Team Maxxis Bike Victorious over Time Attack Impreza

Modified Live, an event held on the weekend of 25 April, 2009 at Oulton Park witnessed saw the Team Maxxis Yamaha YZF-R1 superbike pitched against a modified Subaru Impreza to answer an eternal question: which is faster, four wheels or two. Following an early downpour and a last minute change to the programme, which saw the original car – a Norris Design SWB Mitsubishi Evo – replaced by a Subaru Impreza, driven by 2009 Time Attack Pro Class Champion, Olly Clark, from Roger Clark Motorsport.

Under official timed trials, provided by Timing Solutions Limited, Clark was the first to take to the track. He drove his 2009 RCM 850bhp Impreza around three laps of the shorter Island circuit, recording 1:27:588 on his second. Unperturbed by the Impreza’s time, Team Maxxis rider Dave Johnson took to the circuit, and by the start of lap two, felt comfortable enough to open the throttle of the 185 bhp Superbike, finishing his second lap in a time of 1:25:566, 2.022 seconds faster than the RCM Impreza.

After the trial, Johnson said, “I knew the time between us was going to be close, but two seconds on the Impreza was awesome. The bike is really handling well.” Clark said, “I have a lot of respect for any Superbike rider, and it was a real privilege to do this with Dave. I would also like to thank all the guys at Roger Clark Motorsport, especial Matt Clark who has built such a good car.”

Asked about Modified Live, Johnson added, “What a great show. At no other event can you see cars, trucks and bikes going around the track in the same day. Watching those trucks slide around the corners was fantastic. It is a great showcase for all that is good in motorsport. We (the team) have never been asked to do this sort of trial before, but the whole experience has been really good and I would like to thank Jonathon Palmer for asking the team to attend.”

The BSB championship heads to Oulton Park from 2-4 of May, where the Team Maxxis Yamaha will be competing.