Tom Hayward takes his first career win at Race 2 of the Triumph Triple Challenge (TTC). After his success yesterday clinching his first podium, Hayward improved on his performance and was first across the finish line, followed by Chrissy Rouse and Tom Ward.
Ward had doubted he would compete today, or again this season, after his engine blew up in this morning’s warm up session. The team managed to replace the engine only 15 minutes before the riders moved to the track and the hard work paid off. He started from the fourth row on the grid but made an out of character risky move to the inside avoiding early traffic and moved into 5th place.
The 17-year-old from Canterbury was able to move into 3rd place by the end of the first lap and commented: “Although I’m glad I got the engine change, I didn’t think I’d do that well. I got a decent start and then fortunately for me there was the crash on the Paddock Hill bend early on and then everyone seemed to hold up. I had a couple of big moments coming out of Graham Hill but overall my plan paid off all right.”
Rouse - who also had problems in warm up - coming off the track and needing to replace parts of his bike, managed to move up eight places and into 2nd in the first lap. The 16-year-old, who won the Triumph Young Guns scheme last year, almost high sided on the last lap but managed to save it.
Extremely wet conditions meant riders had been slipping off the track all day and there was no change here for TTC competitors. Twenty-two nervous riders lined up on the grid after making it clear their main aim for today was to finish the race.
The track certainly lived up to expectations with Christian Elkin, Phil Atkinson and Piers Hutchins coming off on the first corner; a disappointing start for Elkin who had qualified on pole after achieving the fastest lap in yesterday’s race. Atkinson and Hutchins also had high hopes, both starting in the top five.
Race winner, Tom Hayward, commented: “The conditions were just horrendous but I’ve been doing a bit of speedway through the winter and I think it’s paid off – getting the bike sideways didn’t seem to bother me!”
Kelvin Hoare made a fantastic start to his TCC campaign, progressing from 12th to 4th by the sixth lap and posting a fastest lap. He was battling with James Egan for position but flew off his bike at Druids. The race was red flagged and not restarted, meaning half points were given.
It was a good result for riders Rouse and Richard Steadman who came top in the Premier class. Daniel Fuller who came 3rd in the class also posted the fastest lap before the red flag came up.
Rouse commented: “I had a fantastic start right around the outside and then I could hear all the crashing behind me. I just settled into my nice little rhythm. I was trying to catch first place and I had a huge moment, so close to having a high side, but I just saved it! I’m really pleased.”
