Ryan Dixon was on the podium three times at his home round of the No Limits Racing season last weekend.
Brands Hatch proved to be a happy hunting ground for the Folkestone rider, finishing third in race one, third in race two and third again in race three. He brings us up-to-date with his race weekend.
Qualifying I managed to take pole position and felt comfortable in doing so and like I had more in the tank if I needed it so was feeling confident heading into racing.
Race 1 – a good start allowed me to take the lead and I set about trying to make a getaway. Things were going to plan and I was building a small gap but the race got red flagged after two laps. The restart I led for a couple of laps before dropping to second and then third mid race. I was running the same pace as the leaders, I just couldn’t get into a position where my bike was stronger to attempt a pass. It was frustrating but I took third and thought it was better to get a solid start than chucking it up the road!
Race 2 – managed to get away in second and made some small changes which seemed to have worked. I was following the leader trying to work out where I may be best able to try a pass but the opportunity never came as I had a brown pant moment going into Hawthorns (the fastest part of the track) where I bent the front brake lever up at its pivot point as I went to grab it and thought I was heading for a big crash.
Thankfully I managed to grab it and just stop before running off track but having to slow to knock it back into position, I dropped to fourth. I soon got back into second and thought I was home and dry but a surprise move at the penultimate corner dropped me back to third and although I got back alongside on the run to the final corner, I was on the outside and couldn’t get the pass done so had to settle for third again.
Race 3 – very much similar. Good start and away in second, passed the leader three times before actually making it stick and leading for three or four laps before another small mistake allowed him back past. I thought I’d just sit there for the last two and a half laps and try to make a move somewhere on the last lap but it wasn’t to be as the third place rider made another surprise move on the penultimate lap and scuppered my plan. Frustratingly I couldn’t make a pass on either and had to settle for another third.
Not as good as I’d hoped but three podium finishes means I’m still second in the championship just six points back from the leader so all still to play for at the minute. See how things go at the next round at Anglesey in a couple of weeks!
Images courtesy of Camipix Photography