Point bagged and history made for all-new OMG Racing!

Varying conditions across the weekend proved to be testing, although the smiles in the garage were just as positive as the missing rays of sunshine. A lively start to the inaugural OMG, laughter-fuelled weekend had Gino and Ben both competitively lapping in the top 10, before a crash for each put the team back. However, OMG Racing overcame the situation and whilst they haven’t won any races, they certainly had a lot of fun with those in the garage and the lots of excited fans!

Popular rookie Rea had an electrifying start to the first race, as he bolted through from the 6th row and was in the top 10 by turn one, getting his famous elbows out to gain advantage over his rivals. However, some small issues meant he would finish a tough race outside of the points. In the second outing, Gino would once again get a good start and set good lap times, however brake problems once again hampered progress. Gino put in a sterling effort in tricky conditions to finish 15th and score the team’s first point, beating ex-National Superstock 1000 champion Taylor Mackenzie. Both rides prove that Gino can be a consistent finisher and had it not been for a tumble during the qualifying, he may have been much further up the rankings. However, the bonds formed in the garage are stronger than ever before.

#GinoRea44

‘My first BSB weekend has been about as mixed as the weather if I’m honest! I’m frustrated with how the races went but we have to take the positives from the whole weekend; we have shown our potential and scored our first BSB point together as a brand new team. Up until my crash in Qualifying, we were at the sharp end in both wet and dry conditions and everything was going to plan. Unfortunately racing doesn’t always go to plan, and we encountered some unexpected problems during both races which prevented us showing our capabilities. In the second race I ran off-track twice whilst trying to pass riders in front of me, so to salvage a point scoring finish wasn’t so bad. The team have done a fantastic job during our first race weekend together and I’m grateful of everyone’s hard work. I’m a bit sore now but really looking forward to regrouping and moving forward at Brands Hatch.

On the other unmissable, luminous OMG Racing Suzuki, National Superstock 1000 rookie Ben Luxton adapted extremely well to the class over the weekend, running well within the top 15 throughout most of the weekend’s difficult weather. It wasn’t only his livery that brightened things up, as his performances were just as colourful and consistent. A small tip off in the opening race meant that Ben wouldn’t finish the first outing but was perfectly OK and more fired up for Monday’s second outing. The young talent came home in 19th in even more difficult conditions on Monday. With Ben still learning but completing the race with solid end-of-race pace, there are many positives hiding behind the end result.

Credit: OMG Racing / Ian Hopgood Photography#BenLuxton9

‘It’s been a real strange weekend, with the conditions just being so different. The team have worked great and we honestly can’t fault them for their hard work this weekend. It’s amazing to have such a great group of people around me. We need a bit more time on the bike and then it will be onwards and upwards from there really. I need to work on my qualifying and on my starts; my race pace towards the end of the 2nd race was very strong and if we can do that early on then I should be able to run with the boys at the sharper end of things.’

With their first weekend now out of the way and those butterflies fluttering away, it would be fair to say that the OMG Racing UK garage was as lively and popular as their riders were out on track. Experience and entertainment made up for the on-track difficulties, that’s for sure!

OMG Racing UK

‘It’s been very different to how we expected but we got a point. Gino is top rookie and, until the accident, we were right in the mix. It hasn’t gone for us this weekend but every team has bad weekends. We have learnt a lot and we have some issues to iron out before the next race. We have been setting competitive lap times and we have no doubt that Brands Hatch will see us back towards the front where we all know we belong.’

Also adapting to the new, effervescent team, ex-racer Ray Stringer was also bubbling with optimism despite the result, again emphasising that the team had the conditions against them and that the crash definitely didn’t help.

Ray Stringer (Crew Chief)

‘Initial testing was good. Obviously, progress got skewed when we got to qualifying, as Gino had an off before we could put the new tyre in. From then on in, we were on the back foot. We haven’t found the reason for why we struggled after the crash but we will get to the bottom of it. Somewhere in the crash, we lost the bike that Gino knew but we should be back ‘on track’ at Brands Hatch.

Fellow ex-racer Paul Curran was also positive about what the new team had achieved on their first weekend together, despite some difficult results.

Paul Curran (Team Manager)

‘Back from an up and down first outing for OMG Racing Team The great British weather caused a few set backs over the weekend for everyone involved at Donington Park.

Gino and Ben rode very well in the tricky conditions over the weekend. OMG as a team have had a steep learning curve this weekend but we all pulled together and worked extremely well as a team and rectified any issues that were thrown at us.

Onwards and upwards onto, hopefully, a warmer and dryer Brands Hatch. Thanks to everyone involved with OMG Racing!