Really excited and proud to be working with Kier Armstrong and his Lincolnshire Mulisha team in 2023. A really talented rider, and a cracking young lad to boot. Competing in the British Junior SuperStock 600 Championship to goal is to bag a couple of podiums before the season is out, and Kier has the support, the bike and the speed to make that happen.
2023 R6: brands hatch
Brands Hatch is one of my very favourite tracks anywhere in the World, so it was great to see Kier back on track and in action after his enforced lay-off.
FP1 and 2 went well, with Kier on some hot pace and for long periods of the sessions, right up there with the front runners in top 5 positions. However, that bad luck which has crept in hit again, with an off at the fast Stirlings in qualifying. The good news is that Kier still secured an 11th place start, but the bad news is that the bike went over the fence into the trees causing a lot of damage. Thanks to the Silvester family, who lent some parts to Kier, he was able to make the race. But bad luck hit again on the grid, which meant Kier had to start from the very back of the grid.
Kier has shown and proved beyond doubt the pace and talent he has - we just need to do some sort of black magic to get him some good luck for the rest of the season!
2023 R4: knockhill
Knockhill was a frustrating round for Kier, with good pace in FP1, but then he was hit with a bucket load of bad luck.
A number of issues with the bike meant that the rest of the weekend was one of those "weekend's to forget". Added to which, a whole list of things to repair and resolve with the bike. Sadly, this meant Kier has had to sit out the Snetterton Round 5 meeting to concentrate on the bike.
2023 R3: donington park
Back on-track, and giving it full gas, Race 1 of a two race weekend saw Kier battle through the field from 37th and stone last, right up to an incredible 9th place. After the morning crash, this proves that sometimes, a 9th place can be even better than a win!
Race 2 was a similar story but with not such a good result. Fighting through the field, Kier again showed the pace he has and was at or close to lap-record pace when he lost the front end at Goddards. The podium feels like it's getting closer!
2023 R3: Donington park
After the FP1 shake down, FP2 saw Kier go 3rd fastest and looking great for a Saturday morning qualifying session. Unfortunately, on his very first flying lap, Kier joined the 'Craner Club' when he had one of the strangest high-sides I've seen in a long time. Thankfully, Kier was reasonably unhurt, although battered and bruised, but the bike needed a lot of work from his team. After a case of all hands to the pump, the bike was ready with seconds to spare for Race 1.
2023 R2: oulton park
Can't cover Oulton Park without a classic "lodge" shot can you? Just about got Kier framed on-point here. Was a rider just behind him, so had to get the timing absolutely perfect to avoid getting another rider's head in the background.
Really looking good in the new leathers as well, which are a perfect match for the colour scheme on the bike.
2023 R2: oulton park
Love this little bit of air, and slightly out of shape here from Kier - really gives a feeling on him getting everything he can out of the R6 Yamaha.
Really difficult weather conditions all weekend, with rain affecting nearly every session. I think the only really dry sessions, Kier went 2nd fastest (FP2) and then in Race 1 he battled through the field and was 6th fastest on lap times meaning a 6th place grid start for race 2. Then more rain....!
2023 R1: silverstone
Round 1 at Silverstone saw Kier have a solid weekend with a 10th place qualifying position, which was then backed up with a 10th place in the race on Sunday.
Everything looking good for the next round at Oulton Park, which is more of a 'proper' race track and somewhere Kier should go well at. First round and points on the board though.
2023 pre-season test: donington park
New season, and could not have started any better for Kier who topped the timing sheets after the weekend in the British Junior SuperStock championship.
Hopefully, this is a sign that the podium is realistic this season as we progress through the year.
