Wright 'absolutely buzzing' to be back out on track

Sunny weather greeted the whole of the NLR paddock for round one of the National Super Series 600 championship.

And Wright, from Tividale, said the atmosphere was "absolutely buzzing", as "the echo of bike engines began to fill the air".

However, the Double Two Racing rider admitted he was always going to be playing catch up as the team could the opening Thursday test and track day.

Wright had managed one track day at a cold Cadwell Park the week before, as well as getting in a few laps at Snetterton, which again had been cut short by wintery snow showers.

It all left little time to get any feedback or set up on the all new K-Tech DDS suspension, leaving the opening round Donington Park as "a voyage of discovery".

After qualifying 18th out of 40, in a field of top-quality club racers, Wright managed to getaway pretty well but had to brake early to make the first corner, while the pack to the outside took the optimum line, which cost him some places, crossing the line in 18th.

"I’d gained a few places and got my head to pick off a few more, which left me in a great battle with Kieron Ahearn," said Wright.

"Eventually, I was passed towards the end and it wasn't the best finishing position but I’d taken 0.75 seconds off my qualifying time – but the best thing was the buzz of racing again."

Sunday bought the sunshine once more for race two, which Wright headed into with confidence having made a gearing change and a few suspension tweaks overnight.

"Although my lap time had come down, so had everyone else’s, so I was still starting mid-pack but now on the preferred outside line for turn one."

After another good start, Wright – who has moved up from the HM quickshifter Cup 600 this year and will also be racing in the British Superbike series, in the British Supersport class – had gained a few places.

That led to a hard fought battle with Rob Childs, Lewis Arrowsmith, Dan Roby and Paul Holden.

As the pack caught a back marker, it forced Arrowsmith and Holden to overtake around the outside, but Wright cut in tight passed all three up the inside.

Tipping into McLean’s in front, he got his line slightly wrong into Coppice and lost a bit of drive.

Holden managed to dive up the inside on the brakes into the Roberts chicane and then Wright was passed by Arrowsmith into Redgate, which knocked him back to 16th place.

"I couldn’t stop smiling because it was just superbm safe racing from the guys, and I also beat my PB by 0.75 second, bringing my lap times down into the 1:13s."

Starting 18th on the grid for the third and final race, Wright was again challenging Childs and Max Smith-Halverson.

After a great drive round Coppice, he got ahead into the braking zone at the end of the Dunlop Straight.

But Smith-Halverson was not giving the place up lightly and on penultimate lap, they both caught two back markers.

Trying to turn right into Roberts side by side – and with Smith-Halverson on the inside – Wright came out in front to finish an "exciting and satisfying race" in the top 15.

"It was an epic weekend, faultlessly run by No Limits Racing," said Wright.

"It was a big step up to national class so I was fairly pleased as Donington is a track I don’t like but still knocked nearly a second off my PB. I'll be hoping got a little better at Oulton Park this weekend.

"Huge thanks to all the No Limits staff and track officials, as well as the legendary orange army and medical staff.

"Special thanks also to the Double Two Racing sponsors DRC Race Leathers, Motorcycle Parts Warehouse, NOVOL, RUS scaffolding, Putoline UK, Lee Wedge, Motorbykebitz, Properly Protected, , Revs Suspension Products Ltd, Cradley Kawasaki, ProFibre.co.uk, AS3 Performance, PCR Performance, and the Express & Star.

"And, not forgetting our amazing team photographer Matt Sisson, of Chequered Flag Images."