Clarke crashes from tenth at Oulton Park after impressive charge up the field

Aaron Clarke crashed out from a promising tenth place in the Pirelli National Superstock 600 race at Oulton Park.

The Kirton racer, representing draperRACING, endured a slow to start this weekend as in the first free practice session he had no feel for the bike.

Major changes were made to the set-up and his lap times improved a lot in free practice two, ensuring that he qualified for a sixth-row start.

When the lights went out he got away to a good start, picking up three places on the first lap and then another on lap two which took him to 13th position.

Clarke passed another two riders on lap five and chased after Daniel Drayton, who he managed to pass on lap seven to move into tenth place.

But his race was over when he lost the rear and crashed unhurt at Knickerbook a few seconds later.

Clarke said: “I finally got up into tenth place and with a clear track ahead I pushed on to try to catch the next rider after being held up for so long.

“But the rear swung round on me with no warning and I was spat off onto the tarmac. It was my fault as I squirted the power on a bit too quickly and it was a shame as with the new set up I was making major progress.

“Qualifying in 17th place didn’t really reflect how good the bike was and how much effort the team had put in.”

Clarke is back in action at the next round of the British Supersport championship at Assen in the Netherlands, where he has been granted a ride in the races there.

• The G&S Racing Kawasaki team of Tom Fisher and Brandon Paasch were at Oulton Park at the weekend to contest the penultimate round of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 and 600 championships.

Fisher was unlucky to be taken out of his first race and finished 19th In race two, while young American rider Brandon Paasch completed his race in 17th position.

Meanwhile, G&S Racing-supported rider Ben Luxton finished in a fine third place in the stock 600 race.

With no Stock 1000 or 600 races at Assen, their next race will be the annual Stars at Darley races on October 8, with Fisher and Luxton racing.