2013    SEASON

THE VAN INSURER 600 ELITE CLASS

 

Round   3                Snetterton            26/27/28  April

 

We decided I was now going to be using Pirelli tyres instead of the Metzlers I had been running with last season. These are 15mm bigger in circumference so all the suspension was altered to make up for the difference in height of the bike that the new tyres had made. Friday test day was spent setting the bike up and for me to get used to the new brand of tyre. I thought we did pretty well, the bike felt good and the tyres felt grippy.

Saturday morning and I had 15 minutes qualifying about 10 laps to go as fast as possible and try and gain a good grid position for the 3 races that lay ahead. With 42 riders out there all trying to go quick there was some tactical blocking going on, riders staying on the racing line but going slow just to muck other guys fast laps up, happened to me on my last flying lap which was over half a second better than any of my other laps, I know who they were and things have a habit of evening out over the season. I qualified 7^th out of the 42 so was on the second row, happy enough but would have been front row if not for the foul play. In the first race Saturday afternoon it was really close, after a couple of laps it was red flagged due to a bad crash so we had to line up again for another 12 laps. The lights went out and normal service continued, I was slip streaming #4 Shaw and Dixon #69 was slip streaming me all of us trying to get in front for the last lap. Local stock rider John Lea had already gone ahead with the supersport guys so I was in the next group trying to catch them back. The top speed I recorded down the back straight was 157mph so the bike was working well and when the chequered flag came out I was in 3^rd place so a nice trophy to celebrate my 18^th birthday, job done!

The mega laps system also showed I had set the 5^th quickest lap out of everyone so I moved up two places for T.V day. Luckily Sunday the sun was still shining so we stayed with the dry set up I had got used to, I had asked for the gearing to be changed from yesterday as I felt the bike was to viscous out of the corners apart from that everything was the same apart from me being a year older. Race 1 Sunday was another close one with all the top guys battling it out, I lost the momentum on the front few early on in the race and  was fighting it out in the second group, the gearing was now not getting me out of the corners quick enough. I finished the race in 4^th annoyed that #54 Cox had pipped me to the podium but my main rival # 4 Shaw had crashed so all was good again. Last race of the meeting at 5pm was more of the same but on the first lap #69 Dixon crashed and I had to run wide to miss him, this cost me dearly and about 8 guys flew past and I had a lot of time to make up. After another 12 laps I managed to claw my way back to 4^th scoring another good 13 points. Not too bad!!

I ended up scoring more points than any of my rivals this meeting due to my consistency and them crashing out so am now leading the championship by 20 points after 3 rounds.

Big thanks to my main sponsor Robert from H.I.T. Hospitality Industry Training for coming up to watch and also to my granddad and grandma for coming over from France to watch and see me on my 18^th birthday and Kirk as always, there to set my bike up perfectly.

 

Round   2                 Donington Park           30/31 March-1 April

Another freezing cold test day with three foot of snow laying around the circuit made it hard to set the suspension up for qualifying on Sunday morning. We were riding on wet tyres in the freezing dry conditions just to keep some heat in the tyres to stay upright. So many people crashing with dry tyres on we played it safe for the test day and did the best we could considering the conditions.

Sunday morning it was still really cold and we decided to go with the wet tyres again for qualifying, I knew I had to go fast straight away as the rear would be wrecked after half a dozen laps and then my times wouldn’t get any faster. We only had a 15 minute qualifying so I went as fast as I could and set my quickest time on lap 4 of 9 which was good enough to qualify in 6^th position out of 40 riders.

Sunday afternoon we had reached a tropical 3 degrees in temperature so I decided to go with the dry tryes and we stiffened the suspension up so I could go faster. Was a good race but the tyre wasn’t gripping in the over 100mph corners and the rear end was sliding around a lot so was giving me some scary moments, finally after 12 cold laps the chequered flag came out and I finished in a solid 5^th place. A good result but my main rivals finished in front of me.

