91传媒

Test Day

鈥淔irst session, I had to pull in with a technical issue and in the second session it started spitting with rain half way through. Then the storm hit and the day was cancelled. It was that bad it wrecked my gazebo setup.鈥�

Qualifying (P4 on Grid)

鈥淩ain wasn鈥檛 forecast, but trust me when I say we got it! So, it was going to be my first ride on the Honda in the rain. I had no expectations, but thanks to my JR Performance Wet Race Engine Mapping, the bike felt mega. I had a fair bit of grip which I wasn鈥檛 expecting at Anglesey. 聽I chipped away and on the last three laps pushed as much as I dared, which was good enough for the second row – so happy days.鈥�

Race 1

鈥淕ot a good start on the outside and was well positioned until Steven Duncan ran me wide into Turn 2, putting me in 5th. I re-passed him at Rocket and then got onto the back of Luca Jennings. I spent the rest of the race trying to get past Luca, but with little track time I couldn鈥檛 make a pass that I could be sure about.

鈥淚 felt strong, but not having been in that position for a while, perhaps I was too cautious. Finished 4th. My best result in the class so far and I was buzzing. I really enjoyed that one.鈥�

Race 2

鈥淎ll Sunday鈥檚 races were shortened due to a serious incident in the first race of the morning. We send both riders involved our very best wishes for a full and speedy recovery.

鈥淪tarting P6 on the grid 聽鈥� which is on the inside 鈥� isn鈥檛 ideal because of the short run to Turn 1. I got a good start and beat Phil Crowe to Turn 1 only for him to squeeze me on to the inside curb. So, my run to Turn 2 was impeded and I got swamped. I wasn鈥檛 having that, so got a great run out of Church and tucked in. It was getting busy up to Rocket In and I made a great move to get right back onto Luca again. I got picked on in the bar the night before by the lads saying I was too soft in Race 1. I said if I got the same chance again, I鈥檓 making passes and that I did. I passed Luca several times, but didn鈥檛 defend well enough to be able to gap him. It was a lot of fun trying to get past him and, fair play, he doesn鈥檛 give up easily. On Lap 4 Duncan grasped the opportunity to pass both of us and our battle continued.

鈥淲ilf Turner had enough of watching me fail so he passed me and had a couple of laps to try to do what I couldn鈥檛. I lost the rear out of Church and lost time and they gapped me. I tried to make it back up, but the rear grip wasn鈥檛 great in Race 2 and I tensed up a little, so just brought it home 6th in Class. Luca stayed in front of Wilf, so I felt better that it wasn鈥檛 just me struggling to get the job done.鈥�

Race 3

鈥淧10 on the grid because my lap times and rhythm suffered by battling with Luca for too long. With nothing to lose, I was on the outside and got a good start again.听 Got duffed up at Turn 2 and lost places again so elbows had to come out. I got past Paul Charman after Turn 2 then up the inside of Jamie Boyce at Rocket. Knew I had to get that done early or I would have been waving 鈥榞oodbye鈥� to Turner and Jennings. They had a gap on me, but with clear track ahead, got my head down and worked hard. Pulled away from the lads behind and slowly closed the gap to Wilf. Luca was holding him up slightly, but speeds were quicker than all weekend. I was desperate to get back onto them as I felt strong and wanted one last shot at a podium. Felt good on the bike and dropped into the 1:09s, just 0.2 secs. off my PB from last year.

鈥淭hen a red flag, so I鈥檒l never know if I could have challenged to them, but the fact I鈥檓 think that during the race, shows I鈥檓 getting the new bike in the window I can work with.鈥�

Endurance

鈥淰ery experienced riders, Phil Crowe and John Ingram, invited me to join them in the three-hour Endurance Race. Needing the track time to make up for the Test Day, it was pretty cool and a privilege. We qualified 4th fastest, but had to start from the end of the Line due to Phil using Dunlop tyres. I did the Le Mans Start from last on the Line and by Lap 3 had taken us into 3rd place then 2nd on Lap 6. Phil and John took us to a WIN on track, but no trophy. A great experience and I learned a lot from them. Total legends.鈥�

Summary

鈥淟ots learnt this weekend. Had great fun and have built a lot of confidence with my racing and the bike set up. Matt Sayle鈥檚 photos show I鈥檓 much more relaxed, but not 100% because I know only too well how Anglesey can bite you if you get too greedy. 聽I hated the bike at Knockhill, but love it again now and can鈥檛 wait to see what鈥檚 possible on it at Donington where there is a tonne of grip. Feel it鈥檚 going to be a positive one.

鈥淏ig kudos to Justine and Rob of RT Motors for making the long trip again and, of course, the main man Jason Hugill, whose support is invaluable.听

鈥淭hank you to all my support and sponsors for sticking by me. I say it all the time but it鈥檚 100% not possible to do this without you. We have more to go yet, but feel like the hard work is paying off and some success is close now.

鈥淐ongratulations to Tommy Fielding on being crowned the Pirelli Super Series Champion. He 100% deserves it. I鈥檓 very pleased for him and grateful for all the help he gives me off-track. He鈥檚 a good egg. He is looking to go to BSB next year and deserves every chance. If any companies want to sponsor him, I am sure they won鈥檛 regret it!

鈥淔inally, 鈥榃ell done鈥� to No Limits Racing, the Marshals and the medical professionals, who we are very lucky to have when things go wrong.鈥�

Photos by Matt Sayle Photography