STORM STACEY SUPER SATURDAY and NEAVES FIRST POINTS with GR MOTOSPORT AT SNETTERTON
Snetterton has been kind to GR Motosport in the past, but it’s not one of our favourite circuits – not until this weekend that is …..
Stacey – Stormed to his and the Teams first Bennetts British Superbike Victory on-board the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki at a stormy Snetterton on Saturday – He looked on target to comfortably win his first race when the red flag came out before two/thirds distance after Rory Skinner crashed. Storm had gambled on tyre choice in the first run in mixed conditions but the rain came again forcing everyone onto the Pirelli full wet tyres for the 5 lap dash.
Leading away from pole position Storm set the early pace as he and Aprilia mounted Lewis Rollo pulled away from the rest of the pack.
Rollo took the lead on lap two and seemed to pull away as Storm settled but as they entered the last lap Storm applied the pressure passing the Aprilia down the back straight and pulling away to take his first BSB Chequered flag.
Behind the front action Tom Neave was working very hard, coming through the field on his #68 STAUFF Fluid Power Kawasaki to take a very strong 12th place and his first 4 points of the season.
Stacey who qualified on the front row and started 2 races from pole position – scored strong points in all three races and was voted by the fans BENNETTS RIDER of THE MEETING.
Storm Stacey commented “That was fantastic – I was so nervous not to ruin the first part of the race – when the red flags came out I was asking the marshals is it finished have I won?? Then I thought I have been robed – For the restart we were all on the same tyres and we had two warm up laps which settled me and off we went – when Lewis came past me I thought ok he will win the pathway and I will win it outright, but then I thought I can do this and I passed him down the back straight and we brought it home P1..
“It has been great to give the Team their firsts win after trying so hard for so long and I appreciate everything Brent has done for me – now I am going to have some pasta and blast out some tunes.
Tom Neave said “Snetterton is a good track for me and even though I am still struggling with my knee injury the Team continue to really support me. The first part of race one I was struggling but in the second part I found a rhythm and pushed forward into the points. I really felt good in race 3 setting good time but I just missed the points there but feel good for Brand Hatch in a couple of weeks.
Brent Gladwin – Team Owner “
We knew that my Team and Storm had everything in place when Storm qualified on the front row for race one The weather made the race start a bit of a gamble with tyre choice and we made the gutsy decision of wet front and intermediate rear!
At the start of the 16 lap race Storm dropped back to 7th as the guys with full wets charged to the front – Storm held station building into a rhythm that took him into the lead and pulling away on Lap 8 – The race was stopped on lap 10 for safety after a rider crashed – had we won?
The race was restarted with a 5 lap dash the worsening conditions meant wet tyres for everyone Storm leaped into the lead from pole position and into a battle for top honours
On lap 3 it looked like we were to take our first podium in 2nd if we held to the flag – Storm had other ideas taking the lead back on the last lap to win our first British Superbike race
An achievement everyone in my Team and all our partners can be proud of
LKQ Euro Car Part Superbike by GR Motosport are Superbike Winners
Tom did a great job on the STAUFF Fluid Power Kawasaki getting into the points and he is getting stronger every race, I am looking forward to seeing what he can do at Brands Hatch
If you are interested in talking to me about partnering with the Team in Marketing and Corporate Hospitality please don’t hesitate to get in touch – sponsorship@grmotosport.co.uk