PBM UK rider James Ellison recorded his first points of the 2012 World Championship season with a superb 11th place in today's French Grand Prix at Le Mans and in doing so, claimed a fantastic win in the Claiming Rules Team (CRT) class for the Penrith-based team.

After the disappointment of retiring in his last two GPs aboard the PBM UK Aprilia ART, the 31-year-old rider from Kendal overcame the treacherous conditions at the legendary circuit to claim his best result since his ninth place in Catalunya in 2006.

The former World Endurance and double European champion rode a calculated race and what made the result even more remarkable was the fact that this was only the team's fourth Grand Prix and after a number of early season teething problems, the only all-British team in MotoGP are now on course to continue their progress with this exciting project into the next race in Catalunya at the next round.


James Ellison:

"The team boss Paul Bird was here this weekend and thankfully we put on a good show for him. We think we have found a setting that works in the wet or dry. It was a tough race and I'm just glad to get one for the team and I'd just like to say thanks to all my sponsors who have supported me and to the team who have done a fantastic job. I'm really looking forward to the next round and hope we can build on this result."


Paul Bird Team Owner:

"James rode a brilliant race and not only did he beat a couple of prototypes, including an ex World Champion Ben Spies on the factory Yamaha, his lap times were similar to them. The team has worked so hard and this is just what they deserved. I never thought we'd be sharing the parc ferme with the likes of Lorenzo, Stoner and Rossi but it just goes to show what can be achieved. We needed to sit down and work out a plan after Estoril, which we did, and it has worked so we now are all looking forward to Catalunya."


Results

1 Jorge Lorenzo ITA (Yam)
2 Valentino Rossi ITA (Duc)
3 Casey stoner AUS (Hon)
4 Dani Pedrosa SPA (Hon)
5 Stefan Bradl GER (Hon)
6 Nicky Hayden USA (Duc)
7 Andrea Dovizioso ITA (Yam)
8 Cal Crutchlow GBR (Yam)
9 Hector Barbera SPA (Duc)
10 Alvaro Bautista SPA (Hon)
11 James Ellison GBR (ART)

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