BSB: OMG fly to podium and progress at Cadwell Park

Round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at the iconic Cadwell Park circuit saw  OMG confirming their pace once more in the National Superstock 1000 class with Josh Elliott, making more progress with Gino Rea on their Superbike. Elliott was once again on the podium with a fine 3rd place at a circuit at which he has not been outside the top six in the last four years, whereas Londoner Rea fought hard on Sunday for 16th before retiring with a smoking Suzuki.

British Superbike rookie Gino Rea has never encountered anything like Cadwell Park when he was shining on the Grand Prix stage, so straight away it was going to be about learning. However, the determined former European Superstock 600 champion put his head down and learned the circuit remarkably well, shaving 2.7s off his FP1 time to his qualifying time on Saturday. With best lap times around the 1.28.1s mark in Sunday’s races, Rea can once again feel a big sense of accomplishment from Cadwell Park as his quest to score points again continues on to Silverstone – a circuit he knows very well.

Ex GP star Rea said, “The highs (quite literally) and the lows of racing! Overall, it’s been a great weekend and with some changes to our bike I’ve started to enjoy riding it more. Cadwell Park is a very complex circuit and really difficult to learn but I managed to get my head around it quite quickly. I tried my hardest all weekend and we made some small but significant improvements to the bike which I’m sure will carry forward to other circuits.

“My pace in the first part of race one wasn’t bad and I was right behind Josh Brookes and Richard Cooper, but I couldn’t keep that momentum after the safety car and I just missed out on points. For race two we made a good chassis change and just as I started to settle in the engine blew! We were on for a top 11/12 finish there and it would have been nice to finish on a high, but that’s racing! We’ll rebound stronger I’m sure!”

Josh Elliott put in another fantastic performance at the Cadwell Park circuit, mounting the podium for OMG Racing Suzuki once more – the team’s fridge rumoured to be full of champagne from the last three meetings! Elliott rode a very smart race, keeping out of trouble but putting himself in a position to pick up any pieces that should come his way. After Keith Farmer’s dramatic departure at the Gooseneck, Elliott found himself in 3rd place and took the final step on the podium as well as setting the fastest lap of the race. With three podiums on the bounce now for OMG Racing, Silverstone awaits and the team will be welcoming it with open arms.

The 2015 National Superstock 1000 champion said, “I’m very happy to come away from Cadwell Park with a podium. The OMG Racing team worked so hard all weekend and we progressively got quicker and quicker. I was able to set the fastest lap of the race as well, which was nice and a credit to the team for the adjustments they made prior to the race. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone and my personal sponsors for their amazing support!”

Crew chief Ray Stringer revisited Cadwell Park and was very pleased with Josh Elliott’s performance, expecting more of the same from the Ulsterman. Stringer also recognised Rea’s progress – as the team make another step in the right direction.

Ray Stringer, Crew Chief

“I’m sure Josh will just keep sticking in podium finishes now he has got to grips with the OMG Racing Suzuki. I believe Gino has turned a corner this weekend with his understanding of the Superbike. Also, we have managed to make the bike feel more like what he is searching for. Other than a mechanical in race two for Gino, I thought it was a satisfactory initiation to Cadwell for him.

Silverstone promises to be an exciting prospect for the team, with Gino Rea going to a circuit which is used in Grand Prix and will be somewhat familiar to him. The effervescent and popular Londoner was a podium finisher at Silverstone back in 2010 in the World Supersport category, on his way to 9th in the championship – the podium was also his first in World Supersport. Josh Elliott has been on the podium at the circuit before, with a 2nd place finish in 2015 on his way to becoming National Superstock 1000 champion. Can OMG cause a shock?