Scott’s Thoughts:

“Thruxton was another solid weekend on the new bike. I always look forward to Thruxton as I’ve had a lot of success there in the past and I went into the weekend keen and motivated to repeat that. I did feel there was maybe a bit more pressure on me with the new bike and the new team etc. but to be honest, I just got out there and did what I do best. I can feel the growing support around me and across the paddock and that’s really motivating.

Free practice, I spent most of the sessions on worn tyres, learning the bike and then developing the setup for the race where we knew tyre wear would be critical. For qualifying therefore, I was super-excited to get out on fresh rubber and to put in the one-lap-wonder. We carefully timed our strategy to give us space to get out and put in a hot lap, knowing that we only really had one lap in the fresh tyres. With some space in front, I hit the line and pushed hard, hitting all my markers to break the previous lap record by 0.6s, setting a pole time of 1:15:43 – a time that would have put me 13^th on the BSB superbike grid on a stock bike on treaded tyres.

There was only one race this weekend, so it was a long wait to get on the grid. I started well from pole and had a clear strategy in my head, but the lead bunch started pushing and getting excited, so it was a gamble to know where to sit and when to go. Looking back, I maybe dropped back a few places too many, but when the time came to push, I had more tyre left, and as a result and I got through to 3^rd closing the gap to the leaders. To win I should perhaps have pushed a wee bit earlier, but I crossed the line in 3^rd so was happy with that, all things considered. Sadly, on the last lap I clipped the green – my mistake. I was completely sideways and couldn’t adjust mid-corner without crashing or hitting someone else, so I accepted that I had to touch the green, knowing the consequences, but being safe. We lost our podium position and a trophy, but we know how well we went and what that means overall.

I can’t thank all those around me enough. Shaun, Lewis and the team from SMR, Dad and my own Swann Racing Team and everyone else who does what they do to get me out there. We tested at Cadwell on Monday and put in a scorching pace, even though it was only a track day, so we are well set up for the next round where we have two races again. I’m super excited to get there and do what we do. Thanks, again, to everyone who supports me, it really does make a difference!”