Bank Holiday Monday we had the normal two races and the weather was no better. We had to go with the same set up as yesterday and just hold on and hope for some grip. We lined up on the grid at 11.20am for the first race and off we went, got blocked into the tight first corner and was down in about 10^th place. After a few laps I passed some of the guys in front and was up into 5^th trying to catch the leaders that had now broken away, with a lap and a half to go I tucked the front wheel at the bottom of Craner Curves at around 115mph and slid across the track on my back with the bike shooting across the grass collecting 2 tonne of mud and snow. Race over and a sore backside as my leathers had worn through and nil points. GUTTED.

Thanks to a great effort from Kirk and my dad they managed to patch the bike back together with zip ties and duct tape and replace all the broken parts with bits and pieces and managed to get the bike ride-able for the afternoon. I had also broken the steering damper in the crash so had to do without one and lined up again a little nervous for the final race. The only way to get over a big crash is to just pin the throttle open where it happened so off I went down the dreaded Craner Curves again. This time it all went well and after what seemed ages I came down the start finish straight to see the chequered flag waving in a not too bad 6^th place. Must admit I was a bit glad it was over and some good points scored.

After a 5^th a 6^th and a huge crash I am still leading the championships but only by a single point so when we get to Snetterton at the end of the month I will trying to defend my lead but it wont be easy, especially as this is the fastest track we go to. Will also be celebrating my 18^th birthday at Snetterton so hope to give myself a nice present by standing on the podium.

 

 

 

Round 1      Brands Hatch        8/9/10 March

Turned up at Brands Hatch on Thursday afternoon after a very long wait for the season to start. I had ridden the bike at 2 wet and cold track days over the winter with one being cancelled halfway through and the other i was black flagged for a noisy exhaust, so not the best of preparations.

Thursday eve and we had everything set up and was ready for Friday's practice day. We woke up Friday morning to pouring rain so got out of bed and put the wet wheels in the bike. Spent all day setting the bike up with Kirk my suspension guru ready for qualifying on Saturday morning.

Qualifying Saturday and thanks to Sports Timing Services not having the screen in pit lane on qualifying mode but in race mode my pit board was telling me i was 5th so settled in at that pace. Unfortunately i was actually in 19th place but didnt know until it was over. Great!!

Saturday at 2.30pm it was the first race of the season and i knew i had to make my move early as it was a drying track and i had chosen to use wet tyres front and rear. The lights went out and off i went round the outside of everyone at Paddock Hill. Up into 7th after lap 1 and still going through the field. On lap 6 i was into 4th and trying to get a decent gap from the riders behind me but the three in front were to far gone for me to catch so i dug in and came over the line after 16 long laps in a great 4th place. Chuffed to bits!!

Sunday is T.V day and thanks to the superpole system i was now in 10th place on the grid so had a better chance. It was freezing cold and still damp around the track so went with the wet tyres again. We all lined up on the grid and i went for the outside again hoping no one would lose it on the inside and take me out. Round the outside at Paddock and then the same at Druids and amazingly no one seemed to be in front of me going down into Graham Hill bend....i was in the front..leading the Elite 600's. After what seemed an age i saw the red flags come out due to a crash but unlucky for me it was to be a restart and another five laps. Dan Frear on a supersport bike got away on the restart and beat me by 2 seconds but i WON the superstock race by 6 seconds and was over the moon. My first Thundersportgb podium and i was on the top step. SUPERB!!

After the excitement of race one i had it all to do again in race 2. The plan was the same but was sure the others would be wise to it now. We all lined up on the grid again and the lights went out and off i went. This time i had a bit of a battle with Curtis Wright on his new Triumph 675R but after a few laps i broke away and gained a couple of seconds gap. I just kept my head down and read my pitboard each time round until the chequered flag came out and unbelievably i had won again. Like London buses wait for ages and 2 come at once. What a day and not expected at all, a 4th on Saturday and two 1st places Sunday and leading the championship, over the moon and now determined more than ever as we go to Donington Park in two and a half weeks time.

Big thanks to Kirk for setting my bike up, my main sponsor Robert Bird from Hospitality Industry Training for coming to watch and Alan and Roger coming over from France to support along with my Grandad and grandma. Also my biggest fans Mum Dad and my sister Molly. What a weekend.

