The Biker Place

17th May Thundersport GB Round 3 Cadwell Park

First Qualifying Session

Qualifying 1 in damp/drying conditions went ok, Tom had wet tyre’s on and did a few quick laps before coming back in. As the track was drying up he didn’t want to chew up his wet tyre’s by remaining out on track.

He was 6th fastest overall. Tom was pretty happy with this as he wasn’t pushing it. But he was determined to go better and get on the front row; the front row gets pit girls!

Second Qualifying Session

The track had completely dried up and Tom was determined to put the bike on the front row.

Half way through the qualifying session Tom was due to be on pole! But two other riders (Edward Rendell and Adam Dudley) put in faster laps near to the end of the session. Tom was overly happy with this result as he got a pit girl!

Race 1 Superpole race (15 laps, 35 miles)

Bad news No Brolly dollies!

Tom got a very bad start and was 5th into the first corner. But he worked his way up to 4th on the first lap. He was catching 2nd and 3rd place rapidly. The 1st place rider (Ed Rendell) had pulled away. Tom was making time on 2nd and 3rd bit by bit when the 3rd place racer pulled in due to mechanical problems. Tom was in 3rd place and had caught up to 2nd place. He overtook him into Park Corner on the brakes but over cooked it a little and Adam Dudley managed to go back up the inside. Adam Dudley then pulled away from Tom bit by bit and eventually he was too far away to catch. Toms pit board showed that he had enough of a gap from 4th place to back off a little, he did this to make sure he didn’t crash and throw away his 3rd place; and the crucial points that would come with finishing 3rd!

Tom cruised home with a 15 second gap on 4th place and was 8 seconds behind 2nd placed Adam Dudley. Happy with that!

Those 16 points for 3rd are crucial for Tom and they move him from 4th in the GP3 Cup Class to 3rd. Hot on the heels of 2nd man, Dudley ( Tom is only 1 point behind him at this stage)

18th May Thundersport GB Round 3 Cadwell Park

Race 1(12 laps 26 miles)

Tom was 3rd on the grid with his very own brolly dolly. He got off the grid to a pretty good start and was 2nd into Coppice. He was having a great battle with Adam Dudley and Sam Shorrock (ex bsb 125 rider) when Sam went up the inside of Tom on the 4th lap at Charlie’s 1 and pushed Tom out wide. Tom went on the grass at about 80mph and crashed. He got up pretty much unscathed, except a bruised knee. He was very annoyed but he soon realised that that’s racing. However the bike needed some work done to it to re-pass technical inspection and Dad managed in record time to fix it up enough with thanks to Daniel Bursnoll for a borrowed screen.

Race 2(12 laps 26 miles)

Tom had another great start, from his 3rd place grid slot. Again he was 2nd into the first corner and held 2nd for 3 laps but Adam Dudley overtook him down park straight and cut across Tom’s front wheel. Tom had to let off the throttle to avoid hitting him and this allowed Adam to pull away from him. Tom had pulled away from 4th place and decided to back off a little to make sure he finished and scored the valuable 3rd place points. Tom put in some consistent lap times and took the chequered flag in 3rd place, over the moon with this result.

He was interviewed for Motors TV and took his place on the podium, 3rd in class and 3rd overall in the GP3 class. 2 more trophies to have to find a place for! Another signature on his Clubman’s licence; meaning he only has to get one more signature and he’s on his National licence! And an £80 cheque for his 3rd place finish. £40 for Tom and £40 to the race fund.

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