LAW ON ‘TOP OF THE WORLD’ AFTER SECURING WORLD SUPERSPORT OPPORTUNITY
Essex lad Mason Law will make his competitive World Supersport debut this coming weekend during the penultimate round at Magny Cours in France with the Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki team. The 18-year-old has been afforded the opportunity after the early departure of Tony Covena and will ride alongside American PJ Jacobsen and Frenchman Florian Marino – both podium finishers last time out.
Obviously delighted at the opportunity, Law, who has only been racing on the tarmac since 2012, said: “It came to me as a bit of a shock. I was out in Portimao getting some track time and Andrew Pitt asked me, ‘how do you think you would get on with a World Supersport bike, as there might be an opportunity for you?’ I was a bit shocked, but I was also thinking, yes, yes, yes! It wasn’t a question I expected to hear, but I’m incredibly excited and feel blessed that I’ve been given the opportunity.”
Law has already ridden the Intermoto Ponyexpres team’s ZX-6R Supersport machine, joining PJ Jacobsen in an end of season test last October, so the jump in performance will not come as too much of a shock, as he explained: “I got a chance on the bike at Jerez last year after my final round at Brands Hatch, which was PJ Jacobsen’s first time on the bike also.
“It was never going to lead to anything then, but it was great to get some World Supersport experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was great fun. This time around I’m really gobsmacked, although I do believe I can go and give a good account of myself with no pressure and the goal is to enjoy it.
“I’ve already built a good relationship with the team, and with Andrew [Pitt] managing me I feel part of it already. I’d just like to thank the Intermoto Ponyexpres team and of course Andrew Pitt for the opportunity and everyone else that has helped me this far, especially my dad.”
Aforementioned Intermoto Ponyexpres Sports Director Andrew Pitt, said: “An opportunity came up in our team with the early departure of Tony Covena for the final two rounds of the Supersport World Championship.
“We looked at a number of riders in the British Championship and European Superstock 600 classes, but since both are actually racing on the same weekend, it wasn’t going to be easy getting someone to step away from what they have been doing all season for a one off chance.”
Speaking of his decision to offer Law an opportunity he added: “We went with young Mason Law because the team knows him and he has already tested the bike at the end of last year, and I still believe in giving a young guy a shot.
“There may be faster Supersport riders out there at the present time, but Mason has shown some great speed this year in the National Stock 600 class in the UK and this is his chance of a lifetime I suppose. Jonny Towers from MotoDirect, who supports Mason through his TrickMoto brand, was not going to stand in the way and agreed to let Mason take up the opportunity.”
Concluding the former double World Supersport champion said: “We will put no pressure on Mason, but I honestly believe he can bring it home in the points which will be a huge achievement for such a new guy to road racing. So let’s see what he can do with a great team around him.”
Mason will miss this weekend’s penultimate round of the Pirelli National Superstock 600cc class at Silverstone, but what a great opportunity this is, to open his account in the SBK paddock.