Oulton Race Report
29th May 2004
Wet and oil slowed up the qualifying pace, Paul Taylor and Craig Shepherd the pace setters on front row. I lined up 22nd by Matt Urlwin, with Stuart Pearson and Gareth Wright in front. Al Boulton, the winner of the earlier heat, and Jon Howes, were just behind.
Race start and Wright dives left, I follow Malcolm Russell's Saxo, Howes gets alongside around Old Hall, and I lose position, blocked by Andrew Thorpe's slow moving XSi. I try to pass Howes up Clay Hill and chase into lap 2, but Shepherd rearranges the marshal's furniture exiting Cascades and the red flags are out.
Race restart, Wright dives left, Pearson and Russell get a jump on the row ahead and both go to the right of Pete Morgan, then either side of Ian Laughton. In the tangle Morgan gets sideways, tags Thorpe, catches the slide and recovers. I lift but avoid incident and have Richard Kingsnorth and Maurice Hayden to chase.
I catch Hayden up Clay Hill, but can't pass at Druids, Morgan catches us both and I have to defend into Lodge. Hayden goes wide, rejoins ahead, but Morgan slingshots past into Old Hall. Morgan passes Hayden up Clay Hill, then I pass into Lodge. 3 laps later and we are catching the group ahead, and on lap 5 Morgan passes Paul Tibbs into Old Hall, then Martin Boon and Stuart Nind by lodge. Lap 6 and Nind gets a slide in Cascades. l'm close enough by lap 7 to pass when Nind exits slow out of lodge. Lap 8 and Tibbs moves aside with problem, and I chase Boon, whilst defending from Nind. Pass Boon over line on lap 9, and hold position from Nind for provisional 10th. Taylor wins from Paul Sheehan.