Round Eight. Cadwell Park. Lincolnshire Wolds.

Very picturesque and always attracts a big crowd, Cadwell Park provides great spectating for the fans, on the other hand, it’s hard work for the superbike teams. With a pitlane inside the track and at the bottom of a steep hill in temporary garages, it’s a challenge for the crews. The riders either love or hate the 2.18 miles track layout. Very narrow with some daunting rises – the famous Mountain – rapid changes of direction and a couple of high-speed corners, it’s got it all.

Joe likes racing at Cadwell and was looking forward to testing himself there on a superbike. Max was just hoping to be fit enough to ride, still heavily bruised from his dramatic Thruxton crash.

To add to the fun, after the long hot summer the weather forecasts were pointing towards periods of rain over the weekend. Whatever the weather, we knew both Max and Joe would be aiming to deliver more strong results on their AJN Steelstock bimota KB998 Riminis.

Free practice testing

With safety paramount, the only superbike testing permitted at Cadwell takes place on the evening before the the annual BSB round with all the safety measures in place. A good opportunity for Joe to get up to speed and Max to test out his fitness. In the event, the weather intervened and it was wet as the pitlane light turned green.

Not taking unnecessary risks, we sat it out until a dry line started to appear towards the end of the two and half hour session. Joe completed 15 laps to familiarise himself with the track. Max did just five laps to see how he felt on the bike. The outcome was Joe feeling confident and ready to go. Max was satisfied he could ride and race, but knew it was going to hurt, a lot.

Free practice proper on Saturday. Dry for the first 40-minute run. Joe ran 17 laps and was fifth fastest. Impressive and an early indication that a strong weekend was in store for him. Max ended the session in P10 after completing 17 laps – only 0.5 slower than Joe. For him, the run confirmed how uncomfortable the weekend was going to be, but he was determined to soldier on.

FP2 was compromised by rain which arrived early in the session. Joe and Max were out on used tyres to get dialled in before calling in for new sets. Joe got an early lap in for P4 while Max was on a very good lap only to hit rain in the final woodland sector ruining his lap and leaving him P13.

Qualifying

Different format from usual for qualifying at Cadwell – weather permitting. The top 12 from free practice plus three more from Q1 complete qualifying in the Superpole format – one at a time.  Exciting for the crowd and takes into account the narrow nature of the circuit while the riders are on maximum attack at a circuit where it is very difficult to pass. Joe, never having done it before was nervous. He’d be going toward the end of the session as he was P4 after free practice. Max would have to go through Q1 after being caught out by the rain in FP2 and ending up just outside the top 12.

10 minutes warm up on Sunday morning and then straight into qualifying. Max has developed a habit in earlier rounds of qualifying in his own Superpole bubble, single runs consisting of out lap – fast lap – in lap. For a proper Superpole, it was a pity he was behind the curve due to his injuries. However, he topped Q1 ahead of Redding with his fastest lap of the weekend so far. When it came to his turn in Superpole he matched his Q1 lap and was sitting fastest for the first half of the session. He ended up P9. Joe handled his nerves and posted a time a couple of tenths faster than Max for P6. Ray on pole, under the lap record.

Good efforts from both and well positioned for decent races. A good grid position is critical at a circuit where overtaking is so difficult.

Feature race one. Max P7, Joe DNF

18 laps. Vickers passed Joe off the line but then ran on at Park leaving Joe in the leading group holding on to P6. Max lost a place but held position after Vickers ran wide and settled into his plan to get into as comfortable rhythm as he could and click off laps. Skinner was holding the lead with Ray hard on his heels, until lap five when Ray went down at Park with Stacey following him in a couple of seconds later. Skinner scampered off with a decent lead and wasn’t challenged again.

Joe promoted to P4. Max didn’t benefit as a recovering Vickers passed him, followed by Redding, P9. Lap nine and Vickers lined up his teammate O’Halloran into Park - fastest point on the circuit - with Joe just in front. It all went wrong. Alongside his teammate, Vickers misjudged the corner again but was unable to run on to the grass this time as Joe was right there, turning in. Vickers held on to the brake but lost the front and crashed with his bike sliding away and catching the back of Joe’s machine taking him down too. Cruel luck and despite all the apologies from the Honda team and Vickers himself, it was a great opportunity lost. A three grid places drop was Vickers’ penalty for causing the crash.

Max did benefit from Joe’s bad luck and was now clear in P7 and crossed the line 11 seconds behind the winner and a couple behind Jackson.  

Sprint race. Max P7, Joe P5

New day, another two goes for Joe. Max just winced at the thought of two more races and 30 laps! Uneventful warm up, Max only did a couple of laps to save his body.

Grid slots; Joe P6, Max P10. 12 laps to go. Holding positions off the line, Joe was all over Haslam, looking for a way through. He’d spend all 12 laps doing that…. Max was in a dice with Jackson which he’d won by half distance. Joe P5 at the flag, 0.2 behind Haslam and 4.8 behind winner Vickers. Max, half a second behind Joe at the flag, a determined and impressive P7 in the circumstances. Good outcomes.

Feature race two. Max P8, Joe P4

Grid Max P7, Joe P8. Joe determined to get stuck in, Max just wanted it all to be over!

Max got ahead of Haslam off the line but was soon joined by a very determined Joe, out braking him in to Park and making up three places on lap one. Critically, Joe was in front of Haslam too so could hang on with the leaders this time, on the back of his best mate and golfing partner Kyle Ryde. Max soldiered on in P7. Gradually falling off the pace and really suffering, he was picked off by Haslam, O’Halloran and over the last three laps, his teammate from last year, Iddon. P8, 14 seconds back but well ahead of Stacey and the following group.

Up front, Joe was having a sensational race. Sticking to Ryde as if his life depended on it and learning a lot in the process. With three lap to go Joe a was three seconds ahead of Haslam and only two and a half seconds behind leader Vickers. Easing off a bit, he crossed the line in a proud P4, a second or so behind two times champion Ryde. Well done Joe, well battled Max.

Championship standings

Max has dropped back a bit due to missed races and riding injured. Now P6 on 198, leapfrogged by Vickers on a very strong run and just four ahead of Skinner. Joe is now in the top ten – P9 on equal points with Jackson but with a better best result. Nine points behind Iddon, the man he replaced!

Honda have sneaked one point ahead of the AJN Steelstock bimota team so we now line up P6 in the teams’ championship.

Next time

Passport required next time as we head off to the European mainland and Assen in Holland. An iconic grand prix circuit where highspeed action is guaranteed.

Max loves Assen and has won junior class races there. The flowing layout suits his style. Let’s hope he’s fully recovered from his bumps and bruises.  Joe was on the Supersport podium there last year so knows what to expect. His attacking style should see him in the mix again.

It’s a bit of a trek but hope to see you there.

Regards Nigel. Team Principal.