 

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Its now 2013 so a happy new year to everyone.

Have been training really hard in the gym and also with my Boss and others down the beach with our instructor, running in the sand and up and down the zig zags to the overcliff is a killer. Cant wait for the season to start now, will be proper fit and have a good bike so we should be up the sharp end.

Missed the presentation night with Thundersport as i had to work needing extra days off for the upcoming season. From the pics it looked like a grand night and congrats to all those who picked up a trophy.

Unfortunately finding it impossible to find a main sponsor with big pockets tho not thru lack of trying, so lets hope my mum and dad are busy again this year and dont get sacked or i will be watching from the stands.

Always makes me laugh when i see some racers who have paid big money to be in a team then pleading poverty, but still manage to go on holiday etc.

Not ridden since last round in October because of the English weather and wont be off to Spain like some lucky others so will be at the test day with Thundersport 24 Feb to kick things off lets hope its on as previous years the track has been under a few inches of snow at this time. Fingers crossed.

 

 

RLR Sportsman Elite 600 class

 

 

ROUND  9                MALLORY  PARK      19-21 OCTOBER

 

We arrived at Mallory Park on Thursday evening and set everything up and parked the new bike in our awning ready for the Friday morning practice. Thanks to Kirk and Insignia Signs the new ZX6r was looking good, Friday morning  and I headed out for 6 twenty minute sessions to get the bike set up for qualifying in the afternoon. Times were good but I knew qualifying would be difficult as we had 5 BSB 600 guys out there as their season had already finished. Qualifying was dry so I just went for it, 15 minutes later I am placed 12 on the grid 8^th in stock 600 class, not bad but 1.3 secs off this years champion Danny Murphy. The new bike was going well and I was feeling quite good on it.

Saturday morning there was a quick 8 minute warm up and then a wait till 2.30 for our race. Luckily the sun was shining again and we lined up on the grid, with me on the inside of row 3. A good start and a long battle with a group of 5 riders constantly changing positions I finally came over the line after 14 laps in 8^th place. Bit annoyed as I had two guys pass me on the brakes with a couple of corners to go. Need to go better tomorrow to finish in the top ten of the championships.

Sunday was really misty and foggy and didn’t lift till around 10am, then the sun broke thru and we were ready to race. The ‘mega laps’ system meant I had dropped to 13^th on the grid, back on row 4. Another good start on the new bike but I got blocked and was down the field so had to get my head down. A few good laps beating my best lap time by half a second I was up to 6^th when we came over the line with a comfortable 6 second gap behind me. Not bad as one of the BSB guys Joe Collier beat the lap record by half a second in the race. All I needed was a 9^th in the final race to secure a top ten finish in the overall 2012 standings. At 5pm we lined up again for the last time in 2012, the lights went out and I got blocked again. Another really good race and getting used to the bike more and more I came across the line in another 6^th place after having a close battle for a while with Jodie chalk and Dale Thomas. Good results from three fast races, enough points to finish in 9^th place in the championships in my first year in the Superstock 600 class. Well chuffed!!!

 

 

ROUND 8 CADWELL PARK  21-23 OCTOBER 2012

 

 

After another long drive we arrived at Cadwell Park and set up ready for the morning and practice day. We only had a morning practice session and it was pouring, my times were coming down and then just before lunch I highsided. Damage repaired and straight into qualifying, 19^th on grid 12^th in the stock class, not great but after the crash I was happy.

Saturday the sun came out and I had 2 races, both went well from the start, and with the dry track I started to go a lot quicker, I came over the line in the first race finishing 7^th and in the second race I went one better and finished 6^th. Pretty chuffed with that!

Sunday was still dry so I was going for it, up into 6^th and with a lap and a half to go I highsided out of the  chicane, painful one and ten points lost, gutted. Thanks to Kirk and my dad the bike was repaired again in time for my final race. I was determined to beat my lap times and went for it, went pretty well considering my bruises and finished in another 7^th. And went quicker.

All things considered a really good weekend, 3 good finishes, 3 good bruises and caught some points back before the last round at Mallory Park 19-21 October.

