Seconds away round 2......
The team took a blow as we were reduced to one rider for the weekend, with Danny Kent being caught by the fallout from the Icelandic volcano and trapped in Spain having completed a successful test with the “RedBull Rookies”.
However when the chips are down, the team all pulled together to deliver a fantastic result courtesy of Andy Reid. The “quiet” Irish lad certainly stepped up to the plate with a fantastic ride from a mediocre position on the grid to finish in P7 overall and P2 podium in the “Academy Cup”.
Free practice all went well, Q1 could have been better but Q2 showed us the potential that Andy has. In a session that saw him climb 11 places into the top 10 Andy’s confidence was now growing.
Race day. Starting on P15 at Thruxton puts you right in the thick of it. The early stages of the race saw the usual close battles. Three laps in and Andy had carved his way through to P10, but coming into the final chicane a tangle with a bunch saw him take to the kerbs and the air. Regaining his composure, Andy settled back into his rhythm making his way back through the pack.
Some impressive lap times from Andy were being reeled off, with a best of 1.22.7 one tenth off from Fraser Rogers KRP machine. With it all to do again, the young pilot made his way past rider after rider. Then with 2 to go Andy slipped past Ed Rendell and was pulling away in P7. A last minute scare saw evasive action at the chicane again, which was judged to be fair by the marshals. Andy crossed the line for a very impressive 9 points and the “runner up” silverware in the “Cup”.
An elated Reid was over the moon. “We worked hard to get a good set up for Q2 which paid off yesterday. I was very confident going into the race and was getting stronger as the race went on, I was making good progress and would loved to have another 5 laps”.
Activities resume at Oulton Park 01/02/03 May, when the team will be at full strength in pursuit of further honours.