BBS: Chris Burns Snetterton preview

BURNS CHASING PODIUM AT SNETTERTON

Chris Burns will return to the action on the track this weekend as the British Supersport Championship makes its annual visit to Snetterton in Norfolk.

The Geordie, who missed the last round of the championship at Mondello Park because his team, AIM Racing, had prior commitments at the TT, will be back on board the Yamaha R6 and is gunning for his first podium of the year.

And Burns - who turned 26 earlier this week - is hoping his return to the fast Norfolk circuit will spell the end to the bad luck which appears to have been following him around this year. After a solid start to the season at Brands Hatch, he suffered a shattered foot in a fall during first qualifying at Donington Park in April, which left him sidelined for six weeks.

He returned to the fold in time for the series' ill-fated trip to Mondello Park last month, but struggled to work around the injury, and was relieved when the round was cancelled due to inclement weather conditions.

But now his injury is 90per cent healed, and he is hoping to build on the success of his last visit to Snetterton. It was there where he enjoyed his first ride with AIM Racing last year in the Superbike class when he stepped in to replace John McGuinness, and scored an impressive tenth place finish after just two hours of tracktime on the bike.

"I really like Snetterton and I honestly think we'll go really well around there this weekend," he said. "I've always said I believe it is one of the best bikes out there and I feel we can really put it through its paces there. The fast straights suit the Yamaha, and I'm confident we can get on the podium.

"I've not had the best start to the season. The broken foot took a lot longer to heal than we had initially imagined. Even now it is still sore but it is much better than it was four weeks ago at Mondello. I've done everything I can to rest it while still keep up as much training as possible, and I'm raring to go.

"I need to start getting some good results, and I'm quietly confident that this weekend will mark a turning point in the year for us. I'm hoping I'll be on the podium come Sunday afternoon. I'm well overdue a turnaround in luck and Snetterton has been kind to me in the past. Fingers crossed it will be just as kind this week."

-zb-