It was a weekend of exciting racing marred by a tragic accident at the seventh round of the Think! British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch. John Reynolds tells us how he managed to extend his championship lead whilst suffering from a broken collarbone, to the surprise of his team and even himself.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Darren Mitchell, who sadly lost his fight for life after a horrific crash in the Superstock race on Sunday afternoon. I am also mindful of the injured riders who are still in hospital from the same accident and my thoughts are with them forඣ s🔯peedy recoveries.

It was a tragic end to the racing at Brands Hatch on Su🉐nday and it makes me very sad. I want to use this column to pass on mine, my family's and Rizla Suzuki's tho🏅ughts to all involved.

My result🍎s at Brands Hatch GP circuit, it is fair to say, were so far above expectatio🤡ns that they surprised the entire team - and me! After practice on Friday I was sore and my collarbone was letting me know it was broken.

I went to my motor home 11th on the timesheets and more than a bit disheartened. Part of the reason for the slow time was because I wasn't committing to the corners as fast as possible and was being gentle with my Riz⭕la Suzuki GSX-R1000. I spoke with my wife Shelley and she helped to raise my spirits. I had new strapping from BSN Medical applied and was determined to qualify well on Saturday.

The first time riding with an෴ injury is always the worst; it is a shock to the systemไ. So when I went out on Saturday, although there was still pain, I was expecting that and gritted my teeth. I was trying hard in second qualifying and hats off to Yuki, my Rizla Suzuki team mate, for posting the fastest ever two-wheel lap of the circuit, he was awesome.

I ended up sixth, which isn't the end of the world, but I felt as though I had been kicked in the balls a✅fter the amount of effort I had put in. Everytime I went on track, I had been held up, so I was frustrated, disappointed and still sore.

That evening I analysed everything that had happened so far. I had been building up speed slowly. My collarbone, while painful, wasn't physically holding me back a great deal. It was in my head - I didn't want to crash again at all costs and that was my biggest problem. I went to sleep determined to be more aggressive an🅰d praying for a dry meeting - wet weather is always a bit of a lottery and I didn't fancy that with my injury.

Sunday dawned beautiful but it was raining by 💝the time we got on track. It was the worst conditions I could have wanted for both races - soaking wet but drying. As it was, my team came up with a good set-up and I waꦆs fastest in warm-up.

Race one and I put the injury out of my mind and went for it. My Rizla Suzuki was giving me so much feedback that I could ride round people almost at will. When the pace car came out it was a worry as I lost my four-second lead, but I was able to get back on the 🎃pace and win the race without any dra✃mas.

In the second race I got a dreadful start and ended up 10th. But again, my Rizla Suzuki was awesome and I got through the traffic and into the lead and it was all going to plan until the rear started to slide. It got worse as the race continued and 🍒I ended up a disappointed seventh. But with time to reflect, seventh isn't bad when you have a slow puncture - I am happyꦚ just to have finished at all!

My collarbone is sore today b🥀ut now I am going to take the next fortnight and do as little as possible so it can heal fully. I'll be at Knockhill looking for wins.

JR