By Darlington’s Stephen Degnan finally got his 2020 road race campaign underway last weekend, at the three day Barry Sheene Classic.
Prominent Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough specialist Degnan competing aboard his own teams ZX6R Kawasaki, latest tenure at England’s only closed roads course provided mixed fortunes.
A top 18 finisher in both of the opening Supersport A races, last Sunday’s competition saw him demoted to the B class Supersport encounters, with Saturday’s B class pace setters stepping up to the class A field.
Despite the disappointment of dropping back to the group B 600 race stints, ‘Degsy’ showcased all his tenacious race craft, experience a plenty to go onto secure fourth, seventh place finishes.
Reflecting on the first UK roads event of 2020, Degnan who’s planning to tackle September’s Gold Cup meeting, stated the following:
“Qualified well on Friday, finishing 18th of nearly 70 riders on 600’s. That put me 19th on the grid for Saturday’s A races.
Had two steady races in the A races on Saturday at the back finishing 18 both times. Couldn’t really get a decent lap time in because of the traffic at the back of the A race and was also steady away to make sure I didn’t crash cause we still had Sunday to race.
Was gutted and a bit embarrassed to find that five of us in the A finals had been dropped into the B races and vice versa cause the front runners in the B races had recorded slightly faster race laps.”
‘Degsy’ continued:
“Anyway on Sunday I never got a decent run out Mere Hairpin from fourth on the grid, so first race I got a hard fought 4th place which I was slightly disappointed with.
Then the second and last race I made a bad tyre choice going out on dries when wets was the right tyre and managed to have a scary ride round for 6th.
Overall I really enjoyed myself but feel my results could of been better. Next time I race at Scarborough I won’t be taking it easy on the Saturday as I never want to be dropped into the B race again.
I consider myself an A race competitor and even though the B races were a strong field, it’s not were I want to be.”
Words by Stevie Rial
