CUP RIDER SPALDING GAINS FANTASTIC FIFTH PLACE OVERALL
17 July 2006 - Centurion Racing

British Supersport Cup - Knockhill - 14th - 16th July

Pete Spalding celebrated his recent 19th birthday in style this weekend, 16th July, by gaining a fantastic seventh win out of seven races at round eight of the Bennetts British Supersport Cup Championship at Knockhill. Not only did he take the win in the Cup but he also took an outstanding fifth place in the overall Supersport class, his best result to date so far.

After qualifying in 16th place on the grid he was promoted to 15th place after Pole sitter Eugene Laverty was forced out of the race due to an injury sustained during qualifying on Saturday. Leaving him a lot of work to do Spalding was keen to get a good start and move his way through the field.

A strong start saw him hold his position over the start/finish straight and it was not long before his was manoeuvring through the fierce pack. On lap four he was sitting in 14th place, a number of riders came to blows and crashed out of the 28-lap race. Spalding was gaining positions on each lap and was up to ninth place by lap 14.

Sitting behind experienced Supersport riders Crutchlow, Sykes, Camier, Hobbs, Lowry, Vincent, Emmett and Hutchinson it was looking likely that he would gain his second top ten finish this season. A few more incidents on the field saw three more riders crashing out. The youngster was locked in a tight battle with TT star Ian Hutchinson for the final few laps of the race and managed a confident pass on him on the last lap to take an amazing fifth place as he passed the chequered flag.

A delighted Pete Spalding commented ''It''s been a great weekend for me and I couldn''t have asked for any better. I know some of the riders who were in front of me crashed out but the aim of the game is to get to the chequered flag, which is thankfully what I managed to do. I was having a few problems up to Snetterton even though I had won all the Cup races up to that point, I wanted to be higher up in the overall Championship and it was beginning to play on my confidence. This has been the best thing that could have happened to the team and myself. I didn''t know that I finished fifth overall until I got off the podium and even when the team told me I didn''t believe them. I like to thank everyone at Centurion Racing for helping me this season, they''ve all been fantastic and I really appreciate it and hope to get some more good results for them in the remaining races.''

Backing up his comments Team Manager Gary Stubbington said, ''We''ve definitely managed to turn things around this weekend. The main aim was to try and build on Pete''s confidence and see him gain some better results. He did a brilliant job and all the team are over the moon for him. It''s given us all a boost and hopefully we can maintain this form for the rest of the year. The four-week break has allowed us all to sit down and have a think as to which direction we need to be heading and it would be great if this is the start of it. Pete has been training and working very hard and has come back fully refreshed with a good ambition and goal.''

The team will be competing at Oulton Park this weekend 21st - 23rd July.

www.centurionracing.com

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