Club championship for Langman in just his second year of racing

After a season’s worth of close racing, the Staffordshire star claimed the Thundersport 500 Sportsman title at Oulton Park.

Following a year of ups and down in the Thundersport GB championship, which is raced at circuits across the country, he ended his year on a high.

It was marked contrast to last year when he was knocked off his bike during the final round and was forced to sit out all the last races, which ultimately cost him the title.

Langman, from Cheslyn Hay, spent the winter months completely rebuilding both his dry and wet bikes but back on board his trusted Honda CB500, the 28-year-old managed to wrestle the title from his rival and friend Martin Bazeley.

"It had been a season of ups and downs, but one that he thoroughly enjoyed," he said.

“It’s been a good, clean and fair year of battling for the championship and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

"With the disappointment of last year, having been knocked off at the final round leaving me unable to ride, as well as my ability to regularly launch a bike at the scenery, I thought my best chance of winning a 500 championship had gone.

"Even going into the last race, with the weather worse than was forecast and not exactly in my favour, I still didn’t think I’d win it.”

The Thundersport season started well for Langman at Brands Hatch, with a class win and three second places in the cold weather, before moving onto Snetterton.

"This round brought some very changeable weather and another two wins, a second and a third," said Langman.

"The weather continued to wreak havoc at Cadwell Park’s spring meeting, varying between dry and wet, resulting in a sixth place in race one, before recovering with a second, a win and sadly a DNF."

Langman also enjoyed a brief foray into the East Midlands Racing Association at Mallory Park, which resulted in a third and another DNF.

“The DNFs from Mallory and Cadwell were traced back to a front brake issue, or namely the lack of one," he said.

"A certain design of lever was causing the brake to bind and boil the brake fluid, resulting in total loss of front brake.

"This undermined my confidence somewhat but thankfully we got it sorted pretty quickly."

Langman returned to Mallory in June, with Thundersport GB, with new brakes and renewed confidence.

The changes resulted in one of his best weekend of the campaign as he claimed two class wins and a pair of seconds.

Donington Park brought biblical rain, another class win and second place on Saturday. However, the Sunday would not bring the same luck, with two DNFs.

“I just pushed too hard for the conditions when I should have just stayed on and brought some points home," said Langman

A win and three second places at a scorching Anglesey, followed by two seconds and two wins on the series’ second visit to Cadwell Park, buoyed Langman for the final round at a track he enjoys – Oulton Park.

“Qualifying second on the grid in the wet, I was genuinely worried this would be the high point of the weekend," he said.

"For once in my life I took my dad’s advice to rein myself in during the races and settle into a rhythm that got me back shiny side up.

"The last lap of the second race took an eternity. Crossing the line felt like a massive weight had been lifted and I could finally relax.

"In the end there was only 24 points in it, which at a double points round is uncomfortably close.

“I think it’s fair to say that most of the close racing was with Martin Bazeley, who in practically every race was either in front of me or glued to my back wheel.

"He’s also been a good mate off the track, even putting my gazebo up at Cadwell because my back was in pieces.

"I couldn’t have done it on my own, it’s a proper family effort and I genuinely couldn’t do it without my parents, so a big thank you to them.

"Thanks also to Chase Superbike Centre for their help with the bike, Motorcycle Essentials for their help with my kit and IPD signs for their vinyl help."