Team Blackhorse Yamaha's Conor Cummins was in the points as the 2009 BSB Superstock 1000 Championship got underway at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday.

Conor first got acquainted with the team's 2009 Superstock R1 during testing at Darley Moor as recently as last week, but despite this and a few handling issues which presented themselves during qualifying, still managed a respectable qualifying position of 11th and a third row start on the grid.

Race day dawned foggy but quite humid and the race itself got underway in cloudy but dry conditions.

Conor got a good start and crossed the line in tenth position at the end of lap one, by lap two he had dropped one place to 11th and remained in this position for the next five laps. By three quarters race distance he was suffering with an increasing lack of grip on the R1, and with the rear sliding felt unable to really press on as he would have liked. He found himself in the company of Jimmy Storrar, Matt Layt and James Hurrell for that 11th spot with Daniel Brill holding on to a relatively secure 10th. A hard fought battle ensued, with Conor eventually bringing the bike home in a safe 13th.



As always, the team worked hard throughout the weekend with a good, steady start to the campaign for Conor. Displaying maturity beyond his years, the young Manxman was very consistent with his lap times throughout the 22 lap race, lapping only one second slower than the overall race winner. He was also quickest, with James Hillier and Scott Smart, through the Sector Two speed trap between Druids and Surtees.

Conor now goes to France for the Le Mans 24 hour, in the meantime the team will be trying to arrange another trackday to 'get to grips' with the rear end settings on the R1 and afford Conor more time on the bike ahead of the next round at Oulton Park in three weeks time.

Next up for Team Blackhorse Yamaha is Oliver's Mount, Scarborough where team boss Ian Lougher gets his 2009 season underway when he competes in the Ian Watson Spring National this weekend.