Local Sport News

Confident Euro start for Andover’s Archer

Jake Archer Moto2 Estoril

Reporter: Jeremy Ryan

Andover’s Jake Archer completed a successful start in the Moto2 European Championship on Tuesday.

He took part in two 18-lap races at the Estoril circuit in Portugal against arguably some of the World’s best Moto2 riders.

If that was not enough of a challenge he rode a totally new track with completely different manufacturers tyres on.

As part of his preparation for the British Superbike GP2 championship Jake is racing in the first two rounds of the highly-competitive European Moto2 championship. The main purpose was to get some valuable track time on the bike and the team were delighted with the progress they have made over the last four days.

From the first free practice session on Saturday to the second of the qualifying sessions on Monday knocked a huge 1.6 off his lap time.

It was not just the rider learning a new circuit but the team as well. Overnight they made some major changes to the settings of the bike to improve handling and it appeared to work well.

The Kovara Projects/RS Racing rider began the first of the two races facing 42-degree track temperatures. The Andover ace made a steady start from 20th on the grid before coming across the line in 17th position.

In the second outing of the day Archer got away well. He continued to improve throughout the race and in the final laps was battling with the Italian Rider Alessandro Zetti. This time he came home 16th.

It was a fantastic performance from Jake and the Kovara projects/RS Racing team. In just four days they had all learned so much about the Estoril circuit as well as the competitive nature of this championship.

Jake Archer will be back in action at the second round of the Moto2 European Championship at the Autodromo Algarve on 13th July 2020.

Jake Archer said, “It has been an amazing experience! The guys out there are so fast. It was awesome to be riding the same track as them. Over the last few days I have learned so much.

“The team have been great with Ryan Saxelby preparing a superb Moto2 bike as always. Also a massive thanks to Peter Lucey of Kovara Projects for being out title sponsor. I cannot wait now to get to the Algarve for the next race.”

Photos: Agusti Nubiola                           

About the author

David Harber

David Harber is the founder and Managing Director of Love Andover, including the Love Andover Observer newspaper and 95.9FM Andover Radio. He is a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts and a card carrying member of the Nation Union of Journalists.