Ben Wilson rode to three points-finishes at Oulton Park over the weekend, securing a 7th and 11th in the two Metzeler National Superstock races plus a fantastic second place in the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup, which he dedicated to his good friend Ollie Bridewell who died exactly a year ago on Sunday in a racing crash at Mallory Park.
Qualifying for the Superstock races were run in mixed weather conditions with the first session taking preference in the dry, placing Wilson in 10th place just over a second away from pole. The Boston rider’s hopes of improvement were dashed when the heavens opened for the final session leaving Wilson to start both races from a third row grid position.
Getting away to his usual flying start Wilson was quick to move forward as the lights went out for the start of the first race on Saturday. But his progress was short lived when he hit a bump at Lodge on lap three. He was sent hurtling into the gravel trap but kept the bike running and remounted down in 35th place.
As the laps went by Wilson posted some fast lap times, equal to those of the leaders and powered past the back markers, picking them off two and three a lap until he reached 11th place. With no time left to move further up the field Wilson had to be content with 11th place at the chequered flag at the end of a tremendous fight-back.
Wilson had to wait until last race of the day on Sunday to try and make amends for the previous race. But he was unable to make much headway and circulated in seventh place for the majority of the 15 laps, which is where he ended the race.
“I am struggling a bit on the Superstock bike to be honest,” said Wilson. ”After my crash in the first race it knocked my confidence a bit and the bike was trying to throw me off all the time in race two which didn’t help. But we got two points-finishes so that’s ok.”
Wilson fared much better in the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup race on Sunday where he qualified in fifth place to start the 12-lap affair from a second row grid position.
As the race got underway he immediately settled into second position behind series leader Jon Kirkham and the pair pulled away from the pursuing pack.
But although Wilson stuck with Kirkham he was unable to get close enough to make a move for the lead and had to be content again with second place. But the consolation is that he moves up into second place with a 15-point advantage over Sam Warren who, after crashing out of Sunday’s race, drops to third place.
“I seem to be stuck in a rut with second place just lately,” said Wilson. “Jon got away from me early on and I pushed really hard to stay with him, he just had the pace on me though. I’m happy with second, though it’s becoming a pattern and I’d love to break it with the win. I’d like to dedicate the race to the late Ollie Bridewell, my ex team-mate, this one’s for you mate.”
The next round of both championships is at Knockhill in Scotland on August 1st.
Pic credit – action – Turn One Photography
Podium – Helen Pask
