Ben Field has parked the bikesportnews.com/Vito Sport Ducati 848 Challenge bike on the second row of the grid for this weekend's double-header. After qualifying 25th in the Supersport class, the younster jumped onto our 848 and try replicate his free practice pace.
He was in second for the majority of the session but while making changes he slipped down to 12th before going back out and qualifying in seventh for the two races. We spoke to Ben after the session: “As soon as I jumped on the bike I knew it was going to be difficult because I was shattered after the 40-minute Supersport qualifying. It then took me a few laps to adapt to the Ducati due to a different ride height, tyres and suspension to name a few differences.
“Then I got into the rhythm and posted a good string of lap times”, said Field, “but as I turned into Paddock Hill halfway through the session, I had a big moment and was lucky to hold onto it. This unsettled me big style and by the time I had come down pit lane, composed myself and went back out I was in 12th. Once I was back out on track, I felt at one with the bike and track for the first time and posted my best lap on my last lap to get up to seventh.”
