TIM HASTINGS - Round 1 - Brands Hatch Indy

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Zax
Derren Brown
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TIM HASTINGS - Round 1 - Brands Hatch Indy

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Round 1 - Brands Hatch Indy

A week on from the opening round of the Metzeler 600 Superstock Championship at Brands Hatch, Team Twister can look back with satisfaction at a job well done as Tim took a top twenty finish in only his third competitive outing on the Team Green ZX6R.

With a massive field of 65 riders entered for the event - many with considerably more 600cc experience than Tim - the aims and expectations for the first round had to be realistic. After a series of successful pre-season tests, Tim’s objective was to qualify outright and try to avoid the shootout race. It soon became apparent that he was going to achieve this reasonably comfortably when he managed to record a best lap of 49.274s in free practice to end the session in P8 in his qualifying group (P10 overall on combined times).

With qualifying split into two groups, and the weather changeable throughout the weekend, the event organisers decided that the fastest 14 riders from each group would progress automatically to the grid for Easter Monday's feature race, but that their actual grid positions would be determined by alternate fastest times from each qualifying group. The fastest rider overall would therefore be on pole, followed by the fastest rider from the other group in the second grid slot, etc. This meant that while Tim was 11th fastest in his qualifying group, overall he found himself on the sixth row of the grid in 21st place. Ultimately, however, it meant that Tim had fully achieved his objective for the Brands opener.

In the race itself, Tim made a good clean start and was understandably very cautious in the opening laps, dropping to 24th before settling down to fast and consistent race pace. After a hard fought but trouble free outing, Tim ended the 22 lap race in 19th place and the team headed north pleased with his efforts not only in the race, but throughout the long and challenging weekend.

With pretty much everything different from last season, there is much to learn this year, both for the team personnel and especially for Tim. The step up to the 600 means changing his riding style and racing lines, dealing with the extra power and weight of the ZX6R - and coping with blisters on his hands and the discomfort they bring! All in all it was a fantastic weekend full of positives and the team moves on to Thruxton - always one of Tim’s favourite tracks - with a growing confidence but the same overall objectives.

It was very encouraging to see several of Tim's friends and sponsors at the circuit, namely Mick Simms, Tina Mason, Mick Eagle, Sharon Eagle, Kerry and Richard Gibson, Steve Laming and the Russell family, all of whom brought with them vast quantities of delicious Easter eggs! Thanks to you all.

Thanks also for the help and advice from all at Gearlink Kawasaki, and Tim also enjoyed an interview session on the Think! stand for Radio Brands.
Team Twister simply couldn’t go racing without the help and support of Gibsons, Evadne, Chevin, TCX boots, Shark Helmets, MCS Scotland, Murray's Motorcycles, Knox, NGK, and the many generous donations we have received via the "Twister....Powered by Fans" campaign.

Thank you to everyone - and see you at Thruxton!
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Well done Tim and Team
:2up
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