Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
MOTORSPORT: Ward’s highs and lows
LITTLEBOURNE RACER EARNS PODIUM PLACE ONLY TO BE DISQUALIFIED FOR TECHNICAL BREACH
Tom Ward went from joy to despair after a weekend of fluctuating fortunes in the latest round of the Pirelli Superstock 600 Championship series at Thruxton over the weekend.
The Littlebourne racer ended one of the most exciting races of the season in third, only to be disqualified for a technical breach.
Ward, who had already received his trophy for third when he was informed of the disqualification, said: “I enjoyed the race and thought I could have had the win but Keenan (runner-up Keenan Armstrong) was a demon on the brakes.
“Unfortunately, we were disqualified from the race as we have ceramic gearbox bearings which are no longer allowed in the stock class.
“It was a misinterpretation of the rules
‘It’s a kick in the teeth... but it just makes me more motivated’
and has ended up in me losing my third place and 16 points from this round.
“It’s a kick in the teeth as it looked like the championship was closing back up but that’s just how it goes. It just makes me more motivated for the rest of the season and to come back 10 times stronger at Brands GP in two weeks (August 5-7).”
Ward was eighth in free practice and twice clocked the second fastest times in qualifying, putting him second on the grid behind eventual race winner Jordan Weaving. The real battle was between Armstrong and Ward for second and although Ward was thrilled to be back on the podium his excitement was cut short after his bike had come back from scutineering .
Ward now lies fifth in the overall standings but within eight points of third-placed Bradley Jones and just two adrift of fourth-placed Armstrong.
Wingham’s Ross Twyman was also in action in Hampshire, competing in the Dickies Supersport 600 series.
He finished 10th in the opening race after qualifying in 16th and then improved from 21st on the grid to cross the line 11th in race two.
He now lies 12th in the championship standings.
Canterbury rallycross driver Tristan Ovenden leads the British Super1600 Championship after a successful showing at the Duivelsberg Circuit in Maasmechelen, Belgium.
After a mixed start to his first season racing in Super 1600, Ovenden debuted his new Suzuki Swift 1600 but after after three qualifying rounds, he lined up on the last row for the first semi-final. He, however, brought the car home in third place which was enough to secure him a start in the final, in which he stormed home to finish as the second-placed Brit.
Ovenden said: “I’m pleased to make the final with this car. Good hard, clean racing which is a lot of fun and great motivation for the team.”
Round six of the Championship is at Ovenden’s home circuit of Lydden Hill on the August Bank Holiday weekend.