Both Glen Richards and Billy McConnell took a race win each whilst Richards also took a third in Sunday’s second race giving the team even more reason to celebrate at their local track. Luke Mossey also finished in the top five in both races to crown a brilliant weekend for Alan Smith’s team.

2009 British Supersport Champion Richards qualified on pole position for Saturday’s sprint race and he was never out of the top two places. Second in the early stages, Glen was part of a five-rider battle for the lead, and eventually took control of the race on lap 10. Hitting the front, the Australian never looked back and pulled away to take his and the team’s first victory of the season.

Whilst he was celebrating, team-mate McConnell was cursing his bad luck as he was part of the same five-rider group and led on lap five but no sooner was he at the front then he was in the pits with a broken rectifier. Mossey, meanwhile, worked his way through the pack from a fourth row qualifying position to claim a well earned fifth place.

Sunday’s longer 18-lap feature race was better still with a scintillating six-way battle for the win with all three Smiths riders in the mix. The lead changed hands on numerous occasions but it was McConnell who prevailed, the Australian winning by a narrow margin from Irishman Jack Kennedy, to put Saturday’s disappointment firmly behind him. Fellow countryman Richards, who also led the race, was only two tenths of a second further back in third with Mossey in an excellent fourth.

Metzeler National Superstock 600cc rider Johnny Blackshaw also gave the team plenty to cheer about as he finished in fourth place despite the handicap of riding the entire race with no clutch. He narrowly missed out on a podium but it was a superb effort and has moved him up the championship table.

Glen Richards: “Getting the first win of the season has got our championship up and running and after a disappointing Brands Hatch meeting, first and third is the perfect way to bounce back. Tyres are always an issue here but everything went well in the first race and I was in the right place at the right time, taking full advantage and edging away from the pack just when I needed to. The second race was just great to be part of and really enjoyable and fair play to Billy, he rode really well. We came here to get some strong points and that’s what we did so full credit must go to the team. They’ve given me a fantastic bike and it’s a great package which is working really well.”

Billy McConnell: “I’m back to where I want to be and everyone’s been working so hard and to get the win is a tremendous feeling. We were unlucky in the first race with a broken rectifier but everything was flawless in the second race. After the ups and downs of 2011, the team have given me a great opportunity and everything I possibly need so a big thank you must go to them. We’re back on track now and I can’t wait until the next round.”

Luke Mossey: “I’m really pleased with my results this weekend and although I struggled a bit in the wet and didn’t qualify as high as I would have liked, my race pace was really good. I was able to run with the leading group in both races and we were all running a similar pace which was great fun to be part but also made it difficult to overtake. We’ve proved this weekend we have the pace to run at the front though so with some solid points on the board, I’m really looking forward to Oulton in a few weeks time.”

Johnny Blackshaw: “I’m pleased to get fourth but it’s also a bit disappointing as I burnt the clutch off the line and from that moment on it was difficult to get the drive out of the corners. The bike’s set up so well though that I could just ride the wheels off the bike and run at the front. I didn’t do anything daft and kept picking off the riders in front of me and although I felt we had the pace to win this weekend, it’s good solid points on the board. The team are doing a great job and the bike’s a missile so it’s great to be back at the sharp end and it bodes well for the rounds ahead.”

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: “It’s simply been a great weekend for us. When my dad started the team in 2010, the goal was to firstly win a race and then the championship and we’re standing here now with two wins under our belt so that’s the first part done. With some good weather, we were confident of having two good races and apart from the technical problem with Billy’s bike in race one, it’s all gone to plan.

“The wins for Glen and Billy were superb and we’re over the moon with them but equally pleased for Luke and Johnny too. They both rode brilliantly and their confidence is high now so they can both go to the next round knowing they have nothing to fear. We’ve proved this weekend we have the pace to win races and we’re confident in everything we’re doing so the next round can’t come soon enough.”

The weekend started promisingly as Australian McConnell claimed pole position for the opening British Supersport race on Sunday, with fellow Aussie Glen Richards third on the grid and young British rider Luke Mossey, from Cambridge, in sixth for the 18-lap race but with damp, greasy conditions around the 1.2-mile circuit, it was soon apparent all was not well as they dropped back through the pack.

