Vostatek overcomes lack of track time for P13 – P9 for Tuuli

With only seven laps under his belt going into the first FIM Supersport World Championship race at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto today, PTR Triumph’s Ondrej Vostatek overcame the lack of track time to come from the eighth row of the grid to finish a very creditable thirteenth at the flag.

Tricky weather conditions for Free Practice One on Friday morning meant most of the field sat the session out. Czech rider Vostatek then unfortunately lost all of Free Practice Two in the afternoon due to an early crash which meant he went into Saturday’s Superpole without completing a lap to qualify a disappointing twenty-second. 

Vostatek made a good start, gaining six places by the end of the first lap of the 17-lap race and rode consistently to deliver another solid points scoring finish.

Ondrej Vostatek: “Qualification was not so good, this was my first laps because yesterday I crashed in FP2 so we didn’t have any laps so I ended up P22 in qualifying.  In the race I had a really good start and really good first and second corner, I overtook lots of people on the outside line but then it started to be difficult to find the spots where to overtake.  In the middle of the race there was lots of crashes so I started to be more aware of the tyres, and also from the pushing at the beginning it was difficult to keep the same pace to try to fight.”

Also struggling in qualifying, teammate Niki Tuuli started the race in fifteenth in the middle of the fifth row of the grid.  Despite the lack of good feeling in the race Tuuli was still able to cross the line in ninth position, retaining seventh place in the Championship standings with one race still to come tomorrow.

Niki Tuuli: “Today the qualifying was really difficult, I don’t think I have ever qualified P15 so I’m not happy about that but in the race I tried to do my best from the start.  I struggled to find the grip, I don’t have enough confidence to really push and I can’t find the grip. If I can’t find the grip I can’t turn the bike and then I am losing on the exit and the result is this.  We will try again tomorrow.”

PTR Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “After Ondrej’s crash on lap one of FP2 yesterday and being unable to fix the bike in time meant he only had seven laps in qualifying and so to finish thirteenth is a really good job. I’m really proud of him and all our team.  We will build on that for race two with what we have now learned from this race.  If we look at Niki’s best lap time in the race, it’s around top five but just not consistent enough and so he finished ninth.”

Tuuli signs off season P8 in Championship-Vostatek crashes out

The curtain came down on the 2023 season in the most disappointing way for PTR Triumph’s Ondrej Vostatek today in Spain as he crashed out on the fourth lap of Race Two while challenging for the top ten.  

Vostatek had been promoted up the grid to P19 for the second race of the weekend at the Circuito de Jerez – Ángel Nieto and once again made up significant ground at the start of the race.  

On lap four the race was red-flagged due to safety conditions after Marcel Schroetter crashed resulting in his bike hitting the air fence on the exit of turn thirteen but not before Vostatek went down at turn eight.  The quick start procedure was employed for the race re-start over seven laps with the grid based on the last completed timing point for each rider but the Czech youngster was unable to make the re-start.

Ondrej Vostatek: “I felt really confident, I saw Niki in front so I had good reference and I felt faster than him. I wanted to overtake him so I prepared to overtake. In turn eight I was on his tail and when I pushed a little bit through the front to make the corner I lost the front and the race was over. In the end I know I could be in the top ten because if I hadn’t crashed I am sure I would be there.”

For his final appearance with PTR Triumph, Niki Tuuli re-started the race from P12 on the grid and despite his difficulties and frustrations, was able to hold on to that position to the line. 

Niki Tuuli: “Feeling quite sad and disappointed.  The results are not even close to what we want.  Like slowly coming to the last round I lost the feeling and I just can’t ride well. For sure even today we tried to improve, we made many changes but I can’t feel the change and just can’t ride well, not fast enough. I know for sure the bike is not bad also I am not that slow. We are not a match.  I just feel sorry for the team for this year, feel sorry for my sponsors and myself. I need to find the feeling again, to ride like myself.”

PTR Triumph Team Manager Simon Buckmaster: “The last race today was disappointing. Ondrej is riding well again, pushing and actually setting up to make a move on Niki when he lost the front. He is pushing and learning fast and these things happen, no problem with that. He’s done a really good job in the rounds we have done and we’ve learnt a lot together.  With Niki obviously there’s been some good points this year, a podium and some good rides in the top five but many rides where he’s not been able to be himself; to be at one with the bike.  He admits this, but it’s disappointing for all of us.  Congratulations to our whole team for giving it their best for the whole season.  That’s it, the season is behind us now, we have a really good package and team which we will develop and build on for 2024.  We wish Niki all the best for the future and look forward to confirming and announcing our rider line up in the near future.”