 

 

Sat 30 August - 1^st September

TRIUMPH LIVE FESTIVAL 2012

CELEBRATING 110 YEARS OF TRIUMPH

FINAL ASSESMENTS FOR YOUNG GUNS

We were asked to attend the Triumph live festival as part of our young guns campaign. This was held at Mallory Park over 3 days celebrating 110 years of the Triumph brand. Thousands of people turned up to look at the old vintage bikes to the new top of the range race bikes, there were live bands such as Reef and the Kaiser Chiefs vibrating our campervan to death all night with their music.

We were reassessed on our fitness tests by the lovely ladies from Loughborough University on the start finish straight in front of 100s of spectators.  All the extra training I had been doing paid off as I set the new young gun record for the plank test at 8 min 16 secs! I also reached 11.8 on the bleep test, another personal best. Thanks to Tom Halsey owner of Zinc Fitness in London, one of my sponsors, for giving me a tough training programme.

Had an interview with Guy Masters, the General Manager of Triumph Motorcycles and a live interview over the public tannoy with Tony Carter the WSB / BSB commentator. Nervy stuff!!

We were privileged to have on track tuition from Glen Richards, Paul Young and Pete Ward the Triumph pro racers and learnt loads with them chasing us and me chasing them, on the power earlier now. Their knowledge is invaluable.  Loads of little tips and really nice to chat and learn from them.

Overall a great weekend where I learnt LOADS, now have to wait 3 weeks before I find out if I am one of the final 3 to race against each other at Thruxton on 6^th October. Fingers crossed!!!

 

 

Round   7        Anglesey 2012           25-27 August.

Bank holiday weekend in North Wales at the beautiful Anglesey circuit is our longest drive, after eight and a half hours we finally arrived.

Saturday wasn’t too bad, we only had 3 practice sessions before qualifying so we had to get onto the pace quick! First time on a 600 here so a lot to learn.

Qualifying came around really soon and with all the extra riders over from Ireland and the Isle of Man chasing £20,000 prize money we knew it would be tough.  We ended up on 5^th row in 19^th place out of 45, not the best but with 7 Irish and BSB boys in front of me we had some work to do.

Race one on Sunday was fortunately dry and i had a brave start going round the outside on turn 1 and up to 12^th! Its all good getting a good start but i have to be able to run at their pace! I ended up in 17^th so improvements, but still not good enough! Seven tuned Supersport bikes in front of me so finished  10^TH in Stock class.

Second race Sunday was the same situation, good start but dropped a few places through lack of power throughout the race! Came across the line same as the morning. Lap times coming down all the time but still need to go quicker. The pace with the new guys was so fast a new lap record was set in the 1min 08 secs, fair play thats quick.

Monday morning we woke up to gale force winds. At about 9.30am the organisers decided to call the days racing off due to 60mph winds! Even tho i wanted to race they made the right decision, even if it did mean sitting on the M6 a day earlier than planned.

Next up is the Triumph Live festival at Mallory park for the weekend, the final assessments  cant wait!!     30 Aug / 1Sept.

 

 

Round 6     Rockingham Motor Speedway     27/28/29 July

 

Rockingham round 6;

Friday testing went pretty well, got all the gearing and suspension setup fine. Thank you Kirk. We started to get our times down lower and lower but i was still struggling with my lines at a track i have never raced at before!

Qualifying came on Saturday morning and we didn’t feel too bad! After a 15 min session i only got in about 2 or 3 clear laps! With line issues i could only make it to 14^th on the grid.

Race one on Saturday afternoon arrived before we knew it. We didn’t have such a good start so had to make up a few places throughout the race but made it to 10^th in class (Superstock).

Time for an early night, ready for a busy day Sunday.

Sunday, T.V. day. We were joined by a sponsor, J the B’s Biking weekends and about a dozen of his touring buddies, a big thanks to all of them for coming to support and watch me, hope you all had a good day!

Race one i had a bad start off the grid as one of the guys ahead missed a gear and i had to swerve to miss him and was down to about 18^th into the first corner, i was now in the group I’m normally ahead of, and just could not get past Paul Charman on his tuned supersport Suzuki, he’s so late on the breaks, so frustrating, but finished 10^th in class again.

