Lee Jackson bagged a pair of fourth places at Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Snetterton, and now the Rapid Fulfillment FS-3 Kawasaki rider is hoping that he can take another step at Silverstone and battle for the podiums.
Jackson was in the fight for a top three finish last time out at Snetterton, but the Lincolnshire contender is ready to push for the team and Kawasaki’s first podium finish of the season in the next three races next weekend.
Jackson said: “I really enjoy riding Snetterton and so that gave me confidence from last year there before the weekend started. We changed the bike for qualifying which really helped, and I would say gave me about half a second a lap consistently which was a massive improvement because the bike was steering so much better to what we had previously. That change we made was a bit of an unknown, but it wasn’t something we would normally do before qualifying, but as it only decides the grid for one race and we have three, we thought it was worth a try and it paid of!
“I think that the change made my setting a bit more similar to how Danny has his set up and working with Ian [Prestwood], we are learning the Kawasaki Superbike all the time. We wanted to try it and I feel there is some more to try and play with too.
“Going to Silverstone, I am going there being open minded and trying to keep pushing for consistent top six finishes, but I feel we had a strong weekend at Snetterton and fighting in the top five and podiums. If we can have a strong Friday and Saturday morning again then that should put us in a strong position for the races. I would like to think what we have learnt will keep us in that fight for the podium now.
“I knew being back in Superbike this year I would have to work hard, and testing was great especially after Jerez and we were able to be closer and challenge Danny. He has had some bad luck but I don’t think I would have expected to be going into the third event nearly with double the points he has so far.
“I need to have a strong qualifying as sometimes that can be my weakness and if we can get on the front two rows, then again fight up the front and keep the gap to the win as low as possible, and put myself in with a chance of the podium as that is where I want to be.”