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The Real Cycle People
44 George Street, Perth

Knockhill – 29/30 June/1 July

After an impressive debut performance at the British 125 Grand Prix at Donington Park a week earlier, it was back to domestic duties again as Robbie took a brave 5th place in Round 7 of the BSB 125 GP Championship in front of an enthusiastic home crowd at Knockhill.

As with the previous weekend the weather played a major part in events at the tight and twisty Fife circuit, but Friday’s two practice sessions were both held in dry and bright conditions. Robbie's weekend got off to a frustrating start as he sat out the whole of the first session with a slipping clutch, but the afternoon session saw him quickly on the pace and he finished the day second on the timesheets, only a fraction of a second behind series leader Luke Jones.

With afternoon rain threatening for Saturday's second qualifying session, the first session in the morning was always going to be critical, and a series of fast early laps again took Robbie into second slot. His impressive session then ended abruptly when he was taken down by another rider arriving too hot into the hairpin - a fall that left Robbie with more damage to a shoulder still recovering from the injury sustained earlier in the season at Thruxton.

With the first qualifying ending with Robbie in provisional 5th place on the grid and the rain during second qualifying meaning that nobody would improve on their earlier times, Robbie didn't take to the track at all in the afternoon - choosing instead to rest his shoulder and not risk further injury.

Sunday's race day schedule was greatly interrupted by some torrential downpours, but Knockhill's upgraded drainage system coped well with the deluge, and when the 125 riders took to the circuit for the last race of the day, it was onto a virtually dry track.

At the lights Robbie got away well from 5th on the grid before getting baulked by one of the leaders and falling back slightly as the pack dropped into Duffus Dip. Although the racing line was dry, any passing manoeuvre meant a risky move onto wet tarmac, but Robbie fought back up fifth position and was then involved in a tight battle with KRP team mate Anthony Rogers for the remainder of the race. As fellow Scot Kev Coghlan took a last gasp win to the delight of the home supporters, Robbie held on to his place and crossed the finish line just ahead of Rogers, and in doing so took his third win in a row in the Cup competition.

With the Cup win extending his lead to 22 points, and yet another strong finish keeping Robbie in third place in the overall Championship standings - level on points with series veteran Michael Wilcox - the return visit to Oulton Park on the 15th of July will undoubtedly be one of the key rounds in what is shaping up to be yet another impressive season for the young Scot.

Reports from other rounds.

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