This weekend we headed to Culham, for the final round of the Plews British Masters Championship. I came away with a solid P14 overall. I came into the weekend off the back of some good riding and results, so I was excited to see what the weekend would bring.
QUALIFIYING – The track was very fast in qualifying, so I went out and rode hard almost instantly. I rode round with riders who I knew I should be around to try and keep the pace of them. I ended up P21 but the margin was so fine that 5 seconds a lap would put me in the top 10. I knew I could find that time.
MOTO 1 – got off to a solid start until I got closed off in the second turn and was pushed right to the back of the pack. I came over the finish line in P27 on lap 1, with a lot of overtaking to do. I carved through the riders Infront into P23 by lap 5. I could see more riders ahead and pushed and caught them by lap 7. I made my way into P22 and this is where I ended up. I was disappointed with my result but I could also feel the bike wasn’t quite right setup wise, so we started experimenting.
MOTO 2 – A marginally better start put me at the back of the midpack on Lap 1, P25. However, I could see quite a few riders up ahead who I knew I was faster than, so I began trying to push through them. I made my way into P24 on lap 3, P23 lap 5, and by lap 6 had got onto the back of a group of 3 other riders in P22. With only 6 minutes left of the moto, I pushed through into P21, and on the last lap got past the 2 Infront into P19, right behind P18. We had made a few bike changes which were definitely helping. After a decent first day I knew I had a lot more in me, so was very ready coming into the Sunday.
MOTO 3 – a better start saw me in P20 on lap of the race. I felt way more comfortable after some more overnight bike changes, so I pushed hard and found myself into P17 on lap 4. I settled in to my own pace, lapping a couple seconds a lap faster than the rider ahead. By lap 8 I managed to catch and overtake the rider ahead, putting myself into P16. I finished P16, slightly happier, but still working.
MOTO 4 – This race I came around Lap 1 to see my dad holding the pit board which said P22. I wouldn’t finish there. I pushed my way into P16 by lap 2, P14 lap 3. The bike felt great beneath me so I kept on pushing. Lap 4 was P13, and by Lap 5 I was up into P11, where I should’ve been all weekend. I started chipping away at P10 and managed to get to him on the last lap. However, I was also being caught by one of the front runners who had went down in the first lap, and by the final corner we were all within a second. Unfortunately, I stayed in P11, but it was by far my best result and the best I rode all weekend. I came away with P14 overall and my best ever finish at the British so a pretty solid weekend. Big thanks to Dad for helping sort the bike.
