Rich Energy Finland Race at BSB -Brands Hatch

BRANDS HATCH, UK — Finnish road racer Juho Kantola faced a challenging, yet highly educational, race weekend as he made an appearance in the highly competitive Quattro Group British Supersport Championship at the legendary Brands Hatch GP circuit.

Riding the Ducati Panigale V2 for his own Ducati JK36 team, the 20-year-old Finn struggled to find track time and race luck against competitors who boasted significantly more circuit experience.

Qualifying and Race Drama

The Brands Hatch event is notoriously challenging, and the unpredictable British weather amplified the pressure. Kantola, running the race number #63, ended the qualifying session in 30th position with a best lap of 1:32.130.

The drama peaked during the first race (Sprint Race). A brief but sudden downpour caused the race to be red-flagged. The team was faced with a high-pressure decision on tire choice for the restart.

Finnish media sources report: "Under immense pressure, Juho made the decision: 'do not switch [to wets].' For the restart, when the lights changed, the sky opened up. Juho had to pit and retire."

Despite the immediate regret, two-thirds of the grid made the same call, illustrating the difficult circumstances.

Sunday Battle for the Finn

The second race brought a fresh set of challenges. Kantola made a strong start, but his race was effectively ended when a multi-rider crash unfolded directly in front of him. Forced onto the grass to avoid the chaos, he lost contact with the main pack.

Ultimately, Kantola was able to salvage a finish in the Sprint Race with a 26th place result, delivering a best lap time of 1:31.326. However, his focus remained on the valuable lessons learned from one of the world's toughest domestic series. Speaking after the event, Kantola remained positive about the future:

Juho Kantola stated: "It was a weekend. An absolutely awesome track and great people. The level is just so tough that I absolutely have to get more practice laps in so I can really challenge. It was nice to notice that the world's top isn't unattainable, and when we get hard practice with a good team, I'll definitely be in a better position next year. We won't give up, we'll strike harder next season."

Kantola and the Ducati JK36 team will now turn their attention to further preparation as they aim for a stronger return to the British Superbike paddock in the future.