European Superstock 600 Championship 2007
Rd 10, Vallelunga
Race – 10 laps, Saturday 29th September

A dose of flu combined with a lack of circuit knowledge and rear wheel problems meant that Beowulf Racing’s Gino Rea finished the tenth round race in the 2007 European Superstock 600 (STK600) Championship in 24th place at Vallelunga in Italy today.

Although Gino lopped over a second-and-a-half from his Friday lap times during this morning’s second Qualifying session, his time of 1’46.238 meant that he would line up in 26th place on the grid.

When the lights went out to signal the start of the ten lap battle, Gino immediately moved up into 23rd place. As the race developed, he became embroiled in battle with Russian Vladamir Leonov (Yamaha). The two took turns at leading each other around the 2.4-mile circuit, but on lap 8 Leonov regained the upper hand and held the advantage to the flag.

At the head of the field, Maxime Berger’s third-place finish was good enough to land the Frenchman the 2007 STK600 Championship crown. The race was won by Roy Ten Napel (both Yamaha).

“I got a good jump at the start but was boxed in afterwards” sniffled Rea afterwards, who had been hit all weekend with a dose of the flu. “The bike developed wheel spin at the rear which made it difficult to match all the power sliding that was going on. My lap times were good, so I guess everything this weekend underlines just how important it is to get a good Qualifying position.”

The Italian outing has only been Rea’s second no-score of the season, but the Epsom ace slips another place in the series to 13th position as a result. Hopefully recovered from the flu, Gino Rea and Beowulf Racing will no doubt be want to end the season with a bang when the Championship reaches its finale at Magny-Cours next weekend.