I had been really looking forward to this meeting for two reasons. Its a circuit that I had already been to on the new bike this season so I would be able to instantly see any improvements made by myself. Secondly it it would be our first outing with the newly formed ThundersportGB club.

I was riding in the Thundersport 600 class aswell as the BSN Ladies race and Steve was riding in the GP1 class on his GSXR1000K6.

During testing on Friday I had decided to try different combinations of gearing, suspension settings and tyre pressures. Not being used to "gearing" a bike this season on the GSXR600 was a big learning curve. Settings that felt good at the start of the season were now starting to feel wrong and as I was lapping quicker, the gearing too was feeling wrong. It worked and during the day I was comfortable lapping in regular low 51 second laps. Half a second quicker than my personal best and 1 and a half seconds quicker than my best on the new bike set earlier in March.

Steve also got into the swing of things and was lapping in high 49's, something he had not managed to do for two seasons.

Qualifying for my 600 race went well with a surprising front row start from 4th with a 51.00. The bike was feeling very good and I was now able to carry the front harder through Druids and Graham Hill bend. These two corners are very cruicial to a quick lap and are also two good overtaking points.

Steve qualified 9th with a 50.2.

My first race Saturday was a 16 lap superpole race, meaning the front row could change, determined by your race finishing positions. I didnt get the best start and really had to work hard during the first 5 laps. I had a good battle with British Junior Superstock rider Jess Traylor who just pipped me on the line. Irish rider Marty Lennon also chased me very hard for the whole of the race. I hadnt worked so hard during a race for a longtime and really enjoyed it. I came home in 6th with a 50.9. A personal best.

I had decided to sit out Saturdays BSN ladies race as the Thundersport 600 class was my main race. I had also suffered a bad nose bleed during the 600 race and feeling tired I did not want to risk a fall now my confidence in the bike was growing.

Sundays two 600 races yielded yet more close battles. Marty Lennon was my main rival during the race with both of us pushing hard for both of the 15 lappers. By now my confidence was growing with each lap and the bike was really rewarding me with excellent feedback. Race 1 I came home in 7th, one place behind Marty with another 50.9 and Race 2 I managed to get Marty back again for a solid 5th place with a personal best time of 50.4 which I was very pleased with as my personal goal has always been to get into the 49's. I can now see that this is possible.

Steve rode really well and came in with a 5th and 4th place and a personal best of a 49.3. He was over the moon!.

The last race of the weekend for me was the BSN ladies race. I had qualified 3rd on the grid and to be honest got a shocking start. Trying to make up for it meant the front wheel came up too high meaning I had to shut off quickly as I was aiming straight for the side of Deb Cartwright who had got a good start. Determined not to let it hamper me I outbraked Susie Grayson into Druids but could quite pass Deb at the same time!.

Comming into Clearways I knew Debs would try and make up for her lack of drive exiting Clearways but didnt quite expect for her to grab so much throttle. It was 10/10 for style with her feet in the air. This allowed me to get past on the exit and drive hard into paddock hill bend.

I knew I had to be fairly careful in this race as my rear tyre had started to cry enough during the last 600 race. The plan was to do just enough and stay smooth. Sadly Susie came off exiting Graham Hill which left me in a comfortable 2nd place<