Jenny full of surprises at oulton park
23.07.08
Picture courtesy of www.bsbsuperbikes.co.uk
Entering the second half of the season, the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship competitors rolled into Oulton Park in Cheshire, for Jenny, this was her ‘home’ round, and the Ellesmere Port rider was determined to put on a good show at one of her favourite circuits.
For her first outing of the weekend at the picturesque 2.69 mile Oulton Park International circuit, Jenny was faced with a difficult wet track, but determined to gain valuable experience, she opted to stay out, and find a good rhythm. To her credit she achieved her objective with 25th position overall, recording a time of one minute 52.571 seconds. The second free practice in the afternoon was completely dry, and although Jenny improved her lap times by almost seven seconds, she had been shuffled down the pack slightly to bring Friday to a close in 30th position overall
Saturday morning’s first qualifying session once more started off in wet conditions, but as the 40 minute session progressed the grip started to improve on a drying surface. Jenny circulated for the entire session, one of few riders to do so, and was comfortably inside the top 20, but frustrated that other riders had prevented her from going quicker. However, she timed her final lap to perfection, just passing the start / finish line as the chequered flag came out, and taking full advantage of a clear track, put in a superb lap of one minute 51.454 seconds, to place her in 3rd position, and provisionally on the front row of the grid.
Despite the prayers for rain, the final qualifying would be held in dry conditions. Although she posted her best time of the weekend, of one minute 44.718 seconds, she would slide down the order to 35th position on the grid for Sunday’s race.
In a challenging race, held in dry conditions, Jenny secured 27th place overall and 7th of the British Supersport Cup competitors, leaving her in 9th position overall in the cup.
Speaking afterwards, Jenny commented; “I was really chuffed with the result, and really enjoyed the race. It was great to be battling for position, and to get a couple on the last lap was cool! I set my personal best lap time of the entire weekend on the last lap, a one minute 44 flat, which I was chuffed with, as it’s two seconds quicker than the first time at Oulton earlier in the year.”