The two Zoek Racing riders Sean Neary and Craig Currie were at Brands Hatch over the weekend to contest round five of the Ducati Performance TriOptions championship where both riders brought championship points back to the team.

It has been a difficult start to the 2017 series for Lymm rider Sean Neary who has struggled with set up on his Ducati and the weather conditions on Saturday didn’t help his cause. The first race was reduced in length to 10 laps because of delays in the previous race and when the riders lined up for the start the rain returned making tyre choice and issue. The start was delayed in the hope that the light rain would stop but it soon became apparent this was not the case as it became much heavier and there was a further delay to allow teams to change to wet weather tyres.

With the race now reduced to eight laps Sean made a good start and was up to third on the first lap but was caught out by the slippery conditions and got the Ducati crossed up at Druids, losing places on lap two. He lost more ground at Graham Hill Bend ending up down in seventh place but began to pull back places, moving into sixth place on lap four. By this time the rain was torrential and on lap five the red flag brought the race to an early end on safety grounds with Neary awarded sixth place.

He said: “That was a pretty grim race today in terrible conditions but I managed to bring her home in one piece (just) to finish sixth. Let's go again tomorrow and hope for a dry race. Thanks to all at Zoek Racing for their hard work in difficult conditions.”

The second race was delayed while a shower of rain passed through and on the siting lap four riders crashed causing a further delay; the race then reduced in length to just six laps. Starting once again from the second row Neary made a good start and was up into third position on the opening lap. On lap three he made a pass on Jonathan Railton and moved up into second place and although only a fraction of a second away from Joe Collier he was unable to pass him and crossed the finish line in second place to pick up 20 championship points which place him seventh in the rider standings.

Neary said: “About time I pulled my finger out! So close to the win but I'll take second. Thanks so much to Zoek Racing Team, Rich from Maxton and Lee Jackson for helping getting the suspension how I like it. Now we can push on! Best wishes to Rob Guiver who was involved in the nasty crash at the start. Mega to have Matthew Sanders there and thanks to all my sponsors. Top job by my teammate Craig as well with P8.”

Meanwhile Newark rider Craig Currie began the first race from row four and he too struggled at the start but by the time the race was stopped he was running in 12th place. Two riders ahead were in a different class so Currie was awarded 10th place in his own class and bagged six championship points.

Currie started the second race on Sunday from the fifth row and he too got away to a fast start to take up ninth position before making a move on Dave Ferns in eighth place. He remained in eighth position through the remainder of the race to secure eight championship points and secure ninth place in the rider standings.

The next round is at Thruxton on August 4-6.

Report courtesy of Zoek Racing 

Picture credit Dave Yeomans #42 Craig Currie, #10 Sean Neary