The Aprilia Dunlop Superteen Challenge and the Pirelli Superstock 600s were the two classes representing Thundersport GB this weekend as the crowds at Donington Park were given an encore on both days of the World Superbike event.

After a hectic qualifying, young 13-year-old Aussie Matt Davies was again causing his opposition some problems in the Aprilia Superteens as his lap time that shot him to pole position was not only two seconds quicker than the time posted by Fraser Rogers last season, but was a full six tenths faster than second placed Wayne Ryan.

Rounding off the front row of the grid were Ben Gautrey and pint-sized Lee Jackson, with Championship leader Andy Reid struggling in the dry conditions back in tenth.

In front of a healthy crowd on Saturday afternoon, it was Matt Davies and Wayne Ryan that made the break away from the chasing pack, whilst Lee Jackson had settled into a comfortable third on circuit.

Davies looked strong and although Wayne Ryan was quicker in split one, Davies was quicker where it mattered in split two and three, making it a close affair for all ten laps with the Australian winning his second race of the year and collecting his winners trophy from Cal Crutchlow, Leon Camier and fellow Aussie Troy Corser.

Lee Jackson’s lonely race was rewarded with his first podium since Cadwell Park finishing third and Newcomer Tommy Mountain secured his best finish of the season in fourth, winning the Nitro Newcomers race in fine style.

Race Two on Sunday started with Davies and Ryan peeling away yet again, but this time Lee Jackson was closer to his rivals and despite recording his fastest laps, Ryan and Davies just had a little bit more in the bag and with a few laps to go, it was between the two of them, with Ryan this time looking the quicker.

On the final lap, 13-year-old Wayne Ryan held the lead and a tight line into every corner and the aptly named ‘Melbourne’ loop was the key corner for Wayne against his Australian opponent as Matt lost the front end with just one corner remaining, leaving the win and the fastest lap to an excellent Ryan and Second place then going to Jackson.

The battle for fourth was contested between Connor Tagg, Ben Gautrey, Scott Pitchers and Tommy Mountain, but when Davies fell on the final lap, Tagg was overjoyed to take the final podium spot after a few rounds of bad luck but Gautrey hit the dreaded bumps on the surface of Goddards and kissed goodbye to some solid points, leaving Pitchers to take fourth and Mountain fifth.

With Andy Reid finishing ninth, his seven points tally for the weekend was purely damage limitation on a weekend he’ll look to forget, whilst Wayne Ryan’s impeccable 45 points, now means he moves up to second overall, a point clear of Connor Tagg in third but now just 51 behind Reid.

In the Pirelli Superstock 600 races, two Northern Irish riders were the pick of the bunch as 18-year-old John Simpson faced 19-year-old Glenn Irwin who was brought in to ride the Co-ordit Yamaha R6 for the weekend.
The pair were both quickest in qualifying with Erol Ahmet securing his best qualifying of the season in third and run-away championship leader Dan Miles sitting fourth.

With the lights off, Irwin seemed to get the better start and in no time at all, the two Ulstermen shot away from their rivals and began their two way battle for the race win.
Further behind, Ahmet had fallen into the clutches of Miles and Tom Gazzard as the three fought it out for the final podium spot.

Irwin and Simpson traded fastest laps but with three to go, Simspon took to the front and put in a series of faultless laps himself to storm to victory and take his first win in the class since round one at Mallory Park.

The battle for third was whisked down to two as Ahmet was dropped by Miles and Gazzard and with two corners left, it looked like Miles had it sewn up until the Uxbridge rider drifted wide into the Melbourne loop, gifting Tom Gazzard the final podium spot and moving himself up to second overall.

Race two was all about the Northern Irishmen again, but this time Dan Miles wanted in on the action and the trio raced away from Erol Ahmet and Tom Gazzard who were left to complete the ten laps battling for fourth.

With two laps to go, Simpson had again broken away as he set the fastest lap of 1.38.5 to edge away at just the right moment to take the double and boost his championship chances after an awful Oulton Park. Just behind though, the battle for second looked to have been won by Miles over Irwin, but as the pair headed into the final corner, they both lost the front end without making contact, leaving a delighted Tom Gazzard to take yet another podium in second, and Erol Ahmet to take his first top three of the season in third.

With Snetterton up next, Dan Miles lead has been cut and he’ll need to keep an eye on Gazzard, Ahmet and Simpson if he wants to continue his great run so far for the Pirelli Superstock 600 title.