Rob Mac: Maybe Ian can bring luck of the Irish
Rob McElnea is confident his eponymous team is due for a change in luck as the third round of the MCE British Superbike Championship approaches after a tumultuous start to the season.
Prior to the start of the 2010 season, Rob Mac Racing had high hopes of challenging towards the front having lured former champion Neil Hodgson back to BSB and acquired the bikes that won the 2009 title for GSE Racing.
However, two rounds in and an accident for Hodgson at Brands Hatch has prompted him to retire from competition, while his team-mate Dan Linfoot has been unable to put his strong qualifying performances into better races results.
As such, change is afoot for Oulton Park with former Relentless Suzuki rider Ian Lowry being signed as Hodgson's replacement. With two promising riders now helming the Yamaha R1, McElnea is hopeful this will kick start its season.
"Well I never imagined a start to the year like this! Our World Champion team leader retired through injury without starting the first race, our young gun has not quite found his winter testing form and here we are with only two average results under our belts.
"Our luck has to change! Maybe the introduction of Ian Lowry will give us the 'luck of the Irish'! We will have everything crossed hoping that Ian and Dan can start their season at Oulton this weekend.
"Ian has had a couple of tests on the bike and with limited time really got on well, Dan will at last have a team mate to help him through the race weekend and hopefully settle him down for race day.
"We have yet to see the pace from him he set in Spain. He has qualified pretty well but has not turned the good start positions into race results. We know he has the pace to run with the fast guy's he just needs to get a start and settle down.
"Ian has a steep learning curve ahead of him - the bike is unique to ride and he is playing catch up, all the front riders are high on confidence and he has to jump in and try and hang on for the first couple of races.
"I am sure he can mix it with the front runners and help settle Dan on his way. Both Dan and Ian have Oulton as one of their favourite circuits and I know they are itching to get on track come Saturday.
"With new rules for 2010 we have to be in a top six position by the ninth round, there will be 6 riders then who can compete for the title over the three remaining rounds so as long as we start getting consistent results now the bad start can be soon forgotten and we can be in the hunt for the silver ware!
"My team deserve a good weekend as well as all my partners, we have the bike, we now have a full 100% fit squad all we need is a bit of luck!"
