Motorsport: Ian Mackman of Runcorn races in front of 30,000 at Donington

Mar 31 2011 Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

RUNCORN’S Ian Mackman rubbed shoulders with the stars at Donington Park.

The second round of the Thundersport GB Championship was run alongside the World Superbikes and the 31-year-old from Palacefields returned fifth and sixth places after two action-packed races on his Suzuki GSXR1,000.

He said: “It was a great opportunity to race at one of the biggest meetings of the motorcycling calendar and in front of 30,000 spectators.

“I left the circuit with some big positives and know that some minor changes will improve the bike further.”

Mackman, who is backed by floor tiling company Kemtile, again struggled with shredding rear tyres in qualifying but took ninth place.

“Not a shockingly bad result given the high standard of competition,” added the racer. “The event had brought in entries from many of the British Championship riders.

“I took the decision to swap tyre brand again to Bridgestone for the races.”

The first race produced some hairy moments on the opening lap when a collision had seen a by then riderless bike career across the grass for 300 yards.

“I slowed to wait for the bike to pass but the rider behind me hadn't spotted what was going on and rammed into me,” added Mackman who had been in fifth position.

“Feet off the pegs, I regained control but had lost a few places. The lap continued to the Melbourne loop for the first time and the rider alongside me at the exit spun the rear tyre and highsided four feet to my left.

“I braced myself but sliced past the rider, who was approximately the height of my head!

“The race was stopped shortly after as the medics attended to the fallen rider. One my most eventful first laps ever.”

Mackman decided to tread carefully on the restart and crossed the finish line in fifth after being fourth earlier on the last lap.

The second race was run in much warmer conditions and Mackman also took time to acclimatise to small changes to the bike’s set-up.

He added: “The changes had worked and I pushed hard. Setting a lap time equivalent to the second-placed rider’s fastest lap. I held onto the leading group in fifth before losing a place on the last lap. I was happy with my times against some of the best riders in the country.”