Entering the second half of the season, the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship competitors rolled into Oulton Park in Cheshire, for what would be another close encounter. Once again, the weather proved very unpredictable, ensuring challenging track conditions for all competitors. For Jenny Tinmouth, this was her ‘home’ round, and the Ellesmere Port star was determined to put on a good show at one of her favourite circuits and in front of her adoring fans. In a challenging race, held in dry conditions, Jenny secured 27th place overall and 7th of the British Supersport Cup competitors, leaving her in 9th position overall in the cup.
For her first outing of the weekend at the picturesque 2.69 mile Oulton Park International circuit, Jenny was faced with a difficult wet track, but determined to gain valuable experience, she opted to stay out, and find a good rhythm. To her credit she achieved her objective with 25th position overall, recording a time of one minute 52.571 seconds. The second free practice in the afternoon was completely dry, and although Jenny improved her lap times by almost seven seconds, she had been shuffled down the pack slightly to bring Friday to a close in 30th position overall.
Saturday morning’s first qualifying session once more started off in wet conditions, but as the 40 minute session progressed the grip started to improve on a drying surface. Jenny circulated for the entire session, one of few riders to do so, and was comfortably inside the top 20, but frustrated that other riders had prevented her from going quicker. However, she timed her final lap to perfection, just passing the start / finish line as the chequered flag came out, and taking full advantage of a clear track, put in a superb lap of one minute 51.454 seconds, to place her in 3rd position, and provisionally on the front row of the grid.
Unfortunately for Jenny, and despite the prayers for rain, the weather of the previous afternoon was to repeat itself, and final qualifying would be held in dry conditions. Although she posted her best time of the weekend, of one minute 44.718 seconds, she would slide down the order to 35th position on the grid for Sunday’s race.
The race itself was held in the best weather conditions of the entire weekend. Jenny made a fantastic start, but was squeezed on the inside into Old Hall corner. As the race developed she would find herself in a five rider battle, and after overtaking Craig Sproston with a few laps to go, managed to pass Marcus Wade and James Dye on the final lap, the first on the brakes into Cascades and the second being a brave move under braking into Hizzy’s chicane!
Speaking afterwards, Jenny commented;
“I was really chuffed with the result, and really enjoyed the race. It was great to be battling for position, and to get a couple on the last lap was cool! I set my personal best lap time of the entire weekend on the last lap, a one minute 44 flat, which I was chuffed with, as it’s two seconds quicker than the first time at Oulton earlier in the year.”
British Supersport Cup (Positions after Round 7 – Oulton Park)
1. Craig Fitzpatrick 145pts
2. Andy Weymouth 125
3. Dean Hipwell 94
4. Ross Walter 80
5. Alistair Fagan 66
6. Adam Tempest 50
7. Patrick McDougall 40
8. David Hallett 37
9. Jenny Tinmouth 36
10. James Dye 33
Jenny’s next outing in the British Supersport series takes place over the weekend of 8th-10th August when the series makes it’s only trip out of England, to the tight and twisty Scottish circuit of Knockhill.
Jenny would like to take this opportunity to welcome aboard and thank new sponsors, Keystone Lintels.
Photograph by londonbikers.com
For race reports from Jenny herself please visit;
www.jennytinmouth.com/jennyblog
www.jennytinmouth.com
Compiled and distributed on behalf of Jenny Tinmouth
By Martin Knighton
Freelance Motorsport PR
martin.knighton@btinternet.com
07818 040205