By mid-race distance, both Glen and Luke had pulled into the pits after struggling with their tyres whilst Billy was hanging on in ninth. As the race entered its second half, rain began to fall quite heavily and the red flag soon came out to stop the race after a number of crashes. The race was subsequently declared a result on 11 laps with just Billy scoring points for the team in ninth place.

The second race of the weekend was held today in full wet conditions and it proved to be a race of attrition. McConnell was again showing well running in fourth position in the early stages whilst Richards was in eighth and moving forward. Mossey was again struggling in the conditions and found himself outside of the top 20 but on the ninth lap, the red flag came out after a crash deposited some fuel onto the circuit and although it was restarted, a multi-rider pile-up on the third corner, which included Billy, brought the race to an abrupt end. The result was declared at seven laps meaning Billy was credited with a third place podium finish with Richards in eighth and Mossey claiming 21st.

For Metzeler National Superstock 600cc Championship rider Johnny Blackshaw, it was certainly a contrasting weekend as having claimed a superb pole position, a spill in morning warm-up severely damaged the bike and the Warrington rider had to start from pit lane with just moments to spare. Starting dead last in 38th place, he fought his way brilliantly through the pack to finish 12th and take four championship points.

Billy McConnell: “It’s been a tough weekend with the weather and we’ve suffered with a major lack of grip in the wet so to come away with a third and a ninth place is a real bonus. Every point counts and fair play to the organisers for stopping the race when they did as it was really tough out there. I was lucky to escape injury when I was taken out by another rider so I’m very happy to take a podium. The team have done an awesome job and we can go to the next round in a strong position.”

Glen Richards: “It’s not the start we wanted but with the problems we have had, I’m happy to salvage a few points and go into the next round at Thruxton looking for better luck. We had a ‘Flintstone Tyre’ in race one – rock hard – so had no grip and then today, the fuel on the track made it very difficult but you get rounds like this. I’m pleased for Billy but hope to be up at the front next weekend at Thruxton.”

Luke Mossey: “This was just not my weekend and I’m disappointed with how it’s gone. Qualifying was good but the conditions in the races just didn’t suit us this weekend so hopefully we can turn it round for the next round.”

Johnny Blackshaw: “Having made the mistake in morning warm-up, I was gutted as I thought that was the day over but the team worked miracles in getting the bike ready to race and we literally made it with seconds to spare. Given the fact I was last and starting from pitlane, plus the terrible conditions, to come back to 12th and get a few points is more than I thought possible so all credit to the team.”

Rebecca Smith, Team Manager: “We’ve had two very challenging days in some very difficult conditions whilst we’ve also had to contend with some tyre issues. The intermediate tyres just didn’t work on Sunday and if it wasn’t for Billy, we wouldn’t have scored any points at all. In the feature race today, he put in a superb ride to take a much deserved podium and we’re just glad he didn’t suffer any injuries in what was a very heavy fall.

“Glen managed to pick up some solid points second time out whilst Luke struggled all weekend. He broke his arm here last year and I think that may have been playing on his mind so he’ll be glad to put this meeting behind him. The results don’t reflect our pace this weekend but it’s been a contrasting few days for a lot of riders and teams so we’ll look forward to the next round now and aim at getting all of the riders back at the sharp end.”

Experienced Australians Glen Richards and Billy McConnell will join young British hot-shot Luke Mossey aboard factory-supported Triumph 675s in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship whereas Johnny Blackshaw will be gunning for glory aboard a similar machine in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship.

Originally from Adelaide, the experienced Richards won the inaugural BSB-EVO title last year and is a former British Supersport Champion whereby he lifted the title in 2008 aboard a Triumph 675 Daytona. Hinckley based 25-year-old Billy McConnell will join his compatriot fresh from finishing third aboard a Triumph 675 in last year’s series which saw him take two wins. Skippy won the Virgin Mobile Cup back in 2005 and also finished runner-up in the 2009 British Supersport Championship.

After a superb season last year for the Smiths (Gloucester) Racing Team, which saw him score three podium finishes, Royston rider Luke Mossey will continue for a second term and the former Grand Prix rider and Metzeler National Superstock 600 runner-up will be hoping he can secure his first BSS victory.

Challenging for honours in the Metzeler National Superstock 600 Championship will be Warrington’s Johnny Blackshaw who has shown his prowess in recent seasons with two podium finishes and he’s hoping to improve on his seventh place in last year’s series.

