Gary Mason experienced mixed fortunes at Mallory Park but leaves the Leicestershire circuit having moved into fourth place in the Daily Star Cup, even though he has only competed at half of the six rounds of the season to date.
Hampered by a shoulder injury which he picked up last weekend in the R1 Cup at Donington, Mason still qualified second out of the Daily Star Cup riders on the Q8Oils lubricated Quay Garage Racing Honda superbike.
Race One was run at a blistering pace and John Laverty on the North West 200 Ducati regained his form to take the Daily Star Cup win, ahead of Gary Mason, who had beaten him into second place in the previous three rounds, with Chris Burns on the MV Augusta in third.
The second superbike race of the day proved more challenging due to sporadic showers at the start that made tyre choice a gamble for the teams. “We chose wet tyres and as there were only three people starting on full wets we thought we were in for a good chance,” explains Ian Woolacott, Team Principle. “As we left the grid it was still raining but it didn't last and we started well but faded fast.” In fact Gary was running in the top six superbike racers at one stage before his fading tyres eventually relegated him to crossing the line fifth in the Daily Star Cup.
Gary’s podium place in Race One and fifth in Race Two provided him with sufficient points to move up another place in the Daily Star Cup, closing the gap on Martin Jessopp and Tom Tunstall in third and second places respectively.
The lubricants used by Quay Garage Racing are blended in Q8Oils' purpose-built plant in Leeds, just like the Q8Oils range of MOTO SBK oils that are available to road riders. The team will be back in action at Oulton Park on 18th-20th July.
