TYCO BMW rider Christian Iddon narrowly missed out on the British Superbike Championship’s title ‘Showdown’ section of the series, as heavy rain made riding treacherous at Silverstone, in Northamptonshire.
The Showdown takes place over the final three rounds of the BSB season, and is completed by the top six riders at the conclusion of the Showdown decider.
Iddon, from Hayfield, missed out by just four points on the chance to compete in the 2017 BSB championship’s Showdown. Going in to the Silverstone round with a narrow chance, thanks to missing four races through injury, Christian set about his business by going second quickest in free practice one, then set the fastest time of all in the second session.
Sixth place from fourteenth place on the grid in race one, a ballsy decision to opt for slicks on a wet/drying track left Iddon with the third fastest time, and a front row start for race two.
It was a seventh place finish in race two, and thirteenth on the grid for the third and final encounter of the weekend.
The heavens opened for the Silverstone finale, and Iddon was flying, the former Supermoto champion had climbed to second place after six laps, with riders falling aplenty in awful conditions, setting the fastest lap of the race on the way. It was enough to give Christian his spot in the showdown, but just two laps later it was heartbreak for the former World Superbike rider, as he joined a plethora of other riders, out of the race, and out of the title fight.
“I put my heart and soul into racing, that’s not to say I’m any more or less deserving than anyone else out there as I know the other twenty-five riders on the grid all live for the same dream” admitted Iddon.
“I was out of the Showdown before the final race and had nothing to lose, [wet] conditions were in my favour and I was able to make my way up to second and felt comfortable.
“I rode to the information I had, and to what I had underneath me. I felt comfortable, but I had to push on. One slight slip, however, and in an instant the dream disappeared for another year.
“I have to live with the mistake I made and the consequences of that and that hurts but what is done is done. Of course ‘it’s only racing’ but sometimes it’s hard to see beyond your own selfish dreams.
“The dream isn’t over, it’s just on hold for another year. Congratulations to those who made it in to the Showdown as they absolutely deserve to be there!
“Thanks all for the continued, amazing support and I look forward to finishing the season in the strongest possible way”.
Next up is Christian’s home round of Oulton Park, where he’ll be hoping to bounce back with a podium, and that so far illusive top step. The BSB series moves on to the Cheshire track this weekend, 15-17 September.