Lymm rider starts campaign with 23 points

LYMM racing rider Sean Neary started his 2018 campaign in atrocious conditions at Donington Park where he recorded a third and ninth place in the opening round of the Ducati Tri-Options Cup
The Team Zoek rider endured dreadful weather conditions but came through unscathed.
Conditions were dire for free practice and qualifying with a wet and cold track greeting the riders. But Neary powered his Ducati through to secure a second row start to the first race in fifth place.
As the race got away the track was dry but the temperature was down to around four degrees with a cold easterly wind making it feel even colder. Neary was up into third place on lap two and one lap later passed Lewis Rollo for second. He maintained second place through the remaining laps until going into the Melbourne Loop for the final time when Rollo dived under him to snatch the position leaving Neary to bring the bike home in third place just under a second behind his rival.
Neary said: “I am happy to get some points on the board after a disaster of a start last year. Thought I could challenge for the win half way through but struggled in a few areas and wanted to bring it home.”
With more heavy overnight rain it was uncertain the racing would go ahead but after a long wait and a lot of work by the marshals the second race went ahead. Neary started from a front row grid position in third place but as the lights went out he had a huge moment and did well to hold the bike upright. He dropped down the order to eighth and maintained his position until the penultimate lap when Daniel Shaw overtook him. Neary went on to complete the race in ninth position to pick up a further seven championship points which added to his haul from race one gave him a total of 23 which placed him fifth in the standings.
Afterwards he said: “Not the greatest race today finishing P9 in grim conditions. I was in trouble with no grip so it was damage limitation. On the positive side I left round one with a lot more points than last year.”
The next round is at Brands Hatch on April 15.