Dawson and Lyons keen to kick on at Thruxton

CAMERON Dawson is confident that he can achieve a top 10 finish at Thruxton this coming weekend.

The talented teenager produced a dynamic performance at the same venue last year, dominating the British Junior Supersport Championship field over the two races and while he knows that level of achievement is unlikely in the Junior Superstock class, he believes he can still achieve a season’s best result.

His confidence stems from a solid outing last time out at Brands Hatch where he made his British Championship return following a triple fracture of his left elbow which forced him out of the Knockhill round.

At Brands, he impressed in FP1 before rain stopped play in FP2 and he had a disappointing qualifying to start the race 21st.

But even after a frustrating start, which saw him drop a further four or five places, Dawson clawed his way back to 14th and a points scoring finish at the end.

“We were happy with that,” he beamed. “To get two points is good, it’s points in the championship and after missing Knockhill it’s a good place to build from at Thruxton.

“Coming out of Brands I’m feeling good and I really enjoy Thruxton after last year and it’s where I got my first ever pole position in the BSB.

“It’s one of my favourite tracks so if I can come away with a top 10 I’ll be over the moon and that’s my aim but if I get below that I’ll be disappointed with myself.”

At the end of the race, Dawson and Aughnacloy’s Andrew Smyth, who finished 30th after starting 35th, paid tribute to Limavady racer, Jack Oliver, who lost his life in a crash at the Kells Road Races, by carrying flags with the youngster’s picture on them during the in lap.

“I’ve known of [Jack] for a few years but I only met him at the start of the year at Bishopscourt and he was probably one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. That first time I met him it was like I’d known him for five years,” Dawson said of Oliver, whose father Tam gave the Tyrone lads the go-ahead for their tribute.

Meanwhile, Jamie Lyons is hopeful that he can build upon the progress made at Brands Hatch as the Pirelli National Junior Superstock season moves on to Thurxton this coming weekend.

The 17-year-old Omagh racer has fond memories of his last visit to Thruxton where he was involved in a sensational race in the British Talent Cup, finishing second last year.

And after an improved outing last time out at Brands Hatch, where he qualified 17th before finishing 19th, the Omagh Academy pupil hopes he can enjoy more success there.

“Brands was quite good. We found a small problem with the front forks and once we got that changed we were up in and around the top 20 straight away.

“It wasn’t too bad but probably, if I rode to the top of my ability, I’m a top 15 rider so I have a bit to go. But things are going in the right direction.

“I need to work on my starts because I tend to get passed a lot at the start, but hopefully at Thruxton we can continue where we left off.”

Meanwhile, prior to travelling to Thruxton, Lyons, was providing mentoring for two British Talent Cup racers at Silverstone over the weekend.

He was giving advice to and guiding Peter Willis and Harley McCabe, both of whom flourished under his guidance, with the latter earning two second placed finishes during Moto GP weekend.