supported by
19 April 2010
The second round of twelve in 2010 British Superbike
Championship campaign was staged at the ultra fast Thruxton Circuit in
Hampshire at the weekend. Tom Tunstall and his Doodson Motorsport team
progressed well through the free practice sessions optimising bike set-up for the
bumpy high speed track. The culmination was an impressive qualifying lap, with
an average speed of 111mph, placing him 17th on the grid of 34
riders.
Tunstall explained:
“I’m really pleased with the progress the team have made.
We changed the bike set up overnight which gave me a lot more rear grip and
also helped the bike to turn. I’m lapping nearly two seconds faster which says
it all really. The times are close and I think everyone will have tyre issues
towards the end of the 20-lap race, I’m confident we’re capable of turning it
into results in the race”
The conditions were near perfect for Sunday’s races with unbroken
blue skies and sun baking the 2.36mile track.
As Tunstall took to the grid a slight oil leak was
spotted by the team, and after attempting to solve the issue the Yorkshireman
was forced to start from pit lane. However after completing only one lap oil
smoke was visible from Tunstall’s machine and forcing him to retire from the
race. Things took a turn for the worse as his machine then caught fire – but
the swift work of the marshals meant no serious damage was done.
The Doodson Motorsport team once again worked swiftly to
re-prepare the bike for the second race, but with new rules basing the race two
grid positions on race one lap times Tunstall was dealt another blow being
shuffled to the rear of the grid as he’d only completed one lap.
Undeterred Tunstall made swift and continued progress
throughout the race. Maintaining his relentless pace even after the tyres had
gone well past their best, Tunstall closed down a three second gap to a five
rider battle for the final points placing.
On lap 17 the group hurtled into the Club Chicane four abreast
with Tunstall managing to find his way past two of the riders taking the
outside line. However the close battle ended in tears for two of the pack
[Craig] Fitzpatrick & Supermoto Champion Christian Iddon as they crashed
out with Tunstall having to ride over the chicane to avoid being taken out.
BMW mounted Steve Brogan managed to pull away from the
fracas leaving Tunstall and Chris Walker to fight it out for the last point.
Tunstall found a way past once into the Campbell Complex
and also into the 120mph plus Church Corner only for Walker to find his way
past on both occasion.
On the run into the chicane for the final time Walker
misjudged his entry and took evasive action over the chicane, which meant
Tunstall couldn’t mount a final attack and followed the multiple race winner
over the line missing out on 15th and the point by only a few
tenths.
photo courtesy of motoprofessional.com
photo courtesy of motoprofessional.com