Team Owner Alan Smith said: “We showed last year what we were capable of with five podium finishes in the ultra-competitive British Supersport Championship and had it not been for serious injuries to all three riders at some point, we could have finished a lot higher up the standings. This year we are serious about winning the title for both ourselves and Triumph and in signing Glen, Billy and Luke, I believe we have the strongest line up out there. Johnny has the capability to challenge for the Superstock 600 crown too and with the Triumph 675 Daytona at our disposal, we are very confident going into the 2012 season.”

The season starts at Brands Hatch over Easter and continues over twelve rounds, including a visit to the Assen circuit in the Netherlands for the first time.

Italian Highs And Lows

Meanwhile, riders Luke Mossey and Billy McConnell were in fine form when they finished first and second in the Open 600 class at the recent Trofeo Di Natale meeting at the Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi.

McConnell led for much of the race before Mossey got past on the last lap at the track near Rome in Italy to hold on and win by a wheel but their joy was short lived as afterwards, a visit to a local restaurant saw them return to find their team van missing and with it, a substantial amount of spares and riding kit belonging to Mossey. Luckily, their Triumph Daytona 675 machines were in a different location but it is a set back to the team prior to the 2012 season.

Team Owner Alan Smith said: “My daughter and I had flown home after witnessing a great race between Luke and Billy when I got a call to say the van had been stolen. Fortunately, we had a tracker fitted so we could direct the lads to where it was and although they found the van, most of the spares and riding kit had gone. Most of it is specific for our bikes and the dashboards, looms and MoTeC ignition is of no use as it can’t be used without codes; it’s more the inconvenience factor of getting the parts replaced.”

If anyone has any information regarding the theft, please contact Alan Smith on 01453 822227.

Throughout the early practice sessions the team worked hard to find the race set-up to suit the unique, wide expanses of the flat and bumpy Northamptonshire circuit, finishing the single qualifying session with Paul Young and Billy McConnell on the second row, Christian Iddon a row behind and injured rider, Shaun Winfield bravely riding through the pain to qualify just inside the maxima.

With valuable data gained from the 40-minute qualifying session, further improvements were made to the four Daytona 675s before Saturday’s 9-lap, 32-mile sprint race.

With many championship places still to play for, the pace was fierce. Alastair Seeley and Ben Wilson looked set to gap the field in the early stages of the race, but by mid race distance it became clear that in no way was this going to be a two-way dice as Luke Mossey and Sam Warren upped the ante, besting the lap times set by this year’s two title fighters.

But it was to be the Oxford Tag Triumphs of Iddon and Youngy that got into a fast groove, matching the lap times of the leaders before Youngy obliterated the 100mph average and grabbed the fastest lap of the race as the dicing duo clawed back the gap on the leaders, eventually crossing the line fourth and fifth as they ran out of laps with McConnell in sixth.

Having set the fastest lap in race one, race two saw Youngy start on pole and grab the holeshot, leading the field for the first lap with the ever-improving Iddon going with him as the pair battled with Seeley and Wilson.

Once more the Oxford Tag Triumphs proved that they could match the lap times of the leaders, with both Iddon and Youngy consistently posting mid 11s.

After a fierce 12 laps and 43 miles of racing, Iddon crossed the line in second behind Seeley with Youngy third and McConnell resolutely sticking to his task to finish a determined sixth place.

Shaun Winfield’s challenge for the 2011 Supersport Cup title may have gone awry after injuries sustained at Brands Hatch and Donington Park, but the tough 17-year-old wasn’t going to miss out on racing just because of broken bones.

With pain from his left foot every time he changed gear, Winfield bravely rode throughout the weekend to grab two points-scoring finishes, keeping him within a shout of third in the Supersport Cup Championship.

Winfield’s younger brother, Gary also made an appearance over the weekend. Gaz ‘Chicken’ Winfield, finished 23rd in the 125GP race despite crashing on the last lap. The likeable 15-year-old who is clearly about three sizes too big for his tiny 125cc machine, is building his race experience in readiness for his debut on a Triumph Daytona when he turns sixteen next May. Watch out world, Chicken is coming!

