By Daniel Powell
Another top five feature race finish last Saturday night at Parramatta City Raceway (PCR) has progressed James Thompson further up towards the pointy end of the PCR Track Championship ladder after seven completed rounds.
Thompson was slightly disappointed with a fifth place finish in the feature race but at the same time pleased and this result has moved him higher in the PCR Track Championship point standings from sixth up to fourth.
“The PCR Track Championship isn’t my main focus this season but it’s hard not to think about it when I’m moving higher up the point standings ladder,” admitted Thompson. “I felt that we were good enough for a podium finish but things didn’t pan out that way and that is why I’m disappointed with the end result.”
A fifth place finish isn’t a result that Thompson is going to knock back but his attitude this season isn’t to be happy with just a finish and that is one of the main reasons to the consistent form he has shown so far in the 09/10 season.
“Don’t get me wrong I’m pleased with the result but my attitude is that if I don’t finish on the podium this season then I know I could do better,” the NSW # 22 Hills Motorcycles supported Maxim driver explained. “If you don’t set the bar high each time you go out onto the track then you’re not going to improve and the goal for me this season is to finish on the podium as much as I can.”
Last Saturday night began for Thompson with him qualifying seventh in time trials. In his heat race he charged from fifth to finish in third and he then placed third in Dash # 2 and that gave him a sixth starting spot in the feature race field.
“I qualified pretty well in time trials and in my heat race I just laid it all on the line and went for it and made the direct feature race transfer,” Thompson said. “If you want to have a good feature race starting spot then your heat race result is vital as you don’t want to be stuck in the B-main. I gained a lot of confidence leading into the feature race from my run in the Dash by being able to run with Garry [Brazier].”
Boxing Night (December 26) is when Thompson is going to next be in action at PCR.
Thompson is proudly supported in the 09/10 season by: Hills Motorcycles www.hillsmotorcycles.com.au, Suzuki www.suzuki.com.au, Thompson & Associates and Stahlwille www.stahlwille.com