First Podium for JW Racing at Snetterton

Monday, June 22, 2009

Round 5 at Snetterton finally showed the true potential of JW Racing and 20 year old East Yorkshire rider James Westmoreland. Free Practice went well, with James finishing the day 6th and in touch with the front of the field. Qualifying again was very positive but the team struggled to get a suspension set up on the 675 Triumph that the rider was 100% happy with. A 2nd row start in 6th position (5th after Dan Linfoot was forced out with injury) was enough to keep James hopeful of a good result come raceday.

The team solved the suspension issues in warm up and a sigh of relief was felt throughout the garage before the race. James got a fantastic start entering turn 1 in 2nd position before taking the lead half way round the first lap and leading for the next 3 laps. Billy McConnell hit the front from James and Honda’s Steve Plater. Steve made his move down the long back straight but James responded brilliantly into Coram curve and moved back to 2nd. Steve did eventually get the better of the Triumph rider as Billy McConnell's Yamaha broke down. Dan Cooper passed James on lap 13 before Westy moved back into second place in the same lap that the red flags came out due to a faller at the final corner. The result was declared from the previous lap which put James 3rd even though he crossed the line in 2nd place.

James said after the race, “I have got to be happy to be back on the podium again even though I feel a bit robbed. It’s a very special feeling to gain this result for JW racing and I feel immensely proud of what we have done. We are moving up the championship and now sit in 4th place. I would like to thank everyone who is part of this project and the time, effort and support they have put in to get us to this point. The team will go from strength to strength as the season goes on. I am looking forward to next weekends World Supersport round at Donington Park immensely”.