I came into Brands with hope of a good weekend as I wanted to finish the season strong. I podium was my aim. Friday practice 1 was wet so I rode round and built up my confidence in the wet, nothing more really to say about that session I finished 13th EVO but I didn't really push as it was only FP1. Practice 2 was dry and our only dry session throughout the weekend until the race on Sunday. we started with similar settings to Silverstone but with different gearing and the bike felt good, also we tried Ferodo brake pads and they worked well. I finished 7th EVO. Saturday qualifying and the weather was cloudy but the track was damp and drying, I started the qualifying on a dry front and inter rear and got the feeling of the track put in a good time and then I came in for a new dry rear and placed myself 3rd EVO on the grid and 17th overall, I was happy with that and felt as though I was getting more and more confident on the ZX6 in tricky conditions. I knew from 3rd on the grid I had a good chance of a podium. Buzzing for the race! Saturday sprint race (10 Laps) The conditions were cloudy but a wet track and everybody started on wets and the track was slowly drying. I got a good start and was right behind Day and Field but coming out of druids Paul Curran high-sided and his bike was in the middle of the track right in front of me unfortunately I had nowhere to go and hit his bike, it stopped me dead but lucky I stayed on and didn't hit Paul, I had a massive hole in my fairing and dropped back to 14th EVO and then worked my way back to 7th, I overtook 5 riders on the last lap! I was annoyed but knew it was no one's fault as the conditions were very tricky. my lap time had put me 6th EVO on the grid for Sunday. Sunday feature race (18 laps) finally it was sunny and dry! I got a good start and was 4th EVO on the first lap behind Rose and Field, I made a pass on Rose on lap 5 and then picked off the laps behind Field on lap 10 Hastings passed me and I sat behind him till 3 laps to go then I made a tough pass at Graham hill and he got me back on the lap after at paddock hill after that we were battling to the flag he passed me at hawthorns on the last lap but I got him back at Stirlings because I really wanted that podium! into Clearways I lost the front and rear of the bike but kept it pinned to the flag and finished 3rd! I was so happy that I got a podium on the last race of the season after such a tough year. Massive thanks to Mark Hanna for sticking by me all year, Road and Racing, Mum and dad, Ellie, Aaron, Paul and Bev, Alan and Davy's Gripp and everyone else who has supported me in 2014. Also a big thanks to my sponsors Oxford Products, HJC, The Pipe Werx, Ferodo Brakes, Maxton, Vroom Media, Futuremoto and Purbrook Garage. This year has been a big learning curve and I think I have done well considering my injury at Snetterton and having to miss Snetterton and Knockhill also suffering with bad arm pump from round 2 and then having my operation to sort it and missing Cadwell. But this season I've had 2 wins and 4 podiums and some good races. I glad to be staying with Mark Hanna and Road and Race for next season and looking forward to giving the EVO championship a good shot!
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AuthorSam Coventry Archives
November 2017
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