Gorleston rider Charlie King grabs maiden national victory
Gorleston's Charlie King (number 76) takes Chrissy Rouse on his way to a maiden national victory at Brands Hatch. Picture: Barry Clay - Credit: Archant
Charlie King built on his Snetterton form with a maiden Triumph Triple Challenge victory at Brands Hatch.
The 16-year-old, fresh from two podium finishes at the previous Snetterton round was looking for better things at Brands.
After a flying start in Friday's race it wasn't long before he was in the lead, but the usual protagonists were not letting him have it all his own way and Chrissy Rouse soon made a move to pass him, bringing Dan Helyer and Alex Aulestia with him.But King came back at him at Paddock Hill Bend with three to go.
Rouse tried to shut the door on King as they went into Druids but Charlie dived under him and took the lead, a move he had to repeat again with one lap to go –this time they touched and Rouse had to sit up, but King held on to the lead to claim his first National Race win and also the Cup win for riders with less experience.
He not only increased his lead in the Cup class but jumped from fourth to second in the Triumph championship by Sunday evening.
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Sunday's race saw King start from the second row due to the faster laps from others. King got boxed in and a safety car left him with little time to improve on his fifth place. Yet he still put in a sterling ride to take third and another Cup class win.
In the Ducati 848 Challenge on Friday, Norwich's Byron Beckett secured an excellent fifth but on Sunday crashed out. Fellow Norwich rider Jack Keen had two solid 10th finishes.
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As for the Superstock 1000s, Simon Andrews on board the RAF Reserves Honda – Lee Hardy's race team based at Marham – had a few issues.
But despite that, Andrews still found good pace and he climbed his way through a field of 40 riders to eventually finish a decent 17th in what is a competitive series.
Former World and British Superbike rider Andrews is gradually finding his true form prior to his big crashes, and it hopefully won't be long before we see the Andrews vintage of a couple of years prior.