Billy McConnell #75

“Not the best weekend for me to be honest. It’s not so bad when you know there’s a problem but when your team mates are that far ahead it’s a bit of a concern to be honest – this weekend I just didn’t have the pace and had no answer for them. I’m not going to make a load of excuses, I just couldn’t get the bike working for me and I was trying as hard as I could to go with them but just couldn’t. We need to go back to the drawing board, do a bit of testing before the final round to see if we can find something. Hanging on to third in the championship would be great, but it’s the winners that get remembered so I just want to end the season back on the top step – that’s my goal.”

“Another brilliant weekend for the team and it’s great to see that we’ve got three riders now capable of regularly getting on the podium with Christian proving his third at Knockhill was no fluke and Youngy once again showing both speed and consistency. Billy didn’t have such a great weekend but he’s still in third in the championship, putting in his usual 100% commitment and I really can’t ask for any more than that.
 Shaun was riding well and scored another podium in Cup so it’s a real blow for him to have sustained an injury during warm-up but it’s all part of the learning curve and he’s improving and learning all the while. I’d just like to thank my team for all their hard work and of course to all the team partners and sponsors who have supported us and helped us to achieve such fantastic results.”

Billy McConnell made a return to action less than three weeks after fracturing the first metacarpal in his right hand and from the outset showed that he had the pace to run near the front, qualifying on the front row just 0.001 off Alastair Seeley with the dominant Ben Wilson on pole at his local circuit.

Christian Iddon once again proved he has what it takes to race at this level, qualifying ninth one spot ahead of team-mate, Paul Young with Shaun Winfield recovering well from injuries sustained at the last round to line up 22nd on the grid.

Race one saw McConnell chasing down leaders Wilson and Seeley to take his fourth podium of the year with Iddon pressing his team-mate hard throughout the 12 lap race finishing just two tenths behind to take a fine fourth place as he fended off his former Supermoto adversary, Sam Warren.

Further down the order, Paul Young managed to grab a handful of points in eleventh place while Shaun Winfield struggled with set-up but only narrowly missed out on a Cup podium finishing fourth in class and a creditable eighteenth overall.

With changes to the grid positions for race two based on lap times and some extensive work to optimise the superb handling of the Oxford Tag Triumph Daytona 675 machines carried out overnight, the four rider squad looked in fine form for Sunday’s main event.

McConnell and Iddon once more battled it out for the final podium spot with McConnell coming out on top again after Iddon was forced to relinquish his position as he avoided a crashing Sam Warren at Barn Corner, allowing McConnell to sweep past as Iddon took evasive action.

Young’s decision to run a harder rear tyre proved his undoing as he struggled to find the pace and was forced to settle for safe points and tenth position. Not the strategy that was planned but nevertheless one that sees the amiable Aussie hold on to fourth in the championship and head to Donington Park still well within a shout of grabbing back third off his team-mate, McConnell.

Shaun Winfield’s performance this weekend should be applauded, too. Still recovering from injury, the seventeen-year-old Cup rider showed real determination to improve throughout the weekend to grab second place in the Cup and finally score some points in the main championship, setting the fastest Cup lap of the race in the process.

A positive weekend for the team, but marred by the tragic loss of fellow competitor and friend of the team, Ben Gautrey. Ben was universally liked by all that met him. He was a talented young rider with a promising future and will be very much missed. The team would like to extend its deepest sympathies to his friends and family at this sad time.

Billy McConnell #75

“It’s been a good weekend all told considering the hand injury. To be honest it wasn’t such a problem for the first few laps but it did start to give me a bit of pain over the Mountain and through the fast direction changes at the chicane and through Hall Bends.
I’m pretty pleased that I’ve reinforced my third place in the championship but a little disappointed that I couldn’t run with Seeley and Wilson. Hopefully we can find that little bit extra from the Triumph before Donington and put on a good show.”

Both riders were unable to take part in Sunday’s main feature race with the team’s up-and-coming Cup rider, Shaun Winfield being taken out in a three bike pile-up on the first lap of Saturday’s sprint race at Paddock Hill Bend while Billy McConnell made a rare error in Sunday’s morning warm-up and high-sided on the exit of Graham Hill Bend.

Both suffered relatively minor injuries, with Winfield sustaining damage to his elbow and extensive bruising all over his upper body, while McConnell broke the first metacarpal in his right hand forcing the medical team to declare him unfit to compete, despite the tough Aussie’s protestations.

