Quattro Plant Honda’s Grant Molloy still walked away with positives from the fifth round of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship at Snetterton despite an emergency engine change and suffering a last lap, last corner incident in Sunday’s race.
Molloy who continues to receive guidance from Jeremy McWilliams and now also major Superstock team Padgett’s Motorcycles has an extra task of learning the circuit at each round.  However this means by the time the race arrives he has already improved on his ability in qualifying.  Regularly the blue and white Fireblade is seen picking its way past anything between five or nine places when in battle.
It was usual Molloy style at Snetterton this weekend, after starting in 29th he was running 23rd as he started the final lap before the fun began following which he rejoined to finish 27th.  Molloy said: “I caught up with Micheal O'Brien and I was quicker than him in a good few places on the track.”
“I had passed him a lap or two before the incident but was struggling with grip.  I then decided to sit behind him for the remainder of the race to see if there was anywhere I could capitalize on him.  As I came round Coram’s I was braking later than him into the chicane.”
“This is where I thought I could square the last turn off and get a better run to the finish line.  As I came into the chicane and was ready to let off the front brake the front wheel locked up and I had to let go of the brakes sit it up and try to go up the inside of him.  This is where we collided and ended up in the grass. I feel it was totally a racing accident and I tried my best to avoid it from happening.”
The weekend didn’t start off well for the Enniskillen rider with him having to carry out an emergency engine change forcing him to miss first practice and vital track time.  Previously Molloy was unable to take part at Donington due to gearbox problems with this engine that was thought to be fixed.
However once the engine was in place immediately it was recognised that yet again it was unusable causing the team to revert back to the spare higher mileage, lower power engine, making his first time on track the first qualifying session.
He believes that currently being in the British Championship is the right place to be with regards to the amount of track time that he receives and the quality riders in the category which can only help him improve.
Molloy said: “I am very happy with my progress as a rider, I have already learnt a lot about riding a big bike.  I have also grown a lot as a person as having things go against you can demoralise you and set you back. You can’t let them, you just have to dust yourself off and keep trying.”
“Every race meeting and every session I learn another thing.  Of course I would love to be getting better results as this would help people take notice of me I’m not there to make up the numbers. I go there every weekend fighting tooth and nail to progress through the field.”
“I would like to thank Padgetts, who are a welcoming team that don’t mind helping out a young rider that is struggling, Steve Heneghan, Aaron O’flagherty my mechanic, Tamsin, Chris and Quattro Plant Hire.”