draperRACING duo both claim 14th at Oulton

Tommy Philp, from East Kirkby, began his campaign in the British Supersport championship from a sixth row grid position in 16th place for the start of his first race on Sunday.

He lost a couple of places in the early laps but fought back to 15th mid race and began to reel in Jamie Perrin some way ahead.

He caught and passed him on the penultimate lap and crossed the finish line in 14th place to pick up two championship points.

Philp was awarded a seventh row start to the 16 lap feature race on Monday but his progress was halted when the safety car was brought out for a crash on the first lap.

By the time the car left the track they were on lap four and Tommy was able to begin his move forward.

He was up to 19th and looking to make a move on the rider ahead when the red flag brought the race to an early end.

But one of the front running riders crashed just a fraction of a second before the red flag which gave Philp a finishing position of 19th.

No points this time but the two gained in the sprint race see Philp move to 19th position in the rider standings on five points.

Meanwhile Aaron Clarke was having the best weekend of his career; in the second qualifying session of the Superstock 600 championship round he was running in second place for a while but eventually ended the session in fifth place.

When the times were added to the first qualifying times Aaron was placed sixth and was to start his race on Monday from the second row.

The Lincolnshire rider from Kirton was over the moon with his result and said: “Great to finally be closer to where I want to be and repaying everyone for their hard work.”

But by the time the riders took up their grid positions the track was fully wet from yet another heavy rain shower.

The race was delayed for over half an hour as rivers of rain were running across the track.

The rain stopped and the riders did a two lap warm up to see what conditions were like and then came under orders.

The race was cut from 14 to nine laps and Aaron was a little cautious in the tricky conditions taking it steady on the first lap and losing ground to 13th place.

By lap three he was in 14th and one lap later down to 15th.

But as the race progressed he gained in confidence and moved back up to 14th on lap six of the shortened race.

He held station to the chequered flag to pick up two championship points, his first ever points in the series.

Aaron commented: “I have only been racing for four years and six months of that I was out injured.

“I am really happy today to have scored my first points in the series, the first of many I hope.

“Thanks to my team for all their hard work over this difficult weekend.

“Also many thanks to Paul Draper of DraperVENT title sponsor of draperRACING.”

Aaron is now 18th in the rider standings with the two points gained at Oulton Park and will be anxious to add to this at Brands Hatch in round three on May 22.