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DOUBLE PODIUM
FOR WILSON AT DONINGTON
Former
British Superbike rider Ben Wilson rode to a double podium finish in his two
Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup races at Donington Park on Bank Holiday Monday and
very nearly made it a hat trick as he led the Metzeler National Superstock
round from the off. But after encountering brake problems with the
Ben-Wilson-Racing Yamaha R1 he dropped back to finish seventh.
The
R1 Cup enjoyed a double header at Donington to make up for the disappointment
of the cancelled season opener at Brands Hatch earlier in the year. Grid
positions for the opening race of the day were carried forward from Brands
with Wilson placed on row two and he was itching for the race to get underway.
As
the lights went out he made his usual lightening start and moved into third
place at Redgate content to remain in position for the first circulation. But
he could see race leader Jon Kirkham had made a break at the front and made
his move on Sam Warren to claim second spot on lap two.
By
the midway stage he had shaken off Warren and the two leaders pulled clear of
the pack leaving them to argue over the final podium slot. But the race was
brought to an early end when the wind caught the airbags at Redgate and blew
them out of position. Wisely the race director immediately called a halt to
the race and a result was declared at nine laps distance.
“I
was held up for a while in the early stages behind Warren,” said Wilson.
“But once I got past him I tried to catch Kirkham. But he is on form at the
minute and he had a good lead so I made sure I put some distance between
myself and the rest of the field to claim second place. I am pretty pleased
with the result, especially for my sponsors, as without their help I
wouldn’t even be on the grid. The wind was really bad and I narrowly missed
being caught by a marker board that blew across the track right in front of
me.”
The
grid for the second race was determined from the result of the earlier race
and Wilson started from the front row in second place. This time the Boston
rider got the hole shot to lead the field around Redgate but his lead was
short-lived as on-form Kirkham forged ahead once again.
After
that it was a carbon copy of the first outing with Kirkham and Wilson pulling
away to leave the rest of the field to argue over positions.
Wilson
crossed the line for his second runner-up spot of the day and moves into third
place in the rider standings on 56 points.
The
last race of the day was the National Superstock round, which saw Wilson
aiming to complete his hat trick of podium finishes. After setting the fifth
fastest lap in qualifying he made a start from a second row grid position and
immediately shot into the lead at Redgate. He held firm throughout the first
lap but was overhauled by both Alistair Seeley and Marshal Neill on lap two.
The pace was hot and six riders were all jostling for position with Wilson in
the midst of the action. But on lap six he was shunted back to sixth and then
to seventh as he encountered a problem with his front brake. The race came to
a premature end when a few spots of rain began to fall and a result was
declared at 10-laps distance. Wilson was awarded seventh place, not quite
where he wanted to be but sufficient to claim a further nine championship
points which place him in 11th position in the rider standings.
“The
rain didn’t actually come to anything but it was windy out there so I think
we were all pleased to see the red flag!
“The
front brake failed and went back to the handlebar,” explained Wilson. “But
it’s a lesson learnt and we will put some better quality brake fluid in next
time and show the boys how its done in the next round.”
The
next round of both championships is at Snetterton in Norfolk on June 15 where
Wilson will be competing in round five of the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup and will
enjoy two rounds of the National Superstock championship when he will be
aiming for his first win of the season.
Pic
credit - action - Dean Owen
Portrait
- Helen Pask
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