Kirton racer Ben Wilson made his long-awaited return to race action over the Easter weekend when he rode to tenth and 12th places in the two British Supersport races at Silverstone.
Having been sidelined for three years with a severe leg injury, Wilson knew it would not be an easy task to catch the leaders and it would take baby steps to get back up to speed after such a long break from racing.
But he is a determined rider and has been training hard to get back to full fitness and qualified well on Saturday for the sprint race later in the afternoon.
Starting from a sixth-row grid position in a mixed grid of Supersport and Moto2 riders, he rode well and completed the 18 lap affair in 13th place overall. But the Moto2 riders do not score points in the Supersport class thus Ben was promoted to tenth place to pick up six championship points.
He then battled hard for position within a large group of riders and had to settle for 12th place in his class at the end of a gruelling 26 laps in Sunday’s feature race.
Wilson said: “Well, I only went and raced again this weekend after three years; it was great to get back out there even if I am not in the position where I want to be at the minute.
“But I will come back from this and get back to the top end. I have so many people to thank for getting back on a bike, without my surgeon Matija Krkovic it would have never happened.
“I have a great family round me and a team that believed in me and I will make them proud again. Thank you to the team of people that have worked with me every day on getting me fit and getting my leg to even bend at all.”
Wilson’s points total sees him sit tenth in the standings ahead of the next round at Oulton Park on May 4-6.