What happened to Neal?

[Claw]

He was leading race 1 with a few laps to go infront of the Vauxhalls and then he reired.


What happened? The Vauxhall's didnt have him off did they cos it looked like they weren't gonna win a race!?

[neilap]

Frustratingly he had two failures in a car that could have won twice :mad: :mad:

[John]

Its a shame there wasn't room at VXR for Matt this year because he's put in some excellent performances but just not had the results with Honda (for whatever reasons!)

:(

[The Stig]

Is that not motor racing ? Nobody is the winner until they take the chequered flag. From the start until that moment it is a partnership. The driver mustn't make a mistake, the team support both driver and car at pitstops, and the car must be reliable.
Until all three "components" come together you won't win.
At the moment VXR have everything together. Hopefully at later meetings, Honda and the MG's will enjoy better luck. Can't believe the ill luck will continue all season.

[Les]

the only downside to the racing was the Vauxhall wins again. The results won't show that they didn't have it all their own way and can and will be beaten.

[Claw]

His luck has to change soon, and if it doesn't it looks like an Astra battle untill the end..........again!

[Peter]

It is very sad what is going on with Matt. Unfortunately, the stick of bad luck seems to hit him wherever he drivers. Just look back to Snetterton last year...

[The Stig]

Agree with Peter, it would be fantastic for Matt Neal to be scrapping for wins and podiums with Muller and Thommo. Really hope his luck changes soon because clearly, when it's reliable, his Honda is a very good and quick car.

[touring fan]

He must have walked under a LOT of ladders lately or something. Something odd always seems to happen to him or his car and it's always as he's looking like he could take a win.

[Peter]

Originally posted by touring fan
He must have walked under a LOT of ladders lately or something. Something odd always seems to happen to him or his car and it's always as he's looking like he could take a win.

Must have been very very tall ladders for a guy like Matt to go underneath! :p

[Les]

what goes around, comes around as my hubby said.

Maybe someone upstairs didn't like the move on Paul at Brands? (but if that is the reason then I think he has paid his dues now and can he please get a result or 2 at Rockingham?)

[kevin ritson]

Mind you, Matt's been on the receiving end of a few dirty moves in the past and then been accused of not being aggressive enough...

His race one retirement happended just as he was heading down to the Abbey hairpin and having been a fan since the giant killing Team Dynamics days, I was gutted but not as much as Matt, he seemed to spend quite some time hiding in his crash helmet. I also noticed he was flanked by either three dwarf marshalls, or he is still growing and at 35-odd this seems unlikely!

By race two, I think he'd accepted his lot, 'cos he was allowing an interview whilst the race was still going on...

BTW does anyone know the reason for the race two failure, I think he mentioned brake problems and there was a lot of smoke coming from the left-front whilst he was negotiating the complex?

[cav1995]

I've never been a fan of Neal and certainly don't want to see him in a Vauxhall. However, I didn't take much pleasure in seeing him retire twice through reliability. I can't help but think Honda, MG and Proton are at least a Season behind the VX Racing. Matt will need to wait for the Astra Coupe to retire before acheiving any real works glory.