Sam Coventry - RACE REPORT – NG ROAD RACING – FORMULA 125CC
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20 SEPTEMBER 2008- OULTON PARK
We arrived mid afternoon on Friday and managed to get Sam out in the last two practice sessions of the test day. The first session Sam gets used to the track as he hasn’t raced here since the beginning of the season (when he was plagued with mechanical problems). He is going well and gets his lap time down to 2.05 / 2.06 consistently, so we know he’s in the ballpark for what an Aprilia RS 125cc will do around Oulton Park.
Saturday – Race Day
The sun is shining. There are a few other Aprilia Superteen riders we have noticed around the paddock so Sam knows he is going to have some good competition today, as although they are not championship contenders so won’t effect Sam’s overall points, he would still like to beat them!
They go out for practice/warm up Sam comes past pit lane once and then the Red flags are out and he doesn’t appear again!
We hear from race control that Sam and another Superteen rider have had a coming together but he’s ok. He arrives back to the Scrutineering bay in the van, points to the bike and gives the thumbs up – so we know he and the bike seem to be ok. He tells us that the lad in front seemed to high-side and although he tried to avoid the situation he had no where to go and collided with the rider, under braking, at fairly slow speed, and just slipped off. (Get well soon Luke)!
RACE 1 (qualifier)
Sam’s back out for this one (after we straighten a few things out on the bike)! He’s also on a new rear tyre
He’s 2nd on the grid as this is his championship position. He gets away well and holds this 2nd position for the Championship race. Sam’s at least 6 secs a lap quicker than the closest riders behind him.
RACE 2
We have been waiting all day for this one and Sam is really eager to get on with the job!
Sam gets a brilliant start in this one, but then its Red flagged! Sam comes round safely and the riders all line up again, it’s going to be a 5-lap dash!!
Sam gets off the line well again and is chasing the leader (a friend/rival Superteen rider) 3 laps pass an Sam is close behind, just about to make a move to hopefully take the lead and the race is Red flagged again, on lap 4, another 400cc rider has had an off! The race result is called from the placings as they crossed the line in the lap before.
Sam comes back to pit lane very disappointed, we console him and point out that he has narrowed the gap by another 3 points on the championship leader and that he now has over 22 point lead on the guys in 3rd place. If only he had not been taken out by another rider at Snetterton, he would be winning the championship by now, still he has the most race wins/podiums in the series, so that is an achievement!
So his 2nd place in the championship is safe as we look forward the final NG Road Racing meeting at Thruxton on 4 October 2008.
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