Josh Hiatt geared up for Brands Hatch test

The Heath Hayes teenager, who has entered the British Motostar series this year – in the standard class – is racing under the Sorrymate.com banner, which includes support from experience BSB racers Kurt and Matt Wigley, from Hednesford.

Hiatt, aged 15, who was back in action at Knockhill in Scotland, recovered from a bad qualifying session, starting from 16th, to make up four places over the finish line in race one.

He said: “I knew I had the pace to be able to be near the top 10. In the first few laps, I pushed hard overtaking multiple riders and came across the line in 12th place.

“I got a bad start in the race two, which meant going into the first corner I was in 18th place.

“I worked my way back up to 12th place within the first lap and broke away in a group with Franco Bourne and Sam Laffins, battling for 10th, but a bike collided in front of me, leaving me with a lonely race to come across the line in 12th.

“Overall, this was a great weekend and a massive thank you to everyone who made it possible.

“I would like to say a big thanks to Wigley Racing and my sponsors #sorrymate, #mptt, #lamassociates, #ridigroup, #omegascaffoldingsolutions, #thebrandwarehouse, #loweroadservicecentre, #lanmarc, #vagcar and #carworks.

“Also a big thanks to my family for supporting me throughout the weekend and Robert Baxter taking some brill pictures.”

Meanwhile, Ben Taylor’s latest stint in Thundersport GB was full of ‘ups and downs’, according to his father, Jason.

Racing at Mallory Park in the Superteens class, the 12-year-old, from Kidderminster, suffered a mechanical during qualifying, which meant he started the opening race at the back of the grid – having not completed a single lap.

“Ben was finding it difficult to come to grips with the track and with the bike still not 100 per cent he finished fourth in class,” said Jason.

“After a main jet change, the bike seamed to run a lot better during race two, but still struggling for pace he was running at the back and finished fourth in class again. Later that afternoon we got some advice on the gearing as we were miles off and made the recommended changes.”

With the bike now fixed, Taylor was soon back at the front end during Sunday’s races, crossing the line first in class after the 10 laps.

“We left the bike as it was and the fourth race was panning out to be a repeat of the third, with Ben and his mate trading places for the 10 laps,” added Jason.

“However, on the last lap, Ben hit a false neutral going into the hairpin, which sent him wide allowing two riders through.

“He recovered to finish third in class but the final two races were absolutely brilliant to watch – he really did himself proud. We’d like to thank Andy and family, and Matt from Bike-n-Sport for coming and showing their support.

“We also have to say thank you to Tony Perkin from Geartech, The Gearbox Specialists, for the new set of tyres, as well as DC Speedshop, Spektrum Interiors and Hideout Leather.”

Thundersport GB action returns this weekend at Brands Hatch.

Anyone wishing to sponsor Taylor for the rest of the campaign is asked to email jasontaylor75@hotmail.co.uk