Chris Threadgill brings Kent Sports News up to date with his race diary from the Triumph Triple Challenge, which supported the World Superbikes at Donington Park at the weekend.

 

Friday:

It was a wet morning practise and I went out on wets. The track dried within three laps and whilst some pitted for dry tyres, I stayed out on the wets as they were giving some great feedback and I pushed on in the dry. I managed to finish the session P12 overall, and third in class.

Onto qualifying and the track was completely dry. We decided to go out on a set of slightly used tyres and use the first few laps to bed them back in. Just as I finished my first lap the rain started to fall. After another six laps and a few big moments I pulled in to avoid crashing. I ended the session P21 and tenth in class. I had lots of work to do in the races.

 

Saturday:

No morning warm-up, and the race wasn’t until 5pm. It had been raining all day and the rain just about finished as I formed up on the grid. After a good start I got into P18 for the first corner before being pushed wide in the first sector and being gapped.

I had a couple of moments in the wet as I tried to find the limits of the grip, and the track started to dry up just like in morning practice on Friday.

I put the hammer down and over the last four laps clawed back over 20 seconds on the group in front of me. I finished the race P21 and tenth in class, but set a lap time good enough to put me P11 on the grid and second in class for Sundays race.  Proving in mixed conditions on two consecutive days I can run the pace.

 

Sunday:

Again, no morning warm-up and our race was at 17:20. Starting P11 I got a decent launch and was in the top ten on the first lap. I managed to hold onto P13 overall and fifth in class whilst battling with a braking issue until on lap six I couldn’t get the bike stopped from 230kph and ran straight on at the Fogarty Chicane.

I dropped 11 places, but managed to get the bike over the line and finished the race P22 and 11th in class after a few last minute fallers gifted me some places.

 

Summary:

I have mixed feelings from the weekend. Being able to prove we have the pace is always good, but a wrong choice on suspension setup and braking problems in the second race put to bed my chance of battling to get a debut podium this season so I was completely heartbroken.

Taking the positives from the weekend we have shown we are capable of being at the sharp end, and every time I go out on the Triumph Daytona 675R I am learning more and constantly closing the gap to the championship leaders.

Not forgetting this was my first race at Donington Park Circuit, I think the team and myself can be proud of our performance over the weekend, despite the unfortunate ending.