John Banks Honda’s Lewis Tombs off to solid start to the season

John Banks Honda-supported rider Lewis Tombs put together a solid performance at the annual Hawkstone International race at Hawkstone Park in Shropshire this past weekend. After qualifying in twentieth in cold but clear conditions, Tombs pushed for a top fifteen result in the first race, only to be frustrated by the affliction that every rider dreads – armpump. Gritting his teeth, Tombs fought hard to keep his hard-earned position, but had to concede two places in the latter portion of the race to end in eighteenth.

The second race got off to a better start with Tombs completing the first lap in sixteenth, and he soon found himself in battle against Buildbase Honda’s Ryan Houghton, a battle that would continue throughout the race. Tombs emerged the winner with a coveted top fifteen spot, and an eighteenth place on the day, setting a good starting place for the season ahead.

Commented Lewis Tombs: “Today was not so bad considering it’s the first race of the season. I struggled a bit in qualifying, but I ended twentieth, which was alright and gave me a decent gate pick. In the first race I had a terrible start, then managed to come through in the top fifteen which is good. I struggled with really bad arm pump halfway through, so I dropped back to eighteenth. In the second race I spun on the start, came through pretty well, rode my own race, picked a few people off, lost a few places, and ended up fifteenth, which is good. I wasn’t feeling too great afterwards, so I passed on the super final.”