Bittersweet for Horsman despite a race victory at Donington Park

Forest Hill Moto3 racer Cameron Horsman took his second race victory of the season and his first non-finish at Donington Park National circuit last weekend in round two of the British Talent Cup.

With practice and qualifying held in fine conditions, Horsman was always challenging at the head of the pack, eventually putting his Honda on the fourth spot of the grid for the weekend’s races, missing out on the front row by only 0.017 seconds.

Away from the lights in race one saw Horsman quickly take the lead going into the Old Hairpin on lap one.

The top four riders then put on a show for the spectators, battling for the lead for the next 24 laps. Charlie Farrer, Fenton Seabright and Scott Ogden all had their turn at trying to steal the crown although it was the London rider who held on for the win, putting himself 5 points clear of main title rival, Ogden.

As the grid formed for the second time of asking the rain started to fall on the Midlands track, causing the organisers to declare it a wet race, then true to the British Weather, the sun came out for the shortened 16 lap race.

This time Horsman made his intentions clear from the outset and took the lead into the first corner. Initially, battling with Fenton Seabright for the lead, Horsman’s main rival Ogden came through the field to join the leading two riders to form a group of three at the front.

By the end of the sixth lap Horsman had managed to open a gap of around a second over his two rivals, then Ogden passed Seabright and the two chasing riders quickly closed down Horsman’s lead.

As spots of rain again began to fall, the pace at the front of the race dropped and the three front runners were joined by two other riders making it a group of five on the final lap.

On the brakes for the final time into Roberts chicane and in a classic Donington incident, the rider behind Horsman went in too hard, lost control of his bike and wiped out the 18 year old who was tucked in behind race leader, Ogden.

The crash saw Horsman disappointingly lose the Championship lead to Scott Ogden with a 20 point deficit to make up.

“I knew we had the race pace. It worked perfectly in race one and was looking good in race two until I was taken out. From podium to nothing is a bit hard to take but that is racing. We have to stay positive and do our best again in the next round.”

Horsman is out again at Brands Hatch on 14 to 16 June 2019 in the British Motostar Championship. The British Talent Cup continues in July, again at Donington but this time on the GP circuit.

Photos: Bonnie Lane