kennaugh slowly dropped off the pace eventually finishing in 4^th. Glen tried endlessly to catch and then pass Steve plater which he eventually did on lap 8 to lead the race for the first time. The experienced Aussie rider held the lead for the next 6 laps with Plater trying to pass him at every opportunity, then on the last lap the former superbike rider eventually succeeded in his quest as he rounded the Map Embassy 45 rider at Park.

It was disappointing for Glen considering his position on the last lap but once again he finished on the podium and extended his lead at the top of the championship.

Richards said:

“I felt I was in a little bit of trouble but I thought I had the pace to hold off Steve but he just got me on that last lap. I wanted to beat him but at the same time I am happy with second as I didn’t want to crash and not score any points”.

Paul Young meanwhile also rode a great race with his best ever finish on a Map Embassy bike, finishing in 6^th. Paul had another great start in the second race going into 4^th before slipping into 6^th.

1. Steve Plater - AIM Yamaha

2. Glen Richards - MAP Embassy Racing

3. James Webb - Padgetts Motorcycles

4. Hudson Kennaugh - Raceways Yamaha

5. James Westmoreland - Centurion Racing

6. Paul Young - MAP Embassy Racing

Starting seventh on the grid Glen had it all to do, but he got a great start and went in to second on the first turn and then into the lead on turn three. Glen held the lead for several laps before Ian Lowry made his move on the approach to the hairpin where Glen succumbed to the Relentless Suzuki. Glen lost another position when Westmoreland took him a lap later. However, Glen looked comfortable in 3rd with James Webb and Hudson Kennaugh behind him causing no real threat. The race was then red flagged when the clouds gathered around Knockhill and the rain started to fall. The result means that Glen further extends his lead of rival Hudson Kennaugh in the Championship to 30 points.

Mr Knockhill, Paul Young that is, kept up his impressive form here with a great race. From 20th on the grid Youngy also got a great start and went straight into 12th. He held that position for three laps before squeezing his way up to 10th. Paul exchanged places with Steve Brogan and the two Gearlink Kawasaki’s of Chris Martin and Steven Neate before he eventually took the later to take 9th when the race was called. It is a great result for Youngy who has picked up his first points in three rounds.

British Supersport - Knockhill race result

1. Ian Lowry – Relentless Suzuki by TAS

2. James Westmoreland – Centurion Racing

3. Glen Richards – MAP Embassy Racing

4. James Webb – Padgetts Motorcycles

5. Hudson Kennaugh – Raceways Yamaha

9. Paul Young – MAP Embassy Racing

Glen Richards returned to the scene of his first win earlier this year to claim top spot number 2 at Oulton Park this weekend.

The race had eerie similarities to the battle between Glen and Hudson Kennaugh of Raceways Yamaha in the first Oulton Park race and the win further extends Glen’s lead at the top of the championship to a useful 25 points.

Getting away brilliantly from fourth on the grid, Glen had a wonderful start and rode straight into the lead on the first turn but Kennaugh passed immediately and led going into Cascades. Glen sat right behind the number 3 bike of Yamaha Raceways for the next 8 laps, lulling Kennaugh into a false sense of security before he seized his chance at Old Hall, outclassing Kennaugh on the brakes and easing into the lead where he stayed for the rest of the race. There was a nervy moment on the last lap where we thought Kennaugh might try to take Glen on the last corner at Lodge, in what would have been a reverse of the events in the earlier round, but sadly for Kennaugh it wasn’t to be and Glen took the win.

Protest
There was more drama to follow after the race when it emerged that Raceways had lodged an immediate protest against the winning Map Embassy 45 Supersport machine, believing it to be operating outside the specified race regulations. So, with the drinks on ice for the time being, the MSVR technical engineers watched as our mechanics, who should have been celebrating, removed and completely stripped the engine from Glen’s 675. After 90 minutes the scrutineers found Map Embassy’s engine to be as homologated and conformed to the regulations as outlined in the rules.

The outcome must have felt like a double blow for Hudson Kennaugh who was the driving force behind the protest. And although the sidetrack was a major inconvenience to the teams operations and celebrations Map Embassy’s chief engine builder, John Trigger, spoke of his delight at the outcome. “I’m disappointed that Raceways felt they had to go down this path but myself and the team are choosing not to be bitter and take it as a massive compliment. We are building Triumph engines that are out performing every bike on the Supersport grid and the fact that Raceways feel we shouldn’t be up there is testament to the hard work we are doing here at Map Embassy.”

Team Manager Myles Schofield summed up the day nicley
“We have great engineers, a great bike and a great rider and that is why we are winning. I’m totally delighted with the outcome of the race and the protest, the fact that everything is legitimate makes the win even sweeter.”

1. Glen Richards – Map Embassy Racing
2. Hudson Kennaugh – Raceways Yamaha
3. Ian Lowry – Relentless Suzuki by TAS
4. Chris Martin – Gearlink Kawasaki
5. James Webb – Padgetts of Batley