A nasty ‘tank-slapper’ denied Aaron Clarke what looked like being a top ten finish in the Superstock 600 race at Brands Hatch over the weekend.
Kirton racer Clarke had guided his draperRACING machine from 21st to tenth at the Kent circuit, before disaster struck with just two laps remaining.
The tank-slapper, which means Clarke’s front forks violently slapped back and forth, caused him to fall back to 17th place at the finish.
He said: “Brands Hatch hasn’t been kind to me so far as I started Sunday’s race from 21st place.
“I am disappointed to say the least as I have done much better times in the past.
“I was doing around 130mph when I had my tank slapper and, believe me, I thought I would crash for sure. But we saved it and I managed to finish the race.
“I am disappointed with 17th but pleased I could run with the fast boys at the front of the field in tenth place.”
Clarke was struggling with set up throughout free practice and qualifying, but battled on to begin his race from the seventh row of the grid.
He got away to a good start, making up places to 17th on the first lap.
Clarke then made progress through the field on every lap and was running in a strong 10th place with two laps remaining.
But, as he exited the Cooper straight and over the hill, he had a massive tank slapper and did well to save the crash.
As he went to apply the brakes at the next bend he realised the pads had chattered and was forced to pump the brakes before they decided to work.
By that time he had lost a lot of ground and was down in 16th position and was relegated to 17th on the final lap, where he finished.
The next round is at Thruxton over the weekend of August 4-6.
