Beech in tune at Snetterton

Ashley Beech: the Moorside rider picked up 10 championship points with a superb sixth-place finish.

MOTORBIKES: BIKE ACE Ashley Beech was hoping for a change of fortune in round five of the National Superstock Championship at Snetterton.

The Moorside rider was plagued by technical problems in the previous race — but this time everything came together as he recorded a strong sixth place at the Norfolk circuit.

Beech’s Kawasaki ZX-10R race bike was taken to a tuning specialist after the Donington fiasco and faulty components repaired or replaced. Beech then spent two days testing the changes.

The result was a 10th-fastest practice time - a huge improvement, though he was still running wide on some tight corners. More adjustments helped him to fifth quickest and a start from the second row of the grid.

“This is the best the bike has felt all season. If I can get a good start I’m confident I can run at the front,” said Ashley before the race. He held his position on the first lap but then dropped to 10th when the rev limiter, a strong tail wind and the slipstream of two other riders meant his bike struggled with top speed.

Beech fought back up the field to cross the line sixth, scoring 10 points and moving up to 11th place in the championship standings.

“This is where we need to be and are capable of being — I am confident that there is better to come,” enthused team manager Chris Jones. The next round is at Knockhill, Scotland, on July 5.