Bow biker claims fourth place at Thruxton

Bow biker Sam Cox was all smiles after he managed to secure an impressive fourth-place finish at the second Triumph Triple Challenge of the season at Thruxton last weekend.

The former Raine’s school pupil, who now works at Mossbourne Academy, set off for the Hampshire circuit last Friday, before two impressive practice sessions, where he finished seventh and fourth respectively.

However, rain overnight meant that Cox only managed to claim 11th spot on the grid in qualification on Saturday morning for the following day’s race.

In race one, Cox got off to a bad start, and had to fight his way back to 11th, just one second behind a pack of four racers.

In the end, the east Londoner managed to finish in 10th place, claiming seventh place on the grid in race two, due to his fastest lap time.

“I was really pleased with my two practice sessions on Friday,” said Cox. “To be fourth fastest was a complete shock, but I knew that it meant nothing unless I could follow it up the following day in qualifying.

“However, the rain made the track damp and that really hampered my progress.

“I had mixed feelings about my 11th place, as at Brands Hatch in the first meet of the season I only managed 19th position so it was an improvement.

“But it was disappointing not to be able to maintain my top 10 position.

“However, I was relatively pleased with how race one went. I tried to narrow the second gap between myself and the group of four in front, but they were just that little bit quicker.”

Race two was a completely different story though, as Cox, starting in seventh position, moved up to fourth by the first corner.

For the rest of the race, Cox was involved in a tussle with teenager Chrissy Rouse, who was also fighting for a place on the podium.

“It was great to be involved in a dogfight with Chrissy,” said Cox.

“Since I made the move up to this level, I haven’t really had the chance to do battle with someone else as I have often been on my own, but it was a great experience and I look forward to the next time I have to do it.”

Fortunately, with the fourth place changing hands throughout the race, Cox took his chance to overtake Rouse on the final corner, clinching a spot on the podium.

“The whole race was broadcast on Eurosport so it was a fantastic experience to be able to get myself on the podium and celebrate with the champagne at the end,” said Cox.

“It was a great feeling and it was the best weekend of racing that I have ever had.

“I know that my friends and family were back home watching and that spurred me on even more.”

Now that Cox has had a taste of the highlife, he can’t wait for the next race in the series, over the May Bank Holiday at Oulton Park.

“I want to continue all the hard work I put in at Thruxton at Oulton Park next time out,” he said.

“Now I know what I am capable of I think I will be setting my sights even higher.

“Oulton Park hasn’t been the most successful of circuits for me recently, but I am to make that change.”