Martin Jessopp

Thruxton is my home race and one I always look forward to.  I like the circuit and all my friends and family come along to support me. The weather was hot all weekend which made riding quite hard work but I wasn't going to complain. Through all the practise sessions we were really struggling with rear grip going into the corners and this was losing me a lot of time. I ended up 21st overall and 5th privateer so I was far from happy with this.
 
Myself, and the team spent a lot of time looking at the data trying to figure out what we were going to do to try and get rid of the chatter in time for qualifying. In the first part of qualifying it was apparent we still had some issues with the set up of the bike and could only manage a time of 1.17.136 which put me 22nd on the grid and 4th privateer.
 
Race 1 saw me have a good start and make my way into the top 15 on lap 1 but after only a 5 laps or so I started to have the same grip issues again and was not able to keep up the pace I needed to to hold my 2nd place in the cup. Towards the end of the race I was passed by Tunstall and Hickman finishing up 17th and 4th in the cup which was the first time off the podium of the season.
 
After the first race we had some work to do to the bike. We made some big changes and after another good start I was battling with Walker, Gowland and O'Halloran. As the race went on it was looking like the changes had worked and was able to pass 2 of them and keep the other cup riders behind me apart from mason who was 8 seconds ahead of me. I finished the race back in the main championship points in 14th and back to 2nd in the cup.

All this meant I am still 2nd in the cup and a couple more points towards the main championship.

Next race is at Snetterton in a few weeks so hope to see you there.
 
PTJ #40.

Posted on 01/06/2009