Tom Weeden Snetterton Triumph Triple Challenge report

Tom Weeden returned to the Triumph Triple Challenge last time out at the new Snetterton 300 circuit. On the back of a painful trip to Knockhill with the National 600cc SuperStocks where Weeden high sided in qualifying and then crashed in the race on the first corner. Tom had to be cut out of his leathers due to a suspected pelvic fracture; however x-rays revealed nothing was broken. 

Practice and Qualifying didn’t exactly go to plan for Tom. He expected to be in the top 10 after a successful test at the circuit before the start of the season.  However, Tom struggled in the practice and qualifying sessions. He could only go 14^th quickest in Practice, 4 seconds off of his pace in testing. Despite going two seconds quicker in qualifying Weeden was only 16th fastest after the session was red flagged and subsequently stopped early ,just after Tom had made a set up change for a flying lap. He had it all to do in the race.

After the cancelation of the second race at Silverstone due to the horrendous conditions, that race was rescheduled for Race 1 of 3 at Snetterton, using the grid positions from the fastest laps of Silverstone race 1. This meant Tom was in 7^th for race 1. He was struggling with set up and was feeling pretty stiff after the Knockhill crashes, but Weeden pulled it out of the bag on race day. Tom got a great start in race 1 from 7^th; he was 3^rd into the first corner. However he dropped back to 4th by the end of lap 1. He could not match the pace of the front runners and dropped to 7^th by lap 4. Weeden was then pushed down to 8^th on lap 6, where he remained till the chequered flag. He was delighted with this as he had gone a lot faster than he expected to, knocking 3 seconds off his qualifying time.

Tom knew he had it all to do in race 2, starting from 16^th on the grid. Unfortunately, and very unlike Weeden, he didn’t get off the line well; he dropped the clutch too early and the front wheel popped straight up. He had to back off the throttle and start again. Weeden entered the first few corners aggressively making up the several places he had lost at the start and more. He crossed the line in 12^th on lap 1. Tom continued to battle his way through moving up another 3 places on lap 2. He was in 8^th by lap 4, and then moved into 7^th on lap 7. On lap 9 Tom thought he was close enough to pass 6^th and maybe 5^th place however after a slight “moment” Weeden was re passed on the last lap and dropped down to 8^th. He didn’t give up though, and got a great drive out of the last turnout dragging Piers Hutchins to the line by 0.071 seconds to give Weeden 7^th place, 0.3 seconds behind 6^th.

Tom was 5^th on the grid for the 3^rd race of the weekend based on fastest lap times in race 2. He got a good start and was 5^th at the end of lap 1. Ashley Beech then came through to push Tom down to 6^th on lap 2. Weeden was then pushed down to 7^th on lap 5, he desperately fought to stay on the back of 6^th place, however he was not close enough on the last lap and  had to settle for 7^th. 

Tom Weeden is back in action at Oulton Park where he is riding in his 2^nd National Superstock 600cc wildcard ride of the season.