Michael Howarth returns for M.A.R. at Oulton Park

Raceline Photography
By Stuart Williams
May 4 2006

M.A.R. rider Michael Howarth struggled with fitness in his first event for the season, due to a broken ankle, and Richard Marchant had little luck in the Superstock Cup at Oulton Park over the May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

Howarth was making his first Superbike Cup outing for the year, after a long lay-off due to an injury suffered at the official pre-season test at Snetterton, back in March. With his ankle only coming out of plaster the previous Tuesday, race fitness was always going to be an issue. Despite the obvious handicap, he still qualified as the sixth fastest of the Cup runners on the Sunday.

In race one, Howarth was forced to pull into the pits after suffering from fatigue. With some intensive therapy on his weakened ankle, he was able to start the second race, and showed signs of progress before an engine failure prematurely ended his day.

Fellow M.A.R. rider Richard Marchant was hoping to improve on his first qualifying session time in the Superstock Cup, but a damp Cheshire circuit meant there was little opportunity to better his earlier time, set in dry conditions. Unfortunately, any hopes of making the grid were subsequently dashed when Marchant fell.

Marchant was now looking forward to a six week break before the next Superstock Cup round, at Mallory Park. During that time the team had an intensive testing schedule planned for him.

“I now have six weeks until the next round, so I will be taking stock of the progress made so far. As part of this process we have a full-on testing and club racing schedule planned, which will hopefully set me up for the second half of the season.”

Team boss Malcolm Ashley said it had been another tough weekend for his riders, but everyone was hoping for improved fortunes.

“This weekend was always going to be a big ask for Michael, after such a long break from racing. To his credit he got stuck in and gave it his best, and in the second race a mechanical fault let him down. For Richard, the six week gap between rounds, and the schedule we have put in place, should really boost his confidence. Slipping back into the team manager role also means I can now devote all my energies to our two riders - and I can sneak a few more chocolate biscuits as well!”

The team’s next outing is the Superbike Cup round at Mondello Park, County Kildare, on 21st of May.
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M.A.R. is contesting the Superbike Cup with Michael Howarth, and the Superstock Cup with Richard Marchant, on Kawasaki ZX-10Rs.