Early season highs and lows for MSS Kawasaki
Global Freight-sponsored superbike team, MSS Colchester Kawasaki, has had a nail-biting start to its 2011 season which has seen a rollercoaster combination of huge highs and lows.
With four rounds of the British Superbike championship completed, the team is in fantastic standing, with a string of wins and podiums in both superbike and superstock classes.
Unfortunately it's not all good news as leading MSS Kawasaki superbike racer, Stuart Easton (pictured, right, with his Oulton Park trophy haul), has been hospitalised with serious injuries following a crash during practice for the prestigious Northwest 200 road races, in Northern Ireland.
A collision involving his team mate on the first day of practice led to Stuart being taken to hospital by helicopter. However, despite serious injuries, we are delighted to be told that he is recovering, though his season is, in all probability, finished.
Stuart had made a stunning start to his 2011 BSB campaign, being second in the championship standings after round three. His contribution to finding a superb race set up for the brand new Kawasaki ZX-10R Ninja used by the team will no doubt be a major bonus to his teammates for the rest of the year.
MSS Kawasaki's second superbike contender, Gary Mason, has continued to turn in consistent race finishes as he fine-tunes his own ZX-10R and progresses towards the chance of podium positions.
The MSS squad are also making a huge impact in the superstock class, with great results from both Danny Buchan and Howie Mainwaring seeing more than their fair share of the podium steps - including a stunning win for Danny in round one.
Global Freight Managing Director, Nicole Howarth, said: "We are really proud of the MSS Kawasaki team's efforts already this year, even in the face of quite a few challenges. Stuart's accident was a terrible thing but it's great to know he's recoving in good hands and we wish him a speedy recovery from everyone at Global Freight.
"The results Stuart and the rest of the team have achieved already this season have proved that we are supporting racers who will do everything to reach their goals we'll be cheering them on loudly throughout every race this year!"
MSS Kawasaki made yet more headlines when they snapped up the newly-available Alex Lowes to replace Stuart Easton on the superbike at Thruxton last weekend. Alex, a widely-tipped rising star and prodigious talent, had been released by his previous team following the failure to reach terms on a contract.
In his first ever ride on a Superbike, Alex stormed to a pole position start at Thruxton, having dominated qualifying, causing more than a few jaws to hit the floor in the paddock, and went on to aquit himself very well in the races. He was holding a solid second place behind the legendary Shane 'Shakey' Byrne when he crashed out of race two, but it bodes extremely well for his future.
[Pictured are Superstock 1000 racers, Danny Buchan (left) and Howie Mainwaring, who shared the podium at Thruxton with second and third places respectively]