This weekend we took a 3 hour trip to Kent for the Red Bull Pro Nationals at Canada heights. On arrival at the track, it was looking absolutely awesome and I could not wait to get out there and get racing.
Saturday morning couldn’t come sooner and qualifying was soon around. Settling into the technical track I felt good on the bike. Struggling to find a clean lap; I found myself a decent gap to get a clean lap time to secure 2nd place by the end of the session.
Moto 1 did not start to badly just inside the top 10; I soon pushed hard to pick off some positions to make it to 2nd position by the chequered.
Moto 2 wasn’t quite how I wanted to start with crashing in the first corner. Getting up dead last and a little behind the pack it was a big uphill battle from then on. With the track being quite fast with one main fast line I found myself with my work cut out trying to pull through. Fighting all the way to the chequered I ended up with a solid 9th position.
Again Moto 3 start wasn’t spectacular but I managed to push my way through the first corner and stay upright. Pushing on I found myself in a 3 way battle for the race lead. Taking the lead at one point I made a silly mistake dropping back into 2nd position. Keeping a strong battle going all race; I had to settle for 2nd place at the chequered.
Sunday was soon here and Moto 4 of the weekend was similar to Moto 3 a similar start and again a good battle for the lead. Suffering from a front wheel puncture half way I managed to eventually nurse it to the finish in a consistent 2nd position.
The second Moto of Sunday and the final Moto of the weekend was an exciting one for me. Getting caught up on the start I found myself buried in the pack. Settling in after the first lap I found some good lines and started to plug away at the pack in front of me. By the end of the Moto I found myself right on the race leader and battling for the race win. Within the last lap I thought I could make a move on a triple into a big bowl berm. After dialling it in throughout the race I went for the jump again on the final lap but came a little short and crashed into the big berm. Getting up as fast as I could I managed to keep hold of 2nd position. A great race for me again just shy of the Moto win.
With a solid and consistent 2nd overall on the weekend I am happy to carry the red plate on to the next round at Hawkstone Par
