Josh Elliott recovered from a disastrous start to claim fifth place in the latest round of the Pirelli National Superstock 1000. 
Clutch problems on the grid ended his chances of victory before he had reached the first corner, but he fought his way back through the pack and declared himself relatively happy with his days’ work despite the frustrating beginning to the race.
“It was a good result once we got over the bad start,” said Josh. “The pace is there to win or to get a really good podium position but it is just small things that are holding us back. The race start is so important and you have to get away into the faster group but unfortunately going back at the start hurt us big time.”
Brands Hatch was the venue of Josh’s final victory last season, and after a promising couple of races the Ballinamallard rider was hopeful of returning to winning ways with his first victory of a frustrating season. All seemed to be going to plan when he qualified on the front row of the grid in second place, but his hopes were dashed immediately.
“We had been having a few issues with the clutch not engaging properly,” he explained. “At the start the lights went out and I let the clutch out and nothing happened. I had to try to find the biting point which was quite far out and it meant I had quite a bad start and we fell back to tenth on the first lap. That really set me back because I was in with riders who have a different style and are very aggressive, and they don’t give up the position easily. Even though I was faster they were still fighting back and coming past me on the next corner and it was back and forth a few times with a few riders. Once I got past them I was able to set some good lap times and I was catching the group in front, but I ran out of laps. I got back to fifth which wasn’t too bad after where I was on the first lap but it was still not good enough. The start was our big issue and unfortunately that cost us a good result.”
Josh was keen to take the positives from the weekend however, and he is hopeful that he will be able to put in an improved showing on the next round at Caldwell Park. “I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It is a track I quite enjoy. It’s a tight and twisty circuit and it will be interesting to see how the BMW goes around it, but we have a good setting and we just have to work on the small wee things to get us back fighting for the win.”