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Thruxton Superstock - Howie’s race weekend

© Raceline Photography
By blue2bikes April 29 2008
Having taken time out from the official test day at the Norfolk circuit of Snetterton due to snow, Howie Mainwaring had opted for a track day at his local circuit prior to the first race of the season at Brands Hatch. Once again the weather turned nasty, and the whole Brands Hatch race meeting was declared void due to snow, which covered the circuit during the early Sunday morning.

After a meeting, the officials stated that a re-run of the first round would now take place at Brands Hatch on 11th May 2008, and that the Thruxton meeting, held over last weekend, would be the first time all riders would be able to compete against each other.

With strong winds and rain falling at various times over the weekend during the practice and qualifying periods, it would be down to the weather yet again come race day on Sunday 20th April.

The correct machine set-up would be at an optimum as the track was wet during the warm up laps in the morning, but then come the start of the race the wind dropped and the sun decided to shine through - but with the previous two days being wet hardly anyone had set up their machines for a dry race.

Howie Mainwaring aboard his Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 K8 machine, backed by Carole Nash Insurance and also officially backed by Crescent Suzuki, managed to qualify in eighth position.

Gaining a good start and running in the top ten, Howie managed to gain three places and start to catch the riders in front. Gradually Howie’s tyres were to be the deciding factor, and as they lost grip Howie held on to finish in ninth position.

Howie said after the race, “This was the first race of the season and it’s been a tough weekend - especially with having no time at all to set up the suspension on my Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 machine for a dry setting.

This setting is quite crucial, as you can imagine, as the tyres wear more if you haven’t got the optimum settings for the conditions. I finished fourth here last year, and I am somewhat disappointed with my result today. Nevertheless, though, I have come away from Thruxton with points and no breakdowns, so I can now look forward to the next race at my home circuit of Oulton park in under two weeks’ time.”

The Oulton Park meeting takes place on Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2008


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