Friday testing went well; I was feeling very positive and confident that I had found a good set up for the weekend. Qualifying didn’t go as well as I had hoped with a fifth and a sixth in each class but I knew in the back of my head I can come back from it as I do on a regular occasions and the position on the grid isn’t bad as it is on the outside of the track for turn one.
Waking up to a wet race track on the Saturday morning I was ready to get on with the tricky track conditions and I kicked of the weekend with a good result in race 1 with a second place in the Doodson Supertwins behind Callan Cooper. I felt very strong in the race and I was looking forward to more.
Race 1 of the Aprilia Challenge also started off well with a third place in very tricky track conditions as the track had pretty much completely dried out while everyone opted for wet tyres. I was pleased with my race result and I finished on the right side of Oliver to bring me level with him in the Championship standings.
Doodson Supertwins Race 2 got off to a great start sitting in fourth place, with the leaders pulling away I was left to fight it out with fifth place Ross Twyman, but unfortunately on the sixth lap I took a fall at the chicane which also forced Ross to take immediate action and crashed whilst avoiding me. I felt sorry for Ross but that is racing and I am grateful he was able to avoid me.After the crash in the Supertwins race I was raring to go but I could not completely block out the crash in my head as I was not 100% sure how I crashed but we got underway. Unfortunately I was not quite able to hang on to the front group of four so I crossed the line in fifth position. I was happy with how I rode towards the end of the race and I couldn’t wait for the next day.During Saturday evening I was chuffed to work out that I had secured a top three position in the Aprilia RRV450GP championship as a minimum. A goal I had set myself from the start of the season. Now I had set my sights on second in the championship.
Sunday got underway with a wet warm up but that soon dried out and a dry Doodson race 1 was on the cards. Setting my fast ever lap time round Mallory park in this race I finished third in class and fourth overall.
Unfortunately in the next two races I felt I did not ride to the best of my ability, I do not know why this was and it got my head down a bit as I knew I could do better, my results were still not bad but I just felt I did not ride like I knew I could, crossing the line in seventh place in the Doodson Supertwins and fifth in the Aprilia Challenge. I was determined to complete my last ever race on the beautiful Aprilia RRV450GP race bike on a high.
Taking a fourth place in my last ever RRV450 race after having to close a massive gap due to me running on at the Edwina chicane on the first lap, I was able to get on to the tail of the leaders but unfortunately by the time the final lap came around I ran out of time to do any more but I was proud of how I rode and I learnt a lot throughout this race as I went out and did my thing and didn’t think about anyone or anything else. A good result and one I am very happy with.Due to Tom Oliver taking a big tumble I was able to take advantage of the points he missed out and I was able to take second in the Aprilia RRV450GP challenge championship standing and also in the Doodson Supertwins Will Hodgson took a fall so I was able to make the most of the points I lost out on from the Saturday taking third in that championship. I am very very proud of what I have achieved over the season. Second and third are both fantastic results and I just can‘t express how pleased I am with these.
I may sound like a cracked record to some and I appreciate that I thank key members often. But I want to thank Ian Newton one more time for without him and Dave Stewart I would not have sat on my Aprilia RRV450 last year, and not had the opportunity to share the RRV experience and importantly learn how to race with a grid full of hot talent. This has developed me beyond all measure. I would like to wish all the lads well in the RRV’s for the 2013 season and to everyone else who has moved on!
Next season I will be moving class within Thundersport GB to the RLR Sportsman Elite 600 championship. I am very excited for this switch made even more so by having secured a Yamaha R6 to compete on. I am really looking forward to the challenges we face next season.
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