Oulton Park Race Report

With a long break since Silverstone it off to a star packed line up at Oulton Park. Luckily with help of the TM72 team I was on the test day before hand – my first of the year! Thanks guys!!

The test day went really well with perfect weather – lots of the teams were very fast as expected and it was certainly shaping into an awesome race. We were thinking a top 8 finish would be great in the company.

I started the race and got away well, I had qualified us a strong 4th place which we were more than happy with but we knew that it would be tough to hold that spot, I was 4th or 5th into the first corner but was soon up to 3rd place and right on the tail of 2nd, Trackcraft in 4th where right on me and we had a a great first stint with no more than 1 second covering 2nd, 3rd and 4th, when we started lapping people the backmarkers fell wrong for me and I dropped to 4th place – I was able to maintain the gap to 3rd place but could not claw myself back into the chase..

Time for my pit stop and Andy’s away and looking good, the team in 2nd place (who ran the same bike and rider in the le mans 24 hour race and are a very good and professional team) were running the one bike rule so at this point they pull out on us. However Andy is banging in personal best times like his life depends on it and we are holding 4th place – great stuff.

My second stint and I start to lose rear grip but manage to stay within half a second or so of my times, half way through and I’m feeling the extra effort and have a few close moments and some slideways action but I manage to relax into it and continue to pull a gap on 5th place and maintain the gap to 3rd.. As soon as I come in for the pit stop Eric checks the rear pressure for me and its way up with the extra heat causing my lack of grip, we adjust this back to normal for the next session. Andy again is flying and doing himself proud.

For my last session the grip is back and I can up the pace again, however Deano from Graphic UK has found his feet and I can’t pull much time on him – a second or two a lap at best so Andy has it all to do in his final stint as he is against Matty Layt on the'Trade Mate Windows' Superbike – he has new rubber on and means business!!. At the end we cross the line behind the Graphic UK team of Dean and Matt but still a very respectable 5th place. We held 4th until the last session and we did ourselves proud, both setting new personal best times and managing to hold the pace till the end round a very hot and physical track.

We leave Oulton still leading the Main National Championship and also the Michelin Cup.

As always a huge thanks to the whole team – especially for getting me on the test day and letting me have a fair crack at riding to my best- I hope I did ok- I certainly feel like a rode the best I have all year after some set up time and bike time.

Roll on Anglesea!!!.