KTM Racing Team’s Angus Reekie had a tough time on track at Wakefield Park. Image: Keith Muir.

KTM RC8 R pilot Angus Reekie will return to the drawing board to make a series of key changes after admitting his Australian FX-Superbike outing at Wakefield Park was one he’d like to forget.

Reekie readily admits the fact that his V-twin is down on horsepower compared to the frontrunners, though hasn’t let this deter him from giving the challenge his every effort.

“I’d really hoped Wakefield would be great for us because it is a tighter circuit,” said Reekie. “With the lap times I was doing on my own I started to think fifth or sixth was possible.

“But once in the pack I couldn’t do a thing, I was getting held up and baulked in every corner, then outgunned once we got out, and I let it get to me.”

Reekie qualified eighth, but dropped to 12th off the start of the opening race, fighting back to 10th after a difficult showing that included aggressive contact with another rider.

He returned to the saddle for race two but his charge was cut short, and confidence severely dented, after another huge moment.

“I knew I was pushing right to the limit which was starting to worry me because I just didn’t have the feeling today,” he said. “Then in race two on the third lap I had a huge high-side that flicked me out of the saddle in the fast corner.”

Reekie wrestled the bike under control, narrowly avoiding disaster, but had lost touch with the battle pack and conceded that his day had run its course, withdrawing shortly after.

“It was a really lucky save because that would have been a fast place to crash, but by the time I stopped there was no point continuing,” he said. “I could run top ten all day on this bike, but it’s just doing it a disservice because it’s got so much more potential.

“I feel really terrible because I’ve never given up on anything before and I know my confidence is still lacking since my injury, which played a big part today.

“But like people keep saying to me, if you’re not feeling it, it’s best to put it away – there’s just not enough room for error. This race is one I’d like to forget, but we’ve got two months to make some changes in several key areas, and we’ll come out swinging.”

Reekie slipped to 11th outright on the FX-Superbike standings after his round three showing.