Rollercoaster Weekend for Ryan
Bringing the momentum from the previous two rounds, Ryan set the pace in the Official Test session on Friday at Cadwell Park, producing a 1:25.914 lap time on lap 35, leaving him clear of his rivals by +0.566 and the only rider to break into the 25’s.
On Saturday, blustery wind and rain arrived but didn’t damper the spirits for Ryan. He went straight out and set a good pace, sitting P3 for most of FP1 and topped the times in FP2 with a 1:37.026, meaning he went straight into the OMOLOGATO Superpole session on Sunday.
Sundays changeable weather meant the Superpole was changed into a standard Qualifier. Ryan crashed out without setting a lap time and was joined by Tommy Bridewell a lap later. The pair would start back on Row 5 later on that day.
Starting from the fifth row in Race One, he made a great start, but his luck again ran out when he had to retire due to a technical issue starting on lap 2. No lap time recorded, he would be further back on the grid for Race Two on Monday.
The weather had finally settled in time for the Sprint Race, Race Two. Starting from P20 and cut through the pack, by the seventh lap was running in the top eight, moving up to seventh a lap later before hitting sixth with a move on Jason O’Halloran on Lap Nine. Ryan’s fastest lap was 1:26.079 on lap 6, putting him on the front row of the grid for Race Three.
Finally on the front row for Race Three alongside teammate Kyle and Charlie Nesbitt. They all got a great start and Ryan sat comfortably in 3rd. On the second lap, RV took P2 from Nesbitt and moments later passed Ryde, setting a blistering pace as he crossed the line into Lap Three. Unfortunately, it was to be short lived, as he crashed out at Coppice seconds later.
Ryan Vickers
Race 1: DNF | Race 2: 6th | Race 3: DNF
Championship: 5th (208 points)
“We were strong all weekend and showed that from the first night at the test. We then had bad luck from there, crashing in qualifying, a technical issue in the first race and having to start 20th for the sprint. We came through the field in the 12-lap race, which was good, finishing sixth and getting a front-row start. We had a great pace all weekend and even had a little in hand.
The final race was on me, I needed to get up to a good pace, and let the race build before pushing on and trying too hard but I increased the pace and pushed too hard far too soon, resulting in the crash. It’s something I take away from the weekend and learn from.
I have to apologise to the team because they’ve worked really hard all weekend, but we have to bounce back now.
Congratulations to Kyle and the team on a strong weekend for him, winning King of the Mountain and the Cadwell 90 Trophy.”
