The ups and downs of racing affected the G&S Racing Kawasaki Junior Superstock team at Donington Park on Sunday.
Sam Laffins took a comfortable victory in the penultimate round of the campaign and it could easily have been a double podium for the team but Asher Durham was unlucky to crash out of fourth place when challenging for third.
After qualifying in third place on Saturday Laffins started the race from the front row. He completed the first lap in fifth position and, after passing Declan Connell at the Melbourne Loop on lap four, he was up to second and posted the fastest lap of the race with 1m 33.899secs – 95.36mph. He caught up to Aaron Silvester and then passed him on lap seven to take the lead and cross the finish line first, 2.578secs ahead of series leader Owen Jenner.
Meanwhile, Durham set off from the fourth row and was seventh through the first three laps before making his way forward to fourth place. But one lap later, as he chased the third-placed rider, he lost the front at McLean’s and crashed out uninjured.
Laffins is now seventh in the rider standings on 121 points but Durham drops a place to fourth. He is still just 37 points away from the championship leader and, with two races at Brands Hatch over the weekend of October 13/15 he is still in contention to take the title.
Team manager Tom Fisher said: “We had the pace for a double podium but sadly it wasn’t to be.
“Asher was creeping up behind third place and looking likely to move up a place but the crash ended his run.
“All is not lost. Although he has dropped a place, he is still in with an outside chance of taking the title.
“Sam was in top form and romped home for his first win in the class this year.
“We move on to the final round and there is still the potential for Asher to win the title.”
- Breaking News