Race 3, last race of the weekend. I went out with a ‘win it or bin it’ attitude. Fortunately i didn’t bin it but unfortunately i didn’t win it either! I did get my best result of the weekend though, 9^th in class. After a good start i was up with my normal group and had a really good race, i was happy and enjoyed that last one!

At least it made the long drive home a little bit more happy. Overall though not too bad as we seem to only have the really fast guys entering now and i am still pushing to find the limits to stay with them.

Next race is at Anglesey just a short 345 miles north on the 25/26/27 August. Then 3 days later the final Triumph seminar where the final 3 will be chosen after two days of tests at the Triumph Live Festival at Mallory Park.

 

 

Friday 20th July  Brands Hatch BSB

TRIUMPH YOUNG GUNS

Was met with free passes for the weekend from Triumph Motorcycles and escorted to the Triumph village for our morning briefing with Triumph Racing Boss Tony Scott. After this we were allowed a couple of hours to do as we pleased so we caught up with lots of old and new friends from around the paddock, and even had time for a cuppa and catch up on all the latest paddock gossip. After lunch we met in the briefing room on the start finish straight for a talk on suspension and tyres from Perry of HM and Tony Scott of Triumph. I got a lot of reading to do. Compression, rebound, damping, sag, hard tyres, soft tyres and feedback to the mechanic.

Final tests next month at the Triumph Live event held over 2 days at Mallory Park where the final 3 are chosen, train hard fingers crossed new motto.

 

Sat 30th June Loughborough University.

Triumph Young Guns fitness tests and seminars.

Another really good day with Triumph Motorcycles this time at Loughborough University learning about nutrition and Psychology. Also had some fitness tests to do monitored by the Olympic team staff. Was really interesting seeing the Uni and all the top facilities they have there. Just want to race the Triumph and see what it feels like now. Two more dates one at Brands BSB in July and then a weekend at the Triumph live Festival at Mallory Park in August before the final 3 are chosen. Better keep training.

 

Round 5         Snetterton 200      23 / 24 June

Friday practice day was almost a waste of time! The conditions were wet, dry, wet, dry wet dry! We changed the wheels about 7 times to suit the weather! Had time to sort the gearing and gain some confidence being back on the bike after breaking my foot and toes last month. Only had the cast taken off two days ago.

Qualifying came Saturday morning and it was dry, i had a really painful 20 minutes ending up a miserable 25^th on the grid!  Worst qualifying of the season in pain and not happy.

After qualifying 25^th we made a few adjustments to the bike to see if we could improve, Saturday afternoon and it was race 1. We finished in 21^st place 15^th in the stock class so a few places gained but nowhere near enough!

That was it for Friday and Saturday so we had dinner and had an early night.

Sunday came and the weather was dreadful, again. After the first race on Saturday (superpole/megalap)  it bumped me up to 22^nd on the grid for Sunday! Race one Sunday was very wet and wasn’t as hard on my foot as we wasn’t riding as fast. I had a good race considering the rain and ended up 13^th overall, 11^th in stock class, better than expected!

Race 2 (last race) didn’t go so well! From 22^nd on the grid i was 12^th at the end of the first lap, a great start but i slowly dropped back to 19^th overall 12^th in stock class! So improvements everytime but not quite good enough!

Up one place in championship and into the the top ten again so not all bad. Now looking forward to Rockingham being fully fit and learning a new track.

 

 

15th May 2012 Triumph Young Guns.

Had a great day at the Triumph factory in Hinckley as one of the 9 Young Guns. Learnt absolutely loads and had a great tour of the factory showing us how all the bikes were made and assembled. Really interesting!! Met the 8 other hopefuls and we are all off to Loughborough University next for our fitness tests, my leg has been in cast for 4 weeks so a lot of training to do.

Anyone interseted in celebrating 110 years of Triumph please visit www.triumph-live.com.

