RISING star Joe Francis showed the potential that has raised more than a few eyebrows as he roared to a second successive podium finish in the Monster Energy British Motostar Cup at the weekend, writes Kevin Hughes.
And the Backford Bomber almost snatched his first ever top-three spot in the full British Motostar Championship, missing out on a third place by just 0.55 seconds to Northwich’s vastly more experienced Connor Behan.
It proved to be a cracking afternoon at Oulton Park for 14-year-old Neston High School student Francis, who is well on course to finish second in the Cup competition, which is open to riders aged between 13 and 16 and is run alongside the main championship.
That would lead the talented boy racer to enjoying an end-of-season prize of having his entries paid to the final two rounds of the Spanish championship, a recognised breeding ground for young talent and a stepping stone to Moto GP.
Having struggled to get his Banks Honda set up in practice, Francis started from 10th on the grid and had his work cut out in the early part of Sunday’s sun-kissed race.
He made steady progress, however, and by the end of the 12-lap contest was less than a bike length behind Behan as the fearless pair banged fairings while negotiating Lodge, the notorious last corner before the sprint for the line.
Francis took second in the Cup behind race winner Luke Hedger and fourth overall at a speed of 87.54mph and with a best lap of 1.49.533 seconds.
Frodsham Flyer Howie Mainwaring and Chester-born Jenny Tinmouth were also in action at Oulton Park.
Mainwaring will have been delighted to steer his BMW Buildbase Motorrad machine to a fifth place finish in a Metzeler National Superstock 1,000 Championship race in which the top seven riders were separated by less than two seconds.
Tinmouth, meanwhile, enjoyed a mixed weekend in the British Superbike Championship triple-header.
In Saturday’s race Tinmouth came home in 20th on her Hardinge Sorrymate.com Honda.
She got the better of Saudi Arabia’s Abdulaziz Binladin following a race-long duel, scoring a best lap of 1.41.910 seconds (93.48mph) in the process.
In Sunday’s first race Tinmouth finished 21st despite improving her lap time to an impressive 1.40.998 seconds (94.94mph). However, an old shoulder injury flared up during the third race of the weekend, forcing her to retire after seven laps.
British Superbike leader Tommy Hill took his Swan Yamaha to a hat-trick of wins to increase his overall lead over rivals Josh Brookes and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne.
It will be petrolhead heaven at Oulton Park this weekend as the Tarporley track hosts The Ultimate Classic Show.
For more information call 0843 453 9000 or visit www.oultonpark.co.uk
