A BIKE fault, a “horrible” start, a red flag and passing more than a dozen riders meant it was an action-packed weekend for Lewis Rollo.
Two races at Oulton Park last weekend saw the Gifford racer pick up 21 points.
However, that fails to tell the full story of an event that saw Rollo second fastest over the two practice sessions but then starting the first lap of the race from the pitlane at the very back of the field.
He said: “I went into race one and got out onto the grid and everything was alright.
“I went to press the start button and the bike cut off and it would not start. I was trying to start the bike but got pushed off the grid.
“As we got it in, we moved the bike into the pitlane and it moved the wires a bit and allowed the bike to start.
“I got to the end of the pitlane but had to start there and wait until the last person had passed before I was allowed to go.
“I was probably 10 seconds behind the last-place guy in the race and had to catch him first.”
Instead of battling it out for a podium and potential race win, Rollo found himself having to make his way through the pack to try to pick up any points.
The top 15 racers score points and the county sportsman found himself up to 14th before another hurdle.
He said: “I got through to 14th but the race was red-flagged.
“It went back a lap and I ended up finishing in 15th, which is a bit unfortunate.
“The race had got stopped four laps early and I could have moved up and managed to get top 10 and that would have been a good salvage from what had happened.
“Still, we got a point and you never know, that could count big at the end of the season.”
On the Sunday, Rollo was back in action and starting eighth on the grid.
However, he got “one of the worst starts of my career” and found himself down in 11th place.
Again, that meant trying to find a way through the field, which he managed to do and, ultimately, he came home in third.
He told Courier Sport: “I know it is all could have, would have, should have, but we could have got more points.
“We could have extended our points over Scott Swann in fourth and, on the Sunday with Luke Mossey crashing out, we could have gained points on him as well.
“If everything had gone to plan, it could have been a really good weekend for championship position.
“Unfortunately, it never, and that is motorbike racing!
“It could have ended a lot worse than it did and we will take the positives.”
This weekend brings a trip to Thruxton and a chance to pick up more points.
Only a single race takes place at the Hampshire circuit, but Rollo was looking forward to getting back on the BMW.
He said: “Thruxton is another track that I love.
“It is just mad – the speed is crazy and it always gives good racing.
“You cannot just go flat out from the word go because it wrecks your tyres and you will drop off at the end.
“The track is the widest and the fastest in the UK.
“It is good for passing, good for close racing and just the thrill of the speed.”
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