NEATE’S CHANCE TO REPEAT OULTON SUCCESS
09 September 2004 - Honda Racing

Steven Neate goes to Oulton Park in the hope of scoring his second podium finish of the season at the Cheshire circuit.

The first visit to the track in 2004 for round four has been the only race that the Barton-le-Clay teenager has finished in the top three.

After showing a return to form at Cadwell Park for round 11, 17-year-old Neate will be trying to repeat his early success at Oulton Park this weekend. He had qualified in 17th position at the Lincolnshire circuit, but powered through the field to collect six deserved points for finishing inside the top ten for the first time in seven races.

His Red Bull Rookies Honda team-mate Eugene Laverty is focusing on a win. The Ulster teenager trails championship leader Christian Elkin by 16 points going into the penultimate round.

Laverty knows that nothing less than a victory will do. He will be intent on erasing memories of his last visit to the circuit when a technical problem with the Red Bull Rookies Honda RS125 forced him to retire on lap five while leading.

Laverty kept his championship hopes alive at Cadwell Park – Red Bull Rookies Honda’s home event. The 18-year-old Toomebridge rider claimed third place for a podium finish behind Ashley Beech and Elkin.

Eugene Laverty (2nd = 167 points): “It was disappointing for me to have to retire from the race in round four at Oulton Park. These things happen though and I’m looking forward to giving the track another go. I really need to try to focus on the next round. I’m only 16 points behind Christian [Elkin] and I could do with a win to really close the gap.”

Steven Neate (11th = 51 points): “I enjoyed racing at Oulton Park with Red Bull Rookies Honda, and getting a podium finish was the icing on the cake. I’m definitely looking forward to racing there again and this time I’ll be hoping to go one better. My season hasn’t exactly gone according to plan since that race in May, but I’m confident that I can finish the series on a high.”

www.honda-racing.co.uk

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