Premier MD Neil Johns had a smile the size of a melon slice on Sunday after Josh ‘Reggie’ Wainwright, thrilled a massive Silverstone crowd with a final-lap master class to put himself, and the Premier logo, onto the winners’ rostrum.
Josh was wearing the Premier sponsored Hyside Romford Ducati leathers for his debut outing for the team as replacement for the hugely unfortunate Rob Guiver who had his season wrecked at Brands Hatch in July following an appalling accident in the warm-up lap. Rob was in contention for the Ducati Tri-Options Cup title but those hopes were ended by his injuries which included a broken hand and foot.
Josh suffered his own ankle injury in a Friday spill at Silverstone. But it did not stop him placing fifth in Saturday’s opening Ducati Cup race putting him and the Hyside Romford team in good spirits ahead of Sunday’s race, shown on Eurosport TV.
Joe Collier (Boast Plumbing) got off the line from pole well but it was Sean Neary (Zoek Racing Team) who led the field as the riders entered Stowe for the first time. Neary led for the opening couple of laps until Collier got back out in front.
The leading group of 5 riders of Collier, Neary, Levi Day (Boast Plumbing), Jonathan Railton (Boast Plumbing) and Josh (Ducati Romford / Hyside Motorcycles) had soon gapped the filed opening a 7 second advantage. But as the laps mounted up, Collier and Neary broke free to build up similar time gap of their own as they challenged for the race win.
Collier crossed the chequered flag to claim his second win of his championship-winning weekend but the battle behind them for 3rd came down to a last-lap thriller with all to play for between Day, Railton and Wainwright.
Wainwright managed to pass Railton for 4th before challenging Day. With backmarkers coming into play, it was Wainright who won the fight to finish just in front of the Boast Plumbing teammates as he claimed 3rd – in only his 2nd race onboard Rob Guiver’s 959 Panigale.
Collier now leads the championship with 291.5 points. Rob Guiver (Ducati Romford / Hyside Motorcycles, missing due to injury, still remains in 2nd place with 169 points despite not having taken part in the last 5 races. But that position is now closely challenged by Railton (165.5 points), Neary (161 points), Atkinson (160 points) and Day (155.5 points).
Afterwards, Josh said: “I’m just so happy to be back up here. I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to show my face in the paddock again. Got my arse off the couch and here we are spraying champagne at each other. It’s lovely. I want say a big thank you to Hyside and their sponsors, including Neil from Premier.”
His delight was matched by Premier Security Consultants boss Neil Johns who was at the track with his two young lads, Finley and Harry. He said:”What a fabulous start for Josh riding the Hyside Ducati for the first time.
“His experience shone through and the way he went from fifth to take third and a place on the rostrum in the final throws of the race was incredibly thrilling. Everyone loved it.”
