The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Things didn’t quite go to plan for the three G&S Racing Kawasaki riders at Oulton Park over the weekend.
Milo Ward had problems during the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race and finished in 34th place, while Kevin Keyes was unable to make the start of his race.
But TJ Toms rode to a well-deserved fifth place in the Stock 600 race to give the Wyberton-based team a silver lining.
The big Kawasaki had been rebuilt after Milo Ward’s crash at Silverstone – which put him on the back foot and he was forced to start the Stock 1000 race from the 12th row.
But in the damp conditions he had problems with vision as his visor was misting up and although he did complete the race it was down in 34th position.
There was more drama for the team in the Stock 600 race as the riders came to the grid on wet weather tyres after a shower of rain.
But on the sighting lap it was obvious that the track surface was drying fast and wet tyres was not the way to go.
Toms switched tyres on the grid with no problems, but championship leader Keyes’ bike had to be taken off the grid into pit lane as the nut refused to come off the spindle.
Try as they may, even with assistance from other teams the nut refused to budge and Kevin had to sit out the race in the pits.
Meanwhile, Toms had qualified well and started the race from the second row.
He was in seventh place for the first few laps before passing Ben Luxton on lap 10 to secure sixth place which he held to the chequered flag.
But after the race another rider was excluded after failing a post race inspection and Toms was promoted to an excellent fifth place.
He now moves up to seventh in the rider standings, while Keyes holds third place.
Team manager Tom Fisher said: “TJ did a great job and recorded a well deserved fifth place. If Kevin could have made the grid I am sure he would have been up there challenging for the win again.
“The weather beat Milo Ward as his visor was steaming up during his race, which slowed him down.”
