Luke's Last Lap Lapse
Luke Quigley came away empty handed from Round 9 of the British Superstock
championship at Brands Hatch. Quigley saw his chances of a third straight podium
finish disappear as he crashed out on the final lap whilst challenging for the
race win.
Having impressed in his first race aboard his new Formwise/Astro Racing BMW
S1000RR at the previous round, Quigley came into the weekend hoping to continue
his good form. The weekend began well, with Quigley posting the sixth fastest
time in Friday's free practice session.
Clearly getting to grips with his new ride, Quigley shaved over a second off his
practice best to end the first of two qualifying sessions fourth fastest.
It looked as though Quigley would hold onto his provisional front row start by
default, as early morning rain threatened to put pay to any second session
improvements. However, when the sun finally broke through the clouds on Saturday
morning, the track dried fairly quickly. By the end of the second session some
riders were able to better their previous times. Quigley put in a flying lap to
put him second quickest in the session, albeit slightly slower than his first
session time, retaining his fourth place grid slot.
Sunday morning's warm-up session gave Quigley his first problem of the weekend.
Having changed brake pads after qualifying, Quigley was struggling to get the
same performance from the new pads.
Quigley made a good start to the race, slotting into third place as the riders
tipped in to Paddock Hill bend for the first time. Quigley remained in third
place until the deployment of the safety car at the end of lap two. After two
laps under the safety car the racing resumed. On Lap 6, Quigley dived up the
inside of second-placed Glen Richards and began to chase down pole-sitter and
Championship leader, John Kirkham.
Just two laps later, Quigley inherited the lead after Kirkham saved a huge slide
exiting Clearways and slipped back to third. Holding the lead until two laps
from the end, Quigley was struggling with the lack of braking performance
discovered in warm-up. He was quickly passed by both Kirkham and Richards to
drop him down to third place going into the final lap. Still firmly in
contention only 0.2 seconds behind the lead and over 5 seconds ahead of fourth
place, a podium finish looked assured.
As the lead trio approached Druids for the final time, Kirkham attacked Richards,
forcing both of them wide. Seeing the gap, Quigley moved up the inside leaving
his braking a split second later to make the pass. However, as he reached for
the brakes, he pulled the lever all the way back to no avail. Turning in too
fast, Quigley lost the front end of his Formwise/Astro BMW and tumbled into the
gravel trap, his race over.
A distraught Quigley said afterwards: "I am gutted. I knew i was losing brakes
from about mid race, so I told myself to settle for the safe podium. I knew I
couldn't keep in front of the other two with the brakes fading as they were. "
"On the last lap they pushed each other wide going into Druids, and
instinctively I went for the gap. When i braked the lever came all the way back
to the bar and I just didn't have a chance of getting round the corner."
"It's a real shame for the whole team because we had great pace all weekend and
deserved a podium at least. Taking the positives from it; the new bike has been
brilliant ever since I jumped on it and we are right up there. I just have to
put this behind me and go out and get a result next time out at Cadwell Park."
Quigley remains 5th in the overall standings but could have moved up to 2nd with a
podium. He will be at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire for round 10 of the series
over the August Bank holiday weekend.
Sam Farrington
|
