Podium spot … absolutley brilliant !
After the test at Mallory I could not wait to get to Snetterton and challenge for a good result. It felt like something had really clicked and I was full of confidence.
Fp1 went very well, I spent the first 20 minutes sorting my gearing and then started finding my way around. I was very comfortable out on track and my time and position backed it up. I did the same time as last year in the race after just 10 laps or so, which put me 3rd!
FP2 and we changed the bike slightly which was a step in the right direction. I was consistantly in the 1,08’s and felt fantastic with how I was riding. I ended the session6th but only 0.2 off the fastest time. I was a bit gutted as I felt my position didnt do me justice to how we had performed.
Q1 was once again dry with rain threatening for the afternoon I knew I had to make the morning count. I was pretty fast straight away and was never out the top 4. My race pace was excellent and I was doing low 8’s pretty easily lap after lap on old rubber too. I came in for my new rear tyre and shot up to 2nd with minutes remaining, before been pushed back to 5th. My final 3 laps had to count, and I put my head down to claim my debut front row and maybe even pole. On my first I went pink in the first split, then hit traffic through the bombhole and lost my lap. The 2nd I looked for some clear track for my final push. The 3rd I once again went pink through the first split but had a small problem and couldnt finish my lap. I was happy with 5th but I had the pace for pole. I had to smile though I knew I had the pace to be on the rostrum.
The 2nd session it rained and the track was not dry enough to improve my time so I didnt go out. In warm up we tried a small adjustment with the bike and it didnt really work so I just concentrated on been smooth and consistant and went 4th. I did a low 8 on tyres that had done 35 plus laps!!!
Before the race I was seriosuly nervous, and for me that is normally a good sign!! I got some great coverage on the grid before the race which made me chill out a little bit.
The lights went out and I made a good start when it mattered most and was p2 into turn 1 before running wide and dropping to 4th. I took the first lap pretty steady as I didnt want to make a mistake and then I started to settle down into a rhythm. I was behind Steve Plater and at first I started looking for a way by, but I knew where my bike was strong and were I could pass so I had to bide my time.
As I was lining him up he did Hudson and kind of messed me up as my little plan went out the window!! I re grouped and passed Hudson were I had planned to do Steve a few laps earlier. I was 3rd and right with Glen and Steve. My bike was working well in first sector and through the bomb hole and Coram, and I thought I could have had a go and then and go for the win but the red flags came out and that was it.
At first I was not sure how many laps were left, or wether it was a result or a 5 lap dash or something silly, but as i rolled down pit lane I saw thumbs up and a marshal directing everyone to park ferme, that was it. At last my podium…
The weekend was fantastic, I have been in the top 6 all weekend, the top Honda all weekend which is nice, and gained my first podium for myself and also Centurion’s first podium in 3 years of trying. The race was amazing and I felt so good and smooth throughout and to run with such experienced people and push them for the win it was fantastic and full credit must go to my team.
To Gary and Paul for the opportunity to prove myself in Supersport, Alan for building a fantastic bike, Kev from WP for giving me a faultless handling bike which was a pleasure to ride. Mike our data man, and my two mechanics, my dad and Sim.
They do a fantastic job of preparing my bike on a weekend and i must thank them. Also to Jonny and Lenny, two close friends whose support is amazing and there a pleasure to have around. A big thanks to my family and friends.
Lets hope its the first of many.
Thank you
James #27
