Hi everyone, round six of the nine round championships got underway at the Rockingham International Circuit in Northamptonshire. And what a blinding weekend it was with highs all the way through the weekend. Here is how it went for me.
Qualifying kicked off with two solid grid positions placing me in fourth for the RRV450GP championship and fifth place in the Supertwins championship. A good start to the weekend and I was looking forward to getting the racing underway.
Race 1 in the Supertwins championship and I didn’t start off the best when the lights went out dropping down to seventh and losing touch with the leading pack. I managed to break my way back in to fifth and started to get my head down clawing 4th place back on the final lap of the eight lap race putting me in 3 place within the Supertwins class. A great race and my confidence were high for the first RRV race of the weekend ahead.
Aprilia RRV450GP race 1, receiving a good start I sat in 3rd right on the tales of the leaders, trying to make ground early on in the race, I made a few attempts to break my way in to the lead with a few of these attempts failing I eventually managed to make it stick and took the lead. Unfortunately I was not able to break away from the following riders so a real fight was on my hands but I rose to the challenge and held my ground taking the first RRV race win of the weekend. A brilliant result and one I was very proud of because I was really pleased with my race management and strategy.
After a great result like that I had to get quickly back to ‘the here and now’, as I still had another two races to fight for.
The second race of the Supertwins championship did not go as planned but I was still happy with what I achieved. Encountering a battle from the hard fought Will Hodgson, neither of us was willing to give in for a space and myself coming of worst and having to take evasive action and go straight on through a run off section of track. Although this diversion cost me many places I was still able to take home another podium in my class thankfully, as points are need for the championship standings.
The second RRV race got underway with a fantastic battle between four of my main rivals. Swapping positions lap after lap corner after corner, unfortunately this gave Callan Cooper room to make a break and leave the field battling for the runner up spots on the rostrum. Fortunately I was able to get the best of the battle crossing the chequered flag in second position. Although I was a bit gutted Cooper managed to make a break and also with my bad start, however I was still pleased and couldn’t wait for the following day to get under way.
Due to an unusually high demand for tyres, Bridgestone ran out which presented a new challenge for me and I had to manage race pace on worn rubber. I was up for it to see how my pace would be affected on old race tyres.
Sunday started of quite cold in comparison to the previous day’s gorgeous sunshine, this reduced grip levels and after a red flag In the first Supertwins race of the day due to a crash, my tyres went very cold which pushed my confidence level and I was very cautious on the first few laps. I lost out on a lot of places but I was able to come back just missing out on the podium. A sensible ride to finish and earn valuable points.
Race one, of the RRV’s went well, after another poor start I dropping me back and a gap emerged between myself and 3rd placed Tom Oliver. I gritted my teeth and made a late hard charge and I was able to take 3rd place after a hard manoeuvre on Oliver at the final chicane to give me another podium of the weekend. A great result for me.
Race two of the Supertwins this time I gained a good start for once, maintaining my position however I dropped back a tad after being caught napping in the early stages of the race but once I woke up at the mid-way stage I got back in to second and I was able to hold off the rest of the field until the chequered flag.
The last race of the weekend for the RRV450GP’s, gaining a good start I bumped my way in to third and I hung on to the Cooper and Coomber duo, but this didn’t last for long whilst struggling to find the grip to hold the pace. I pushed as hard as I could for as long as I could but I couldn’t drive out of the corners as I would do normally, and could not stay with the front two. I was happy with how I rode and my performance, I found it a shame I couldn’t hang on the front two but I did my best as all ways, and my rear tyre was truly shot by the end of the day.
Another great weekend to add to my brilliant season thus far and I would like to say a massive thank you to my new fan club formed by the young children on top of the garages who cheered me on all weekend. I was informed of how much support they showed. It is great to have people like that within the paddock as all racers need as much support as they can get and I am glad I can give them good results back.
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