The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
It was another disastrous weekend for Kirton rider Ben Wilson who crashed out of both races in the British Supersport Championship meet at Knockhill.
Wilson started round five of the series in good form and was looking good for a couple of strong results in Scotland after his horror show at Snetterton in the last round.
He completed his free practice in fourth place and qualified in sixth to start the 18 lap sprint race from a second row grid position.
As the sprint race got under way, Wilson was boxed in and unable to make a pass on the run to the first corner.
He was running in seventh place and looking to slip inside at the hairpin to make up places, but he clipped the back wheel of a rider just ahead and tumbled across the tarmac – his race over.
Starting the feature race on Sunday from the fourth row, Wilson got a good start and moved up into sixth place in the opening few laps, tagged on the back of the first five riders.
But as the pace hotted up he was unable to stick with them and dropped back, although he was still holding his position.
On lap nine he lost the front and went down, causing the course car to take to the track while he and the bike were recovered.
Wilson was momentarily knocked out in the crash as the bike followed through and was in some considerable pain from a bang on his shoulder.
But the good news is that there is no lasting damage, just some severe bruising and he will be back on track in the next round.
Kyle Ryde (PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha) won the feature race at Knockhill, ahead of Jake Dixon (Smiths Triumph) in second and Wilson’s team-mate Glenn Irwin, who still leads the overall standings despite finishing third. Wilson is now way down in tenth.
Wilson said: “I am not having a good time of it this year. Everyone has a bad season at some stage in their career – and this is turning out to be mine.
“The first crash was just one of those things, we were all very close and I touched someone’s wheel and was sent flying across the track.
“The second crash I lost the front going into the corner and went down.
“I can’t remember much else but it appears I was knocked out for a few seconds and when I came round my shoulder was very painful and I couldn’t feel my arm.
“I think the bike must have crashed into me as it was so sore, but I was lucky as it appears there isn’t a break and I should be ok for Brands where I just need a change of luck so I can get my championship back on course.”
The next round is at Brands Hatch in Kent on the full international circuit over the weekend of July 19-21.
