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The Real Cycle People
44 George Street, Perth

HOT SCOT WINS THREE ON THE TROT

RED HOT Scottish prospect Robbie Stewart blasted to his third successive British 125GP Championship victory and clinched the ACU Academy Cup in cool and windy conditions at the penultimate round of the series at Donington Park.

After waiting patiently for his tyres to warm through thoroughly in the opening laps, the young KRP star got the better of a brief tussle with fellow countryman Kev Coghlan on lap three to lead the race. Stewart then progressively stretched his advantage, set the fastest lap and controlled the rest of the contest from the front.

But while Stewart's smooth and emphatic victory was largely a matter of routine for the talented teenager, his KRP team-mates had to overcome difficulties at the north midlands circuit. Anthony Rogers, Nikki Coates and Tom Hayward all rode well to register solid leaderboard results, finishing sixth, ninth and 11th respectively.

KRP team boss Mark Keen said: "The team had to work very hard this weekend. Anthony's bike ingested a 'foreigner' so he had to qualify on a spare and Tom highsided at the start of second qualifying so we had to race against time to get the second spare bike ready for him to get a qualifying time. Nikki also had engine problems in practice and spent some time in the gravel trap."

Disappointed to have been pipped for pole at the end of the second qualifying session, Stewart was in a determined mood on race day. And while he stretched the field from the front, Rogers and Hayward set about battling through from the back of the grid. Starting down in 28th position, Hayward gained 17 positions over the 15 lap race and Rogers scrapped his way through the pack twice to finish sixth.

"Anthony was pushing hard and made a mistake at Goddards which lost him six seconds and put him back down the field again," explained Keen. "But he is riding superbly at the moment, much better than his results will show at the end of the season, and he came through once more. It was an excellent performance."

"Tom was beaten up in his qualifying crash and has a suspected broken big toe," continued Keen, "so it was a brave ride from him to have worked his way through so much traffic. Nikki was disappointed with himself because he knows he can be a winner and he beat Robbie at the Grand Prix at Donington Park earlier in the year. But his confidence has taken a battering in recent weeks and the bike was set up on the safe side so a top ten finish was a reasonable result in the circumstances."

The team is looking forward to the final round of the series at Brands Hatch on October 14 and hopes to complete a clean sweep of lap records at British Championship circuits by being fastest at the Kent track. And before that Stewart and Coates are taking part in the Jock Taylor Memorial meeting at Knockhill in Fife, home circuit of the legendary former world champion sidecar racer.

Young KRP riders have won the ACU Academy Cup every season since its inception. James Westmoreland won the title in 2005, Anthony Rogers was champion in 2006 and Robbie Stewart is the 2007 series winner. As well as running four full-time riders at BSB rounds, KRP looks after machinery for several up and coming young riders. Bristol youngster Martin Glossop clinched the ACU MotoStar 125GP Championship at Snetterton riding a KRP prepared Honda and the teenager won again in the final round of the championship at Cadwell Park.

Reports from other rounds.

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