This month I was racing at round 2 of the British Talent Cup at Donington Park National circuit. I had a track day there almost 2 years ago when I was 12 so it’s one of only 2 English circuits I’ve ridden before this season started.
At the 1st round at Silverstone I really struggled with the set up of the bike, but right from the first session here the bike felt good and I was able to push and try to improve my lap times.
In qualifying I was able to keep with some faster riders in front and I tried to learn where they were braking and what was the best line to take. Towards the end of qualifying I had lost the other riders and had to try and push myself to get a better lap time. I put my fastest lap in on the last lap of the 30 minute session finishing 18th but was happy I still had pace at the end and knew I could improve with more time on the bike.
In race one on Saturday I got off to a good start and passed a couple of riders into turn 1, but I ran wide and by the end of the first lap I was in 21st position. I pushed on and caught a group of riders in front, we battled for most of the race and by the end of the 24 laps I was in 16th position.
Race 2 was on Sunday and the weather was forecast for rain, I like racing in the wet so I was hoping for it to come. Just as we went out for our warm up lap a heavy shower started so we were straight back in and everyone changed to wets. I’ve never ridden the Talent Cup bike in the wet but the set up felt ok on the 3 warm up laps I did, but the track was almost dry by the time the race started.
I got another decent start and was in a group of riders for the first few laps, I made some passes at the old hairpin and was able to work up to 14th place. Myself and Northern Irish rider Jamie Lyons broke away from the pack and were closing down on the riders in front. We caught Rhys Irwin and both got past him with Jamie now in 12th and I was in 13th, after a few laps Irwin caught back up with us and managed to get past me. We swapped positions all the way to the chequered flag and I was lining up a move into the last corner but some riders had crashed in front of us so the waved yellow flags meant I couldn’t pass but I was really happy when I crossed the line and realised I was in 11th place and scored my first points. I was really happy with the result as my first goal this season was to score points in the Talent Cup, hopefully I can continue it at the next round which is back at Donington in July at the World Superbike round.
Before that I have 2 rounds of the British Superbike Championship in June at Brands Hatch and then my home race at Knockhill, hopefully I can get a good result there and hopefully I will see a lot of you up there
Ross Maguire
In the points at Donington as he continues his progress in BTC
Photos: Bonnie Lane