A G’DAY FOR DONALD AT THE TRIANGLE
May 2008
Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider Cameron Donald made a strong international debut for the Moneymore based team at Saturday’s Kennedy International North West 200 with a brace of podium finishes. The Australian rider, in only his third North West 200, narrowly lost out to Steve Plater in the blue Riband superbike race after being block-passed into the penultimate chicane at Juniper Hill by BSB regular Michael Rutter. This let Plater slip through to take the victory.
Ironically, Donald suffered the same fate, at the same chicane, on the final lap of the CP Hire Superstock race, when a Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing ‘one–two’ looked almost inevitable. When the chequered flag was unfurled it was Alastair Seeley who took the win with Anstey second and Donald third – a double podium for Relentless Suzuki.
Cameron Donald
“I didn’t get much sleep last night running through that last lap of the North West 200 Superbike race. I tipped into the Juniper Hill chicane and thought, ‘I’ve done enough, this one’s mine’, then Rutter and Plater both came through! Rutter over-cooked it a bit, but I’d have done the same myself. In the opening superbike race I also felt really confident; not riding teeth gritted like I used to and I was comfortable, but a stone got caught in the throttle mechanism – a million to one shot – jamming it wide open, so I had to pull in [when I got it stopped!] at Metropole. Then in the superstock race Bruce came in a bit hot and I got duffed-up, again, at Juniper Hill on the last lap, but I’ve taken it on the chin. Phillip McCallen told me afterwards I shouldn’t have led onto the Coast Road on the final lap in the big race, but anyway, all of my GSX–R Relentless Suzukis are well ready for the TT so I’m pumped and ready for that. Thanks to all the boys in the team who worked really hard this week.”
Bruce Anstey
“It was a tough weekend and very tight racing… I suppose I did all right, but I didn’t quite get the results I was after. Some of those guys like Plater have more miles under their belt this year – more than I’ve done in maybe three! A few guys were putting in some very hard moves in the races and I got lifted up a few times, which maybe cost me the first 600 race. In the superstock race I got too good a draught into Juniper Hill behind Cameron and ended up doing a bit of motocross over the grass! The bikes are all going really well and that’s good news for the TT – the team have done a great job.”
Philip Neill – Team Principal
“That was a strong international debut for Cameron in Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing colours. Let’s not forget the quality of the company, in what has now become a virtual British Superbike type grid at the North West 200 complete with factory machinery. Not bad for a lad who has only ridden here twice before this weekend. It’s the first time we haven’t registered a victory at the North West since 2002, but it was without doubt the most competitive North West 200 in a very, very long time with all the short circuit specialists on the grid.
We are always there to win and don’t compete, or put in all the hard work to finish second, but we have taken positives from this weekend’s event. We were in with a chance of winning four out of five races, but I’m not going bring out the book of excuses.
To see both the Relentless Suzukis mixing it at the front in the big superbike race was exciting and encouraging for the whole team and our sponsors. We were a bit unfortunate to lose out in the superstock race but all credit to Alastair Seeley, he took the opportunity well. Finally, all credit must go to Suzuki and our engine tuners, as it was clearly visible that the GSX–R1000 superbike had the legs on the competition in both superbike races. That’s encouraging for the TT which starts this coming weekend.”
Results
Dewalt Superbike
Winner – Michael Rutter [Ducati]; 2nd – Guy Martin [Honda]; 3rd – John McGuinness [Honda]
Bruce Anstey [Relentless Suzuki] 6th
Cameron Donald [Relentless Suzuki] DNF
Soi Supersport
Winner – Steve Plater [Yamaha]; 2nd – Alastair Seeley [Yamaha]; 3rd – Ian Lougher
Cameron Donald [Relentless Suzuki] 14th
Bruce Anstey [Relentless Suzuki] 15th
CP Hire Superstock
Winner – Alastair Seeley [Yamaha]; 2nd – Bruce Anstey [Relentless Suzuki]; 3rd – Cameron Donald [Relentless Suzuki]
Black Horse NW200 Superbike
Winner – Steve Plater [Yamaha]; 2nd – Cameron Donald [Relentless Suzuki]; 3rd – Michael Rutter [Ducati]; 4th – Bruce Anstey [Relentless Suzuki]
Ballymoney Supersport
Winner – Steve Plater [Yamaha]; 2nd – Alastair Seeley [Yamaha]; 3rd – Ian Lougher
Cameron Donald [Relentless Suzuki] 7th
Bruce Anstey [Relentless Suzuki] DNF
