Rouse gets on his bike to produce Super show
MOTORCYCLING
BURNOPFIELD motorcycle racer Chris Rouse scorched to two point-scoring finishes in just his second outing in the British Superbike Championship.
The 22-year-old chalked up an 11th and a 14th at Brands Hatch just a fortnight after receiving the call-up from the National Superstock 1000 Championship, where he has spent the past two seasons and the beginning of this year.
Rouse was recruited to the Movuno.com Halsall Racing Suzuki team just before the series’ fifth round at Knockhill in Scotland, where he suffered a crash and a mechanical issue that took him out of contention.
However, the Newcastle University maths graduate made solid steps at the Kent track under the watchful eyes of l team manager Colin Wright, who took charge of the squad earlier this season.
After finishing practice well inside the top 18 and qualifying 15th for the first race of the weekend, Rouse made his way through traffic to cross the finish line in 11th - just over a second off a top-10 finish and directly behind veteran and former British champion Michael Laverty.
In the second race he lined up 16th on the grid and brought the Suzuki home in 14th.
Rouse said: “I am really happy - it was a fantastic weekend and I was pleased with the results, particularly the first race.
“I thoroughly enjoyed both of the races as I feel I have learnt so much more about the bike.
“There is still a long way to go but I was thrilled to take home points in just my second BSB race.”