Disappointing Oulton weekend for Vivaldi.

With Scott Smart still sidelined with the injury he picked up at Silverstone it was left to Tristan Palmer and Ben Wilson to represent Vivaldi Racing as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship headed to Oulton Park for the eleventh round of the year at the weekend.

Palmer was able to pick up a single point after finishing 15th in race one and 16th in race two, while a 14th place in race one saw Wilson pick up two points, engine problems bringing his race two to a halt before the opening corner.

Qualifying left both riders on the fifth row grid position in 18th and 19th places and as the opening race got underway Wilson made his way through to 15th place where he remained until the closing stages. Although he made up ground on Sean Emmett some way ahead he was unable to get near enough to challenge for his position and completed the race in 14th place for a further two championship points.

Plamer moved forward to hold 17th place, eventually overtaking John McGuinness in the closing stages to take the final points place.

Race two saw both riders get away to a good start but as the packed field of riders made their way towards Old Hall for the first time Wilson slowed and dropped to the back of the field. He coasted around the lap to enter the pits and retire with an engine problem.

"I was disappointed with 14th place in the first race," he admitted. "I was having problems towards the end with lack of grip with the rear tyre and was sliding around quite a bit. Race two was a disaster for me. As soon as we got away from the start I felt the engine go and that was that. I am gutted as I got a good start and was with the leaders."

Palmer gained ground to 16th place, enjoying a mid race battle with Luke Quigley. He managed to shrug off his challenge and pull away holding off Kieran Clarke as he just missed out on the points.

"We were both at a disadvantage with our low grid positions but I made the best of it and kept pushing forward," he said. "In the first race I managed to catch and pass McGuinness at Lodge with one lap to go and finish in the points but the second race didn't go as well and I couldn't quite make it into the points."

Team manager Richard Wilson admitted he was disappointed with the weekend, adding he was looking forward to being back up to a three bike team at Donington.

"It was a disappointing weekend all round really, but we remain positive," he said. "Both Tristan and Ben added to their points tally and Scott is on the mend. We can now put Oulton behind us and turn our attention to the Donington Park races in two week's time where we will be fielding a full squad of riders who will be focussed on securing further points for the team as we near the end of our first season in Superbikes."

Meanwhile Smart may not have been riding, but he was kept busy during the weekend as he accepted an invitation from Sky TV to join the commentary team.

"I enjoy commentating but I would have preferred to have been out there racing," he said. "My collar bone is almost healed but I thought it wiser to miss this round and be completely fit for the Donington Park races in two week's time."