The weekend started brightly for McConnell, finishing free practice second overall just a few tenths off series leader, Ben Wilson before qualifying and finishing fifth in the first sprint race, less than three tenths off the podium. Similarly, Shaun Winfield had been taking big chunks out of his lap times throughout practice and qualifying and was looking to move forward in the championship from a solid third place.

With just two riders fit for Sunday’s main race, the focus was on Paul Young and Christian Iddon, both of whom had struggled with set-up throughout practice and qualifying, finishing Saturday’s sprint race down in eleventh and sixteenth respectively.

After much head scratching and poring over data, several overnight changes were made. Both riders found some pace in morning warm-up and with the team’s focus firmly fixed on the two remaining riders for Sunday’s main feature race the mood was a positive one.

A first lap crash resulted in a pile-up involving four riders that brought out the red flags. The race was restarted only for a second red flag due to another incident causing the race to be delayed to allow the Superbike race to go ahead on schedule.

Eventually, the race was restarted and Youngy and Iddon both got off to a great start, matching the leaders’ times in the early stages of the race before settling into a rhythm and finishing a difficult weekend with solid fifth and sixth place finishes and a good points haul that now sees Youngy just seven points off McConnell’s third place in the championship.

Billy McConnell #75

“I’m obviously very disappointed to have made such a schoolboy error – first flying lap, third corner and first left hander and I just gave it too much throttle, it’s as simple as that. It’s such a shame as we were on the pace and improving all the time, so I just feel like I’ve let the team down. I think I could have gone for the win today but it’ll have to wait until Cadwell now – my hand is pretty sore at the moment but it’s only a broken metacarpal so I’m sure it’ll be fine in three weeks time.”

With new, lighter fairings and various revisions to the engine, from the first practice session to the last lap of the race, the Daytona 675Rs of Billy McConnell and Paul Young proved once more that they had the pace to take top honours.

With variable weather conditions, qualifying came down to strategy and with just a few laps to make the best of a narrow drying line, both Billy and Youngy demonstrated just why they are both fighting for a top three position in the championship with a display of accuracy and bravery that saw them end the session first and second respectively, with the ever-improving Christian Iddon less than a second behind Youngy on the second row of the grid.

The weather improved throughout Saturday afternoon and the scene was set for a thriller of a race with the front two rows covered by just two seconds.

McConnell and Youngy both made great starts, the pair swapping positions before a decisive move by McConnell in his bid to make a break from the determined duo of Seeley and Wilson forced Youngy wide at Shell Oils hairpin and back to fifth during the closing stages of the race.

In a race that has been described by commentators and racers alike as arguably the most exciting of the season, in any class, McConnell’s skill and bravery was rewarded with his second win of the season as he swept round the outside of Wilson at Lodge on the last lap before slicing underneath Seeley through Deer’s leap to take the win by a wheel while team-mate Youngy dug in to get back past Warren, narrowly missing out on the podium to take fourth.

These excellent results for the Oxford Tag Triumph team now see McConnell third and Young fourth in the championship with Winfield back up to third in the Cup championship and with every chance of challenging for the title.

Billy McConnell #75

“I couldn’t really ask for anything for more. We got the new spec bikes for this meeting with less weight and a little more power and we were top two all weekend in every session, finishing up with pole position for the race which was just awesome.

”It was one of the best races I’ve been in for a very long time. I’m really happy with getting back to third in the championship and while it’s a shame we didn’t get a second race the organisers made the right call – no-one wants to race in those conditions. Brands GP should be great for us, it’s a circuit that I enjoy so I can’t see why we can’t go for more wins.”

Friday’s practice sessions went well, with Billy McConnell ending the first session third fastest with seventeen-year-old Shaun Winfield topping the timesheets for the Cup entrants.

Paul Young and Christian Iddon improved on their times in the second session and really upped the pace in qualifying with McConnell 5th, Youngy 8th, Iddon 11th and Winfield 21st and a close 3rd in Cup.

Throughout the weekend, various changes were made to the Daytona 675 machines with the work centering on achieving a good feeling from the front end of the bike. Gearing was another area that had created a headache for the technicians and data engineers – the varying corners of the cleverly designed new circuit layout making it difficult to achieve a perfect gearing set-up.

