Superstock 1000 racer Tom Tunstall notched up his first points of the season as the Integro rider was classified in 15th at the Donington Park World Superbike Support race.
Normally run as part of the British Superbike series, the National Superstock championship took to the world stage as a support race for the British round of the World Superbike series at the Leicestershire circuit.
With only two track sessions prior to the race, the Integro team had to be as effective as possible as they continue to work to hone set up of this year’s machine.
With some big changes planned during the single qualifying session including a new shock and geometry set-up, good progress was being made.
However, the rear tyre spun on the wheel rim early in the session, meaning the team had to use up a new rear tyre normally saved for pushing for a lap time towards the end of the session.
Having set his fastest time on his penultimate lap when the tyre had done almost race distance it was only good enough for 26th on the grid and giving the Denby Dale rider a lot to do in the race.
Tunstall got away well in the 16-lapper and started chipping his way forward.
As the race progressed he became embroiled in an eight rider battle for 12th place.
Taking 17th with three laps to go he took 16th into the Melbourne loop on the final lap and held it to the line.
At the flag he was just over a second from 12th place, his strongest result of the season so far. Shortly after the race a fellow competitor was disqualified after his bike failed the technical checks promoting Tunstall to 15th and into the points.
“I enjoyed the race and I’m encouraged with how it panned out,” said Tunstall. “We’re still going forward with the bike and I had something I could race with and that was a step forward.
“Having caught the group I’m convinced I could have got further through it given more laps but at least we were in the fight and it’s great to finally chalk up some points.
“We still have a long way to go as my times aren’t yet as good as what I’ve done in the past but we’ll keep working, progressing and I’m sure we can build on this.”
With the Isle of Man TT giving the series a four week break, the next round of the British Superbikes series heads north of the border to Knockhill in Scotland over the weekend of June 24-26.
