Respectable season for Ollerton race ace veteran Walker

He has been consistent in his results since his trip to Assen in Holland at the end of September finishing only the second race in sixth position after a retirement in race one.

‘Determined as ever.’ was the word in the paddock for the last two rounds at Silverstone and Brands Hatch just over a week ago

Walker went to Silverstone at the beginning of October in 10th position in the Championship for the penultimate round and focused as ever.

The weekend proved to be a challenging one for ‘Walker the Stalker’ and his Quattro Plant Kawasaki Team but he was able to finish the weekend with some solid points

A very tough qualifying session saw Walker finish in 14th place and race one saw him finish in 13th with his Teammate Barry Burrell 10th and more points in the bag for them both.

The second race proved better for Walker, just missing out on a top 10 finish to ex-World Superbike rider Jakub Smrz claiming 11th place at the chequered flag for five more hard-earned points.

He left Silverstone looking forward to the last round of the season in the same place, 10th in the championship

Last round of the season at Brands Hatch was where it all started back in March, getting seventh in race one and eighth in race two and looking to finish with similar or better results

The weekend saw bad conditions for the triple header and Saturday’s qualifying saw Walker finish in 15th position.

Saturday’s opening 18-lap first race saw Chris fly from the start line, and by the end of the first lap he was in seventh position and was looking to be a top five finisher.

By one third distance he had got to sixth position but was overtaken shortly afterwards by Tommy Bridewell and had to settle for seventh place at the flag.

Both 20 lap races of the weekend on Sunday were flawed with even more bad weather conditions and heavy rain falling.

It didn’t bother Walker, who started eighth in the first race, carried on with the pace and finished fifth at the chequered flag with third fastest lap time and equal to his best result of the whole season.

The third race of the weekend and final race of the season saw Chris start from the front row of the grid and hoping to match at least a fifth place.

It looked very much like it was to be achieved until on the seventh lap a massive slide at Graham Hill bed saw Walker hit the wet grass, dropping down the order. Walker, in his usual style, fought back and was rewarded with a ninth place finish in one of the season’s most challenging races.

Walker took 27 points taken from all three races, which saw him end the season with 168 points and 10th place overall in the Championship and fourth in the Rider’s Cup.

Walker, the oldest rider on the grid and veteran of over 250 BSB races, has had some ups and downs during his 2013 MCE British Superbike Championship as in previous years but still maintains his performance and is still looked upon by many younger rider for his experience and advice.

Chris started his career as a local motocross rider at the age of 13, moving to road racing in 1994.

By the end of that year and into 1996 he rose through the ranks with ease and had ridden in Motorbike Grand Prix and scored points.

Pete Extance, Team Manager: for Quattro Plant Kawasaki team said: “It was a great way to end the 2013 BSB Championship and for Chris to end the year with three, well-deserved top 10 finishes, a front row start and 10th overall in the Championship is testament to all concerned.”