Stars of tomorrow test for Virgin

Some of the leading riders in the Virgin Media R6 Cup have been given a chance to test alongside the main Virgin team’s British Superbike squad at Cadwell.

The Virgin Media team had exclusive use of the Cadwell circuit all day but Tommy Hill, Billy McConnell and Tom Grant alternated sessions with riders from the Virgin Media Cup who were given in-depth briefings by Rob McElnea and 1-2-1 on-track tuition from James Whitham.

Leading series contenders BJ Toal, Midge Smart, Jimmy Webb and Dave Paton also got laps on the Virgin Media supersport bikes.

Current R6 Cup points leader Toal rode Simon Andrews’ R6 at Bishopscourt in the sunflower meeting last year and while he crashed in the first race, he placed third in his other ride.

He said: “The Virgin bike is totally different to what I’m used to. It’s got more grip and more power and it felt good.  Compared to the R6 I rode last year at Bishopscourt, I’d say this one has more low down power but they both handle in a similar way. Riding this is just a massive incentive  to win the series.”

Smart, currently second in the R6 Cup series, added: “It’s so much better being able to ride a real race bike instead of a production machine. It was fast and handled well but the thing that I can’t believe is that it doesn’t back in at all because of the slipper clutch. I really didn’t want to the give the bike back.”

Virgin team boss Rob McElnea kept the R6 Cup lads busy all day with rider briefings and seminars as well as the track time. The special day was wrapped up by a stunning trials riding exhibition by Graham Jarvis and two other Sherco team-mates.