O’Gorman back on the podium in Portimao

BY GILES SPENCER
giles@slpmedia.co.uk

Erith motorcycle racer Casey O’Gorman has hit form with a second podium on the bounce in the fifth round of the Hawkers European Talent Cup at Portimao in Portugal last weekend.

The 14 year old blasted his Honda NSF250R to the top spot in Friday’s first practice session but couldn’t find the speed again in the rising heat in qualifying, setting the twelfth fastest time to start from the outside of row four for their only race of the weekend on Sunday.

In Sunday’s 33 degree heat, O’Gorman got off the line well when five corners in, championship leader Dodo Boggio crashed out of the lead in spectacular fashion bringing down two other riders, promoting O’Gorman up to third.

Unfortunately, with Owen Van Trigt, injured from Boggio’s crash, stricken on the track, the red flags came out, forcing a ten lap restarted race with all riders starting from their original grid positions.

Making another great getaway on the restart, O’Gorman moved up to ninth by the end of the first lap though the front six had made a small break away from the chasing pack.

Within a couple of laps the Visiontrack Racing rider had bridged the gap to the leaders, looking fast and smooth.

At half race distance O’Gorman had moved into fifth but in this class, positions change at the blink of an eye.

Three laps to go and the top three had broken away from O’Gorman, now in fourth, who had problems behind him with a whole gaggle of riders waiting to steal his spot.

Final lap and the race was on as O’Gorman had reeled in the leaders as they fought amongst each other and brought the rest of the pack along for the ride.

With the positions changing multiple times every corner O’Gorman kept his cool to move into third and pushed as hard as he could to hold his position to the line ahead of 2021 champion Max Martinez for back to back podiums with Spaniard Brian Uriarte taking the win from new championship leader, Joel Esteban.

When asked if he thought he’d be in the battle for the win at the end O’Gorman said, “I didn’t think so but then they started battling and I knew I could catch them.”

The result has moved O’Gorman up to eighth in the championship on 67 points, 48 behind championship leader Esteban.

The next round will be held at Aragon in Spain on the 10th September.

Photos: Visiontrack Racing