LADY Luck did not smile on North Yorkshire motorcyclist Sam Holme at Donington in the latest round of the National Superstock 600 Championship.
Elvington rider Holme, who started racing five years ago, set a personal best lap time at the world famous 1.9-mile circuit of one minute 11 seconds - putting him 13th on the grid for the race - but he then crashed out of the qualifying session.
This was his best grid position of this year's championship, which is a support series of the world renowned British Superbikes, but the shoulder injury he suffered eventually forced him out of the race after 16 of the 20 laps.
In a tricky start to the race, 24-year-old Holme, on board his Optimum Bikes-sponsored Yamaha R6, dropped a few places during the dash for turn one.
As the laps passed, he battled to hold position, fighting against the pain of the shoulder injury. However after 16, he thought it best to avoid the risk of further damage or another crash and retired from the race.
Holme said: “I was gutted but take the confidence from the weekend to the next round.”
The team go to Brands Hatch on June 14-16.
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