Steve Crashes at Mallory

After a dismal and frustrating qualifying session meant a sixth row start to Sunday’s sixth round encounter, Steve’s day went from bad to worse when he was taken out at the new chicane on the very first lap of race one in the 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park on Sunday.

Steve fell heavily on his left shoulder and as soon as he was released from the circuit medical centre he went directly to hospital in Lincoln for further x-rays and treatment.

The x-rays confirmed that he had indeed broken the shoulder and also his collarbone and he is to return to hospital on Tuesday for further assessment and treatment.
Steve had improved his lap times by just under a second from the opening free practice period through to final qualifying but it still was not enough to earn him a higher grid position.

He explained: “The bike is working well enough and we have moved forward but I just can’t seem to find that extra little bit of speed for some reason.

“Each time I went out on a qualifying tyre I had to abort the lap because of slower riders ahead, it just didn’t run for me. It is frustrating to say the least but tomorrow is another day and although I will have my work cut out with a sixth row start I will do my best to move through to a points finish in each of the two 28-lap races.”

Steve, along with the majority of the Superbike riders had spoken of his reservations about the chicane before the racing began and it was unfortunate that he should be the one to be taken out and injured in this way.

“From what I have seen of the TV footage it looks as if Billy McConnell high sided in the middle of the pack crashing into both me and Ollie Bridewell in the process. We all fell but I was the one to come out of it the worst. The other two were able to get back on and continue but I was left nursing a very painful shoulder injury which will see me sidelined for a while,” said Steve before he left the circuit. “I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Had I qualified further up the grid I would have been way ahead and out of trouble but its done now and I just need to get the injury sorted and back out there as soon as possible.”

A further update on Steve’s progress will be made after his hospital visit on Tuesday.