Suspension changes helped Street motorbike racer Damon Smith to a strong result at Oulton Park recently.

Last weekend saw the penultimate round of the 2021 NG Road Racing championships after a busy week for Damon of returning to UK from a family holiday on Wednesday, returning to work on Thursday and leaving for Oulton Park circuit in Cheshire Thursday evening, arriving at the circuit in the early hours.

The Oulton Park race circuit is one of the most testing in the UK. It is not a track that is easily learnt.

The 2.7-mile circuit requires precise riding and a well set-up machine to deal with track undulations, complex turns and cambers while trying to keep the front wheel from lifting.

Damon said: "The Friday test day went well in dry weather, gaining some valuable laps and gradually getting quicker after not having raced at the circuit since 2017 on my old Yamaha R1.

"Saturday was the only day of racing this time with morning warm up remaining dry but soon after my session ended, the heavens opened with heavy rain which stayed for the rest of the day.

"I had no decent suspension settings for the wet conditions so had to dial in some approximate settings into the suspension.

"Race 1, I started sixth on the grid gaining a good start but on the first lap coming through the Knickerbrook Chicane a fellow competitor slipped off his bike directly in front of me causing me to take avoiding action losing me precious seconds chasing the leading group.

"The bike didn't feel comfortable throughout, giving me the feeling it was going to 'wash out' beneath me at any time.

"In the latter stages of the race I had a battle with a BMW s1000rr and coming into the final corner on the final lap, I thought I had defended my line enough only for the BMW to dive up the inside at the last second sitting me up mid-corner and leaving me no chance to respond before crossing the line in sixth place.

"Following a post race telephone debrief with Steve, my suspension expert from Hel Performance, we tweaked the suspension to give me a softer feeling and a more forgiving setup giving me far more feedback from the bike in the slippery conditions.

"Race 2, I got another good start taking some riders on the outside into the first corner. The bike felt a lot better enabling me to set a laptime more than four seconds quicker than my best time in race 1, I eventually crossed the line in fifth place.

"To summarise, a good day at the office on the DS Racing Kawasaki #23 in difficult conditions where simply staying on the bike was an achievement and gaining good points resulting in sixth place out of 27 in the championship.

"As always it wouldn't be possible without the help of my amazing sponsors in Simon Lane and Steve Whitear of HEL Performance, Andy Forbes-Buckingham of AFB Motorcycles, Dan Lou Howley of Twosixfit Gym and Fitness Centre, Paul Redmore and Judith Redmore of PJ Parcels, Mark Hawks of MPH Telecom, John Holdsworth of R&T Fish Bar, Adi Sully of Vehicle Life Support, Roger Stacey of RA Stacey Plant Hire, Carl Woodward of Woodward Insurance and Mortgage Services, Julie Williams of Ambrosini Construction Group, Nigel Eddleston-Dike and Julie Eddleston-Dike of EDP Photo News, Opie Oils, ParSigns and all at Club 23.

"Also big thanks to my amazing partner Cat Barnstable for all her help changing tyres and support over the weekend, and to Gordon Brady and Ian Young for the great pictures and lastly all the marshals and medical teams for standing out in the dismal weather.

"Next stop is the final round of the championship at Pembrey Circuit near Llanelli in South Wales."