Tim Hastings Racing #50

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Round 1 - Brands Hatch GP (7/8/9 April)

Tim Hastings successfully completed a highly satisfying Easter weekend debut with a 10th place finish in the first round of the British 125GP Championship Cup at a sun drenched Brands Hatch.

The Falkirk teenager had never raced on the full GP circuit before and, with only limited pre-season testing on the Banks Racing Honda, the primary aim for his BSB debut was to make sure that he qualified for the starting grid on race day.

Saturday practice gave Tim his first opportunity to move from the familiar territory of the short Indy circuit and learn the best lines round the full 2.6 mile Grand Prix track. An afternoon excursion into the gravel trap at Westfield resulted in a low speed tumble but, with no damage to bike or rider, Tim was soon picking up the pace and finished the two free practice sessions 23rd overall, with a best time of 1.41.3.

Having made a few minor tweaks to the Honda's gearing, Sunday's first qualifying session saw Tim put in a sub 1.40 lap and qualify comfortably - provisionally in 22nd position. With the pressure of achieving a qualifying time removed, Tim was able to relax in the afternoon and finished the session with a best time of 1.39.4. Despite upping the pace Tim slipped marginally down the timesheets and ended the combined qualifying in overall 26th position, which set him on the 7th row of the grid for the race.

A late change in the running order meant that the 125cc race was held before the second superbike race, so Tim took to the track for his first ever BSB race in front of an estimated 41,000 spectators. Putting aside any pre-race nerves, he got off to a perfect start, cutting through the row of riders in front and making up a number of places in the initial run up to Paddock Hill bend - only to find the same riders coming past him on the uphill approach to Druids.

Tim soon found himself embroiled in what was to become a race-long battle with six other riders - including Banks Racing team mates Jamie Ferguson and Michael Hill - constantly swapping positions as the laps counted down. In amongst much more experienced riders Tim kept his nerve and battled hard for the full 15 laps.

Going into the final lap in 21st place, Tim ran wide exiting Druids as he avoided Jamie Ferguson's crash, and with insufficient time to recover, he finally crossed the finishing line in 24th place overall. This also gave him an impressive 10th place finish in the Cup competition, and gained him six valuable points from his first race.

A fastest race lap of 1.38.7 also pleased team owner, Pete Banks, who was impressed by Tim's progress throughout the weekend. With Tim quickly learning to understand the data recovered from the machine and constantly lapping faster and faster, he looked ahead to Round 2 at Thruxton, saying "There is no doubt that Tim has the speed, we just need to work on his aggression."

Tim himself was delighted with his weekend's work (read his own account here) and is already looking forward to getting back on track in only a few days time at the fast Hampshire circuit for the next race in the 2007 season.

Team Twister would also like to pass on thanks to Shark Helmets who were in attendance all weekend, and who examined and serviced Tim's helmet after his minor spill.

Images by Guy Cope of Cope Images Photographic Solutions

Read the race reports from previous rounds.