Layt is back on track at Brands Hatch

Norwich's Matt Layt returned to competitive motorcycle racing at the British Superstock Championship last weekend at the opening round at Brands Hatch in Kent.

Norwich's Matt Layt returned to competitive motorcycle racing at the British Superstock Championship last weekend at the opening round at Brands Hatch in Kent.

Following a serious motocross injury last year Layt spent many months with his leg in a metal brace and raced over the weekend still wearing a light plastic cast.

In the weeks leading up to the start of the season Layt and Formwise-Astro Racing team-mate Luke Quigley had taken delivery of two brand new Suzuki GSXR1000's and managed to test them for a couple of days in Spain prior to the Brands Hatch round.

Due to the popularity of the Superstock class the number of riders entered for the event exceeded the maximum number for the circuit and so qualifying sessions were split into two groups of riders. The top 28 riders qualified for the race automatically with the remaining grid places being decided in a shoot-out race.

In changeable weather conditions Layt found the going difficult, and after two qualifying sessions found himself in the shoot-out race to decide the final places for the race grid along with 24 other riders.

He quickly settled into a race rhythm and eased his way through the pack to finish in fourth place and so secure his place on the grid for the main event on Sunday.

Race day saw much better weather conditions. Layt started on row eight of the grid and once he had settled into a race pace managed to make up places throughout a hard-fought race to finish in a creditable 23rd place.

The series now moves on to the Thruxton circuit in Hampshire in two weeks' time where Layt will be aiming to move up the order as he gets used to riding the new Suzuki.