Racing News |
Warren French Battles Mixed Conditions at State Championship Round 3
Round 3 of the MCRCWA Synergy Surveys State Road Racing Championship at Wanneroo Raceway delivered a full range of conditions, with dry racing early before heavy rain arrived for the final race of the day.
After more than two months away from the bike, Warren French admitted he was feeling a little rusty heading into the event but steadily worked his way back into race form throughout the day.
Race 1 saw French enjoy a close battle with Ross Hudson aboard the IDBWA Yamaha R1 in dry conditions, while Race 2 was a more solitary affair as he rode a controlled race to finish fourth, choosing to conserve his tyres for the final race.
That strategy was quickly changed when rain swept across the circuit just minutes before Race 3. With only a five-minute turnaround between the race call and the downpour, French and his crew worked quickly to switch to wet tyres and a rain visor. He thanked Alex and the O'Brien family for their assistance in getting the bike race-ready in time for the start.
French rewarded the team's efforts with a strong ride to finish third in the challenging wet conditions.
Across the three races, French recorded finishes of fifth, fourth and third, narrowly missing a podium overall by just two points to finish fourth for the round. The result also sees him maintain fourth place in the Superbike Championship standings.
While pleased with the day's results, French acknowledged there is still work to do to return to the pace he has shown previously. With the winter break now ahead, he is looking forward to getting back on track and continuing to close the gap when the championship resumes.
