Reilly Signs Off With Podium
Kelvin Reilly ended his 2009 KTM RC8 Super Cup campaign at Silverstone, claiming
third place in the overall standings. Reilly had a tough final championship race
and finished in 9th place, not enough for him to beat team-mate Pauli Pekkanen
into the runners up spot.
Reilly began the weekend knowing that he needed to finish ahead of InMoto Corse
team-mate Pauli Pekkanen in the final race if he was to take runners up spot in
the championship for the third successive year.
The weekend did not start well, as Reilly couldn't get his InMoto Corse KTM RC8
to handle as he wanted. Plagued by suspension trouble, he was struggling through
most of the lap. Unable to fix the issue during free practice and qualifying,
Reilly could only manage to take 9th place on the grid.
Saturday's final championship race proved disappointing as Reilly was unable to
improve on his qualifying position and finished in 9th place. The field settled
out early on, and Reilly ran a lonely race. With Pekkanen claiming second place
in the race, Reilly took third in the overall championship.
After the championship had been completed, Sunday saw the riders get one last
exhibition race. With grid slots drawn out of a hat, the race began with a Le
Mans start, as the riders sprinted across the track to their waiting bikes.
Reilly got away well, and completed the opening lap in third place. A lap later,
Reilly had moved up to second. Once in second, Reilly began to close on race
leader, James Edmeades. Reilly remained on the rear wheel of Edmeades until he
was passed by Pekkanen, who was lapping quicker than anyone on track. As the two
leaders battled it out for the win, Reilly was forced to defend his third place,
which he did, to end the season with a podium.
Reilly commented: "I would like to thank my InMoto Corse team and all my sponsors for the help they have given me this year.
We have had another good year, with four wins and seven podiums and if it hadn't
been for the broken foot halfway through the year, who knows what could have
happened."
Sam Farrington
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