Beech takes first Triumph Triple Challenge victory

AB Racing / T3 Racing Triumph's Ashley Beech took his first victory of the season in the Triumph Triple Challenge series at the AirAsia British Grand Prix on Saturday at Silverstone after edging out Luke Jones by just 0.013s at the finish line.

Beech said: “It was just lack of experience as I've not lead a race since 2007. It is easy to chase people down and to follow but hard to set the pace. On the last corner I went a bit deeper to try and get better drive and out drag him to the line and luckily it worked!”

Pole position sitter Philip Atkinson had got his race off to a flying start to lead the pack on the opening lap, but championship leader Peter Ward had made a massive recovery from his tenth place grid start to move second and then began to put the pressure on Atkinson. Ward then made his move a lap later to lead the race, but it was short lived as Jones moved from third up to second, then stole the position from Ward to lead at the end of lap three.

Ashley Beech was also on a charge after running fifth on the opening lap and by the start of lap four some determined moves saw him take the lead as Ward moved back to second with Jones then in third. Beech was coming under pressure from his rivals but it was Tommy Dale who was the spoiler over the closing laps as he joined the fray; he was up to fourth at half race distance but then took advantage of Ward and Jones to move second on the sixth lap. Jones made a comeback though and he was able to fend off the final challenge from Dale and Ward whilst Tom Hayward rounded out the top five.

Jones said: “I didn't get a bad start but I didn't know how hard to push. My visor kept misting up as soon as I got close to someone so I had to keep dropping back so I could see. I got in front of Ash on the last lap at the loop, I was spinning up but tried to go tighter and spun up even more. He got he better drive and just pipped me.”

Freddy Pett, Tom Ward, Ben Miller, Atkinson and Tom Stanford completed the top ten.

Triumph Triple Challenge, Silverstone, race one result:

1.      Ashley Beech (AB Racing / T3 Racing)

2.      Luke Jones (KGD Racing) +0.013s

3.      Tommy Dale (Power2Connect / 11KV Ltd) +3.182s

4.      Peter Ward (Peter Ward Racing) +5.966s

5.      Tom Hayward (Daniel Weston racing) +16.507s

The second race scheduled for Sunday afternoon was unable to be run as the persistent rain which soaked the Northamptonshire circuit all day deteriorated late afternoon following the Red Bull Rookies race which saw 56% of the starters crash out due to the conditions.  MSVR Race Director Stuart Higgs scheduled a seven minute practice session following which a track inspection was held and it was considered that the standing water was too excessive.   The abandoned race using the Silverstone grid positions will now be held as the first of three Triumph Triple Challenge races over the weekend of 1/2/3 July on the new Snetterton 300 circuit supporting the much anticipated Norfolk round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.