BRAVE BEN FIGHTS
TO POINTS FINISH AT SNETTERTON
Ben
Wilson bravely shrugged aside the pain from a broken collarbone picked up in a
qualifying tumble to secure 13th place at Snetterton in round five of
the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock championship on Sunday.
The
weekend got off to a good start for Ben as he maintained third place in
Friday’s free practise session for the first six laps. But it all ended in
tears for the Boston rider when he was forced to taking avoiding action to miss
running into another rider who ran straight on at the chicane. As Ben swerved,
the Windmill Suzuki suffered a massive highsided flinging Ben from the saddle
and dumping him unceremoniously on the tarmac.
A
visit to the circuit medical centre resulted in an x-ray, which showed
up a break to Ben’s left collarbone. He sat out the first qualifying session
to give the shoulder a rest and after some treatment from the physio decided to
try a few laps of final qualifying to see if he was fit enough to race.
After
putting in a gritty performance Ben completed his qualifying down in 23rd
position for a sixth row grid position for Sunday’s 18-lap encounter.
“My
shoulder is very tender,” said Ben. “Although I am ok on the straights I
found I was having difficulties turning the bike into the corners. But I will
have a go in the race and see how I feel. Its damage limitation really, I will
go out to try and gain a few points towards my championship challenge and hope I
can keep it going over full race distance.”
Ben
paid a further visit to the physio prior to the race start and although he felt
uncomfortable was feeling positive of a good result.
As
the lights went out Ben shot away to his customary good start and came from 23rd
to eighth at the first corner but dropped back to 12th as he exited
Russell’s chicane at the end of the lap.
He
was mixing it within a group of four riders throughout the 18 laps and holding
his own within the group. But as the race wore on Ben began to lose strength in
his shoulder and finally succumbed to the persistent attention of John Ingram
who overtook him in the final stages leaving Ben to power the Windmill Suzuki
over the finish line for 13th place and three championship points.
“I
was really pleased to see that chequered flag come out to end the race,” said
Ben. “The worst part of the course for me was the tight chicane at
Russell’s, but I managed to stay the course and bag a few points. You never
know, those 3 points could make all the difference at the end of the season!”
Ben’s
father, Richard said: “Ben has shown maturity beyond his years, there was no
pressure put on him to race, it was entirely his own decision to go out there.
He was in considerable pain throughout the qualifying and then the race but he
shrugged it off and got on with the job without complaint. He put in a sterling
effort this weekend.”
With
the championship taking a four-week break, Ben has a breathing space to enable
his injury to heal in time for the next round at Mondello Park where the
Superstock riders take in a double header on June 17.
Report by Helen Pask
Pic credit - Dean Owen
X-ray courtesy of the circuit medical
centre.
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