Ducati Tri Options Cup 2020 - Round 2 - Snetterton

Round 2 of the Ducati Tri Options Cup was held last weekend at Snetterton. Due to Covid-19 throwing everyone’s lives into many different unexpected directions this year, our season has been reduced to 5 rounds, from August to October. It’s great to be back racing and feels like we have a little normality back by being at the track. We are really missing the spectators and fans and hope that the government guidelines may change soon to allow for them to join us at the track.

 

The forecast was windy over the weekend at Snetterton. I’ve ridden Philip Island many times over the years, which is the windiest place I’ve ever ridden, how ever Snetterton gave that a run for its money over the weekend! Peoples race awnings were getting taken by the wind and bent in two, it really was severe. We had practice on Friday before qualifying and race 1 on Saturday, with race 2 on Sunday.

 

I did a few laps in practice and felt like the bike was really backing in, where as it usually doesn’t. I looked down at the back wheel to see the rear disc glowing red hot. There was clearly an issue here. I managed to limp it back to the pits where Nigel and Paul, my mechanics, drained the rear fluid and managed to free up the rear brake. We managed to get out for 3 laps at the end of the session. Everything was now feeling good though and I finished the Friday quickest. I felt comfortable and we made a few small changes leading into Saturdays qualifying session. Saturday was just as windy as Friday and watching the little Moto3 bikes getting blown around on track before our session, got me thinking that I was glad to be on a bike with a bit more weight to it! We had a good qualifying sessions and I got some clear track to string some good laps together. We managed to qualifying on pole, our first pole position for the season.

 

We had our first 10 lap race later on Saturday afternoon. I got a bad jump from the lights and got swamped into the first few corners. Sitting 5th after lap 1 I had to get my head down and think about getting passed as many as I could. We had good pace but with only 10 laps, it doesn’t leave you a lot of time to make a plan. I managed to get up into 3rd by mid race distance, and in the final few laps grab second from Elliot Pinson. Josh Day had made enough of a gap that it didn’t leave us enough time to do anything about it. We got within 1 second, but were never able to close the gap before the end of the race. Another 2nd place was a good points haul and it would mean I would start 2nd for Sundays 10 laps race.

 

Sunday wasn’t quite as windy, and it was cooler. I knew the start was important that I dont get caught up on the line. I got away well, and was 3rd into turn 1. There was a group of 5 of us as the front, but at least this time I was toward the front of the group. Josh Day, my self and Ed Best managed to get a bit of a break and we were swapping positions each lap. Josh and My self got passed Ed, but by the time I got passed, Josh had made a enough of a gap again to make it difficult to close. We took 2nd place again, to take 2nd overall for the weekends standings.

 

Overall I’m really pleased with how the weekend went, with a pole position and two second places, we had a consistent weekend and that’s what we need to continue doing in the shortened season. We are now off to the Silverstone National circuit in a weeks time for round 3. After the strange few months we’ve had, I am so grateful to everyone who helps make it possible for us to go back racing.

 

A big thank you to everyone who makes this possible, as with out out amazing sponsors, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. And to Darren, Katie, Nigel and Paul for all their hard work through out the race weekend keeping the bike and team running smoothly!

 

Boast Plumbing Supplies

AJN Steelstock

Bathgate

Sublime Designs

Rock Oil

Maxton Suspension

X-Lite Helmets

Motogear UK

RST

PDQ Precision Engineering

 

 

Cheers, Levi Day