Things didn’t quite go to plan for G&S Racing Kawasaki at Donington Park when, after qualifying in fifth place for the start of the Pirelli Junior Superstock race on Saturday, Zak Fuller suffered an early crash.
Jorel Boerboom completed his first Pirelli Superstock race on Saturday but encountered a problem in the second race on Sunday which forced him to retire.
New Zealand rider Fuller (21) didn’t get much track time during free practice when strong winds and heavy rain called a halt to the sessions on Friday.
However, although still windy, the qualifying session went ahead without a hitch and Fuller recorded some fast times to put the little Kawasaki onto the second row for the start of his race on Sunday morning.
He got a good start and was up to fourth place on the opening lap but suffered a high side at the Melbourne Hairpin on the second lap and crashed out of the race. Luckily he was unhurt but his challenge was over.
Meanwhile Boerboom also missed out on free practice because of the weather but recorded a good enough lap to put him onto the 12th row for the start of the first of two races.
As the lights went out he began his move forward and made up four places by lap six of 15. He chipped away at the riders ahead, taking 27th place on lap eight and remained in that position to the chequered flag.
Starting the second race from the tenth row Boerboom made progress through to 26th before he encountered a technical problem with the big Kawasaki which eventually forced him to retire on lap 13 of 15.
Team manager Tom Fisher said: “Sometimes nothing seems to go right for us, but it’s just how it is in motorcycle racing.
“We were hopeful of a podium for Zak as he had qualified well but it wasn’t to be.
“We had a track day at Donington a few weeks ago and Zak worked really hard and was looking really promising. But on Sunday he was just a little too eager on the throttle coming out of the corner and high sided in the race. But he will learn from this and come back stronger at Brands for the final race of the season.
“Jorel was working hard in his class races and finished well in the first race.
“Moving up the grid for race two he was optimistic of a good race but just a few laps in the bike encountered a steering damper failure.
“He persevered for most of the race but it was becoming more and more difficult to control the bike and he pulled in to the pits as he could have been a danger to other riders or crashed. It was a disappointment as he had some of his sponsors over from Holland to watch him race this weekend.”
The season finale is at Brands Hatch over the weekend of October 14/16.
