I love Oulton Park and couldn't wait to get the weekend under way, even if the weather looked soaking wet. JOY!
FP1: The session was wet and I got into my groove straight away and felt the wet set-up we had was great. But, after four laps in P2, I went down at Hizzy's Chicane! I wasn't too upset as I knew the more laps I did in the wet, the faster I was getting and I felt we had a strong wet setting. FP2: I went out on wets and did two laps and came in for dry tyres as the track was almost all dry. I then got straight back out put in a good time in drying conditions and ended the session P9. Qualifying: Now this session went pear-shaped after I high-sided at Lodge Corner in the wet, before putting in my fastest lap. This was a downer as I knew I had the pace wet or dry to qualify in the top eight. Unfortunately I had to start from P26. I wasn't the only one to fall victim to the weather though, as there were quite a few offs in the wet conditions. Sprint race: I got a good start and was straight up with Day and Daley. After a few laps, and with my confidence building in the wet, I got past them and gapped them and then got past Paulo, Perrin and was closing down Philip in P14. The red flag came out with two laps to go and I finished up P15 - and P15 on the grid for tomorrow’s feature race. I was both happy and annoyed as I knew I shouldn't be battling for 15th because I know I can be up there. Feature race: It was nice being P15 rather than P26, so I needed a good start and pull myself up to the top ten and run with them from the off. I got a good start, but not the best, and battled my way through to tenth. I passed Truelove and then Allingham got me into turn one. I managed to stay with him but he pulled a second gap, then Perrin passed me. It wasn’t over though, as we started pulling Allingham back, but unfortunately the red flag came out with five laps to go. This was a bummer because I felt that I may have had a chance of P6. Regardless, I finished up P8 which is another good top ten result after a very tough weekend and lots of hard work, so there are many encouraging signs! I can’t thank Mark Hanna, Dad, Pinky and the Road and Racing team enough for all of their hard work rebuilding the bike after two crashes. It was hard work this weekend, but a solid top ten result has made it worthwhile. Bring on Brands where I know I am capable of battling for a top five result! A huge thank-you goes to all the team sponsors and my personal sponsors: Road and Racing, Pro-Bolt, Pipe Werx, Oxford Products, Kushitani, Motul, Maxton, R&G, NGK, Performance Friction, HJC, Motor Parts Direct, Aztec Construction, Tudor Installations. M&C Training, Purbrook Garage, NFmoto and Holland Autos.
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AuthorSam Coventry Archives
November 2017
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