Shoubridge doubles up at Oulton to place one hand on the Ducati Cup title

Starting from pole David Shoubridge once again took victory at Oulton Park, although the Rich Energy Ducati rider was pushed all the way by Blaze Baker (Track Demons Racing Powered by HMY).

Shoubridge, Baker and Tom Tunstall (Motorcycle Race Parts) looked strong out at front from the start of the race. On Lap 3 Baker took the lead at Island Bend but Shoubridge retook the position on the same lap with a great move around the outside of the South African rider around Hislops. 

By half race distance the trio had built up a gap of five seconds over the chasing pack of Michael Tustin (AH Performance / Breckland Utility Solutions), Max Lofthouse (JDF Racing) and Mark Bridger (Moto46).

As the leading trio started their final lap their lead out at front had doubled to ten seconds. Baker was still pushing Shouey and although a last lap, last corner pass, was on the cards Shoubridge held on to his position take the double and his eleventh win of the season.

Baker and Tunstall finished second and third, just 0.2 and 0.8 seconds behind Shoubridge respectively. Lofthouse crossed the line a further 13 seconds behind the race winner, beating Tustin to fourth, with Bridger once again completing the top six finishers.

The championship can now only be won by Shoubridge or Tunstall, at the very last Ducati Performance TriOptions Cup round at Brands Hatch next month (14-16 October). There are a maximum of 50 points available but thanks to his double victory this weekend Shoubridge will be heading to his home round with a large 37-point advantage.

David Shoubridge (Rich Energy Ducati) – 1st
“What a race! It’s nice to get a race. And I don’t mean that arrogantly, obviously. At certain rounds I’ve had better data and just kind of experience in the class I would say, to be fair to the other two guys. It’s nothing to do with talent on the bike, I think. In this class it gives you a bit of a leg up if you have some base data to work from, to start with. If you’re chasing that all weekend, I find it puts you on the back foot. To be fair to the other guys it was a real good strong race this weekend. It’s not my strongest circuit, it’s the circuit I’ve come to the least. But really, really enjoyed racing. Chuffed to bits to come away with two wins. Now we’ve got one hand on the championship trophy and we’re going to be turning up at our home round and looking to wrap it up. We just need 13 points to go and then we’ve got it. That will be a dream come true for me. So, thank you very much, thanks to Rich Energy, thanks to XPEL, all the smaller sponsors that help me along the way and we’ll see everyone at Brands.”

Blaze Baker (Track Demons Racing Powered by HMY #51) – 2nd
“I’m tyring! Shouey’s got pace. It was really good out there today dicing with him. I’m really looking forward to seeing what we can do down at Brands. It’s his home track, my favourite circuit. It’s going to be a good scrap and Tunstall’s also going to be in the mix. Let’s end the season of with a bang. A huge thank you to the team, Track Demons Racing, The ATV Centre, Drizit Environmental, and all the guys who helped me get here. Final push now onto Brands.” 

Tom Tunstall (Motorcycle Race Parts #21) – 3rd
“It’s been a strong weekend. Today’s race didn’t play our way. I would have preferred a longer race to get a rhythm, But the pace was strong, I think I set the fastest lap with a couple of laps to go, just hanging on the back of them. It was a close race, and with the guys dicing it’s hard not to get too involved. Disappointed because we had strong pace all weekend but when you’re disappointed finishing second and third, fastest laps, and less than a second from the win it’s not too bad! One more play out at Brands, so looking forward to that and making the most of it.”