Iddon races to podium double
VISIONTRACK Ducati racer, Christian Iddon took a brace of podium finishes at the weekend, the Stockport rider claiming a trio of second placed finishes as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visited his ‘home’ track, Oulton Park in Cheshire.
Iddon was fourth fastest on combined times during Free Practice, setting eighth fastest in Qualifying for Race One.
A now traditional great start from the former World Superbike rider, saw him climb to fifth after just one tour of Oulton’s 2.7mile International layout, steadily climbing until he took the lead on lap five – a place he would hold until lap fourteen when Pole sitter Jason O’Halloran [Yamaha] grabbed the lead, leaving Christian to cross the line in second place, just three-tenths of a second behind.
Speaking to Visiontrack Ducati, Christian said; “I made a great start from seventh on the grid and just picked them off one by one in the first few laps; the bike felt really strong, particularly on the brakes and I felt really comfortable.
“At the same time, I didn’t really want to take the lead when I did so I tried to set a manageable pace and hit all my markers particularly when I realised I wasn’t able to make the break. Jason had shadowed me for a long time and when he came by, I was more than a match for him on the brakes, but his mid-corner speed was a lot better than mine.
“We both set our fastest laps of the race at the end which shows how hard we were trying but second is a good start to the weekend.”
Race two was a rather straightforward affair in comparison, Christian starting second on the grid, and finishing in the same position, setting fifth fastest time in the process.
Another great opening lap in Race Three meant Iddon grabbed a podium spot from the off, and just two laps later was in second behind teammate,
Josh Brookes. A brief moment leading in to Lodge was cut short as Brookes re-passed, and that’s how it remained, Christian picking up a third second placed finish of the weekend, and a bundle of Championship points to boot.
Speaking after Sunday’s duo of Races, Christian added; “I didn’t manage a win this weekend but I’m really happy with three second place finishes.
“In the first race on Sunday, I looked at Jason’s back wheel for eighteen laps but simply wasn’t able to do anything about and it was a really hard race, harder than Saturday for sure; it was actually quite difficult to breathe the pace was that hot! I was hanging it out as best I could, but Jason pulled the pin at the end and it was another second for me.
“In the final race, this time it was Josh in front of me, but I felt stronger than him mid-race. But then I messed up the chicane near the end and that was that. I had to go from attacking to defending but I’ve taken a good haul of points across the three races and the Championship’s back on now.”
Elsewhere there was more success for JR Performance Racing rider, Ben Luxton. The Stockport rider with a perfect weekend of two wins from two after claiming Pole Position at his ‘home’ track.
“It was a perfect weekend at Oulton Park”, explained Luxton. Starting Saturdays Race from Pole Position, and after a race long battle at the front, we were able to convert it to a race win.
“Sunday Race Two was the final race of the day, starting from second on the grid we got a perfect start and were able to come home with two victories and maximum points, extending my Championship lead to a comfortable thirty points.
“Massive thank you to JR Performance and everybody that supports me”.
Next up the BSB Championship heads to Donington Park, in Leicestershire, for the penultimate round of 2020, over the weekend of the 2-4 October.