BIDDING FOR BETTER: Aaron Clarke, pictured at round one of the Stock 1000 season. Photo by DAVE YEOMANS

Oulton Park preview: Ever-improving Clarke is gunning for more points

Aaron Clarke is hoping to build on his solid start to the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship at Oulton Park this weekend.

Kirton race ace Clarke, has moved up from the Stock 600 class this year, made his debut in the highly competitive class at Silverstone on his BMW over the Easter weekend.

He took part in three races and scored his first championship points with a 15th place in the first race.

Clarke completed his qualifying in a creditable 23rd place from 52 entrants, with just the top 40 going through to contest the races.

He then completed the final race in 21st place and is now looking forward to seeing how he goes at Oulton Park which is a fast and flowing circuit more suited to the BMW than the short, twisty Silverstone track.

Clarke said: “I was disappointed to crash out of the second race, especially as I finished 15th in the first outing. It was my mistake but I did learn a lot.

“The Stock 1000 is so competitive but we have points on the board and are off to a good start.”

There is just one race for Clarke this time at the British Superbike meeting.

Timetable: Saturday – FP1 11.30am; FP2 2.40pm. Sunday – Qualifying 2.35pm.  Monday – warm-up 8.45am; 18-lap race 10.45am.

  • Kirton rider Ben Wilson also heads to Oulton Park this weekend for round two of the British Supersport Championship.

After sitting out the past three years of racing recovering from his leg injury Wilson is easing his way back into the sport and rode well in the opening round at Silverstone two weeks ago.

He scored a 10th and 12th place at the Northamptonshire circuit before moving on to the British Superbike test day at Oulton Park last Thursday.

Despite the inclement weather Wilson recorded some fast laps and is looking forward to returning to Oulton Park this weekend.

He said: “Well I only went and raced again after three years!

“It was great to get back out there even if I’m not in the position where I want to be at the minute, but I will come back from this and get back to the top end.

“Oulton is one of my favourite circuits. It is fast and flowing and I have won there many times in the past.

“My aim for the weekend is to finish my two races in the top ten and build from there.”

Timetable: Saturday – FP1 9.30am; FP2 1.30pm. Sunday – Qualifying 1.25pm; 12-lap sprint race 5.20pm. Monday – warm-up 10.15am; 16-lap feature race 3.40pm.

  • The G&S Racing Kawasaki squad head to Cheshire for round two of the Superstock 1000 and 600 championships.

The two Stock 600 riders will be feeling positive after Kevin Keyes brought the team its first-ever win in the series at Silverstone on the opening round while his teammate TJ Toms finished in a strong eighth place in the race.

Both riders are more than capable of recording podium finishes and will be challenging for the win at Oulton Park.

The unfortunate Milo Ward crashed out of the second race at Silverstone and it is a race against time to get the big Kawasaki up and running in time for the Oulton Park round as the bike was all but destroyed in the incident.

Ward will be looking to complete his race at Oulton within the top 15 to pick up his first championship points.

Stock 600 timetable: Saturday – FP1 9am; FP2 12.55pm. Sunday – Qualifying 2pm. Monday – warm up 9am; 14-lap race 12.35pm.

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