For McAMS Racing, Saturday’s Bennetts British Superbike track action at Snetterton posed its challenges, with Kent taking a tumble out of the lead in a weather-effected 5-lap race restart.

Despite an unfortunate crash in Qualifying and starting from 11^th on the grid, Kent made an exceptional start from the line, picking off several riders early on, to sit in 5^th after only a few corners as the originally scheduled race at 16:00 got underway.

Demonstrating competitive lap times, it wasn’t long before he entered the podium positions, fighting through into P3 before the end of lap 5.

With the race progressing, the Yamaha R1 rider aboard the soft front, hard rear tyre combination, quickly established himself as a favourable contender for a podium finish.

As the skies grew darker, the rider from Tetbury poached P2 from fellow Yamaha R1 rider, Ryan Vickers, across the line with 9 laps to go, while an incident down-field led to a red flag stoppage.

With Kent back in the McAMS Racing garage, the Norwich-based circuit became inundated with dark clouds and rain, before a 5-lap restart was confirmed.

A further delay due to worsening conditions saw the shorter stint get underway at 16:53, with Kent starting from a promising front-row spot in P2.

In torturous conditions, he made the holeshot from the line, leading into Turn 1 and seemingly thriving in the heavy downpour.

The former Grand Prix rider pulled a comfortable lead over the field during the initial stages of the sprint, teasing the team with the thought of a possible debut victory in the Premier Class.

Later on the opening lap, hearts broke in the family-run camp, with Kent losing the front at Turn 6 of Oggies, leading to an early end to his race.

McAMS Racing’s second DNF of their 2024 campaign saw them drop down to fourth in the overall Championship standings, but still only a narrow margin of 16 points from the top.

Kent’s performance in the weekend’s opening race sees himself and the R1 Superbike line up eighth on the grid for tomorrow’s opening 12-lap race.

Despite a disappointing end to the day, Kent and the team can take confidence from a strong performance before the red flag and in the opening lap of the restart.

Danny Kent
Race 1 – DNF

“Considering we had the potential to take the win today, I’m really disappointed with the DNF. I felt great on the bike in the initial race and quickly managed to progress through the field. The red flag presented us with an unknown as to whether or not the race would be re-started, but before long we found ourselves back on the grid for a 5-lap sprint. The conditions were tough, but we made a good start from the line to pull a lead on the opening lap. Unfortunately, it didn’t last for as long as we needed it to. I’m gutted to say the least, but I believe that the package is there for us to give it a good effort tomorrow.”

Tim Martin
Team Owner

“We were in a really good position as we progressed through that first race. Danny worked his way through from a good way back to be right there amongst the guys at the front again. During the restart, we made a good effort from the line but sadly the torturous conditions got the better of us. We were pleased to see Danny up and on his feet straight away. It’s all to play for throughout the two races tomorrow. We can only hope for a better day.”

After a challenging Saturday at the Norwich-based venue, McAMS Racing and Danny Kent secured a positive dose of points in the duo of races on the final day of action.

Having begun the day at the top of the order in morning warm-up, Sunday’s opening sprint race at 13:15 progressed in a similar fashion as Saturday, with a red-flagged being called due to weather conditions and a wet, 5-lap stint later being confirmed.

Before the stoppage, Kent climbed his way up the field and into fifth before the end of Lap 2, quickly asserting a presence at the front and rising heart rates in the McAMS Racing garage once again.

An incident down the order brought the safety car onto the circuit on Lap 5, before worsening levels of rain declared the race red-flagged.

Going from an improved grid position of sixth in the restart, the Yamaha R1 rider struggled to match his progression through the field in Race 2’s initial start, finding himself tight on the rear of fifth-place sitter, Andrew Irwin for the entirety of the race.

Despite the rain, Kent brought home sixth place, setting the fifth-fastest time of the race and securing his first points of the Snetterton weekend.

With Race 2 done and dusted, all eyes focused towards the final outing of the weekend, with lights out at 16:15.

A second-row start and a longer, 16-lap charge to the flag left Kent in a good position to fight for a spot at the front.

Getting a good launch from the line, he found himself well within podium contention on the opening lap, fighting through into second by the end of the first 2.9-mile lap.

Numerous attempts on podium positions from behind left Kent back in fifth on Lap 4, just behind fellow Yamaha rider, Kyle Ryde. As the race progressed, he remained latched onto the rear of the R1, until a noble overtake on Lap 12 saw him become the leading Yamaha on-track.

A heated battle for the 12-point finish continued throughout the remainder of the race, with Andrew Irwin joining the fight, making for a three-way battle for fourth on the penultimate lap.

Fending off the pressure of his rivals, Kent took the chequered flag in fourth, clinching his best finish of the weekend and adding another 12 points to his Championship campaign.

Despite a positive addition of points on Sunday, Kent and McAMS Racing leave Snetterton two places down in the standings, occupying fifth overall with 147 points.

McAMS Racing’s weekend in Norwich has been the most challenging weekend of their 2024 campaign so far, but to come away with a near-podium result and 22 points for the championship is a testament to their drive and determination to prevail through the struggles.

With only a short break until Round 6 at Brands Hatch, the focus remains fixed on battling at the front and making up points in the championship.

Danny Kent
Race 2 – P6
Race 3 – P4

“It was nice to finish the weekend with a strong result. I would have liked to get onto the podium but unfortunately this time, it wasn’t meant to be. It’s been a difficult weekend for the team and I. We’ve had the pace, but sadly luck wasn’t in our favour. With that being said, I’m happy with the bike and the team, the next few circuits on the calendar will suit my riding style and the package we have so I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store.”

Tim Martin
Team Owner

“This weekend has been a challenge for us, so to end Race 3 in fourth is a nice feeling. Unfortunately, we didn’t have the raw speed throughout the weekend to be able to consistently contend with those top positions. We’re happy with how Danny ended Sunday; setting his fastest lap of the weekend and fighting off some strong competitors to claim 12 points for the championship. Hopefully, we can build on this and head to Brands Hatch with a strong package in two weeks.”