Tom Neave is out of this weekend’s Oulton Park BSB, round two of the 2024 British Superbike Championship.
Neave’s absence from the series is not a permanent one, but one which has been enforced by the results of his crash-strewn weekend at the season-opening Navarra BSB.
Neave crashed multiple times across the Navarra week (although it was only a two-day race weekend it was preceded by two-and-a-half days of testing) at the circuit’s infamous, super-fast first turn, including in Race 1. That first race crash then prevented the #68 from participating in Race 2 in Spain.
In a social media post, Neave said that the crashes had resulted in a knee injury and that the decision to miss the Oulton Park round - one taken by himself in conjunction with the GR Motorsports team he has joined this year - is “100 per cent the right decision”.
“I’m extremely disappointed to miss Oulton Park this weekend,” Neave said. “A knock on of recent crashes has led to a knee injury, and at this point in time, it is 100 per cent the right decision by the team and myself to step back this weekend. Currently, I’m waiting on results and the best plan moving forward.”
“I can only say a huge thank you to all the people behind me, the team and all our sponsors for being so understanding right now.”
Speaking to BritishSuperbike.com, Neave said: “I am devastated not to be able to race at the weekend, I was really looking forward to it. We checked the knee in Spain and it was sore, but seemed ok, but I tried to ride with weight on it at the weekend and after sitting down together Brent [Gladwin, team owner] and I took the decision that we needed to get it checked before I ride again.
"The MRI shows damage and now we are waiting for the specialist guidance. It was hard discussing who will ride my Stauff Superbike this weekend, but it was nice of of Brent and the Team to involve me and I agree with their choice.”
Neave will be replaced this weekend by Eemeli Lahti, who has previous experience with the GR Motorsports team in the National Superstock class.
Lahti told BritishSuperibike.com: “Brent called to see if I was available and wanted to ride Tom’s Stauff Fluid Power Kawasaki at Oulton Park whilst he was being treated for his problem. I am happy to return to the Team just for Oulton Park and do my best job. I enjoyed my time in Superstock with GR and I look forward to returning and seeing all of the team again.”
Two days of testing for the BSB riders precede this weekend’s Oulton Park BSB. Testing begins today (1 May 2024), and the weekend runs from Saturday 3 May to Monday 5 May.
