Tough day for Levi

WET AND WILD: Mount Gambier motorcycle racer Levi Day leads two competitors out of a fast corner during the penultimate round of the Ducati TriOptions cup at Silverstone in the UK. Picture: BONNIE LANE
WET AND WILD: Mount Gambier motorcycle racer Levi Day leads two competitors out of a fast corner during the penultimate round of the Ducati TriOptions cup at Silverstone in the UK. Picture: BONNIE LANE

IT was a tough weekend for Mount Gambier motorcycle ace Levi Day in the penultimate Ducati TriOptions Cup round on the British Superbike calendar.

The round was contested at Silverstone, with changeable conditions making for varied results.

“Silverstone is such a different circuit to most others on the British Superbike Calendar, with it’s hugely wide track layout,” Day said.

“I’ve always enjoyed riding Silverstone and had some good results there in previous years.”

However, this time the weather was set to play its part, with rain forecast, which is what Day faced in Friday’s practice and qualifying sessions.

“We made some changes to our bike set up, to try and give me the feel I’ve been lacking in the wet,” Day said.

“It was certainly an improvement, after I was 21st fastest in the wet at Brands Hatch, I was able to qualify 12th and closer in times to the riders at the front.

“There was still huge amount of improvement I need to make, but I feel we are making steps in the right direction.”

A good start in the opening race of the weekend saw Day move up to fourth place by the second lap.

But the weather stepped in and by the third lap conditions had worsened, with the race red-flagged, with 10 minutes allotted to change tyres, with five laps then run to complete the race.

“We were unable to make the bike fully how we had it in the wet qualifying session, but the boys did their best to make the suspension softer for me,” Day said.

“On the restart I managed to bring it home in 12th position.

“I learnt a lot that race and even though the result cost me some decent points, I need as much wet riding as possible, as I’m picking up more feel each time.”

Sunday saw more rain threatening, but after a few spots on the warmup lap, the remainder of the race was run in dry conditions.

After starting from 13th place, Day again cut through the field on the opening lap, moving up to fifth by the second turn.

By the end of the opening lap he was running in third, pushing hard for a podium finish, looking to keep pace with the leading two riders.

He ended up in a battle for third with teammate Jon Railton and Josh Wainwright, with some tight competition resulting, but in the end Day had to settle for fourth place a final-lap challenge.

“We all had sections we were quicker than one another and this resulted in some great battles for the second half of the race,” he said.

“I was third on the final lap and felt I’d rode smart to cover my lines in a few classic overtaking places.

“We came up to a back marker with three corners to go, who was right in the part of the track I was heading for.

“I went one way and Josh went the other, managing to get underneath us both.

“He managed to hold me off for the line and I crossed the finish in fourth place.

“I was of course disappointed to have the race decided due to some back markers, but fourth from 13th on the grid I was still happy enough with.

“I needed some good points for the championship, but I gave it everything.”

Day now has one round to complete the season, which is run in Assen, the Netherlands.