TT winner Gary Johnson aims for strong end to short circuit season
Tuesday 02 October 2012
TT
Isle of Man TT winner Gary Johnson is hoping for a positive end to the National Superstock 1000cc Championship after disappointing race at Silverstone.
Johnson, from Broughton near Brigg, took 12th in the penultimate round on Sunday, putting him 13th in the standings on 54 points with one race remaining.
After struggling to find a good set up on the Samsung Honda Fireblade, Johnson found himself down in 22nd place to start the 11 lap race from a sixth row grid position.
He got a fantastic start to complete the first lap in 9th, but the safety car was deployed for two laps, halting his progress. Once the car left the circuit the race was back on and Johnson moved up to 8th, mixing it within a group of five riders.
He exchanged positions within the group over the next few laps, but was eventually pushed to the back of the group and crossed the finish line in 12th, picking up four championship points - not enough to maintain his 11th place in the standings.
Johnson said:
“I was hoping for more than 12th, but we tried everything we could and now we need to come back at Brands Hatch and try and end the season with a good result.”
The season finale is at Brands Hatch on October 14. In November Johnson heads to the Macau Grand Prix.