In a difficult race day for the FIM Supersport World Championship, Sheridan Morais (Kallio Racing) secured a top four finish at the Motul Italian Round but was hindered by his slow start off the line.

Starting from sixth on the grid, the South African had been working on his race pace throughout the weekend with his Yamaha YZF R6 machine meaning he was confident he would be able to fight through the field. Despite a slow start off the line, he fought through the pack to get into the top five and was able to cross the line in fourth.

“I think we were a bit unlucky,” begins Morais. “Because out of the four starts we had three really good ones, in the others we were right up at the front and in the last one that counted we had a bit of a dud so. Apart from than that we had a good race, we made up a lot of ground and got up to fourth. Unfortunately this is not where we want to be but nonetheless we can take our strong pace to Donington where we still hunt for that victory.”

Looking ahead to round six at Donington Park, a circuit the 32 year old has struggled around in the past, he talks through some of the changes he is making to his Yamaha: “We worked really hard this weekend on race pace with the different compound tyres, were working on the longer race and with the cooler temperatures. I think the bike is handling and going really well but today it was a bit tricky for tyre choice, but hopefully Donington the weather will play its part and things will go a bit smoother there.”

Racing action begins around Donington Park in two weeks time, where Morais will hope to step back on the podium once again in 2017.