Steve Satisfied With 13th In Brands Hatch Thriller!

11/05/08 : Steven and the Gearlink Kawaskai team had a mixed result at the re-run of the opening race at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Steven rode to a hard earned 13th place whilst team mate Chris Martin unfortunately crashed out of 4th position.

With the qualifying positions already decided from the earlier cancelled round in early April, Steven lined up in 19th position for the 18 lap, incident packed race.

An average start didn't help as Steve was squeezed wide on the exit of druids, and the run toward Graham Hill Bend, dropping places & time on the leaders.

However Steve fought back well and begun to cut his way through the field, setting the fifth fastest lap of the race en-route. As the race wore on some of the riders were starting to struggle with grip problems, and two riders fell in separate incidents. This meant that the safety car was deployed for the second time in the race and bunched up the pack.

By now Steve was amongst the points and eyeing up a possible top ten result, but a collision with fellow rider Dan Cooper cost Steven time on the group ahead and allowed another rider to sneak passed. Fortunately the neither rider fell but it put pay to a top ten finish.

Steven reclaimed the lost position and came across the line to finish in 13th place.

'That was a great race for all the spectators today. There was so much going on, it was a real scrap! I'm pleased with how fast we have been in the race today and whilst 13th isn't an amazing result, it's okay from 19th on the grid. Had I qualified better then we could have been challenging for a top five result.'

'It's certainly a boost for Donington in two weeks time. I feel that the whole package is getting better and better each weekend and I cant wait until I can get back out there'.