The second set of races was more positive for the squad with Nunn starting well and circulating in an relatively isolated third place trailing Kawasaki UK’s Tom Church. On a track that was becoming increasingly rougher due to the weather Dougan got away from the line well but felt the affects of a lack of decent race time by fading slightly to pass the chequered flag 8th.
Both motos were won by factory Kawasaki rider and reigning British Champion Stephen Sword.
Jeff Perrett suffered further bad luck when his part in a first corner crash caused injury to both wrists. The 31 year old was taken to hospital as a precaution but X-rays revealed no broken bones. The recurring wrist problem is forcing Perrett to review his situation but he has several weeks to recover before round three at Torrington.
Luke Kennett was not able to shake off the affects of a knee injury that has been dislocated three times this season so far. The 19 year old tried to qualify but was unable to make the cut for the gate and was instructed by Team Owner Rob Bradley to rest with a view to the Under-21 British Championships next week where he stands more chance of success.
The third meeting of the eight round series will take place on May 9th at Torrington in Devon. In the meantime RTT prepare for another Grand Prix double with the fourth round of the World Championships occurring this Sunday at Valkenswaard in the Netherlands followed by a trip to Teutschenthal, Eastern Germany seven days later.
Carl Nunn:
“I was out of the start OK, I had a lucky first few turn, I was quite quickly up to 3rd behind McFarlane but then I made simple mistake and lost a lot of time on him at least managed to keep the bike running. I was caught by Rattray and I was trying to leave him behind when I made another mistake, went down but this time I couldn’t get the bike going and was left behind by the whole field. I was miles back when I looked at the pit board it was something like 32nd, then down to 21st and I rode as hard as I could and finished 12th, Rattray was disqualified and I finished 11th.”
“The track would have been really nice of the rain hadn’t messed it up, I made an average start but I wanted to put the pressure on the front guys early, I passed McFarlane, pressured Dobb until he made a mistake and went down, I was in a bit of no mans land after that, Sword and Church were 15 seconds in front, Church had picked up an early two from Sword which helped him break away. I had a comfortable lead on Rattray who was in 4th so I just used my head and maybe pulled in some ground towards the end of the moto but I knew it was only because we were near the end of the race. My laps times were the same as theirs but they just managed to make that break during the first few laps.”
Jason Dougan:
“The first race was a disaster for me, James Dobb fell off right in front of me, with riders on either side of me rubbing handlebars I had no where to go and went over the handlebars. I struggled to get the bike going, it was twisted and battered but I got back into the race only to be knocked off in 11th place when another rider bobbled in a corner. The engine was bogging when I was landing off the jumps, I think I may have crushed the lagging in the muffler. My second race was much better, a good start alongside Carl and followed Sword into the first turn, I was right with the leaders but after five or six laps I started to fade, I lost touch with those guys. I haven’t had a full race in a few months now, misery by not qualifying at the GP’s so when I had to go the full race distance I dropped into cruise mode slipping back from 5th to 8th after I stalled the bike and finished. I feel that I am bike fit but not race fit, that can only come with more time on the bike.”
Jeff Perrett :
“I don’t quite remember what happened but I was fighting for a position just after the start and someone, I think it was a Suzuki crashed right in front of me, I was wrenched from the bike thrown into the air landing on my head. Both of my wrists are badly bruised but not broke but I have a monster of a headache but thankfully no serious injury.”
Luke Kennett :
“Racing has been a bit of a struggle of me this season, it’s frustrating but my knee keeps popping out and I can’t race. It was the same story at Canada Heights and I hoped that after a few weeks of resting it would be stronger. I tried to qualify round two here at Lyng but my knee came out again and because if that I was off the pace. I could have rode the supporting races but Rob Bradley recommended that give those races a miss today and try to be fit for next weekend when I will be competing in the Under 21 British Championship.”
Mick Aldous – Team Manager :
“I was very happy to see Carl on the podium in race two, he should have rightfully been up there in race one but it was a scrappy race he made mistakes which cost him a lot of time and points, when he started again he made up a lot of ground which showed that he was in a determined mood. He showed that mood again with his third place in his next outing and with fourth position in the championship after two rounds we are all happy. Carl showed good promise in Portugal two weeks ago and hopefully that has given him the confidence in himself that he needs go forward and do well in both the British and World Championships. Jason had back luck again, but put in two very determined rides, he’s lacking bike fitness which due to missing out in GP Qualification, once he gets a few longer races under his belt he will feel a lot more confident and comfortable with his racing. He lost ground in the second race but that came again through lack of ‘on bike time’. Jeff was lucky not to be seriously hurt after a high speed crash, he has two badly bruised wrists and a heavy concussion, he must take time now to have a serious look at this wrist injury.”
British championship : 1.SWORD Stephen Kawasaki (112); 2.CHURCH Tom Kawasaki (97); 3.MCFARLANE Andrew Yamaha (86); 4.NUNN Carl Honda (79); 5.SMITH Wayne KTM (72); 6.DOBB Jamie Honda (65); 7.ANDERSON Brad KTM (59); 8.SMYTH Danny Honda (55); 9.RATTRAY Tyla KTM (53); 10.SAUNDERS Ben Yamaha (41); 11.PHILLIPS Glen Yamaha (34); 12.SIMPSON Shaun KTM (33); 13.LAWSON Richard Kawasaki (27); 14.MURRO Jim KTM (23); 15.DOUGAN Jason Honda (21); 16.LETELLIER Antoine Suzuki (21); 17.FITCH Richard Suzuki (20); 18.BRADSHAW Neville KTM (19); 19.GOWLAND Graeme Yamaha (16); 20.LEWIS Jamie Yamaha (15); 21.LYONS Adam KTM (13); 22.MILWARD Mark Kawasaki (12); 23.GREGORY Lewis Suzuki (11); 24.DAVID Andre Yamaha (10); 25.YELLAND David KTM (8); 26.BALES Syd Honda (7); 27.JOHNSON Dan Yamaha (6); 28.COLUMB Scott Suzuki (4); 29.SANDIFORD-SMITH Oliver Suzuki (2); 30.SMITH Kenny KTM (1); 31.DELANEY Owen (1); 32.SMITH Jamie Yamaha (1)
Check out the team’s web site : www.rtt-honda.com
Info photo (C) Ray Archer – RTT Honda
