The Rob Hooper Yamaha UK Motocross team are edging closer to their first podium of the season after Ryan Houghton put in a fantastic performance at the first round of the Bridgestone British Masters at Culham to take 4^th spot in the Pro class.

The 3^rd fastest lap in qualifying bode well for the day, but an awful start in the first moto saw Houghton buried in the pack, coming round the first lap in 12^th.  After making slow progress for a few laps, Ryan fired his YZF 450 into life and went on a turbo charge to find himself in 5^th and on the rear wheel of Dan Thornhill and Liam Knight, but couldn’t find his way past and stayed in that place to the finish.

In the second Moto Ryan made a better start in 5^th and didn’t hesitate to make early passes and work his way into 3^rd position where he finished comfortably ahead of the competition behind him, which gave him 4^th position overall.

Ryan felt positive after his weekend saying “I qualified 3rd which was okay, the times were very close and the track was really fast this morning. I had a bad start in race one but made my way up to 5th pretty quick and closed right up on 3rd and 4th but couldn't find my way around them. I wasn't too impressed with that but moved on to moto 2. The track was in amazing condition all day and got nice and rough and rutted by our second moto. In that I gated 5th and made my way into 3rd pretty quickly. I was happy with my riding and felt good on the bike.”

Team Boss Rob Hooper came away from Culham with a smile on his face saying “It was shame we didn’t come away with a podium today. Ryan rode really well and until Liam Knight passed Dan Thornhill it was looking like he would be getting on the box, but that’s racing and he should be happy with his performance.  The track worked in really nicely so well done to the track team for that.”

With Robbie Dowson selecting to race in a club meeting to ease in a Shoulder injury he picked up at Canada Heights, and Kristian Whatley working on his suspension set up ahead of the third round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championships Ryan was the lone RHR rider under the awning.

Hooper said of Whatley’s absence “I decided to stand Kristian down from this one, we have a long week ahead with lots of Suspension testing leading up to the Maxxis and we need him fast and focussed for that one”.

Houghton too has spent plenty of time testing his springs, and coming away with a podium at Blaxhall last year in the Maxxis was upbeat going into it saying  “I had a positive day suspension testing with Multitek earlier this week and made a good step forward with the bike. I am really looking forward to round 3 of the British this weekend at Blaxhall. It's a great track and one that I look forward to racing every year.”

The full squad will be lining up on Sunday at Blaxhall for the 3^rd round of the Maxxis British Motocross Championships all looking to improve their championships standings, with at least one eye on the podium which so far has eluded the team in 2018.

Story provided by Rob Hooper Racing. Imae courtesy of Elliot Spencer