A G’DAY FOR DONALD AT THE TRIANGLE
Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider Cameron Donald made a strong international debut for the Moneymore based team at Saturday’s Kennedy International North West 200 with a brace of podium finishes. The Australian rider, in only his third North West 200, narrowly lost out to Steve Plater in the blue Riband superbike race after being block-passed into the penultimate chicane at Juniper Hill by BSB regular Michael Rutter. This let Plater slip through to take the victory.
Ironically, Donald suffered the same fate, at the same chicane, on the final lap of the CP Hire Superstock race, when a Relentless Suzuki by TAS Racing ‘one–two’ looked almost inevitable. When the chequered flag was unfurled it was Alastair Seeley who took the win with Anstey second and Donald third – a double podium for Relentless Suzuki.
Cameron Donald said “I didn’t get much sleep last night running through that last lap of the North West 200 Superbike race. I tipped into the Juniper Hill chicane and thought, ‘I’ve done enough, this one’s mine’, then Rutter and Plater both came through! Rutter over-cooked it a bit, but I’d have done the same myself. In the opening superbike race I also felt really confident; not riding teeth gritted like I used to and I was comfortable, but a stone got caught in the throttle mechanism – a million to one shot – jamming it wide open, so I had to pull in [when I got it stopped!] at Metropole. Then in the superstock race Bruce came in a bit hot and I got duffed-up, again, at Juniper Hill on the last lap, but I’ve taken it on the chin. Phillip McCallen told me afterwards I shouldn’t have led onto the Coast Road on the final lap in the big race, but anyway, all of my GSX–R Relentless Suzukis are well ready for the TT so I’m pumped and ready for that. Thanks to all the boys in the team who worked really hard this week.”
Bruce Anstey said “It was a tough weekend and very tight racing… I suppose I did all right, but I didn’t quite get the results I was after. Some of those guys like Plater have more miles under their belt this year – more than I’ve done in maybe three! A few guys were putting in some very hard moves in the races and I got lifted up a few times, which maybe cost me the first 600 race. In the superstock race I got too good a draught into Juniper Hill behind Cameron and ended up doing a bit of motocross over the grass! The bikes are all going really well and that’s good news for the TT – the team have done a great job.”
Cameron deciding to race another machine instead of his Relentless Suzuki Superbike.
The backdrop to one of the worlds best racing venues- only at the NW200!!
The Relentless Suzuki hard at work in garage prepping the bike for race on Saturday.
Catch the Relentless Suzuki by TAS road racing team of Bruce Anstey and Cameron Donald at the Isle of Man TT races starting with practice next week and the racing the week after. See you there (GR)