 

 

Oulton Park   Round 5  25/26 May

We decided to do a track day at Oulton two days before the meeting to  get in some extra track time and set the bike up ready as the official test day was only 3 sessions (half a day)! After a good day setting the bike up how we wanted, we started pushing for the times, the times were coming down but not quiet enough! The last session of the day came and on the first lap i high sided at ‘Nickabrook’ chicane. After being sent to hospital it turns out i have broken a few bones in my foot so wasn’t able to race this weekend!  Got to get this cast off now and be fit in four weeks time for round 5 at Snetterton. I have dropped to 11^th in championship as this was a double scoring round. Gutted.

 

 

1ST MAY

GREAT NEWS JUST FOUND OUT I BEEN CHOSEN

AS ONE OF THE TEN FOR THE

TRIUMPH YOUNG GUNS

 

 

 

ROUND  3  MALLORY PARK     21/22 April

 

A dry qualifying session on Saturday saw me qualify 13^th on the grid out of 38. I was a bit disappointed with his position and had left myself some work to do in the races.

Race 1 on Saturday and it was raining but after a few good battles on track i finished in 9^th place.

Race 2 on Sunday. With the typical English weather we were back on wet tyres! With the back wheel sliding out all the corners during the race i came across the line in a solid 8^th place.

Race 3 on Sunday. The rain had subsided but the track was still wet, after a 16 lap race i managed another 9^th place. Another wrecked rear wet tyre but 3 good top ten finishes in hard conditions so pretty happy.

Overall a good weekend, we now stand 8^th in the 600cc superstock Championship after 3 of 9 rounds.

Need to make about 9 points up on 7^th and 6^th at the next round and we be up to 6^th.

Next round is at Oulton Park 25^th / 26^th May 2012

 

 

 

ROUND 2  DONINGTON PARK  24/25 MARCH 2012

 

 

Had a good test day Thursday setting the bike up and changing gearing so was looking forward to Saturday morning qualifying. Unfortunately most of my competitors tested Friday aswell and we didn’t so i was behind before i had even started.

Saturday morning and we woke to thick fog covering the circuit, no qualifying could start until it had gone. Around 2pm we went out for 15 minutes. 6 laps to qualify and i was really annoyed to be in 26^th place on the grid out of 40 riders. My race started around 4.30pm as we were running late because of the fog earlier. It was a good race with my lap times dropping into the 1.42’s but i ended up 25^th out of the elite field and 13^th in the stock class so only 3 points, not good.

Sunday morning and the sun was out and i was determined to go quicker. Had a ten minute warm up on track and all felt good. First race Sunday and i was starting in 27^th out of 40 due to dropping one place because of the super pole system run in Saturdays race.

First race i had a good start but struggled throughout the race, i was just getting picked off one by one! I finished up 22^nd in the race but 14^th in my class, not too good at all! By the time the second race came all i wanted to do was get into the 1:40 second lap! I done it! With a good start i got away with the pack that are normally in front of me, after a hard race i ended up 19^th in the elite race and 12^th in my class. A bit better, need some big improvements for Mallory park though!!

 

 

ROUND 1 BRANDS HATCH 3/4 MARCH 2012

 

Friday practise started well, I was putting in consistent lap times in the morning. After lunch I managed to get down to 53 seconds a lap. Considering how cold it was I was pleased.

Saturday qualifying came and with 50 of us on the track it was hard to find enough space to put in a decent  lap. The Superstock and Supersport were all on track together. I managed to qualify 19^th and with only 38 grid spaces I was safe and in the ‘Elite’ class. I knew it was going to be a tough 1^st round as we were joined by lots of BSB boys using the weekend as practise. Race 1, with damp weather conditions I decided to go out with full wets as it looked like the weather could get worse any second...Wrong choice!! It stayed dry! With my back tyre not enjoying the dry conditions I managed 18^th overall which was 12th in my Superstock class. Frustrating that I chose the wrong tyres, but pleased I stayed upright!

