Report submitted by MustHaveMedia

The Hel Performance Motostar British Championship 2017 drew to a close with two races on the Brands Hatch GP circuit this weekend.

Bromsgrove’s Jake Clark had received the shock news on Thursday that his grandad had passed away suddenly.

Despite the obvious distress this caused Jake and the family decided that he would ride in honour of his grandad.

He started the final round of this Moto3 support series to the British Superbike Championship re-acquainting himself with the circuit and the infamous blind Paddock Hill Bend.

After two free practice sessions he had set a fastest lap time of 1:41.269, improving his lap time by over a second on the Friday.

Qualifying

On Saturday the riders were back out on track for the 25 minute qualifying session.

Clark worked hard and after 14 laps of the Kent circuit he qualified in 11th position with a lap time of 1:41.163.

Race One

The same day Clark had the first of the two races of the weekend. Saturday’s race was for ten laps.

Clark got a good start and was mid-pack, but there was a big crash at Druids which meant you dropped back down the field again.

Then he was in a race long battle with Ewan Potter. Clark took ninth place from Potter on lap five and held on for three laps.

In the end, the close battle went Potter’s way with Clark having to settle for tenth across the line just 0.067 seconds behind his rival.

During the race he reduced his best lap time significantly ending with a best of 1:40.702.

Race Two

On Sunday the race was mid-afternoon.

This time Clark had to complete 12 laps. Making a solid start Clark was once again entangled in a closely fought battle with Potter.

Clark worked hard to keep Potter behind him. However, on the fifth lap Clark was overtaken and dropped to 10th place.

Not one to give up he kept pushing his Wilson Racing Moto3 machine to the finish line but as he dropped his lap times he was beginning to have issues with the front of the bike.

On the final lap Clark was determined to pass Potter and did so in the wooded section of the GP circuit where he had been lining him up a few laps earlier.

With another rider crashing out Clark went on to claim 8th at the finish line. His continued improvement showed once more as he cut his lap time.

This time he lapped a 1:40.686.

The Moto3 British Superbike support series has now finished for the season.

The number 13 rider finished in 13th place overall, although, he didn’t join the championship until round five.

He will spend some time with his family grieving his recent loss before starting the winter training and looking at his options for 2018.

Clark is on the reserve list for the British Talent Cup championship but doesn’t know if he’ll be called up.

Jake Clark said: “It’s been a good season. I wasn’t expecting to be on a Moto3 until next year but an opportunity came along.

"I’ve learnt so much. Thank you to Gary and Nikita at Wilson Racing for giving me a great bike at each round and my mum and dad for bringing me and being my best supporters.

"We obviously had a talk before the weekend but I’m glad I decided to race. It is what my grandad would have wanted.”