CSBK Round 1 – Shannonville May 15^th-18^th, 2025

The race weekend kicked off with an unexpected challenge. During Thursday’s test session, I was involved in a collision with another rider, resulting in a high-side crash that abruptly ended our testing program. The impact was severe and left the bike in need of extensive repairs. Thanks to the generosity and support of fellow racers who lent me spare parts, we managed to get the bike back in working order by the end of the day—something that wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible paddock camaraderie.

Friday: Struggling Through Practice and Qualifying

Friday brought its own set of hurdles. In both the first practice and the qualifying sessions, I encountered braking issues—likely a result of the crash damage. The inconsistent brake performance made it difficult to push confidently, and I ultimately qualified 12th on the grid. Not the ideal starting position, but I remained focused on learning and improving heading into race day.

Saturday: Wet Conditions and a Strong Comeback

Saturday morning greeted us with wet track conditions. Despite the lingering brake issues, I posted the fastest time in the morning warm-up session, which gave me a much-needed confidence boost. I was hopeful for a wet race, but as the skies cleared and the track dried, we had to make last-minute suspension adjustments to adapt to the conditions.

The race started dry, and I had a solid launch off the line. I began slicing through the field and moved up to 6th position by mid-race. The bike still wasn’t perfect, but I identified key setup changes that could help us improve for Sunday. The race ended with valuable insights and a renewed sense of momentum.

Sunday: Pushing to the Limit in a Red-Flag-Shortened Race

Sunday’s forecast called for rain, but the track stayed dry for the start of the race. I had a strong pace and was making my way through the field when a crash on lap seven brought out the red flag. At the restart, I was placed back in 6th on the grid.

Unfortunately, I didn’t get the best jump off the line and had to fight hard to regain positions. After a few laps, I climbed back into 5th place and began closing the gap to the lead group. With my fastest lap times of the weekend coming late in the race, I was gaining ground—but the shortened race duration after the red flag meant I ran out of time before making any further progress.

Takeaways and Looking Ahead

While the weekend started with adversity, it ended with solid progress and personal bests. From crashing out of Thursday testing to nearly catching the lead group on Sunday, it was a weekend full of grit, growth, and valuable seat time. I’m proud of the effort from the team and grateful for the support from the racing community.

I’m already looking forward to the next round—stronger, faster, and more determined.