Race one saw McConnell and Youngy get away well with the leading pack before slipping down the order as tyre wear became issue, each rider doing well to maintain their qualifying positions and finish 5th, 8th and 11th respectively. Winfield was unfortunate to suffer with clutch slip and retired from the race on lap seven while fighting for the lead with John Simpson.

More changes were made following a little experimentation with gearing and suspension set-up, some working a little better than others. McConnell had been running in fourth place dicing with Sam Warren but, pushing the front just a little too hard into the Montreal hairpin, came off and remounted to finish in 13th.

Youngy kept his composure throughout the race to cross the line in ninth place scoring valuable championship points, while Iddon suffered the same front end woes as his team mate, losing the front and crashing while pushing hard at Corams, forcing the likeable Derbyshire rider out of the race but thankfully without injury.

Rob Winfield, Oxford Tag Triumph Team Principal

“It’s been a difficult weekend, really. Everyone has been trying different things to find the ideal set-up and it seems we haven’t got it right this meeting, despite our very best efforts.
We’ve got a fortnight until Oulton Park to improve the package and we’ll be seeking out a few more horsepower to make sure we can remain competitive with the four-cylinder Japanese bikes.

”Billy and Youngy are within a point of each other and within a point of third in the championship so we’re still in with a shout. Christian’s been unfortunate to crash and Shaun’s now got quite a challenge on his hands to bridge the gap back to the front of the Cup Championship – but there’s still 12 races left so plenty to play for. The next few circuits should really suit our bike, so I’m sure we’re ready for a good run and the chance to get back on the top step of both podiums.”

All four riders worked hard throughout practice and qualifying to find a setting to suit the conditions, with Christian Iddon, Billy McConnell, Paul Young and Shaun Winfield qualifying 15th, 17th, 18th and 27th respectively.

While qualifying was disappointing, Saturday’s rain-lashed race showed that both McConnell and Iddon had taken a step forward, finishing 9th and 10th while Youngy was forced to pit to change helmets after a rare fogging issue with his visor left him unable to continue.

Sunday saw an improvement in both the weather and the team’s fortune. With the rain coming and going in light showers, the track had a chance to dry and throughout morning warm-up, all three main championship riders set good times while Cup campaigner, Winfield was forced to sit out the session due to an electrical problem that had been caused by his crash but had gone undetected until minutes from the start of the session.

Having posted the fifth fastest time in race one, Iddon made full use of his elevated grid position for race two with a flawless start to slot straight into the leading pack.

At the other end of the race following a bizarre fuel line problem that was swiftly dealt with by his mechanic, Lee ‘Roscoe ‘P’ Coltrane’ Machin in pit lane, McConnell was forced to start at the back of the grid alongside team-mate, Winfield with Youngy just two rows ahead.

While Iddon was dicing for the podium, both McConnell and Youngy began the task of tearing through the pack, the latter enjoying more success calmly picking his way through the pack to finish in an incredible fifth place from 22nd on the grid while McConnell sliced past no less then twelve riders on the opening lap, only to make a couple of mistakes and drop back down the order to finish 13th. Winfield just missed out on a top 20 finish to take 5th in Cup, scoring more useful points to add to his tally.

A mixed weekend, but one that saw Oxford Tag Triumph take another step forward with McConnell and Young on equal points and now just two points adrift of third place in the championship, Iddon proving his potential and planting himself firmly on the scoreboard with Winfield now a very strong fifth in the Cup Championship and only a handful points away from the lead.

Rob Winfield, Oxford Tag Triumph Team Principal

“A weekend that up until the last race hadn’t been too enjoyable in all honesty but the team worked hard in very difficult conditions and the riders stayed focused and positive throughout.
It’s great to see Christian get on the podium and prove that he’s got what it takes to run at the front of this championship – and with all three of our main championship riders having now been on the podium it shows that we’re a real force to be reckoned with.

”Youngy never fails to impress with his commitment and determination and while Billy didn’t have his best weekend, he kept his head and scored points. Shaun was a little unlucky with two crashes and no time to test in the dry before the second race, but it’s all part of his learning curve and it will only strengthen his experience.

”We’re all looking forward to Race of the Year at Mallory this coming weekend before we head off to Snetterton in a fortnight’s time – and hopefully some proper summer weather at last!”