Howie looking to settle the score at ‘home’

Raceline Photography
By Zoe Burn
April 26 2006

Krystal Racing Space Air head to Oulton Park this weekend confident of success after their bittersweet trip to Thruxton two weeks ago. And with local boy Howie Mainwaring now part of the squad for the remainder of the season, the family-run outfit is gunning for victory on Bank Holiday Monday.

Mainwaring was left reeling after being penalised following an altercation during the Metzeler Racetec British Superstock Championship race on Easter Monday. Despite crossing the line first, he was later docked twenty seconds after a stewards enquiry, which left him in 13th position.

But this weekend the Cheshire rider is looking to settle the score, and has only one thing on his mind - victory.

“Thruxton was a nightmare. It went from being an amazing weekend to a disaster in a matter of hours. I jumped on the bike for the first time on Friday, qualified on pole on Sunday, and won the race on Monday. But the enquiry ended up with me docked twenty seconds, and there is nothing I can do about that now. I’ve just been consoling myself with the knowledge that I was fastest man out there all weekend, so I know I can do it again. I showed the rest of the field that I am a strong contender now, and I’m looking forward to shaking them up again this weekend.”

Oulton Park is a particularly important round for Mainwaring, as it is the Frodsham rider’s home track.

“Krystal Racing Space Air have provided me with a fantastic bike and, combined with my local knowledge of Oulton, there is no reason why I can’t win on Monday. If anything, the Thruxton fiasco has just got me even more fired up. I’m going out there to win.”

Howie officially joined the squad two weeks ago, following his dominant form at Thruxton. He joins as team-mate to Jay Fernandez of Guildford, who has been with Krystal Racing Space Air since the start of the season.

“I’m hoping to get a good weekend at Oulton, especially after finishing my first race at Thruxton,” said Fernandez. “It is taking me a while to get used to the bike, but I’m looking forward to this weekend to see if I can better my 26th place two weeks ago.”

Team boss Tony Astle believes Howie’s arrival has fired up the whole team, who last year took reigning champ Lee Jackson to victory.

“Krystal Racing Space Air has a very strong package now, and with Howie onboard alongside Jay we know we are going to be running up at the front end this weekend. Howie is more than capable of winning races, and we are 100 per cent behind him. He was unlucky at Thruxton but is determined the same thing will not happen again.”