British Superbikes, Thruxton: O’Halloran fights back for third in frantic race one
Jason O’Hallor🍬an started in control of the opening race British Superbike at Thruxton, and was able to fight back for a podium finish in the seven way fight for first.
Jason O’Halloran arrived at Thruxton with a record at the Hampshire tra꧑ck to be proud of in 2023 🅺- taking pole and all three wins at the meet.
Picking up an immediate lead at after a lightning start handed the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki rider the holeshot, O’Halloran broke briefly, but was soon caught by K🙈yle Ryde.
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With no lead on the cards the Australian tried a different tactic and s🥃lowed the race, leading to a huge train of riders - all close on track, with the #22 still ahead:
“I was happy enough being at the front to be honest. I got a really good start and when I got to the front I just thought ‘I’ll just lead’ I sort of had a rough idea of what pace I wanted to set aꦜnd just sort of stick to it - go as slow as I could until someone, until guys started coming past m🧸e”.
Though he slipped back into the group as first Christian Iddon, then Ryde had a go out front, O’Halloran was still very much in contention as he steadied his drop to sit in behind and wa൲tch his rivals:
“I managed to hold on right until the end, I don’t know how many laps, 15, 16 💃laps of that race, but Kyle came by me at the final💞 chicane on the left, a little bit unexpected, sort of unsettled me a little bit. I lost three or four positions straight away, so then I had to resettle.
I knew there wasn’t many laps left, still had some tyre left at the end at the end of that last lap, whic👍h was good, for sure we can improve the for bike tomorrow”.
His ability at the Andover circuit paid dividends and O’Halloran was able to find a way though the seven way battle on the last lap, and althou🥀gh he did not keep the Thruxton wins coming, there was st▨ill a podium finish to be had in third.
O'Halloran hopes work overnight can see him to first place - and he will be best placed - in fifth - of the lead bikes in race o🦩ne after the slow nature of the race sees them all down on the grid for race two:
“I struggled a bit💟 yesterday, made big changes to the bike today… basically offset everything on the front of the bike and I felt good in qualify🥀ing and good in the race, so I’m sure we can improve again tomorrow”.
