Having blasted from 25th to 17th at the beginning of race 2 on Sunday, the race was red-flagged. Despite this disappointment, McManus still managed 19th place in the re-start against World Class opposition at Donington in the British Round of the World Supersport Championship. In the first race, he had finished a solid 23rd.
Free Practice
The World Supersport Championship roared into action at Donington Park on Friday, July 12th, with a mix of triumphs and tribulations for Eugene McManus. The day began promisingly with the morning Free Practice session, where McManus clocked an excellent 1:30.865, securing 13th place overall in a session.
However, the Superpole session in the afternoon brought challenges. Despite an optimistic start to the day, McManus encountered a setback with a minor crash at Goddards on his fourth lap, when placed 31st at the time. The session faced further complications when rain flags were briefly displayed in sectors 1, 2, and 3, causing additional concern for the riders. Fortunately, the rain held off, and McManus could return to the track with 22 minutes remaining with his Ducati ready to ride. He improved to 29th before another pit stop for final adjustments. With four minutes left, McManus climbed to 25th, but a red flag incident halted the session with just over a minute remaining, cementing his position for the start of Race 1.
Saturday
The weekend’s competition resumed on Saturday morning with a dry track for the warm-up session. With a track temperature of 19 degrees, McManus completed six laps, achieving a best time of 1:31.209 and finishing a very positive 17th overall.
Race 1 in the afternoon saw McManus starting from row 9 of a 17-lap race. Despite the ominous rain drops at the start of the warm-up lap, the weather remained dry. McManus initially held his position but dropped to 26th on lap two. Demonstrating resilience, he clawed his way back through the field, eventually finishing in 23rd place, a solid performance for the Rokit Haslam racing rider.
Race Two.
The stage was set for an electrifying race two, with the front grid determined by the fastest nine lap times from race one, and the rest of the field slotted in behind based on their original Superpole times. Eugene McManus, starting from 25th, was ready to make his mark.
From the moment the lights went out, McManus demonstrated his determination. With a phenomenal start, he catapulted to 17th by the end of the first lap, expertly tucking in behind Lorenzo Baldassarri. The Ducati rider’s explosive launch had the team on their feet, but the excitement was short-lived as a dramatic multi-rider crash at the Esses prompted a red flag, halting the race.
As the riders lined up for the re-start it was asking a lot for a repeat of the previous start. McManus however did find himself in a solid 22nd position after three laps. Yet, the race was far from over.
Throughout the closing stages, McManus came under relentless pressure from the Czech rider Vostatek. The battle was intense, with McManus showcasing his resilience and defensive skills. Despite the persistent challenge, he managed to fend off Vostatek, maintaining his composure and focus.
Crossing the finish line in a superb 19th position, McManus demonstrated not just skill, but incredible determination and tenacity.
Eugene said,” It has been an amazing experience. I must thank Rokit Haslam Racing for organising this opportunity and for all the support of my sponsors. It has been an amazing experience and I have learned a lot over this weekend.”
