MotorcycleRaceParts | TYSERS
BSB Donington Park 2023
Donington BSB Race Report
Tom Tunstall concluded a successful weekend after making it four wins from four starts in the British Supersport Cup despite still suffering with ongoing injury.
In contrast to the previous round the latest British Superbike event at Donington Park was blessed with glorious spring sunshine throughout.
With the 2.5mile track having been fully resurfaced over winter, bike set up and tyre life were even more in focus than usual for the 49 riders on the British Supersport start list.
In the MotorcycleRaceParts camp the stable conditions provided a base to continue building after limited track time so far this season. Different fork internals, shock set up, geometry and electronics mapping gave the Yorkshireman a heavily revised bike to optimise.
It was clear from the first session that despite progress the ongoing injury was still causing issues.
By the end of the qualifying Tunstall was 19th overall and first of the Supersport Cup Class riders.
Saturday’s sprint race was a “bun fight” from start to finish. Highlighted by a four-rider fight changing positions throughout the final lap. It was finally decided, three abreast into the Goddard’s final turn, Tunstall taking the cup win by just 0.09 seconds.
Sunday’s 18 lap feature race started with Tunstall edged back to fourth of the cup riders.
By lap six he was up to 2nd with the gap to the leading Cup rider growing up to 2.5 seconds.
After holding the gap till lap 13 Tunstall’s persistence started to pay off, his consistency chipping the gap to only half a second only two laps later.
He passed Harry Leigh on the following circulation and pulling clear by nearly 3 seconds at the flag and taking another win in the class.
The points haul taking Tunstall to 2nd in the standings 30 points behind Leigh.
Tunstall reflected on a positive weekend:
“After the first free practice session I wasn’t sure how I could finish the races let alone come away with the wins which has been a relief as much as anything.
We’ve changed the bike a lot this weekend and its starting to come to me but I’m still struggling with my strength. I owe a massive gratitude to the BSB Physios as they diagnosed what looks to be a pelvis injury and taped it up meaning I was able to stay more consistent.
I’ve had to work for it this weekend and that makes it taste all the sweeter!
My fitness has always been my strength in the past. I’m hopeful the diagnosis this weekend and results from a recent CT scan will provide a better plan for recovery and getting stronger as the season progresses”.
With the next BSB Round at Knockhill not part of Tunstall’s Cup campaign the next event for him and his MotorcycleRaceParts team will be at Snetterton in Norfolk over the weekend of 7th-9th of July.
