Superstock top five for Dave Johnson at Mallory
Xpress Racing
By Carly Rathmell
April 25 2005
21-year-old Dave Johnson scored an encouraging fifth place at the third round of the Metzeler Superstock Championships at Mallory Park. Johnson, who is based in Hinckley - only a stone’s throw from Mallory, was very content with his results.
It was a mixed day, with various crashes in other races - being red flagged and delayed - which put the Superstock race back by nearly an hour. The excitement did not end there, when there was a huge pile up in the first lap of the Superstock race, at Edwina’s Chicane, which once again brought out the red flag and delayed Johnson’s race.
Dave Johnson - photo © Raceline Photography
However, once the now reduced distance race got underway, Johnson was on a mission to run with the front runners, and was soon dicing it with the leading bunch. A few tyre problems caused Johnson to lose grip and slip back down the field, but nevertheless he brought his Suzuki home in a very comfortable fifth position.
Speaking with Dave, he said, “I was struggling with my tyres early on, and I was great into the corners but found it tough to get out of them without the rear tyre spinning up. I’m really pleased with the result, though, and it’s given me some good strong points in the overall championship standing. We still have ten more races to go, and I’m feeling much happier and more confident as the meetings go on. Ideally I would like to get myself on the podium, and that is the target that I have set myself. I know I’m capable, and the team are working so hard to get me there, so fingers crossed it won’t be long before I’m standing on the rostrum.”
Team Manager Nigel Broomhall was delighted with the result, saying, “I’m really pleased with the progress we have made since the start of the season. Everything is falling into place quite nicely, and Dave is getting consistent results which is great. Our next round is the team’s local track at Oulton Park, on Bank Holiday Monday (2nd May). Being based in Stoke-on-Trent we should have a fair bit of support there.”
The Drayton Cross/Xpress Racing rider was the top Suzuki rider in the Superstock class, and only 0.9 separated fourth position to sixth. He is now lying joint eighth in the overall championship standings. Johnson is looking forward to the fourth round at Oulton Park, Cheshire, on the 2nd May.
Race result:
1 Paul Young, Paul Young Racing, Yamaha, 12:57.315
2 Lee Jackson, Krystal Racing, Yamaha, 12:57.852
3 Craig Fitzpatrick, Comptech Graves Yamaha, 12:59.758
4 Marshall Neill, TW2/MSS Discovery, Kawasaki, 13:00.058
5 David Johnson, Drayton Croft/X-Press, Suzuki, 13:00.772
6 Ryan Rainey, Image Motor Sport, Yamaha, 13:00.945
7 Kelvin Reilly, TW2/MSS Discovery, Kawasaki, 13:02.282
8 Les Shand, AIM Racing, Yamaha, 13:02.700
9 Ollie Bridewell, Vivaldi Racing, Kawasaki, 13:06.864
10 Jason Davis, Jason Davis Racing, Suzuki, 13:07.377
Overall championship standings:
1 Lee Jackson, 53
2 Andy Tinsley, 41
3 Craig Fitzpatrick, 40
4 Adrian Coates, 36
5 Howie Mainwaring, 33
6 Paul Young, 33
7 Kelvin Reilly, 28
8 Ollie Bridewell, 21
9 David Johnson 21
10 Ryan Rainey, 18
11 Marshall Neill, 16