JORDANSTOWN racer Andy Reid saw his British Supersport season end somewhat prematurely following a nasty crash at Oulton Park at the beginning of September, but the 21-year-old, who set pole position and the fastest lap en-route to a race one victory at the Cheshire venue – is already focusing on his preparations for 2016.
Having been ruled out for the rest of the season, after suffering a clean break between the radius and ulna on his left wrist – ironically just yards from a double victory, Reid painfully explained:
“I should have just won the race, it’s as simple as that,” he lamented.
“I’m proper sore at the minute, but it’s a clean break and will now just need six or eight weeks to repair itself. I’ll do some stationary cycling to keep it all ticking over, and I also am intent on attending the remaining three rounds.”
To keep himself busy on the run up to his appearance this weekend in the Netherlands – albeit in a TTC Yamaha Team PR role – Reid attended his old school, Belfast Royal Academy, to chat with pupils and teachers on Tuesday.
The Team Traction Control Yamaha rider was invited to talk to students at the North Belfast grammar school about his career to date as a professional motorcycle rider and his hopes for the future.
The Jordanstown prospect gave away signed posters and posed for photographs with students.
“I really enjoyed going back to see them all and it made me realise how much I enjoyed school and especially my art classes,” said the talented County Antrim racer and artistic whiz kid.
“It was great to sit down with the students to chat about how I worked hard to chase my dream of becoming a professional motorcycle rider. I hope I have inspired one or two of them to do all they can to chase their dream, no matter what it might be.”
Looking ahead he concluded: “I’d really like to make a bid to win the British Supersport Championship next season. I’ll need to speak to Shaun Muir [SMR and Milwaukee Yamaha team owner] as well over the next few weeks as I am under contract to SMR. For now it’s all about keeping myself motivated; my name to the fore and keep doing the PR work. It’s all part of the job these days.”
This weekend’s British Supersport Championship action takes place at Assen in the Netherlands with the Sprint race on Saturday at 5.10pm and the feature race on Sunday at 3.35pm.
