Newly-crowned Mirror.co.uk Cup champion Gary Mason took an uncharacteristic tumble at Silverstone while chasing a top ten finish in the main MCE Insurance British Superbike championship.
Suspension gremlins plagued Masons Quay Garage Honda during qualifying, as a result of which he had to settle for 19th position on the grid. However, following modifications to the front forks, Gary was running seventh fastest in morning warm up on race day.
However, the suspension issues resurfaced in Race One, and although Mason fought his way up the field, eventually taking the chequered flag in 14th place, it was not the result he had been looking for. Nevertheless he earned some valuable points and mounted the podium as the second Cup rider to cross the line, after Tommy Bridewell in first.
Race Two had to be red-flagged after one lap when Tommy Bridewell, Peter Hickman, Atsushi Watanabe and Tristan Palmer all crashed out due to oil on the track at Abbey. Following a late re-start, Gary pushed hard, in spite of his suspension issues, but slid off at the chicane on Lap 10.
In spite of sliding off, Gary Mason is currently 12th in the MCE Insurance British Superbike championship and less than three points separate him from 10th placed John Laverty on the Buildabase Kawasaki. With three races to go during the final round of the season at Oulton Park on 9th-11th October, Gary and Quay Garage Honda still have a realistic prospect of a top 10 finish in the ME Insurance British Superbike Championship.