Qualifying times have to improve

Wyberton-based G&S Racing Kawasaki team are looking to improve their qualifying times after returning to full strength for round eight of the Superstock 1000 championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

 
They had Kevin Van Leuven back in the fold after missing the Thruxton race to accompany Tom Fisher.

 
Fisher, however, was forced to retire from the race on the penultimate lap as Van Leuven was able to complete the race in 19th position.

 
But team manager Mark Fisher feels better qualifying times will help his riders get among the points.

 
Fisher said: “We need to address our qualifying as this is what is letting us down.

 
“Our lap times are on a par with those of the riders way ahead of us so if we could qualify better we could stay with them and finish in the points.”

 
The competition was fierce and, after posting his fastest ever lap around the Brands Hatch GP course, Fisher was certain he had secured a top 15 position on the starting grid.

 
But, although he was only just over a second away from pole, he was amazed that he was the 24th fastest rider and was to start the race from the eighth row.

 
He began to make progress through the field but the pace was such that it was difficult to make a pass stick.

 
He was up to 19th mid-race but the bike began to suffer from tyre wear and the brake issue that had plagued him throughout practice was becoming worse.

 
Tom made a slight mistake on the penultimate lap because of the brake issue and decided it was better to pull in to the pits rather than perhaps crash and cause damage to the bike or injury to himself.

 
It was Kevin’s first time on the GP circuit on the big bike and he too was posting some fast laps.

 
He qualified just one place behind his team-mate to start the 15-lap race from the ninth row. He made steady progress throughout the 15 laps to complete the affair in 19th place.

 
The next round is at the team’s local circuit of Cadwell Park near Louth over the Bank Holiday weekend of August 27-29.
Tom usually does well on the Wolds circuit while Kevin is still learning his way around the hilly course.