BSB: O'Halloran: 'Irwin has talent, but he needs to calm down a bit'

Jason O’Halloran was gutted to be punted out of today’s opening Bennetts British Superbike race in an incident on the opening lap.

The Honda Racing rider along with team-mate Dan Linfoot and Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty were collected when Be Wiser Ducati rookie Andrew Irwin out-braked himself and tucked the front at turn two on the opening lap of today’s first race.

Landing on his already injured ankle and tangling with Dan Linfoot’s stricken bike, O’Halloran was taken to the medical centre for checks but released shortly after. However, he’ll sit out of this afternoon’s second race as a precautionary measure. 

The Aussie will now see his surgeon to assess whether there’s been any further damage to the ankle he broke at Imola, while he also took a heavy blow to his arm in the crash.

“It’s obviously disappointing,” he told MCN. “I’ve had five weeks of hell to get here and back on the bike. I gave it everything I had in qualifying and qualified tenth, 0.3 off the top in Q2 which I was really proud of as I’m obviously riding at about 60% at the minute.

“The bike is working brilliant, that’s the most upsetting thing, we’ve got a bike that can win races and be on the podium so for me to be unfit and not make the most of it is disappointing.

“To put that big effort in and then to be taken out at the first corner is disappointing. I know no one means to take anyone out, but Andrew has a great opportunity with PBM and he’s obviously got a lot of talent but he needs to calm down a bit.

“I’ll see my surgeon this week, get some more scans done on my leg to see whether there’s any more damage. I’ve also hurt my arm, it’s quite swollen at the minute but I think it’s going to be ok. I need to rest up a bit between now and Knockhill but hopefully we can get out for our tests next week.”