A Weekend Of Podiums

Sam Middlemas and his Triumph 675 never left the podium in rounds eight and nine of the Derby Phoenix at Snetterton.

The opening race of the weekend saw the 20 year old lining up in eleventh position and looking upon improving that grid slot over the course of the weekend. From his third row start Sam made a progressive start moving up into seventh position passing riders around the outside at turn one and then passing sixth into Sear Corner.

The Middlemas Racing Triumph rider continued his push through the field and managed to out brake fourth placed Phil Hyde into Riches Corner. Sam then set off after the Yamaha mounted and second placed rider in the championship, Richard Gibson. The rain unfortunately did not stay away for Saturday’s race and started as Sam was gaining ground up to Richard Gibson. He managed to out brake the Yamaha rider into the Esses after the Revett Straight but overshot the corner slightly allowing Gibson back through.

Sam describes the following events, “I sized Richard up around Coram curve on the next lap while the rain began to fall, but it was only a slight shower but still wet enough to make the marshals put the slippery surface flag out. Gibson nearly crashed on the last lap at the bomb hole and this unsettled him slightly so I rode around the outside of him at Coram curve to take 3rd place and this is where I stayed until the finish line. I was pleased with this result as I’d not started on the front few rows and thought a top 5 would be more realistic.”

The second race of the day and the Formula 600 class saw an improved grid position for Sam with a front row start in third place. However, the start did not add any advantages as a poor start placed the Leicestershire rider in sixth position, he then made in roads passing a few riders into Sear Corner but only to be passed again on the straight and then yo-yoing back past them into Russell Bend.

“I managed to get into third quite quickly but by this time the front two Keith Watt and Alan Percival were both in the distance. I rode around for a lonely third but confident I could do better tomorrow with a better start.” declared Sam after crossing the finish line in third position.

Day two arrived and with the weather acting unpredictably the team had a difficult task ahead. “It had been a wet morning and we decided to put the wets in the bike but then around 10 minutes before the start of our race we decided it was drying too quickly and we had to put the dry tyres in! A mad panic followed but luckily we got the dry tyres on in time.”

With a drying track the race was going to be challenging as it was going to be slippier in places where it was still wet and with cold dry tyres going into the race it was a case of getting heat into them in one warm up lap which was going to be challenging as well. Sam made a much better start than the previous day by going into turn one in fourth place, a vast improvement on yesterday as Sam commented. “I managed to take third quickly and soon got dialled in and managed to take Keith Watt for second place and moving on to Alan Percival. A rider I had seen a lot in results at the top of the standings and also noticed had done the odd British Supersport round.” added Sam.

The Triumph 675 rider made his way past the Yamaha R6 mounted Percival and never looked back, Sam added, “I was watching my pit board with interest as I expected to have a challenge or two back as the conditions were quite slick and I nearly crashed going into the Esses on about lap 6 as I was still braking in the same place as the dry, but it had rained some more since the previous lap and the front started to slide.”

Sam took the chequered flag and the victory with a lead just under two seconds ahead of Alan Percival and Keith Watt. “I also got the fastest lap and I was really happy about the win as I didn’t expect to win unless it was totally wet at Snetterton.” concluded a delighted Sam.

The final and second race of the day for the Formula 600 class saw Sam and his Triumph lining up at pole position after the victory in the previous race. Sam recounts the opening lap, “I got a good start from pole position but was out braked by a novice who seemed to have a rocket on his bike for the start, that or on a kamikaze mission he ran wide and pushed me wide letting Alan Percival pass me but the novice was leading. He then went hot into Sear allowing Percival through to lead and I followed Percival to and into second. I then missed a downshift between the Esses a few laps later allowing Keith Watt to pass with ease on the exit.”

Sam attempted to pursue Watt but felt unsettled on the bike as it was sliding from the rear. This allowed Richard Gibson to pass and relegated Sam to fourth position. Seeing from his pit board that there was a large gap back to fifth, allowing him to concentrate on riding his own lines. Sam soon settled into a comfortable rhythm and passed Gibson back into third. Sam concluded, “It was too late to do anything about Watt and eventual race winner Percival who rode a fantastic race to win his second 600 race of the weekend. I ended the race in third and semi content.’’

Sam also competed in the Thunderbike class over the weekend which was straight after the 600 races. It was a frantic rush to get the bike refuelled and to the grid on time but luckily as he was a front runner in the previous race he had a little more time. Sam struggled a little against the big bikes on the long straights and was unable to repeat his victory at Brands Hatch in the class.

He did manage three third place finishes and a 4th in the last Thunderbike race when the red flags came out after an incident where two riders went down at the bombhole:

“I expected to find it tougher in the Thunderbikes here at Snetterton due to the long straights as I am on the smallest bike in the race, so to come away with some good results like that is pleasing. I was swallowed up into turn one in every race off the line so it was always hard for me and especially when 1000’s blasted past on the straights and got in the way in the corners breaking up my rhythm and corner speed.

“I found the back to back races a good challenge but it did hinder us a little with tyre choice when it was raining I’d of liked to of ran a intermediate. Due to being in the race before, I didn’t have chance to change tyres though. I’m looking forwards to Donington in both classes as I believe I can do well at my favourite track and I’m aiming to try and win in both classes but if not I’ll just do my best as I know there will be a lot of stiff competition and grids of full capacity.’’

“I’d like to thank my Dad, Brian Nicholson of BN Race Science, Stefan from eons netmedia and Dave Hamlet for their help this weekend.’’

The performances of the weekend has allowed Sam Middlemas to move up the championship leader board despite only competing in two rounds in this series and allows the rider to have a better grid position for the first race at Donington Park on July 8th.

By: Robin Goodwin