Tristan Palmer today had his first taster of world level racing after being drafted in to ride for Lloyds Jentin Racing team replacing regular rider Simon Andrews.
The New Arley rider said: “ I was sat at home and Friday afternoon about one pm I had a phone from Jentin asking me to replace Simon as he was injured from a crash on Wednesday. I said yeah I’d love to.”
“Stuck my stuff in the car and drove down yesterday afternoon, I had a sit on the bike and just moved everything to where I like it really. We missed all of Friday so today we were straight into last qualifying which was hard work really."
This was a challenge of a whole new level for Palmer who as a wild card participates in World Superbikes for the first time in his career working with a different team and riding a bike he has never ridden before.
Palmer said: “The team have just built a World Superbike motor, but I just couldn’t get on with it so we ended up doing the end of qualifying on the BSB bike and I went quicker straight away. In the second session I went slower, but I was back on the World Superbike that they built.”
“We are struggling with getting it sorted out. Its had no development so it’s just a new bike with me sat on it, nobody’s rode it before. We tried to sort the bike out to get it better as it would be better in the end but I think we will go back to the British Superbike tomorrow and get a race setup that they know really.”
Regarding this unexpected opportunity and the challenge that tomorrow will bring Palmer said: “I’m really excited, we’re struggling a bit but we will try to get it a bit better and see how tomorrow morning goes. The team is great and they are working really well. I have to give thanks to Tena for Men who have allowed me to ride this weekend.”