Scott Reading arrived at the British Superbike Round in Assen, with his latest experience on the track, after racing the TT circuit in April before making the switch from WSBK to BSB.
Reading acknowledged that he felt the added pressure to run with the special colouring of the Hager 70th anniversary, especially as tire issues meant they rolled in the fight for scrapping at the final point of Race 2.
“It was a bit of an emotional roller coaster today as there was this anniversary colouring and it definitely looked 10/10 and didn’t do anything at all in the first race this morning.
I was supposed to deliver something like this and that fired me. I just had bad tires. There was nothing I could do. I was like, “Do you risk throwing the road for some positions?” To be honest, it’s really worthless. Then I came in, I thought, oh, I didn’t even bank lap times for the next race. So I thought it was the 13th. I showed up on the grid and it was 15th. I said, “Come on, just roll up the baby a little more.”
I took down the first start of the race and had a bit of a gap between my teeth – a bit more control than Donington, so I learned the previous lesson.
#4 wasted no time joining the frontrunner at the original start.
“After we got up, they all started raising their hands on turn 7. I was flying on the racing line, which made me a bit confused.
So, it was a bit funny to stop, but safety is always the first. ”
This gave Reading a second chance to raise the grid position. A new grid was formed from position like a strong start to AFTWR Redding on the third lap, and he got his second chance.
“Then I managed to get eighth on the grid with a nice reset. So luck started to change for me. We went out to reopen for that second time and my start wasn’t that bad – I didn’t remember the start of the race – I was thinking, ‘Just move.’
I don’t know if there was anything on the track, but it’s one of my favorite places of movement – it was taken from me as it had to be taken a little easier.
Then, as I walked through a bit and entered the position, I felt the tire fall down – but I reached Leon. ”
After learning lessons from Iddon’s crash and catching Haslam, Moto Rapido Rider didn’t give up, and the duo finished their final lap in three ways with long-term race leader Kyle Ryde.
“Kyle had enough pace – I was caught up quickly enough to not have a breather. I thought I might have a bit of it in my pocket, but he was hitting the marker as always and kept it clean.
Leon was just protecting me, but was waiting for Kyle to attack. And I had to get into that mix.
Then a few laps, all the sparks flew, and we were throwing everything at each other, and it was a very clean race. Tou knows I love racing like it’s a difficult place. You get so much adrenaline – but it’s clean and fair. There was no dirty movement. We respected each other and did a show there. ”
Redding was pleased with the clean nature of the lace and was delighted to win his special colouring, threw his gloves high into the crowd at the celebration.
“So, it was amazing to spend that anniversary here for Hager and race with these boys to win.”
Going forward, Reading is pleased to have tested it at Alton Park earlier this year and looks forward to continuing his personal battle with Haslam on the track.
“I knew there was a reason — I had a road bike test earlier this year — I just felt something in my stomach. So I wasn’t really on a race bike, but I know a bit of a left and right.
Like Leon said, we’re two of us right now, two of us, a bit of an ongoing job, but he’s going to have the advantage over me there.