The Biker Place

British 125 GP - Round 9 – Cadwell Park

KRP’s Tim Hastings maintained his 125GP title challenge with a strong 4th place at a packed Cadwell Park on Bank Holiday Monday - and in doing so picked up his eighth podium in nine races in the Cup competition.

Saturday’s free practice sessions saw the 15 year old Falkirk rider settle immediately into the top few places on the timesheets, and with Tim in confident mood and happy with his KRP Honda, he ended the day having taken over three seconds off his best time from 2007.

As has so often been the case this season the weather played its part in the weekend, and it was raining quite hard on Sunday morning for the first qualifying session. Tim continued his good form from the previous day and was heading towards the top of the timesheets when he lost the front going into the Gooseneck and his session came to an abrupt end. Fortunately Tim walked away unscathed from the crash and the team set about repairing the damaged bike in time for the 2nd session.

Perhaps dwelling on his morning “off”, Tim finished the afternoon qualifying session slightly disappointingly in 11th place - with a best time of 1.37.279, some 1.2 seconds slower than his best time from Saturday. Unfortunately, with the narrow track meaning that the grid would be made up of rows of three riders instead of the usual four, 11th meant Tim would start Monday’s race from the fourth row.

Before that though, the BSB paddock gathered together on Sunday evening for the annual running of the CJ cycle race, an event well attended by competitors and spectators alike. Michelle English (Smurf), Tom Hayward (The Stig) and Tim represented team KRP, and once again the event was a huge success.

Monday’s early start was greeted with dry but overcast conditions for the morning warm up. Some alterations were made to Tim’s suspension and that - as well as a good night’s rest - paid dividends as Tim once again looked comfortable on the bike and set the fourth fastest time of the session.

With their race taking place immediately before the first superbike race, there was a massive crowd in place when the 125 riders took to the track. Tim got off to yet another great start and completed the first lap in 5th place. Taking a few laps to settle, Tim then got involved in a fantastic race with fellow Scott, Deane Brown. With the two swapping places several times - and inevitably slowing themselves down in the process - the chasing pack soon closed in. Tim was initially relegated to 7th place on lap seven before managing to pass both Brown and Shaun Horsman on the next lap and setting about catching his KRP team mate, Paul Jordan for 4th place. The final seven laps produced some thrilling, close racing between the two team mates, with fellow Cup riders Jay Lewis and Deane Brown in very close attendance. On the final lap Tim managed to pass Paul for 4th position, setting his personal best middle sector of the lap, and in so doing managing to gain a few bike lengths to ensure he wasn’t challenged again. Tim hung on to cross the line in a very creditable 4th place overall and a superb 2nd in the Cup.

Continuing his run of Cup podiums (and the only rider to have scored points in all nine rounds held thus far), Tim is now joint 2nd in the Championship standings, and maintained his lead in the Cup competition.

Once again, Team Twister would like thank all at Team KRP for a top bike all weekend and add their thanks to all our main sponsors: Green Machines, Digby Brown Solicitors, Pro-Scott, Phoenix Honda, Nevis Marketing & Arkose Design. Special thanks also to Clifton Mair and Jason Hoffman for their efforts and support over the weekend.

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