Manxman Conor Cummins got his 2010 season off to a flying start on Easter Monday when he took fourth place in the opening round of the Metzeler National 1000cc Superstock Championship at Brands Hatch. The Team Blackhorse Kawasaki rider was in fine form throughout the weekend, never out of the top 5 in the practice and qualifying sessions, and a brilliant ride in the 24-lap race, that saw him running in 2nd at one stage, was just reward for his stirling efforts.

 

With both wet and dry weather during free practice and qualifying, the Ramsey man proved to be more than adept in either and after placing 5th in the first (damp) qualifying session hopes were high for improving on that in Sundays second and final 25-minute session. Sure enough, a time of 50.378s in the dry conditions saw Conor move up to 3rd in his group and this meant that when the positions were combined for the two groups of qualifying, Conor was handily placed in 6th and on the second row of the grid.

 

Always a strong starter, Conor served up his usual flying getaway when the lights turned green for Mondays race and he completed the first lap of the Indy circuit in fifth place. Briefly relegated to sixth on lap 4, Conor was back up to fifth two laps later and part of a terrific 5 rider battle for second. When Sam Warren crashed out on lap 15, there was enough confusion in the pack for Conor to move up to 3rd and a lap later he was up to 2nd and looking very good for a rostrum position. However, the cool temperatures were causing a few anxious moments for all the riders and when the rear tyre let go exiting Graham Hill Bend on lap 19, it was enough for both Jon Kirkham and Howie Mainwaring to move past and push Conor back to 4th. Despite his best efforts, he couldnt find a way past around the tight, twisty 1.198-mile circuit in the final few laps and he crossed the line in 4th, albeit just two tenths of a second off second, for 13 extremely valuable and hard earned points.

 

Speaking afterwards, a highly satisfied Conor said: I always enjoy my racing but I definitely enjoyed that race today and it is so nice to get my season underway with a strong result and with some decent points on the board. I had a few skippy moments out there when the rear let go due to the colder temperatures but the bike was flying and the team have done a terrific job in preparing it for me. I thought 2nd could have been mine today but it was one of those races where the result could have gone either way and when I had a bit of a slide at one corner it was enough to let two of the boys through. I was a bit tentative for the next couple of laps after that as I was worried about the rear grip but 4th is a great result for all of us. We have not been out of the top 5 all weekend, whether wet or dry, and it is great for my confidence to be so competitive so soon. The Championship is harder than it has ever been with ex-British Superbike riders, the reigning British Supersport Champion etc but I am not in awe of anyone and I think we are going to have a great year. I am really, really chuffed with 4th place so a big thanks to all the team and sponsors as they have put together a great package that has allowed me to show what I can really do - roll on round 2!

 

Thruxton in Hampshire hosts the next round of the British Superstock 1000cc Championship with the meeting taking place on Sunday April 18th.