Sunday the heavens opened all day, the rain just got worse and worse, the wind picked up and the temperature dropped.  The mega lap system they are now using in Saturdays race to decide the grid positions for the sunday races and choosing the wrong tyres it  put me in 30^th place on the grid... I had lots of work to do. I kept my head down and tried to ignore the rain, by lap 2 I was in 19^th place and then it got red flagged. So back to the grid to re-start. I managed to bag a 11^th in my class, not brilliant but a few points for the championship. Race 2, I didn’t think the rain could have got much worse but it did! Still on the grid in 30^th the lights went out and I headed off to Paddock Hill, determined to do better than this morning. Rivers were forming on the track and I just had to trust my tyres. I ended up in 5^th place in my class. Best ever result. A good and encouraging start to the season. Finished the weekend in 8^th position in the Superstock championship overall.

Bring on Donington!!

I would also like to thank some of my sponsors,  Grandad, Alan, Roger and Bob for coming to support me at Brands, travelling all the way from France. I hope you can all make some more rounds!!

 

 

 

Fri 2 Dec 2011

Front forks and rear shock have been sent to Maxton for a full service.

Bike is waiting for a dyno run next saturday (hopefully) if we get suspension back in time to see if or how we can improve on the 106 BHP we had this year. Needs to be nearer 124 BHP...

Also dad took me to the NEC last Sunday and we haggled a pair of gloves, boots and a nice shiny set of Arlen Ness leathers for under 400 pounds so all sorted for 2012. Chris at Nine Lives Leathers is now putting the finishing touches on them.

 

 

Mallory Park round 11, last round!

We was excited that it was the last round but also very upset, whats adds to the emotions is the news about Marco Simoncelli #58, RIP. on the practice day we felt really good, trying all different settings to the bike, this just made my lap times drop! So qually came, i felt good and i was in 19th place to the majority of the 20 min session, all of a sudden i banged a few quick laps in and got down to 13th then 11th! so i was on 3rd row, first time being on the 3rd row on the 600 grid! spirits were high and i had a blinding first race, without knowing i was in 7th place with a comfortable 5 second gap from 8th i kept pushing and pushing and high sided coming out of edweeners on the second t last lap so was mega gutted about that!!! second race was not a bad one but i wasnt too pleased with my self, 13th! :/. last race of the year i just went for it, pushed and pushed and came out with 11th. not a bad end to the season! bring on 2012!!!!!

 

Oulton park round 10

As we arrived on Thursday afternoon it was pouring down with rain so it was a wet set up, even more to the point it was a wet weekend! horrible all weekend but it was good for the wet practice! still need to gain alot more confidence though. not a very good days practice but i was improving every time. race one, two and three were all very similar apart from the last where i had a DNF, because of me trying to go around the outside of someone at deer's leap, the last corner, i ran wide and before i knew it i was on the gravel sat it up onto the grass and hit into the Tyre wall and i wasnt aloud to carry on with the race because i 'departed from the bike'!

Brands Hatch MRO

After a great weeknd at brands with Thundersport we went again the following weekend with mro, it was a very good and successful weekend racing. we already had all of our setting from the weekend before so we got on it straight away, after a very poor qualifying of 22nd out of 32 i finished 19th in the first race with a very close near miss at paddock hill bend where i was nearly wiped out by someone loosing the front at Paddock Hill. Race two on the sunday i got down to a 16th place,! race three, last race so i went for it! i managed to scramble to 13th! after another very close call with someone high-siding right in front of me at Graham Hill bend! all in all a very good weekend! also thanks to my grandad for coming over from France to watch, love you! bring on oulton park!

 

Brands Hatch Round 9

Had a great time all weekend, makes a nice change!

Friday practice day went really well thanks to Kirk Dennis of Dennis The Menace Racing setting up the bike perfectly for me in the 6 sessions. Was feeling confident of a good grid position.

Qualifying was rubbish just as we went to the holding area it poured down really hard. Rode round for 20 minutes aqua plaining everywhere and wasnt happy with 21st on the grid. Need more confidence in the wet.

Race 1 saturday was pretty good times down to low 52s and finished 20th out of 25 not great but getting quicker.

Race 2 Sunday was better was in 14th over the line and realised there was still a lap to go when 2 other sped past still with there heads down, wont make that mistake again i was fuming with myself and finished 16th cause of that. Good race tho and times in the 51s now

Race3 Sunday was even better had a good scrap all race with 4 others swapping positions, still a second to find here and there but really liking the 600 now.

