Bury motorcycle racer Nige Pitt headed to Oulton Park to contest in the Thundersport A&R Racing Pre-National championship at the weekend.

With this round being the only two-day event of the season, testing was restricted to 3x20 minute sessions.

The Team Pittys Custom Vinyls Racing rider struggled at the venue last year and with just 15 minutes to find a clear lap amongst a field of 39 in qualifying, it was always going to be a challenge. However, Pitt broke through with two minutes remaining to set a new personal best of 1:55.250 as he qualified in 26th.

In race one, Pitt got off the line well, immediately passing other riders before being boxed in on the run to turn one. He stole two places back into “Cascades” before the pack around him split into two groups, with Pitt hanging onto the back of the front pack. Head down and pushing hard, Pitt broke his previous PB lap time in every lap of the race, finishing a credible 23rd in a packed field of 39 riders.

Another great launch in race two had Pitt amongst the row ahead off the line.

A busy first lap ensued, with much pushing and shoving throughout the pack, but Pitt emerged from it in the middle of a three-way tussle for 24th place. The trio crossed the line after 21.5 miles covered by less than 1.2 seconds.