The Biker Place

Round 8 of the British Super Bike Championship visited Oulton Park in Cheshire at the weekend and saw the young motorcycle racing star Alex Gault re-united with his former mechanic Geoff Coxon who has been brought out of retirement after a disappointing result in the last championship round at Snetterton.

Coxon said

I thought I had hung up my spanners for the last time, I know the situation within the team and have offered my services free of charge, I’ll work with Alex until the end of the season or until they find a competent technician to take my place

Indications were good from the outset with Gault posting 3rd fastest time in free practice followed by provisional 8th place on the grid in the first qualifying session from the 58 starters, a wet second qualifying prevented any improvement but did give the team a chance to find a wet set-up for the bike; as no one could predict the conditions the race would be held in later that day. The team were happy with 8th place on the grid, a career best in the championship for Gault, who until Coxons return had struggled with bike set-up in previous rounds.

The race had a disappointing start for the youngster who didn’t get the best of starts, falling back from 8th to 12th by the first corner but a spirited performance throughout the next 15 laps seen him battle through aboard his ASTRO Kawasaki while having a titanic battle with Ex European STK contender Leon Hunt (Yamaha) to finish just 0.122 seconds in front. Gaults 6th place finish was again his best performance of the championship so far!

The Astro Kawasaki team now look forward to the next round of the championship to be held at Knockhill in Scotland on the 8th, 9th and 10th of August.

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