With the 2012 Superbike national championships starting last Sunday, May 27, at Bira International racing circuit just outside Pattaya, local talented teenage rider Ben Fortt, who has graduated to SB2 this season, was confident of a strong showing after putting in some very serious practice during the closed season.
Ben had also managed to grab the team rider slot on the high profile Panadda Racing team. Last season Ben rode a Suzuki GSXR 1000cc, but as Panadda racing team are sponsored by Honda he has switched to the Honda CBR 1000 Fireblade with some very encouraging lap times as well.
Ben Fortt crashes out on lap 6 of the opening round of the 2012 Superbike national championships at Bira International racing circuit, Pattaya, Sunday, May 27. (Photo courtesy of Hiro)
Qualifying last weekend was at 1 p.m. and as soon as Ben could hit the track he got straight in with a 1.06.4 lap which was also a personal best and the best on the day to put him on the front row and in pole position.
The main race started at 5 p.m. and as soon as the lights were out everyone on Ben’s team was hoping he would get one of his better starts, but this time it was not to be and he also got knocked about on the first bend and lost a few places. On lap 6 Ben over-pushed it on the fast first corner, lost control and brought a premature end to his race by hitting the tyre wall. Ben was pretty knocked about but after x-rays was released from hospital with some rather colourful bruises.
The young racer said afterwards, “I tried to out-brake the 2 bikes in front of me and simply ran out of track and ended up on the grass and that’s not a good place to be as you have no control of the bike. From there it was straight into the tyre wall.
“I will be back after a week of rest and will be trying for the win on June 25 for the 2nd round at the Thailand Circuit, Nackon Chaise,” added Ben.
