Bruce Wilson encountered even more bad luck when he crashed heavily in practice ahead of Sunday’s fifth round Superstock 600 championship race at Snetterton on Sunday.
Practice began well for the Gipsey Bridge rider who was circulating in second place in the opening session but as he negotiated Russell’s chicane the Team Motorcycle Racer Suzuki highsided and threw him off onto the tarmac.
It was a race against time to get the bike repaired in time for the first qualifying period and although battered and bruised from his earlier mishap Wilson was up for the challenge. But he soon discovered a problem with the brakes and was forced to retire without recording a qualifying time.
He had everything to do in final qualifying and made the best of it by securing 32nd place to start Sunday’s 14-lap race from an eighth row grid position.
It was always going to be an uphill struggle to gain ground from that far back on the grid but Wilson gritted his teeth and got stuck into the race. Although he briefly moved forward to 30th he eventually dropped back a place to 31st and was prevented from further progress when the red flag halted the race at 11 laps distance and a result declared on positions after 10 laps.
The Superstock 600 class now have a five-week break, as they are not on the race programme for Mallory Park. This will give Wilson an opportunity to perhaps get a couple of club races under his belt to boost his confidence ahead of the next round at Oulton Park on July 20.
Picture Credit: Dean Owen
