By Barry Russell, photo by Glynne Lewis
Gary Johnson on the GBmoto Superstock 1000 Honda
Gary Johnson has left his supersport 600 machine at home and will focus on helping GBmoto finish their inaugural season in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 Championship for this weekend’s curtain closer at Brands Hatch.
The TT winner joined the men in purple two weeks ago at Silverstone following the financial demise of East Coast Racing with whom he had been contesting the Fuchs Silkolene Supersport Championship. He was instantly quick on the GBmoto Honda, setting the fastest time in the first free practice and running the same pace as teammate Tristan Palmer throughout the weekend before crashing out in the race.
Johnson said “GBmoto have been brilliant with me and I was really happy to jump on their bike and go so quickly on their bike from day one. It was my mistake that led to the crash in the race, so this weekend I’m going to give it everything to get a result for them in the final race of the season. I can’t thank Mark [Smith-Halvorsen] or Dave Cherry [Chief Mechanic] enough for the support and commitment they have given me. I’m not taking the 600 down to Brands because I just want to focus on the superstock job for the lads.”
After the weekend the Lincolnshire roads ace will focus on his preparations for the Macau Grand Prix in mid-November, which he will be contesting for IGT Suzuki by TAS. GBmoto, meanwhile, will press ahead with their plans to step up into British Superbike in 2012.
