Glenn Irwin says there are plenty of points still to play for after the British Superbike rider lost ground in the title race at Thruxton following a challenging weekend.
The Carrickfergus man suffered a mammoth high-side in the Sprint race on the first lap on Sunday but was later passed fit to ride in the final race at the Hampshire track.
However, Irwin had to start from the rear of the grid in 21st place, putting him at a major disadvantage.
He managed to claim a point after finishing 15th but is now 47 points behind Championship leader Tommy Bridewell going into the forthcoming round at Cadwell Park from August 24-26.
Irwin – 14th in Saturday’s first race – has dropped from second in the Championship to fourth after the Seventh Round, but the Ulster rider is refusing to allow his head to drop.
“I’ve had some big high-sides before, but the second or third-gear ones definitely hurt more,” Irwin said.
“Starting from the front row for the Sprint race gave us a great chance of a podium, but the mistake cost us and it was a missed opportunity.
“It made the final race 50/50, but I felt okay so gave it a go, and although I was annoyed to lose a couple of places towards the end, we got some points.
“We have struggled with the front tyre all season, but we have more things to test ahead of the next round and some more ideas.
“We’re 47 points adrift of the lead, but I’m not too concerned. There are plenty of races to come and plenty of points, all at good tracks for us, so we’ll go again.”
Ryan Vickers wrapped up a double on Sunday on the OMG Yamaha, winning the Sprint race – held over 10 laps following Irwin’s red-flag crash – from Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) and Danny Kent, with Bridewell seventh.
Jason O’Halloran, third in the first race, was ruled out after a high-speed crash in the warm-up.
In the third and final race of the weekend, Vickers held off McAMS Yamaha’s Kent by 0.150 secs, with Billy McConnell in third ahead of Saturday’s winner Kyle Ryde (OMG Yamaha).
Andrew Irwin finished 14th and ninth on Sunday.
His Honda team-mate Bridewell leads the title race by 25 points from Ryde, with Christian Iddon third ahead of Irwin.
Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing) won the Supersport race on Sunday from Luke Stapleford, with Northern Ireland’s Eugene McManus in fourth ahead of Alastair Seeley.
Dubliner Kennedy leads the Championship by five points from Ben Currie – third on Sunday – as he bids for a fifth Supersport title.
There was drama in the second Superstock 1000 race when Ulsterman Scott Swann was denied a double after crashing out of the lead on the last lap, leaving Luke Mossey to claim the win on Clive Padgett’s Honda.
Antrim’s Nikki Coates finished second in the main BMW F900 Cup race.