Cadwell Park was to be one of the most exciting and important rounds of the Thundersport GB calendar thus far. Without realising it, the championship would all change in a matter of days.We turned up at Cadwell Park with all intentions to have fun. I believed in myself that I could do well in the GP1 class, so there was no need to settle with just a good Superstock position. The pressures of the championship title would become too much if I focused all of my attentions on it.
On the Friday test day, we were allowed four practise sessions for our eventual qualifying session later that day. The weather played a big part as it was, of course, raining. Our saviour Chris came along and thankfully managed to give me a great wet set-up, so I was confident going into qualifying.
I went out into the qualifying session and found some clear track. I got my head down and started to string a few laps together, in the hope of putting in a fast time. Mike Dickinson flew past me going into turn one, so I tried to tag onto the back of him. However, I was suffering from a really bad, misty visor and was forced to come into the pit lane. By the time I had wiped my visor clean and got back onto the track, the two minute board was displayed and I, unfortunately, came back round to the chequered flag. When I came back to the awning, I realised that I was the fifth fastest in the GP1 class and the overall quickest out of the Stocks. To be honest, I wasn't entirely happy as I really thought that I could have got a front-row position.
Typical English weather meant that switched from the rain on the Friday to glorious sun on the Saturday. However, the air was still cold and the damp patches through the wooded area had not dried-up.
The first race of the weekend was declared as 'dry', so I had to make a tyre change. I felt to have got a good start off the second row and moved up to 3rd as we went into turn one. Although I didn't have the best of opening laps as Baker, Dickinson, Barnes and Kneen all came passed me. By the second lap, I had got myself together and started reeling them back in. By lap three, I had managed to pass Barnes and was hanging onto the back of the leading bunch. I had caught them so quickly, in such a small amount of time, that I felt I was confident enough to get up the front. However, I tempted fate by losing the front going into the Hairpin on lap three and unfortunately took out Phil Crowe in the process. I wouldn't count it as one of my finest hours but luckily my dad and Alan had the rest of the day to piece my bike back together.
On a positive note, I managed to set the sixth fastest time by the mega laps despite only completing one flying lap. Starting sixth on the grid was very good considering my crash.
I eagerly woke up on Sunday morning to yet (surprisingly) more sun. I was a bit anxious going out into the warm-up session as I had to check that all was OK with the bike after my fall on Saturday. Everything was fine apart from the small matter that my quick shifter was not working and there was nothing that we could do about it. Therefore, I had to change to the 'old-fashioned way'.Thanks to Alan putting a new clutch in the bike, I managed to get a good start for race two. I was fourth into the first corner and felt extremely comfortable from the start. I managed to get onto the back of Craig Beggs and followed him for a few laps. I then made my move as we were going into Mansfield. My next rival, Dan Kneen, was a couple of seconds up the road, so I got my head down to catch him. Within a couple of laps, I had done just that. I managed to get passed him straight away on the brakes going into Park. That pushed me up to second position in the GP1 class, which was a great feeling. My next challenge was to try to catch Dickinson, as he was starting to break away. I managed to drop Kneen and did catch up to Mike but I knew that I didn't have enough rear tyre to pass him straight away. I decided to follow him to conserve my tyre and try to catch him in the last couple of laps. However, this allowed Kneen to catch up again. With two laps to go, Kneen tried to pull the same move I made on him into Park but luckily, he ran wide and I caught him back. Therefore, everything came into play on the last lap. I knew that if I got good drive going onto Park straight, I could out-brake Dickinson. My plan was short-lived as I lost the rear coming onto the straight and nearly high-sided, sending Kneen flying past me. I managed to get the run on Kneen round Chris Curve and went round the outside of him into the Gooseneck and thankfully made it stick. Coming out of the Chicane, I was right on the back of Mike but he covered the inside line well. I had no choice but to attempt going round the outside of him on the left to gain the inside on the right. I pulled off but lost my drive going over the Mountain. Myself, Dickinson and Kneen all jumped the Mountain together but they had both managed to pass me. When Kneen made his move on me, he was left with no room and took to the grass - going down in the process. It was an intense battle between myself and Mike to see who would go over the line first.
Mike, being the great rider he is, defended his lines very well so I was unable to pass him. I ended up with a respectable second place in the GP1 class and overall winner of the Superstocks - with over a 16 second lead. I smashed my old lap record by setting a new 1.32.414.
This race put me into the lead of the Superstock 1000 championship for the first time all season, as Scranage unfortunately crashed out of the race.
Following my success of race two, I felt to be absolutely buzzing for the third race. Between this time, there was a little rain shower but all was declared fully dry by the time I went out. Again, I got a good start and lead my row off the line - slotting into fourth position into the first turn. Dickinson lead, followed by Kneen and Beggs. We pretty much held our positions the entire race and I did not dare push like I had done in race two. For the first time, I actually thought about what would be best for the championship. I finished the race in a still respectable fourth place in GP1 and first in the Stock race; again by over 20 seconds from Barnes and Robinson.
Ben Scranage finished fourth in the Superstock race, which has given me a 13 point lead going into the final round at Mallory Park. It was an up and down weekend but we most definitely left on a high. I would just like to give massive thanks to Alan, Charlotte, Mum & Dad, Louise, Chris and all of my sponsors. I wouldn't be here if it I didn't the help from any of you. Roll on Mallory in a few weeks time!!
Photos by the The Bike Insurer
