Kawasaki Racing Team left Hawkstone Park after a day-long deluge of rain and minimal temperatures with a best race result of 6th position taken by Tanel Leok yesterday. The third International meeting in four weeks for the Dutch squad was particularly difficult after conditions – typical of a late English windy winter day – blew dark clouds and unrelenting rain across the sandy circuit. The terrain swiftly turned into a rutted and heavy ‘obstacle’, dropping average speeds considerably.
The third race of three, the Superfinal, was cancelled after MX2 rider Carl Nunn crashed and needed medical attention on the track. Diminishing light and a particularly heavy shower caused the meeting to end.
Leok was unable to finish the first moto and then passed team-mate Billy Mackenzie in the second race to lodge sixth place for ninth overall. ‘It wasn’t a good day,’ the Estonian confessed. ‘Qualifying was alright but I had some bike problems in the first race and then in the second moto I managed sixth place, which was not so bad because I did not get any laps the first time out and didn’t know my lines immediately. I started well in the last race but it got cancelled. I will have a week off now before the Dutch Championship begins.’
Mackenzie had an unremarkable home debut on the KX450F-SR with 23rd and 8th positions for 13th overall. The 22 year old is still lacking quality time on the MX1 machine and the testing nature of the course took its toll on the Scot who slipped off several times in Heat1 and then dropped back from being as high as fifth in the second moto.
‘Apart from the track being a bit of a quagmire it was going alright, nothing spectacular. I was concentrating on my riding and style in the conditions, standing up and feeling my way in the sand rather than really pushing,’ he admitted. ‘I crashed a lot in the first race but we had a little problem with the bike and the position of the gear lever, but this is just part of doing these races and finding out about things. Anyway, I hit neutral a few times and seemed to fall off when it happened.’
‘The second race was better and I was holding my own in the top five for a while but had another few dodgy moments,’ he added. ‘After that I focussed on my balance and hitting the long ruts as smooth as I could.’
‘Overall it has been a bit of a mess today,’ the MX2 Japanese Grand Prix winner summarised ’I think everybody else has more or less the same opinion and it is a real shame. I still have to crack on with some speed training on the bike and will be working hard this week before the British Championship starts.’
Leok will now enjoy a free weekend before preparing for the first round of the Dutch Championship at Gemert, while Mackenzie heads back to Scotland to prepare for the opening race of the British Championship next weekend at Canada Heights.
Related Linkswww.www.kawasaki-racingteam.com
Related News
