Strudwick Triumphs With National Sportbike Win At Donington Park
A Triumph Daytona 660 was once again victorious in the National Sportbike championship as Thomas Strudwick took his first victory of the season this Sunday (September 29) at Donington Park.
The 22-year old, running his own TS Racing team, had been on the podium six times this season but never on the top step of this exciting new race series. The result was enough to move him to third overall in the championship. Series leader, Richard Cooper, suffered heartbreak after crashing out unhurt on the opening lap of the race whilst in second place.
The penultimate round of the season was the second visit to Donington Park this year, but this time in much cooler conditions. Cooper on the #47 machine was looking good for another strong result, setting the fastest time in Free Practice, qualifying second and feeling confident ahead of the 12-lap race. Strudwick qualified in third with two further Triumphs in the top ten in the form of Aaron Silvester (sixth) and Rhys Stephenson (seventh).
Sunday’s 12-lap race was held in dry but cool conditions. When the lights went out, it was Cooper who made a strong start but pole position man, Eduardo Colombi, held the advantage. Lap one was filled with drama as exiting the first turn, Strudwick had a huge moment with a near highside. Straight after that, Cooper slid off unhurt as he flicked left down Craner Curves - caught out by a cold front tyre. Race leader Colombi then went straight on at the Esses, followed by Silvester - both losing multiple places. Triumph-mounted Jayden Martin then crashed unhurt at the same corner.
Strudwick led into lap two with Stephenson in third. As the laps progressed, it was Colombi back in the leading battle and hitting the front on lap five, with Stephenson dropping back on the #76 machine in fourth. Strudwick kept the pressure on and was visibly pushing hard on his Daytona 660. The opportunity came on lap nine for Strudwick to take the lead, braking hard into the Foggy Esses. Colombi didn’t give up, passing Strudwick at the Old Hairpin on the final lap but the move was soon returned at the Esses again, with Strudwick holding on for the win.
Stephenson held on for fourth while Silvester recovered well for sixth. An incredible ride for Maximus Hardy saw him progress from 30th to 11th on his Daytona 660.
Colombi now has a 21.5 lead over Cooper with just two races left of the season at the Brands Hatch season finale on October 12-14.
Thomas Strudwick #25 - 1st place “What a fantastic race! I got a good start off the line and then had a big moment but managed to hold on. It was such a shame to see Richard go down. I was more than happy to play shotgun in the championship race, but after that I was confident I had the pace to take the win. I made sure I put some moves on Colombi in the first couple of laps to break his rhythm a little bit and I managed to stay in there all the way to the end. Leading almost all of the last lap was a really great feeling.”
Rhys Stephenson #76 - 5th place “It was a tricky race. I got a good start but was right behind Richard when he crashed, which was a little bit scary. I learned a lot from following the front guys but eventually I dropped back a little bit and just ran my own pace. We’re really progressing forward with the Daytona 660 so I'm feeling ready for Brands Hatch.”
Aaron Silvester #34 - 6th place "A positive weekend, although not quite the result I was hoping for. After being with the leading pack on the opening lap in the battle for fourth, I unfortunately ran on at the chicane due to a slight issue with brakes and being in a two-bike slipstream at the end of the straight. This meant dropping down to ninth place but I really enjoyed fighting back through to sixth on my Daytona 660.”
Race result
1st Thomas Strudwick (Triumph)
2nd Edoardo Colombi (Aprilia)
3rd Harrison Desssoy (Yamaha)
4th Rhys Stephenson (Triumph)
6th Aaron Silvester (Triumph)
11th Maximus Hardy (Triumph)
DNF Richard Cooper (Triumph)
DNF Jayden Martin (Triumph)
National Sportbike Championship after Race 13 of 15
1st Edoardo Colombi - 264.5
2nd Richard Cooper (Triumph) - 243
3rd Thomas Strudwick (Triumph) - 208
4th Ash Barnes (Yamaha) - 193
7th Aaron Silvester (Triumph) - 150
8th Rhys Stephenson (Triumph) - 130
9th Jayden Martin (Triumph) - 73
28th Katie Hand (Triumph) - 6
