Dedicated to the memory of Chrissy Rouse Racing
Final round of the year at the amazing Brands Hatch GP circuit and I was ready to give it everything…it didn’t end well.
ROUND 11 – Brands Hatch GP TOMMO21 RACE SUMMARY
2022 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Quattro Plant Hire British Supersport 600 Championship
Overview
Saturday: - Qualifying - P34 - Sprint Race (12 laps) – P27
Sunday: - Feature Race (17 laps) – DNF
Best Lap: 1:31.4 (PB) Ideal Lap: 1:31.2
Event Sponsors: Nil
Friday:
FP1 / FP2 FP1 was damp, so the first fast session was FP2 where I see a new PB of 1:32.4, over a second faster than ever before, but I knew I needed more.
Saturday:
Qualifying Another slightly damp morning, and I wasn’t settled at all during the session and despite putting in a new rear, the best I could do was 1:32.9. With 5 minutes to go, I was in the pits with the rain flags out as it started to drizzle, so I didn’t go out for another lap. Not worth the risk.
Sprint Race: Good start, picking up places in the opening laps. As the race went on, I settled into P27 and try as I might, I couldn’t stay with Carl Stevens ahead. In the closing laps, Max Ingram caught me, and we had a right fight to the checkered flag where I kept ahead by 0.03 seconds! Great racing all round, Max. Was nice to set a new PB of 1:32.2 during the race, but I wanted more from myself and the bike which was lively just as it had been at the last round.
Sunday:
Feature Race I put everything on the line for this race. I wanted a good result following what’s been a tough old year. Another great jump off the line, and I was rubbing elbows going into Paddock Hill for the first time. Again making up places in the opening laps, I settled into the group consisting of 6 riders, P21 down to P27. On lap 5, I got by Josh Wood going into Surtees but this created a small gap to P25. Knowing I was well into PB pace at this point with a 1:31, I knew I had to push to keep with the bikes ahead. However only 3 turns later, I hooked in and stayed tight on exit of Sheen Curve where by I just clipped the edge of a damp patch. This highsided the bike and fired me at shoulder first directly into the tarmac at 80ish MPH. It was a fast one and it took me a good few seconds to get to my feet with the assistance of the orange army. Boy did I need them after that one.
Unfortunately it looks like I’ve ruptured my AC ligament which attaches the collarbone to the shoulder. At least I have plenty of time to recover. I’ve got no regrets from that race as I slashed another 0.8 off my PB and felt ‘comfortable’ at that pace and ready push past the rest of the group. Nicking a damp patch on what is a fast blind entry right hand corner is on what was otherwise a 95% bone dry track just is what it is.
Big thanks to the team, particularly my little big bro, Alex. He’s been at all bar 1 round this year from Thursday setup up all the way through to late Sunday pack up together with his partner Klaudia whose birthday it was on setup day. Big love to you guys and all the team who have helped through out the season.
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