Making excellent use of the three week break in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport series, Ellesmere Port road racer Jenny Tinmouth headed south once more to compete in the latest round of the Thundersport 600 Championship.

With all the action packed into one busy day, Jenny qualified in fifth position on the grid, and demonstrated fantastic race craft to take the chequered flag in a well deserved fourth place.

Having only secured a late entry a matter of days before the event the ‘Two Wheel Workshop’ race truck made its way into the paddock late on Saturday evening, under cover of darkness.

The following morning Jenny, riding with the unfamiliar number 18 plate, soon got down to business, and in the ten minute free practice session, secured the second fastest time, within one second of Thundersport 600 Championship leader Gary May.

Qualifying was held over 15 minutes, and with May scorching his way to pole position, Jenny would find herself in a frantic five rider battle for the remaining vital front row starting positions.

With all five being covered by 0.302 seconds, she ended up in fifth position on the grid for the race, ‘pole position’ on the second row, some might say, narrowly losing out to Metzeler National Superstock 600 riders Jonathan Lodge and Alex Gault, who were also making a guest appearance at the Leicestershire circuit.

With only the fuel and the tyre warmers to get ready for the race Jenny could afford time to relax, soak up the sun and watch a bit of racing, something that she rarely gets the opportunity to consider.

Lining up on the second row of the grid Jenny initially made a great start to the race, but was on the outside going into Gerards, so couldn’t make the apex, as several riders forced their way through on the inside. After the initial early frantic laps, the race developed with Rob Hoyles leading briefly, but being closely pursued by Gary May and Alex Gault.

Jenny had settled well into sixth place, and was soon to be in fifth place, having overtaken one of the Kawasaki riders. She now had some clear road ahead, allowing her to concentrate on consistent, quick lap times in the pursuit of Jonathan Lodge. A few laps later it was visible for all to see, she was gaining rapidly on Lodge, particulary on the exit of Gerards and on the brakes into Edwina’s chicane.

It was only a matter of time, and after one aborted attempt, she planned her attack perfectly, lining up Lodge all the way through the fast Gerards curve, making a stylish manoeuvre on the brakes into Edwina’s.

With the bike and tyres working well she eased away, and set her sights on Rob Hoyles, who had lost touch somewhat with the leading duo of Gary May and Alex Gault. Gaining all the time, Jenny just needed a few extra laps to get on terms with Hoyles, but as the chequered flag came out, she would miss the podium by just over two seconds. She had ridden an awesome race, and once again proved that she was a force to be reckoned with.

Speaking after, Jenny said: “I had a good weekend at Mallory park, the weather was great and I had a good race in the end. I didn't have a great qualifying or start to the race but really enjoyed overtaking people and Rob Hoyles every lap.

"I just wish the race had been a bit longer, but I'm still happy enough and glad to have done a lap 7/10 of a second quicker than I did on the Rizla Suzuki Superbike at the Race of the Year here last October. I'm looking forward to next weekend at Snetterton for the Hottrax endurance race and can't wait already for the next round of British Supersport at Knockhill.”

Jenny’s next outing in the British Supersport series takes place over the weekend of 8th-10th August when the series makes it’s only trip out of England, to the tight and twisty Scottish circuit of Knockhill.