Held Racer Report: National Superstock 1000 Brands Hatch: Leon Jeacock

Leon and the Geo E Davies and Smirk Racing team returned to Brands Hatch for round six of the Pirelli National SuperStock1000 Championship. The Grand Prix layout was being used on this occasion (the Indy circuit having been used earlier in the season) After two points scoring finishes in the last round Leon was hoping for more success on a circuit he enjoys.

Free practice went well for Leon, finishing in the top ten in free practice one he then applied some changes in free practice two, this coupled with the rise in temperature in the afternoon sun resulted in thirteenth place, but had a good set up for the stand alone qualifying session to be held on Saturday morning for which the grid would be set for the two-part race later in the day. Qualifying went well for the team and Leon took eleventh place on the grid which was a third row place. 

Making a great start and tagging onto the lead pack Leon was settling into a good race pace when a mechanical problem caused him to pull out of the race which meant he couldn’t start the second part. The mood was deflated but the team knew they had the speed and set up for a good result in Sundays race.

Tenth on the grid for Leon once again gave him the chance to run with the leading group from the start and this he did. Making three places in the early laps he got stuck behind the sixth place rider for a sizeable part of the race and when he finally passed him the gap to the top five group was too big to bridge in the remaining laps. He crossed the line in sixth place which was his best result of the season for Leon and the team and they go onto Thruxton full of confidence and hoping to repeat this result.

Speaking after Leon said “we got the result we wanted, we came with the intention of a top ten finish and to get that after the disappointment of Saturdays mechanical woes where we couldn’t finish race one or start race two, the team are over the moon” adding “we move onto Thruxton now, another circuit I enjoy and we are aiming for a top five finish there, thanks to all the sponsors and team members for all their help hope they enjoy the result as much as I have”.

Held are pleased to support Leon Jeacock of 
Geo E Davies and Smirk Racing!

Held Racer Report: Zoek Racing's Sean Neary, Brands Hatch GP

ZOEK RACING BRANDS HATCH GP

The two Zoek Racing riders Sean Neary and Craig Currie were at Brands Hatch last weekend for round five of the Ducati TriOptions Cup where Neary rode to a brace of podium finishes, a second place in the first race on Saturday and third on Sunday while Currie was unlucky for his Ducati to suffer a technical issue in the first race but he bounced back to finish race two in 13th position.

Sean Neary- Two podiums at Brands Hatch

Neary from Lymm in Cheshire completed his qualifying in third place and began the first race on Saturday from a front row grid position. He passed Josh Day on the opening lap and settled into second place behind Rob Guiver. Although he was within 0.2s from his rival in the early stages he was unable to pass him and completed the 12 lap affair in second place.

Starting the second race on Sunday from the front row once again, this time he didn’t make the most of his start and completed the first lap in fourth place. He was racing ahead of a group of five riders all challenging him for fourth place but he didn’t intend to give up his place without a fight. On lap eight he was holding fourth but challenging Day for third place with three riders in close company behind him. On the final lap he finally made his move and snatched third place from Day and very nearly took second. As they crossed the finish line Neary took third place but was just 66 thousandths of a second away from Lewis Rollo in second place.

Neary said: “Phew that was close! I had a problem in the early laps as I thought I had oil on the foot peg so dropped back a bit, but then I realised it was ok and pulled it together. By then of course it was too late but we gave it a go and we got a couple of podiums so I can’t complain.”

Currie from Newark began the first race from a third row grid position and was circulating in 13th place for a while. He was elevated to 12th on lap four when a rider ahead returned to the pits after receiving a ride through penalty for a jump start but Currie encountered a problem with the brakes and retired to the pits at two thirds race distance.

Starting the second race on Sunday from the sixth row The Nottinghamshire rider was down in 17th place on the first lap. On lap two he passed Danny Huskinson and was elevated to 15th when Paul Slade crashed out ahead of him. He then overtook Michael Tustin on lap four and chased after Dave Mackay passing him on lap six to take up 13th place.

Tustin also overtook Mackay and then snatched 13th place from Currie but Joe Morphett crashed out of the race gifting 13th place back to Currie once again which he held to the chequered flag to secure three championship points and equal his best finish of the current campaign.

The championship takes a break and returns at Cadwell Park in the Lincolnshire Wolds over the weekend of August 17-19.

We're proud to be long-term supporters and suppliers of Sean Neary! 

Many thanks to Sean's team, Zoek Racing! Find your dream job at www.zoek.co.uk