Good weekend faster everytime i went out and now in the low 51s every lap, roll on next week back to Brands with MRO Bemsee.

 

8th round Pembrey!

Friday test day went really well, got the bike set up in the dry in the morning sessions then it poured down for the afternoon so wet got some good suspension set up in case it rained for the races on Sat and Sunday. My times were couple of seconds off the pace as i couldnt get the big left hander right.

Saturday morning and we had a dry qualifying which was better than rain, qualified 14th. Not great.

Race one went really well finishing 13th after a big oil spill from Kyle Wilks who was just in front of me at the time. Bit of a lonely race really.

Race 2 Sunday morning and the sun was out. Did a lot better here and finished 12th and got my times down to 1.03 secs so finally getting the hand of the horrible left hander.

Race 3, just the same as the earlier race really finishing 12th, still need to tag onto the faster lads to improve my times. Getting the hang of the 600 now.

 

7th round at snetterton 300.

Fridays practice went really well, kept on improving my lap times and bike setup so we was confident for Saturday mornings qualifying, unfortunately it rained over night so it was a wet session, i qualified in 19th place after a crash on the second lap so we wasn't to happy about that but we had to focus on the races. race 1, super pole, i pulled in, in the wet because my throttle was sticking on! first race sunday we was very pleased with our result, 15th, bike was handling really well considering i didn't have a steering damper as it snapped in the crash! In the last race of the meeting it was dry when i was on the grid so i had the dry tyres on but then it started to hammer it down with rain so it was delayed 12 minutes to sort out tyers but where i buckled my rear wheel in the crash we only had one rim, the rim that the dry was on so we had no choice but to go out on drys, in the wet. i went out for 3 laps and thought i was going to smash the bike up at every corner so i played it safe and pulled in! learnt alot more once again this weekend, bring on pembrey!

6th round at Mallory Park.

After having to miss out round 5 at cadwell park me and dad was very eager to get back racing! first ever race meeting on the GSXR 600, i know the track very well so plan was just to get used to the bike and get used to changing the suspension settings. i qualified 16th and had 3 great races and learned loads! I'm getting used to all of the power making the back end slide all over the place! next round is at snetterton, big fast track, best grow a big pair of balls before then!!

Oulton park trackday 11th june.

Had a great day on the new 600, learned loads and got used to the front wheel being in the air! still got loads more to learn and im looking froward to mallory park round 6! would just like to say a massive thanks to Kirk Dennis and Rob Loveday of insignia sings for helping out so much!

 

Mallory park afternoon test day.

First ever time on a 600cc bike, our new suzuki gsxr 600 k7! I came down the start finish straight and put on the power and it just pulled and pulled and pulled! the power of that machine is amazing! going round every corner i felt planted and stable and i was able to use the power on the straights! finaly a bike that isnt too small for me!!!!

Round 4 at Anglesey

round 4 at anglesey was the last straw for the 125 2 strokes! in the 3rd session out bottom end went so we hoocked the engine out and out our top end on bradley jonses bottom end, we finished the rest of the meeting best result being 8th. 125's re now for sale and were on the look out for a 600!

 

3rd round at Donington Park

Going to round two we were very and confident for have a good result as we knew the bike was going quick. After running the new pistons rings in we decided just to go for it in the second session, unfortunately due to our lack of patience coming out of the old hairpin my back end locked up, slid out, then griped and through me into the distance, thats a classic seized high-side! I broke my big toe and badly bruised both my knees and stretched the ligaments in one knee. We missed two sessions of practice due to fixing the bike and resting my knee and toe, riding for the next 3 sessions was agony! I woke up in the morning in even more pain, i went out for practice and it wasnt too bad. Race 1,2,3 and 4 were not very good as we was runing a non- ported barrel and piston so the bike was slow and i wasnt feeling even 80% fit to race a motorbike, i just had to get on with it and get some points!! Time for rest and get the bikes sorted for round 4, Bring on Anglesey!!!