LEWIS Rollo has edged closer to completing an impressive double, despite an inconsistent weekend at Donington Park with the British Superbikes.
The motorcycle racer had already been crowned winner of the Pathway Riders class before the second visit of the season to the Derbyshire circuit.
And, over the weekend, he extended his advantage in the R&G Newcomers class to 41 points, with 75 available from the final trip of the season to Brands Hatch next weekend.
Conditions on Friday morning were wet and no one wanted to push too hard in the first free practice session.
Rollo qualified 13th on the grid for the first race but a couple of issues during the race saw him slip down the pecking order and finish in 19th spot.
That was still good enough for another Pathway victory and the maximum 25 points.
However, he found himself boxed in going into turn one and crashed out on the opening lap of the second race.
That left him starting from the back of the grid for the final race on the 2.48-mile track.
But the 25-year-old got his head down to come through to gain a main championship point with a 15th-place finish.
Rollo, of INCompetition Sencat Aprilia Team, described it as “another weekend of two halves”.
The Gifford racer said: “It was our first time we got through to qualifying two, which was a good feeling.
“I was going quicker all the time and the fastest I’ve been around Donington, a great feeling.
“Race one we got going but had a small issue and dropped back.
“For race two we made some changes which we were looking forward to trying but, into turn one, I got tangled up with another rider and crashed out, so didn’t get chance to try them.
“I started from the back of the grid and we were niggled with the same problem again but managed to get a point and another Pathway win.
“It’s been a brilliant season and we’ll keep working hard for Brands and finish the season positively.”
Rollo holds a sizeable advantage over Brayden Elliott going into the final event at Brands Hatch.
A first place and a third place in the R&G Newcomers class would be enough to give him a second championship of the season.
Ian Newton, team owner, said: “Lewis was looking strong from the start of Donington, and we were confident of some strong performances.
“He had a small issue in the opening race which then hindered him with a grid position for race two.
“The crash couldn’t be helped, just a case of wrong place, wrong time.
“He had a lot of work to do in the final race of the weekend but he managed to get in the points from the back of the grid, which was a good end to the weekend.”
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