Motorsport
Johnson shines at Cadwell Park

EVESHAM-based National Superstock 1,000 team JD Racing were in action again on Sunday as they took on the 2.2-mile technically demanding Cadwell Park in round ten.

The Lincolnshire track does not bring back happy memories for the team's Reading-born rider Danny Johnson who twice crashed there last season and finished in a disappointing 16th place, but this time things went much better.

For Saturday's practice session the team went with a base set-up on their Kawasaki ZX-10R race bike and would make any necessary changes before the afternoon qualifying session.

Despite finishing down in 27th place, Johnson and the team were satisfied that only small adjustments were needed to the suspension and brakes.

Rain was falling at the start of final qualifying, so therefore Johnson went out on wet tyres and was eighth quickest when the rain stopped mid-session, so he returned to the pits for a quick tyre change.

Johnson returned to the track but after being baulked by a number of slower riders he had to settle for 23rd place and a start from row eight on the grid.

After a good start to the race he was already up to 17th at the end of the first lap but Cadwell Park is a narrow track with very few passing places so it was important for him to settle into a rhythm before pushing too hard.

When he started the final lap Johnson had moved up to tenth place and was involved in a fierce battle before two riders ahead of him clashed together and Johnson took his chance in passing both over the notorious mountain section of the track.

He managed to hang on and cross the finish line in eighth place. In tricky conditions and after painful memories from last season this was a fantastic result for Johnson, who scored eight points and moved up to 14th place in the championship.

JD Racing and Johnson will be in action again at Donington Park on September 9.

Regional sport »