Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot kicked off his 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Challenge with a fourth place in the opening race and only three seconds behind race winner Bradley Ray.
Linfoot, who had been tussling with team-mate Jason O’Halloran until the Aussie’s gear-lever broke, had to contend with a lot of tyre spin but said the Fireblade’s new engine specification works well Donington Park.
I’m quite happy. Of course I would have loved a podium and being the first place off is a little frustrating, but the bigger picture is that it’s a long season and fourth is a good way to start really, so I can’t be too disappointed with that,” said the Yorkshireman.
“The race was difficult, but also enjoyable as we were close with other riders and I enjoyed some of the overtaking moves. The tyre situation was difficult it was spinning a lot from lap one, so I had to settle into the CBR and I could see the other guys having similar issues, so I just made a plan to get stuck in and go with it.
“I finished three seconds off the win, which I’m happy enough with and we have a decent grid position for tomorrow, so we now have to see what the weather does overnight and tomorrow. The Fireblade feels good and I’m very happy with the new engine specification, it’s nice and calm out of corners and fast on the straights, which some other riders have commented on, so that’s good feedback for the lads and the work they have done over winter.
“We do have some things to brush up on and improve for tomorrow, but I am content on where we are and we now need to focus on being ready for when the guys up the pace at the front and when the weather improves, so we can move with them and continue building.”