BEN
TAKES FIFTH AT BRANDS HATCH
Team
Windmill Suzuki rider Ben Wilson rode to a strong fifth place
finish at Brands Hatch on Easter Monday in the opening round of
the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock championship and got the
season off to a good start by claiming 11 championship points.
Qualifying
did not go smoothly for the Boston based rider who encountered
some technical problems with the Crescent Suzuki supported GSX-R
1000cc K7 but he managed to put the bike on the third row of the
grid to start
Monday’s
16-lap race from 10th position.
“Qualifying
didn’t really go according to plan,” said Ben. “But we
managed to salvage a third row grid position and will be hoping
for a quick start off the line come race day.”
True
to form Ben anticipated the lights well and moved straight into
sixth position within a bunch of riders all challenging for the
lead. He briefly moved into fourth position when Adrian Coates ran
wide but a few seconds later Glen Richards went past on his way to
the race win.
The
safety car was brought onto the circuit following a crash which
caused the riders to bunch together and when the car returned to
the pits and the race got back underway Ben was unable to
capitalise on the stoppage and remained in fifth position for the
remainder of the race.
“I
am really quite pleased with that result,” said Ben. “I would
have liked to have secured third as I was pushing hard before the
pace car came out. But I struggled to get back in the groove to be
honest and the leading four got slightly away from me.
“But
fifth from a 10th place start isn’t a bad result and
we will build on that now, find a better qualifying time and I am
sure we can be pushing for a podium.”
It
is a quick turn-around for the team as the next round is at
Thruxton on Sunday (April 15) and they have to be at the circuit
on Thursday to prepare for testing on Friday. Qualifying takes
place on Saturday and the 18-lap Superstock race is scheduled to
be first race of the day on Sunday at 12.10pm.
Report by
Helen Pask
Picture
courtesy of Dean Owen
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