MOTORCYCLIST Lewis Rollo is racing up the leaderboard after an impressive weekend at Thruxton.

The Pirelli National Superstock Championship rider had a difficult weekend at Brands Hatch last month but showed tremendous pace over the weekend.

The racer grew in strength and speed as the weekend wore on and finished sixth and fifth in the two races.

He said: “With the mixed practice conditions, it was hard to get the bike set up but we worked really hard and I knew the pace was there for the races.

“It was obviously difficult in race one from 18th on the grid but I made a mega start and after that, I just chipped away and picked them off one by one.

“The better grid position helped for race two and another mega start got me with the front group. It was good to run with them and I felt stronger in certain areas but it was hard to make a pass so, although I’m disappointed not to have finished on the podium, it was a strong ride and a strong result and I can’t thank the team enough.”

A lack of set-up time resulted in 18th during Saturday’s Superstock qualifying session but a good start from the sixth row enabled him to gain five places on the opening lap.

Rollo, who lives between Gifford and Haddington, did not look back and steady progression was made over the next few laps. Eventually, the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki rider finished the 15 laps in an excellent sixth.

Starting Sunday’s 14-lap encounter from the more advanced position of 10th, the East Lothian rider made a brilliant start and was up to third at the end of the opening lap.

He slipped back to fourth a lap later and this became fifth at half-race distance, which was ultimately where he finished but only 1.038s adrift of race winner Alex Olsen.

The next stop is Donington Park this weekend, with Rollo and his team hopeful of building on the impressive showings, which has put him ninth in the standings.

Lee Hardy, team owner, felt the hard work was paying off.

He said: “On Lewis’ side, the team have worked really hard to understand the new Kawasaki ZX-10RR a bit more, the net result being some changes with the electronics. They’ve helped Lewis tremendously and he’s now got the feeling he wants and is a lot more confident.

“You could see that in the two races and he’s proven he’s got the pace to run with the front runners; it’s now a case of turning the fifths and sixths into podiums and, hopefully, wins.

“The whole team is going to Donington in a good place.”